Theological Bioethics

Christians have been caring for the sick since the earliest days of the church. And the riches of the Christian tradition--Scripture, scholars, saints, and sacraments--speak powerfully to the moral dimensions of illness, healing, caring, and dying. Yet over the past forty years, theological voices have been edged out of bioethics. What does it mean for Christians to faithfully navigate the landscape of modern medicine? How might a renewed practice of accompanying the sick in their own midst and on the margins lead congregations to a fresh understanding of what it means to be the body of Christ in the world? This Cascade Companion introduces readers to leading scholars who have pioneered theological approaches to bioethics. Drawing deeply on the resources of the Christian tradition, they offer Christians new ways of seeing medicine, faithfulness, and Christian community rooted in our deepest traditions. This is especially timely in the face of an increasingly commodified healthcare system that leaves more and more people marginalized, broken, and sick. Ultimately, this volume invites readers to begin the journey of envisaging new possibilities for practicing theological bioethics in their own lives and communities.