Moral Theology for Beginners (DT8000Y)

Content

This unit examines how moral reflection and judgment are conducted within Christian traditions, particularly in conjunction with scriptural reasoning, accounts of conscience, natural law, the frameworks or traditions of belief, and Catholic Social Teaching. Engaging moral theory, moral theology, and live issues, the unit considers the frameworks for persons' living together in rational responsibility.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

No prerequisites

Pedagogy

Asynchronous and synchronous lectures and tutorials.

Indicative Bibliography

[According to the University's UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW PROCEDURE 2.1, this is no longer to be a part of a Unit Record - the UMS system has not been updated to align with the Policy and Procedure changes in late 2025.]

• Popular Patristics Series. NY: SVS Press.
• Besser-Jones, Lorraine and Slote, Michael (eds.). The Routledge Companion to Virtue Ethics. New York: Routledge, 2015.
• Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 6. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009.
• Bradley, Gerard and Brugger, E. Christian (eds.). Catholic Social Teaching: A Volume of Scholarly Essays. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
• Brady, Bernard. Essential Catholic Social Thought. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2008.
• Brock, Brian, et al. (eds.). How to Do Christian Ethics: Living the Grammar of Christian Life Every Day. London and New York: T&T Clark, 2025.
• Butler, Judith. The Force of Nonviolence: An Ethico-Political Bind. London and New York: Verso, 2020.
• Cavanaugh, William T. The Uses of Idolatry. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024
• Chan, Yiu Sing Lúcás, The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes: Biblical Studies and Ethics for Real Life. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield / Sheed and Ward, 2012.
• Clague, Julie, Gerard Mannion and Bernard Hoose eds, Moral Theology For the Twenty-First Century: Essays In Celebration of Kevin Kelly, UK: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd, 2011.
• Curran, Charles E. Catholic Social Teaching: A Historical, Theological and Ethical Analysis. Washington, D.C. Georgetown University Press, 2002
• Curran, Charles, The Development of Moral Theology: Five Strands, Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013.
• Curran, Charles E., and McCormick, Richard (eds.). Readings in Moral Theology. 18 vols. New York: Paulist, 1980–2017.
• Dalferth, Ingolf U. and Block, Marlene A. (eds.). Autonomy, Diversity, and the Common Good: Claremont Studies in the Philosophy of Religion. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2023.
• Deane, David. The Tyranny of the Banal: On the Renewal of Catholic Moral Theology. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2023.
• Gill, Robin. Christian Ethics; The Basics. Abingdon: Routledge, 2020.
• Gill, Robin (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Christian Ethics. 2nd Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
• Gula, Richard M. Moral Discernment. New York: Paulist Press, 1997.
• Gula, Richard M. The Call To Holiness: Embracing a Fully Christian Life. New York: Paulist Press, 2003.
• Keenan, James (ed.). Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church. New York: Continuum, 2007.
• Keenan, James. A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century: From Confessing Sins to Liberating Consciences. New York: Continuum, 2010.
• Harrington, Daniel and Keenan, James . Jesus and Virtue Ethics: Building Bridges Between New Testament Studies and Moral Theology. Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward, 2002.
• Hauerwas, Stanley. Sanctify them in the Truth: Holiness Exemplified. London and New York: T&T Clark, 2016.
• Hogan, Linda and Orobator, A. E. (eds.). Feminist Catholic Theological Ethics: Conversations in the World Church. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2014.
• Junker-Kenny, Maureen. Approaches to Theological Ethics: Sources, Traditions, Visions. London: Bloomsbury, 2019.
• Kasper, Walter. Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life. Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 2014.
• Kearney, Richard and Fitzpatrick, Melissa. Radical Hospitality: From Thought to Action. New York: Fordham University Press, 2021.
• Keenan, James, A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century: From Confessing Sins to Liberating Consciences, New York: Continuum, 2010.
• Keating, James (ed.). Moral Theology: New Directions and Fundamental Issues: Festschrift for James P. Hanigan. New York: Paulist, 2004.
• Lamoureux, Patricia, and Paul Wadell, The Christian Moral Life: Faithful Discipleship For a Global Society, Maryknoll NY: Orbis Books, 2010.
• Long, D. Stephen. On Teaching and Learning Christian Ethics. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2024.
• Long, D. Stephen and Miles, Rebekah L. (eds.). The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics. Abingdon: Routledge, 2023.
• McDonagh, Enda, and Vincent MacNamara (eds), An Irish Reader in Moral Theology: The Legacy of the Last Fifty Years, Ireland: Columba Press, 2009.
• MacIntyre, Alasdair. Whose Justice, Which Rationality? Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1988.
• MacNamara, Vincent, The Call To Be Human: Making Sense of Morality, Ireland: Veritas Publications, 2010.
• McCabe, Herbert. The Good Life: Ethics and the Pursuit of Happiness. London and New York: Continuum, 2005.
• Sedmak, Clemens. A Church of the Poor. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2016.
• Selling, Joseph A. Reframing Catholic Theological Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
• Spohn, William C. Go and Do Likewise: Jesus and Ethics. New York: Continuum, 2007.
• Wadell, Paul, Happiness and the Christian Moral Life: An Introduction To Christian Ethics, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2012.
• Walsh, Michael and Davies, Brian (eds.). Proclaiming Social Justice and Peace: Papal Documents from Rerum Novarum through Centesimus Annus. Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991.
  
• Ward, Kate. Wealth, Virtue, and Moral Luck: Christian Ethics in an Age of Inequality. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2021.
  
• Winright, Tobias (ed.). T&T Clark Handbook of Christian Ethics. London: Bloomsbury, 2021.
• Womack, Deanna Ferree and Barreto, Raimundo C. Alterity and the Evasion of Justice: Explorations of the ''Other'' in World Christianity. Fortress Press, 2023.
• Woods, Walter. Walking With Faith: New Perspectives on the Sources and Shaping of Catholic Moral Life. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2002.
• Yuengert, Andrew M. Catholic Social Teaching in Practice: Exploring Practical Wisdom and the Virtues Tradition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Assessment