Olejar Books

This collection of 13 original essays by theological and religious ethicists challenges the sufficiency of secular bioethics. While acknowledging the importance of procedural considerations in bioethics, the contributors raise fundamental questions about the priority according to the autonomy of persons and the legitimacy of excluding religious reasoning in making medical-moral decisions and public policies. The analyses of theories, practices, concepts and methods reveal inadequacies and weaknesses within secular bioethics, while illustrating the distinctive and enriching contributions of theology and faith traditions to bioethics. These essays suggest that the relegation of religion to the margins of bioethics discussions is premature and, perhaps, ill advised. A lively debate regarding the adequacy of secular bioethics is joined in this collection. It will be built upon in subsequent literature on the subject.