Confidence in Life: A Barthian Account of Procreation

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Confidence in Life offers a theologically-robust evaluation of the good of procreation, which emerges out of both careful interactions with contemporary analytic philosophy and a reconstructed reading of Karl Barths doctrine of (pro)creation. While analytic moral philosophy has rarely been brought into close proximity to Barths work, the conjunction underscores the deep difficulty of accounting for procreations value within non-theological frameworks, and helps clarify what is distinctive and valuable about Barths own moral reasoning on this subject. Though primarily staged as an intervention in Protestant moral theology, Confidence in Lifes rehabilitation of the Virgin Marys role in Barths thought has promise for an ecumenical retrieval of the good of procreating within the economy of redemptionand its retrieval of honour as an indispensable aspect of Barths theology will be of interest to Barth scholars and moral theologians alike.

Reviews

In the face of the threats of climate change, population growth, and mass migration, the issue of whether to have children, and why, is rising in salience not only in academic philosophy, but also in wider popular discourse. In his book Matthew Anderson brings a searching intelligence, analytical tenacity, lucid thinking, and a lively pen to the task of working out a thoroughly theological response to the question, and one that counters procreative pessimism with Christian hope. This is a work of unusually high intellectual caliber. * Nigel Biggar, University of Oxford, UK *
This timely, insightful, and engaging study is a superb contribution to the current engagement of Barth with contemporary issues. Anderson convincingly shows how Barth's theology supports an affirmative answer to the strange but pressing questions of whether human beings should procreate, and if so, why. The penetrating analyses of the philosophical arguments for and against procreation, the splendid treatment of Barth's Mariology, and the bold but compelling case for a pronatalist Barth make this book a must-read for anyone interested in Barth's ethics or the ethics of procreation. * Gerald McKenny, University of Notre Dame, USA *
Matthew Lee Andersons Confidence in Life is a much-needed work focused on issues related to procreation, parenthood, and the family. Andersons engagement with recent philosophical work coupled with theology from Barth and others is a unique and helpful approach. Philosophers and theologians interested in issues surrounding procreation, pro-natalism, anti-natalism, and parenthood will find much of interest in this excellent book. * Mike Austin, Eastern Kentucky University, USA *

Author Bio

Matthew Lee Anderson is Assistant Professor in the Honors College at Baylor University, USA.