Ethics and Religion in Public and Political Life

Daniel J Fleming

• Publisher: ATF Press Publishing
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781925612158
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Welcome to this edition of Ethics: Contemporary Perspectives. It is with great joy, and not a little trepidation, that I have taken on the role of editor-in-chief of the journal. At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the previous editor-in-chief, Dr Bernadette Richards, and the previous editorial board which was led by Dr Richards and included Associate Professor Paul Babie and Professor Robert Crotty. Their combined work has established a journal that combines relevance with rigour and sets a context for grappling with the major ethical issues of our time—and those which we can anticipate in the future. I hope to be able continue in the direction that they have set and build on their excellent work. In taking on this new challenge, I have set out to develop the journal as a cornerstone for public intellectual conversation surrounding ethical issues in the Australian and international context. Now more than ever it seems clear that such conversation is important—indeed necessary—as humanity grapples with unprecedented ethical challenges across the board of ethical concern: from highly specific ethical problems particular to persons and contexts, to those which touch all. The journal will seek after this goal under the direction of its editorial board, which is deliberately small at the outset, but which will grow as the journal increases its profile over time. I am delighted that Professor Robert Crotty will be continuing membership of the editorial board and brings with him both the history of the journal and an extensive academic career and profile in the areas of religion and ethics. Joining him will be Emeritus Professor Terry Lovat from The University of Newcastle, whose work in ethics, theology and education stand him as a leading international thinker in these spheres, and Dr Scott Stephens from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, whose own important academic work in the areas of religion and ethics is combined with a remarkable public outreach through broadcast and publication intended to create spaces for serious conversation about the religious and ethical issues that we encounter in the twenty-first century. Hilary Regan the publisher of ATF Press Publishing Group fills out our editorial board membership, and brings his wealth of experience in publication to the board. In this first issue that the journal has published in my time as editor-in-chief we have a collection of articles that focus on the broad theme of Ethics and Religion in Public and Political Life. The articles are diverse reflections on this theme, and in some cases present rather differing views which, when placed next to one another provide the ingredients for good ethical debate and –dare I say it–the possibility of progress in ethical thinking. I trust that readers will relish in the quality of the authors who have contributed to this issue and the contributions they have made.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Editorial Daniel J Fleming
• 1. Theologising Brexit John Milbank
• 2. Neurobiology, Emotions and Faith: From White Self-Destruction to Healing through Contemporary Affect Theology Thandeka & Darcia Narvaez
• 3. ‘Try again, fail again, fail better’—The Moral Power of Religion in Contemporary Society Sturla Sagberg
• 4. Religion and Values in a World that is Coming of Age Derek Sankey
• 5. Faith in Public Office: The Meaning, Persistence and Importance of Oaths Nicholas Aroney
• Reflections from Practitioners
• Contributors