In this Book

Reading Patristic Texts on Social Ethics: Issues and Challenges for the Twenty-First Century

Book
Johan Leemans
2012
Published by: The Catholic University of America Press
Series: CUA studies in early Christianity
summary
Can writings of the church fathers related to the field of social ethics be of value to contemporary discussions on the topic? In addressing this question, the authors of this book discuss the exciting challenges that scholars of both early Christianity and contemporary Catholic social thought face regarding the interaction of historical sources and present issues.

Table of Contents

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Cover

Title Page, Copyright

Contents

pp. v-vi

Acknowledgments

pp. vii-viii

Abbreviations

pp. ix-x

Introduction

pp. xi-xviii

Part I: Approaching Patristic Socio-Ethical Texts

1. Texts That Create a Future: The Function of Ancient Texts for Theology Today

pp. 3-29

2. Challenges in Approaching Patristic Texts from the Perspective of Contemporary Catholic Social Teaching

pp. 30-42

Part II: Contexts for Patristic Socio-Ethical Texts

3. Social Ethics and Moral Discourse in Late Antiquity

pp. 45-63

4. Wealth, Poverty, and Eschatology: Pre-Constantine Christian Social Though tand the Hope for the World to Come

pp. 64-84

5. The Audience(s) for Patristic Social Teaching: A Case Study

pp. 85-100

Part III: Issues in Patristic and Catholic Social Thought

6. Out of the Fitting Room: Rethinking Patristic Social Texts on“The Common Good”

pp. 103-123

7. “That which has been wrung from tears”: Usury, the Greek Fathers, and Catholic Social Teaching

pp. 124-160

8. The Principle of Detachment from Private Property in Basil of Caesarea’s Homily 6 and Its Context

pp. 161-184

9. Social Justice in Lactantius’s Divine Institutes: An Exploration

pp. 185-206

Part IV: Reflections on the Theme

10. The Church Fathers and Catholic Social Thought: Reflections on the Symposium

pp. 209-221

11. The (Im)possible Dialogue between Patristics and Catholic Social Thought: Limits, Possibilities, and a Way Forward

pp. 222-232

Contributors

pp. 233-234

Bibliography

pp. 235-264

Index

pp. 265-272
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