The Genius of John Paul II: The Great Pope's Moral Wisdom
In this exciting new book, renowned ethicist Richard Spinello offers the first comprehensive presentation of the late John Paul II's great moral vision. Here admirers may read and understand the essential teachings of the pope in his own words as Spinello draws on his extensive research into John Paul II's writings and talks. Subjects covered include reverence for life, concern for the poor and suffering, moral law, conscience, moral choice, intrinsically evil acts, freedom, and goodness.
The purpose of this book is two-fold: it not only persuasively presents the late pope's vital teachings, but also defends them against his critics. This important new work preserves and promotes the extraordinary legacy of John Paul II by focusing on his championing of universal human dignity and objective moral truths.
Chapter 1 Abbreviations
Chapter 2 Acknowledgments
Chapter 3 Preface
Chapter 4 Chapter 1: Faith, Reason, and Morals
Chapter 5 Chapter 2: Competing Ethical Visions
Chapter 6 Chapter 3: The Nature of the Human Person
Chapter 7 Chapter 4: Freedom, the Good, and the Moral Law
Chapter 8 Chapter 5: The Moral Person
Chapter 9 Chapter 6: Ethics for Modern Life
Chapter 10 Chapter 7: Conclusions
Chapter 11 Appendix: John Paul II's Life and Writings
Chapter 12 Bibliography
Chapter 13 Index
Drawing on a vast body of materials, Dr. Spinello succeeds in lucidly synthesizing the moral teaching of Pope John Paul II. More than this, he puts that teaching in context, contrasting it with the views of other moral theologians, including some who criticize the pope. The book thus serves as a very informative survey of current debates in Catholic moral theory.
In presenting excerpts from encyclicals such as Veritatis splendor (The Splendor of Truth), Spinello is able to distinguish moral theology from moral philosophy. John Paul believed in the ontological goodness of all creation, and from that basis comes his truth. Recommended for religious studies and scholarly collections.
The Genius of John Paul II truly gave me a greater understanding of the writings of Pope John Paul II and I am glad to say I came away both more knowledgeable and with a even greater appreciation of a Pope I so dearly loved...This book is highly recommended.
This will be an excellent book for students of Religious Studies.
Product Details
- Title : The Genius of John Paul II: The Great Pope's Moral Wisdom
- Author: Spinello, Richard A.
- Publisher: Sheed & Ward
- Publication Date: 2006
- ISBN: 9781461635406
Richard A. Spinello is director of Ethics Programs for the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He lives in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.