The case for theological ethics: an appreciation of Ernil Brunner and Reinhold Niebuhr as moral theologians

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to test the hypothesis that Christian ethics is not merely a department of general ethics, but is essentially theological. The reason for choosing these two theologians is that Brunner is in danger of eclipse, and Niebuhr deserves to continue being widely read. The thesis attempts to exhibit the methods each used to clarify the Christian faith and relate it to selected structures of society.METHOD: The thesis proceeds thus: 1) The first chapter is biographical and a study of their respective environments, as well as an appraisal of other theological and secular positions contemporary with them. 2) The second chapter is an examination of how each dealt with the subject of natural law. 3) The thesis moves on to examine their views on the questions of love, law and revel at ion. 4) At this point the thesis deals with both theologians separately to evaluate their particular emphases. 5) The final part of the thesis examines how each applied theological issues to particular situations. Those selected are 'The State' and 'The Problem of War'. The reason for the choice is that both were writing at a particularly turbulent period of world history. This part of the thesis is descriptive and not critical and is intended to serve as illustrative of the methods they used to apply theology to social and political issues.