Tag: ethics
There is a connection between honor and anger. Anger is an intense emotion of annoyance and displeasure that leads to hostility and combat. Something happens, you feel displeased, then you react aggressively. Anger is an aggressive reaction to stress, a …
A Revealing Letter about Ancient Christianity
After Constantine converted to Christianity in AD 312, every Roman emperor was Christian (at least nominally). This fact is remarkable, considering both the great pride Romans had long placed in worshiping their Gods and the fact the (Eastern) Roman Empire …
“In Christ” as a Communal Ethic
I remember reading Neil Anderson’s The Bondage Breaker as a new believer. The long list of “who I am in Christ” statements was powerful. Knowing my position is essential to the Christian life. But have you ever noticed how those …
“Westerners Don’t Believe in Sin!”
Guest contributor Dr. Cultir Pundit is an East Asian missions leader. He blogs at www.GuiltInnocence.com, a website equipping Global Christians for ministry in the Western guilt-innocence cultures. Westerners believe in guilt, but not in sin. The other day I was …
Can Public Shaming Be Good?
Guest Dan Braga is a church planter in San Diego, CA. He is an M.A. student at Western Seminary (Portland) where I recently taught a course. This post is Dan’s response to the question, “Can public shaming be a good …
The Morality of Patronage
For many cultures, the reciprocal generosity of patronage is a moral obligation. Patrons must give favors and clients must give thanks, lest they jeopardize their own reputation and the unifying fabric of society. So when an affluent person fails to …
Top Books on Honor-Shame Ethics
A stream of 21st-century philosophers are rehabilitating honor in philosophical discourse. Even the collaborative website www.HonorEthics.org is “devoted to the study of honor as an ethical value.” These philosophers argue how honor and shame can be redemptive moral values. As one …
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Shaming
Shaming people can be a powerful tool for changing behavior and establishing norms. Jennifer Jacquet (Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University) in Is Shame Necessary?: New Uses for an Old Tool explains how people can shame selectively and …
How to Shame…Biblically
People who act shamelessly should incur a sense of shame.The apostle Paul explicitly shamed fellow believers, on several occasions: I say this to your shame. (1 Cor 6:5) I say this to your shame. (1 Cor 15:34) Take note of …
New Series: Ethics in Honor-Shame Cultures
Honor-shame is a moral system. Collectivistic cultures use honor and shame to define and enforce ethics. This claim may seem strange to Westerners, who generally assume that guilt-cultures believe in right and wrong, but shame cultures do not. This idea …
New Training Video about Ethics and Discipleship
“Transforming Honor” is a new training video about biblical ethics, morality, and discipleship in honor-shame cultures. My aim with this video is to (1) transform Western misconceptions about honor cultures and (2) transform honor into a positive source for moral change. The 33-minute resource is …
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Honor in the Modern World
The new book Honor in the Modern World: Interdisciplinary Perspectives explores the role of honor in modern societies. This book addresses the important question: How can honor be compatible with liberalism?Here is the book description:After a century-long hiatus, honor is back. Academics, pundits, and …
Is “Redskins” a Racial Slur, or Honor?
The NFL team in America’s capital is called the Washington “Redskins.” Is that a racial slur against Native Americans? Recent conversations in this heated debate revolve largely around the moral ideal of honor. Here’s the story.Native American leaders have argued …
The Meaning of God’s Grace
Dr. John Barclay is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University. His latest book Paul & The Gift (Eerdmans, 2015) is being hailed as “pioneering” and “ground-breaking.” At the recent Society of Biblical Literature, several people called it “the most important book on Pauline …
The Apostolic Honor Code (1 Pet)
How does God’s Kingdom reshape morality and ethics in honor-shame contexts?The most common proposal for Christian’s ethics in shame-based contexts is something like, “People should not care about other people’s opinions, but just do what is right. Get rid of all vestiges …
Do You Want to Change the World?
“Honor is very important in bringing about change in the world.” If you want to bring about change in the world, I suggest this engaging 3 ½ minute video “The Honor Code” with Princeton professor Anthony Kwame Appiah.In his book …
HonorEthics.org
HonorEthics.org is an interdisciplinary academic website devoted to the study of honor as an ethical virtue. Those working to develop a biblical ethic and theology for honor-shame contexts will want to follow this blog. I learned about HonorEthics.org when they posted, …