Wise stewards : philosophical foundations of Christian parenting / Michael W. Austin

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction -- The need for a Christian ethic for parents -- A philosophy of parenting -- Philosophical challenges to the family -- Conclusion: Everyday ethics -- Questions for reflection and application -- Philosophy and the foundations of the family -- Parenthood as a biological connection -- The genetic argument -- The gestational argument -- How important is the biological tie? -- Parenthood as the result of causation -- What are the objections to the causal view? -- Social construction : the new ideology of the family -- How should Christians view this social construct? -- Parenthood and a child's self-knowledge -- Conclusion: The parent-child relationship -- Questions for reflection and application -- Stewardship and shalom -- Flawed views of parenthood -- The radical collectivist view -- Children's liberationism -- The ownership view -- Stewardship : a Christian understanding of parenthood -- In God's image -- Our fundamental interests -- The need for independence -- Shalom : the goal of Christian parents -- The mystery and risk of stewardship -- Conclusion: Practical implications -- Questions for reflection and application -- Key virtues for Christian families -- Temptations to avoid -- Virtues and Shalom -- Intellectual virtue -- Faith, hope, and love -- Humility -- Forgiveness -- Patience -- Compassion -- Frugality -- Conclusion: Joy and Shalom -- Questions for reflection and application -- Everyday ethics for Christian parents -- The ethics of religious upbringing -- Irvine's neutrality arguments -- Clayton's autonomy arguments -- Limitations -- The middle ground -- Child discipline -- The question of corporal discipline -- Appropriate limitations to corporal punishment -- Punishment that promotes trust -- Proverbs on discipline -- Function over form -- Consumerism -- A Christian approach to children's sports (and other activities) -- Educating our children : public, private, or homeschool -- Misguided decision-making -- Thoughtful decision-making -- Conclusion: Further implications -- Questions for reflection and application -- Reproductive technologies and the Christian family -- A Christian approach to reproductive technology -- Love and redemption -- Image bearers -- Marital fidelity -- The moral problem of anonymous gamete donation -- The ethics of sex selection -- Genetic interventions and the family -- Conclusion: A caution -- Questions for reflection and application -- Conclusion: A call to parents.

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