Jewish and Catholic Bioethics: An Ecumenical Dialogue / Edition 1

by Edmund D. Pellegrino, Alan I. Faden, Fred Rosner

Overview

Drawing on multiple interconnected scriptural and spiritual sources, the Jewish tradition of ethical reflection is intricate and nuanced. This book presents scholarly Jewish perspectives on suffering, healing, life, and death, and it compares them with contemporary Christian and secular views.

The Jewish perspectives presented in this book are mainly those of orthodox scholars, with the responses representing primarily Christian-Catholic points of view. Readers unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition will find here a practical introduction to its major voices, from Spinoza to Jewish religious law. The contributors explore such issues as active and passive euthanasia, abortion, assisted reproduction, genetic screening, and health care delivery.

Offering a thoughtful and thought-provoking dialogue between Jewish and Christian scholars, Jewish and Catholic Bioethics is an important contribution to ecumenical understanding in the realm of health care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878407460
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	06/15/2000
Series:	Moral Traditions series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD, is the chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics, and professor emeritus of medicine and medical ethics, Center for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University Medical Center. He is the author of numerous books, including Helping and Healing: Religious Commitment in Health Care and The Christian Virtues in Medical Practice (both published by Georgetown University Press).

Alan I. Faden, MD, is a professor of neuroscience, neurology, and pharmacology at the Georgetown University Medical Center. He is coauthor of Medical Harm: Historical, Conceptual and Ethical Dimensions of Iatrogenic Illness.

Table of Contents

Issues In Biomedical Ethics

Comparison of Jewish and Christian Perspectives Alan I. Faden, MD

Section I

Spinoza and Judaism Tom L. Beauchamp

Section II

Jewish Reflections on Life and Death Decision Making Baruch A. Brody

Jewish Teaching on the Sanctity and Quality of Life Ronald Green

The Jewish Approach to Living and Dying Shimon Glick, MD

The Sanctity of Human Life Doctrine David C. Thomasma

Section III

The Meaning of Suffering: A Jewish Perspective Avraham Steinberg, MD

The Meaning of Suffering? James Keenan, SJ

Section IV

The Imperative to Heal in Traditional Judaism Fred Rosner, MD, FACP

On the Interface of Religion and Medical Science: The Judeo-Biblical Perspective Rabbi Moshe Tendler

Healing and Being Healed: A Christian Perspective Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD

A Catholic Christian Perspective on Early Human Development Rev. J.D. Cassidy, OP

Epilogue

Religion and Bioethical Discourse Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD

What People are Saying About This

Michael A. Grodin

Life, death, suffering and meaning are the primary texts of contemporary biomedicine. this ground breaking conversation among some of today's most insightful Jewish and Christian bioethicists challenges us to explore these texts with both passion and perspective.

Kevin O'Rourke

A probing combination of Jewish, Christian and secular thought. This volume challenges many preconceptions about fundamental ethical beliefs of major religions.

From the Publisher

"Life, death, suffering and meaning are the primary texts of contemporary biomedicine. this ground breaking conversation among some of today's most insightful Jewish and Christian bioethicists challenges us to explore these texts with both passion and perspective."— Michael A. Grodin, MD, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health

"A probing combination of Jewish, Christian and secular thought. This volume challenges many preconceptions about fundamental ethical beliefs of major religions."—Kevin O'Rourke, OP, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center

Editorial Reviews

Begins an important dialogue on common issues of concern to both Jewish and Catholic ethicists today.

Choice

Advance[s] the important and much-needed discussions in this area [and] succeeds in laying claim to the importance of religious views in bioethical discourse.

Religious Studies Review

An excellent book for students and health professionals who are inspired by the Hebrew Bible and/or the Christian New Testament.

Australasion Catholic Record

Life, death, suffering and meaning are the primary texts of contemporary biomedicine.… this ground breaking conversation among some of today's most insightful Jewish and Christian bioethicists challenges us to explore these texts with both passion and perspective.

Michael A. Grodin

A probing combination of Jewish, Christian and secular thought. This volume challenges many preconceptions about fundamental ethical beliefs of major religions.

Kevin O'Rourke

"Begins an important dialogue on common issues of concern to both Jewish and Catholic ethicists today."—Choice

"An excellent book for students and health professionals who are inspired by the Hebrew Bible and/or the Christian New Testament."—Australasion Catholic Record

"Advance[s] the important and much-needed discussions in this area [and] succeeds in laying claim to the importance of religious views in bioethical discourse."—Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher

A subset of the contributions to the conference Jewish Biomedical Ethics: Comparison with Christian and Secular Perspectives, held in Washington, DC, in April 1996. The 11 papers consider such issues as active and passive euthanasia, abortion, assisted reproduction, genetic screening, and health care delivery. Orthodox scholars provide most of the Jewish perspectives; the Christian views are predominately Roman Catholic. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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