Emotions, Moral Formation, and Christian Politics: Rereading Karl Barth

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This volume addresses the social-relational nature of moral formation, emotions, and moral agency. Drawing on Barths theological anthropology and his relational conception of the self, Cahill argues that Barth envisions moral progress as rooted in the growth of the community. Cahill also explores Barths view of emotion in conversation with the study of emotions in psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and philosophy.

Building on Barth and these other disciplines Cahill argues for a relational and cognitive conception of emotions while highlighting emotions critical role in regulating group and social relations. Emotions are fundamental to interpersonal interactions, to group relations, and for the reinforcement and disruption of social structures. This account of moral formation and emotion is illustrated through the example of climate change. A community shaped by love for God, solidarity with other creatures, and a concern for all of creation leads to an awareness of hegemonic forces and fosters emotions shaped by the kingdom of God that enables the struggle for climate justice.

Reviews

Jonathan Cahill's book offers a careful and nuanced analysis of the role of emotions in the Christian moral life, particularly as construed in the Barthian tradition. Cahill does so from a perspective that is both richly Christocentric while also deeply informed by recent scientific insights into the nature of human emotions. His deeply relational account of theological anthropology will strike a cord in many contemporary readers, as well his account of how divine grace seeks to transform rather than suppress our natural human emotions. This important contribution is a must read for contemporary Christian ethicists. * Stephen Pope, Boston College, USA *
Cahill's lucid and insightful analyses of emotions as moral capacities and of moral formation as a communal enterprise place this book on the leading edge of scholarship on theological ethics. At the same time, its strikingly original and ultimately persuasive claim that Karl Barth makes an indispensable contribution to these topics places it on the leading edge of Barth's studies. I learned a lot about Barth and a lot about the Christian moral life from this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in either. * Gerald McKenny, University of Notre Dame, USA *
In this fine study, Jonathan Cahill brings together what may seem an unlikely combination of topics: emotion, moral formation, and Barths moral theology. The result is an original and carefully worked-out account that offers a valuable contribution to Christian ethical understanding and, as Cahill shows, to engagement with pressing current concerns such as the climate emergency. * Neil Messer, Baylor University, USA *

Author Bio

Jonathan M. Cahill is Postdoctoral Fellow in Medical Ethics at the Columbia University Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, USA.