Social Justice in the Stories of Jesus: The Ethical Challenge of the Parables

Social Justice in the Stories of Jesus is a textbook that invites readers to apply ethical reasoning to social justice challenges, accessible to people of faith from a broad range of backgrounds. It discusses social justice concepts from various traditions and highlights the connections between Jesus's parables and racism, violence, poverty, the environment, and other timely social justice issues. The author emphasizes the Jewish roots of the parables and the need to guard against anti-Jewish readings. The book is ideal for introductory courses on the Bible and New Testament, faith-based courses on ethics, and general Christian readers looking for a resource for personal or congregational study.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2024
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Social Justice in the Stories of Jesus is a captivating book that invites a new generation of readers to apply ethical reasoning to social justice challenges. Written in an accessible style, it is accessible to people of faith from a broad range of backgrounds.

The book explores the parables of the New Testament, focusing on themes of mercy, justice, and human dignity. It invites readers to reflect on the meaning of Jesus's parables both in their original setting and in the context of present-day moral and ethical challenges.

The author discusses social justice concepts from various traditions to enable readers to engage with the ethical implications of the parables in a range of different contexts. Each chapter focuses on one parable or set of parables, such as the parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The book includes historical background information and an analysis and interpretation of the parable.

Throughout the text, the author highlights the connections between Jesus's parables and racism, violence, poverty, the environment, our obligations to one another, and other timely social justice issues.

The book blends an accessible overview of the parables of Jesus with an introduction to social justice and ethics. It explores New Testament parables as viewed through the lens of contemporary writers, ethicists, and activists. It emphasizes the Jewish roots of the parables and the need to guard against anti-Jewish readings of the parables.

Highlights the ways that Jesus's parables challenged his first-century listeners to see their world in new ways and recognize the dignity of every person. Engages with seminal thinkers in contemporary social justice, such as James Cone, Howard Thurman, and Emi.

In conclusion, Social Justice in the Stories of Jesus is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the ethical implications of the parables of Jesus and apply them to contemporary social justice challenges. It is a must-read for students, scholars, and activists alike.

Weight: 558g
Dimension: 227 x 153 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119884026