Hang on a minute - you've missed the point i fear
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I think that the previous review is unfair, or at least misunderstands the purpose of this book. For transparency's sake, i should say that i'm on the Staff of All Souls Langham Place where John Stott is still the Rector Emeritus. But that doesn't detract from my comments i hope. This book has had a huge influence on both sides of hte Atlantic, not least because of Stott's balance, care and range of topics. He would certainly be horrified by the idea that it is simply a collection of his personal views, although of course it contains his own conclusions based on the evidence before him (it would be frustrating if he didn't, don't you think?). This is because he clearly submits to the authority of the Bible - his task is to ascertain the ethical principles that the Bible teaches and then apply them to the various (and sometimes incredibly complex) challenges of our time.
Stott's purpose in writing the book was to fill a huge gap in contemporary evangelical thinking - for too long evangelical Christians have merely sought to 'preach the gospel' and not worry too much about anything else like ethics. Since it was first written in 1984 and subsequently revised several times, the need has remained all the greater (not least because technological advances have complicated ethical decision-making still further). I can't think of another book that provides such a brilliant and accessible introduction. It is not the last word on these issues, but you would do a lot worse than to start here.
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Not A Real Ethical Analysis
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I saw this book in a library and was attracted to it by the prospect of reading an analysis of the issues facing Christians today, as the title suggests.
However upon reading it I was somewhat disappointed at the fact that the author does not give an equal, unbiased review of current issues as I would have expected but rather, at times, presents the issues present and (attempts to) renounce those views which he does not agree with and instead present his personal views of the arguments and issues raised.
The book is at times mainly an outlet for the authors' obviously strong beliefs on some issues.
If you wish to have an overview of current Christian ethics then I would not recommend this book.
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