Be Good and Do Good

Overview

"A master teacher, Brady interweaves his command of the rich Catholic moral tradition with an extraordinary range of poetry, literature, history, and philosophy. This brilliant roadmap for conceptualizing the myriad facets of moral theology is a clear summons for each and every reader. This book is a gentle but unequivocal call to take charge of our own moral identity and development; an injunction for love of neighbor, justice, and solidarity; and an invitation to flourish where heart, mind, and God come together." --Jennifer Beste, Koch Chair in Catholic Thought and Culture, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's CollegeA basic textbook in religious ethics for today's Catholic students and young adults.

How do we understand moral theology within the context of Christian life and thought? In Be Good and Do Good, Bernard V. Brady addresses the main themes in fundamental moral theology for a novel perspective. Rather than relying solely on traditional sources such as natural law theory, abstract philosophical principles, or popular theories of the individual, he focuses on biblical stories, an emphasis on experience, and the social/relational spheres of human life. Our own sense of morality, Brady reminds us, emerges not out of a vacuum, but out of the experience and narratives of lived reality.

Ideal for the high school or college classroom, or indeed, for any reader interested in a refreshing take on moral decision-making, Be Good and Do Good reminds us that we are each called to develop and nurture our own moral identity throughout our lives.

Bernard V. Brady is professor of moral theology and chair of the theology department at the University of St Thomas, St. Paul, MN. He is the author of several books: Essential Catholic Social Thought, Christian Love, and The Moral Bond of Community.