CHRI 4345 | Christian Ethics: YOU ARE WHAT YOU LOVE Book Review

CHRI 4345 | Christian Ethics: YOU ARE WHAT YOU LOVE Book Review

BOOK REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS

CHRI 4345 | Christian Ethics

Basic Requirements:

·       ~1200-word book review of Smith’s You Are What You Love.

·       Late submissions will be penalized 5 points for each day.

·       This material is worth 150 points.

Project Description and Goal:

Among the three main approaches to ethics (deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics), virtue ethics is one of the least understood by average Christians. However, it is also historically one of the primary Christian approaches to ethics. James Smith provides an accessible, practical, and contemporary introduction to this approach in his book You Are What You Love. Your task is to write a ~1200-word review of the book which includes both a summary and an evaluation.

As an applied discipline, ethics demands the ability to integrate various aspects of life. However, ethics can sometimes be sequestered into more theoretical and academic areas. Importantly, we are beginning our journey with an explicit orientation to ethics as a specifically Christian practice which is built upon a life of discipleship and worship. Importantly, as well, Smith shows us that our discussion relates not only to our lives at church, but at work, at home, and out in the world.

Project Output:

The assessment should consist of two parts:

1.     PART 1 (approx. 800 words): Outline the main points of the book.

2.     PART 2 (approx. 400 words): Offer an evaluation of the book.

Topics for PART 1:

Briefly give the context of the writer and the book. Consider questions like these, but only include relevant issues:

• What is the author’s background/denomination?

• To whom is the book addressed?

• If a historical book, what influence has it had?

Describe the main argument of the book.

• What is the author’s research question? What is the author’s thesis?

• In outlining the book’s main points, you should quote key phrases and sentences from the book. Please do not quote large, undigested paragraphs from the book you are reviewing.

• If you wish to refer to other books, please footnote them as normal, but this exercise will not normally require many references to other material, except perhaps to clarify occasional points of comparison or contrast.

Note particularly how the writer makes use of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience (i.e., what is colloquially known as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral) in their argument.

Topics for PART 2:

• What aspects of the book were new to me? What aspects were helpful?

• How well do you think the book integrates the aspects of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral?

• What insight does the book offer for Christian ethics?

• How does the book help you understand Christian ethics in light of the use of biblical texts, church and society, Christian doctrine, preaching and pastoral ministry, etc.?

• Are there aspects of the book that seem defective or misguided or does the author ignore evidence contrary to his/her position?

• How could the argument of the book be strengthened?

Not all these points have to be included (for Part 2). Remember to give reasons for your judgments.

Note on Referencing:

Since you are focusing on one book, you do not need to give a footnote with each reference. Rather, you should:

• Give a footnote to the book with full bibliographic details (using Turabian/SBL style) within the first paragraph when you introduce the book.

• For subsequent references, just give the page number in parentheses within the text rather than having a footnote each time.

• EXAMPLE: Jones initially declares, “The Psalter is an interesting, albeit complex book” (p 1).