Title Details

David P. Gushee is Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy and senior fellow at the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Christian Leadership at Union University, Jackson, Tennessee. Gushee is the author of nine books and winner (with Glen Stassen) of the Christianity Today 2004 award for best book in theology and ethics for their book Kingdom Ethics.

THE ENDURING QUESTIONS IN CHRISTIAN LIFE SERIES v

FOREWORD BY STANLEY HAUERWAS ix

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii

Introduction Life's Journey, Human Nature, and the Quest for Wholeness 1

Chapter 1 Does "Human Nature" Even Exit? 9

Chapter 2 What Am I Made Of? 35

Chapter 3 Why Do Relationships Matter So Much to Me? 57

Chapter 4 Am I a "Sinner"? 83

Chapter 5 Am I Really Free? 107

Chapter 6 How Do I Become a Good Person? 135

Chapter 7 What Does Moral Greatness Look Like? 161

Chapter 8 Where Can True Wholeness Be Found? 187

Notes 201

Further Reading 209

The Author 215

Index 217

“Only Human is an apt title for this lovely book. Gushee offers humble wisdom for understanding a human yearning for God. He helps to discern recurrent questions, such as, ‘Does sin have the last word?’ and ‘Will God give up on us?’ But he also introduces what may be new questions, such as ‘What does the Trinity mean for my relationships?’ Weaving together his own reflections as a servant, dad, and husband, drawing from scripture as well as from lively narratives of recent saints and sinners, Gushee has given the seeking reader a true gift.”-- Amy Laura, assistant professor, theological ethics, DukeDivinitySchool“This is an inviting volume that kicks off an exciting series. David Gushee writes of our life journeys in the style of C.S. Lewis.  Deeply biblical, profoundly human, and delightfully written, he guides us through perplexing issues to show how faith reveals possibilities of personal growth and sound relationships.  This volume does not deal deeply with social ethics, and some passing judgments in this area may need revision, but what he offers is a model of clarity and insight.”-- Max Stackhouse, The Rimmer and Ruth DeVries Professor of Theology and Public Life, Princeton Theological Seminary   “Written in an accessible and fluent style, Only Human brings a broad range of material from across the Christian tradition to bear on an intriguing range of essential questions about what it means to be human¾on the contrary, perplexing, sinful, joyful, and spiritual aspects that we ponder and that vex us. In illuminating this exploration with his own and others' stories, Gushee focuses his discussion in a sprightly way that draws the reader in and helps him or her to appreciate the enduring reasons for hope within that sturdy faith tradition that is Christianity.”--Jean Bethke Elshtain, Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Social and Political Ethics, University of Chicago and author, Just War Against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World