Christian Ethics: A Brief History

One might expect such a history to begin with the Bible, but Banner starts with a small work from the early Church: the Rule of St. Benedict (550 C.E.), which he claims is the paradigmatic framework with which to understand Christian ethics. . . Although Banner states that he does not intend to defend Christianity, his positive opinion of it emerges (which is not of itself a short-coming)." (Philosophy in Review, August 2010)

“As the title of the present volume indicates, the aim of the book is to provide a brief history of Christian ethics. The author does this by engaging with key figures and their thought, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther, which allows him to draw out the challenges to Christian ethics, which Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century thinkers as well as contemporary relativism have presented.” (Journal of Contemporary Religion, May 2010)

“This book is part of a series that aims to present ‘brief, accessible, and lively accounts of key topics within theology and religion.’ This history of Christian ethics succeeds in all three aims.” (CHOICE, October 2009)

"No history of ethics, and in particular, a history of Christian ethics can be purely 'history'. Rather it is as it should be an argument about how we need to think in order to act well as Christians. We are quite fortunate to have Michael Banner’s book because it is an incisive contribution to this project."
–Stanley Hauerwas, Duke University

"I have no hesitation in recommending Banner's Christian Ethics: A Brief History. I cannot imagine a book that would beat this for clarity of focus or attractiveness of style."
–Oliver O'Donovan, University of Edinburgh