Why Bother Being Good?: The Place of God in the Moral Life - Softcover

Hare, John E.

4.1

10 ratings by Goodreads

9780830826834: Why Bother Being Good?: The Place of God in the Moral Life

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830826831 ISBN 13: 9780830826834

Publisher: Intervarsity Pr, 2002

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In Why Bother Being Good? John Hare explores the nature of goodness, the human condition, the role of reason and the value of community in moral development, and shows how these relate to the doctrines of atonement, justification and sanctification. Writing for a general audience, Hare carefully defines terms and uses poetry and narrative to help the reader follow his arguments. He says, "If all the arguments in this book work, what I have shown is that the morality we are familiar with requires a theological background if it is going to make sense."

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About the Author:

John Hart is professor of philosophy at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

From Library Journal:

Hare (Calvin Coll.; The Moral Gap) has written an apologetic for Christian morality, arguing that a theological background is necessary for morality in general to make sense. He further asserts that we need "moral" faith and that, through Christ's work in atonement, justification, and sanctification, we can be transformed and happy without compromising the attempt to be morally good. Though the book is intended for a general audience, it is not always clear whom Hare is addressing. He makes too many assumptions, some of which are either not germane to Christians or are unacceptable to others. For example, he assumes a universal morality in the Ten Commandments and in the great commandment to love God and neighbor, but he also argues from Kant, whose "practical reason" is considered to be empty hope by some Christian philosophers and inconsistent with historical and revealed Christian beliefs. In addition, while the book is well organized, it is poorly written, and the examples Hare offers don't always work. Not recommended. George Westerlund, Palmyra, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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