The Challenge of Christian Deliberation in a Libertarian Context-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

The Challenge of Christian Deliberation in a Libertarian Context

Published:2022-03-21 Issue:3 Volume:27 Page:230-260
ISSN:1363-5247
Container-title:Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology
language:
Short-container-title:Worldviews

Author:

Glenna Leland L.¹,Stofferahn Curtis W.²^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA USA

2. University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND USA

Abstract

AbstractIn 2005, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly authorized the formation of a task force to prepare a social statement on genetics and faith. Although the Churchwide Assembly voted to adopt the social statement in August of 2011 by a wide margin, there had been an earlier controversy. In June 2010, an article in theDakota Farmerquestioned whether theELCAwas accusing farmers of “sin” for planting genetically engineered crop seeds. At least two churches in rural North Dakota cited this factor as a reason for leaving theELCA. Seven synods with strong farmer constituencies proposed resolutions challenging the social statement. This paper explores how the opposition used agrarianism and libertarianism to attack theELCA’s use of the Christian concept of the common good in the social statement. This case reveals the challenges that the Church faces when contributing to ethical deliberations on controversial issues.

Publisher

Brill

Subject

Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Philosophy,Religious studies,Geography, Planning and Development

Link

https://brill.com/downloadpdf/journals/wo/27/3/article-p230_3.xml

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