The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision Is Key to the World's Future

In The Sacredness of Human Life, Christian ethicist David P. Gushee invites us to truly embrace the immeasurable value of a single human life — an ancient biblical concept which, in our violent world, may be the key to the future of all creation. Tracing the concept of the sacredness of human life from Scripture through church history to the present day, Gushee argues that viewing human life as sacred is one of the most precious legacies of biblical faith — albeit one that the church has too often failed to uphold. His discussion includes many of the current ethical challenges that will impact the survival and flourishing of human life, including biotechnology, the death penalty, abortion, human rights, nuclear weapons, just war theory, women's rights, and creation care. Gushee's Sacredness of Human Life is a game-changing book that will set the standard for all future discussions of this key ethical concept.