Order and Disorder
Nigel Biggar in Dialogue with the University
Edited by Terence C. Halliday and K. K. Yeo
At this historical moment, disorder appears to be rampant in all corners of society in all regions of the world. Is there a moral order that can confidently guide citizens and leaders, scholars and publics, in every sphere of life?
In this second volume of the Cross-Disciplinary Encounters with Theology series, distinguished moral theologian, Lord Nigel Biggar of Castle Douglas, sparks a lively conversation by offering a Christian moral theology of order that penetrates deeply into every domain of human existence. Twenty-nine learned scholars from the sciences and fine arts, humanities and health, social sciences and law, grapple with the dynamics of order and disorder in international relations, language, markets, literature, technology, public health, scientific research, weapons research, and higher education, among many others. In this unique series, Christian thought reaches deeply into the mission of great universities and the scholarship of their faculty and students.
Appreciations of the book
“In this new genre of academic books, worldwide disciplinary experts grapple with today’s “wicked” problems of order and disorder in intellectually rigorous conversations in which differences are addressed respectfully and shared viewpoints are refined critically. The contributions exemplify splendidly how Christian thought may be transformative at the core of the world’s research universities.”
“Order and Disorder gathers rich, interdisciplinary exchanges and offers them as a model for dialogue that can resonate across the university. It is an invaluable resource for catalysing engagement among graduate students and academics-in-formation, equipping them to carry this conversation into their own academic contexts.”
“Nigel Biggar sketches a concept for order and its counterpart as given, yet generative, of freedom and of flourishing. I find the interdisciplinary reactions, affirmations, and diagnoses of his offering thrilling, the kind of theology-in-the-making that is neither the sole claim of the theologians nor the insipid cant of what the culture would proclaim as obvious.”
“This is an important and wide-ranging volume. Nigel Biggar’s account of the notion of “order” in Christian theology evokes a nuanced and fruitful range of responses from different fields of academic study, resulting in a rich and illuminating discussion of a crucial topic on contemporary culture and thought.”
“By offering a concise and insightful treatment of one of the most underappreciated aspects of our world, Order and Disorder is a refreshing and innovative academic work that is profound but not ponderous. This volume and the GFI series of which it is a part demonstrate that the future of Christian scholarly engagement with the modern research university remains hopeful and full of promising possibilities.”
“Order and Disorder offers theological educators, seminary students, and the church windows into the transformative power of theology to renew thought at the frontiers of science and learning, and for the generative contributions of the whole university to animate theology.”
“Order and Disorder is a bold and timely contribution to contemporary Christian scholarship, written for an age marked by cultural fragmentation, moral uncertainty, political ruptures, and rapid technological change. I believe that it will be of significant value to scholars, students, and thoughtful readers seeking a faithful and intellectually robust integration of faith and scholarship.”
“In 1992, John Stott made an “urgent plea for double listening” where Christians listen to both the word and the world. This book is a notable response from the highest levels of academia and promises to inspire much-needed “double listening” in the university and its impact on the church and society.”