Copley Square This book endorses feminist critiques of gender, yet upholds the insight of traditional Christianity that sex, commitment, and parenthood are fulfilling human rela- tions. Their unity is a positive ideal, though not an absolute norm. Women and men should enjoy equal personal respect and social power, which excludes patri- archy. In reply to some feminist critics of oppressive gender and sex norms, as well as to some communitarian propo- nents of Christian morality, Cahill argues that effective intercultural criticism of injustice requires a modest defense of moral objectivity. The book thus adopts a critical realism as its moral foundation, drawing on Aristotle and Aquinas. Moral judgment should be based on reasonable, practical, prudent, and cross-culturally nuanced reflection on human experience, regarding which the body anchors many common aspects. The approach is combined with a New Testament model ofcommunity, centered on solidarity, compassion, and inclusion of the economically or socially margin- alized. SEX, GENDER, AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS NEW STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS Generaleditor: Robin Gill Editorialboard: Stephen R. L. Clark, Antony O. Dyson, Stanley Hauerwas and Robin W. Lovin In recent years the study of Christian ethics has become an integral part of mainstream theological studies. The reasons for this are not hard to detect. It has become a more widely held view that Christian ethics is actually central to Christian theology as a whole. Theologians increasingly have had to ask what contemporary relevance their discipline has in a context where religious belief is on the wane, and whether Christian ethics (that is, an ethics based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ) has anything to say in a multi-faceted and complex secular society. There is nowno shortage ofbooks on most substantive moral issues, written from a wide variety of theological positions. However, what is lacking are books within Christian ethics which are taken at all seriously by those engaged in the wider secular debate. Too few are methodologically substantial; too few have an informed knowledge ofparallel discussions in philosophy or the social sciences. This series attempts to remedy the situation. The aims ofNew Studies in Christian Ethics will therefore be twofold. First, to engage centrally with the secular moral debate at the highest possible intellectual level; second, to demonstrate that Christian ethics can make a distinctive contribution to this debate - either in moral substance, or in terms of underlying moral justifications. It is hoped that the series as a whole will make a substantial contribution to the discipline. A list oftitles in the series is provided at the end ofthe book