Author Description

Product DescriptionContinuing in the tradition of his well-receivedReligious Reason, Ronald Green here offers a penetrating moral understanding of religious belief and practice. Human religiousness, he contends, principally arises from a universal "deep structure" of moral reasoning that comprises threeessential elements: one guides impartial moral reasoning; a second affirms the reality of moral retribution; and a third provides escape from the penalties that justly accompany unavoidable human moral failure. Using this innovative approach, Green confronts a series of different religioustraditions and issues, including African primal religions, classical Chinese religion, the "Divine Command" tradition in Judaism and Christianity, religious ritual, and the economic teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Drawing on contemporary rationalist ethical theory, Greenprovides a simple but effective model for understanding the complexity of religious life.From Library JournalGreen claims that "religion has its basis in a process of moral and religious reasoning common to all human beings." This process presents a three-part deep structure: "first, a method of moral reasoning involving 'the moral point of view'; second, a set of beliefs affirming the reality of moral retribution; and third, a series of 'transmoral' beliefs that suspend moral judgment and retribution when this is needed to overcome moral paralysis and despair." Indepth discussion of traditional African religion, Chinese decline of ethical monotheism, and Jewish and Christian responses to Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac validate Green's claim. Highly recommended for academic and seminary collections. Carolyn Craft, Longwood Coll., Farmville, Va.Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.