Lexington Books Judge and Be Judged: Moral Reflection in an Age of Relativism and Fundamentalism

Judge and Be Judged offers insights into moral life and moral judgment that aim to help in understanding our society's tendency towards either fundamentalism or relativism. Framing his argument with an exegesis of Jesus' teaching "Judge not, that you be not judged," Eric Bain-Selbo provides some helpful conceptual tools for thinking about that predicament, and finding a way past it. By examining the social function of shame, the possibility of cross-cultural understanding, and obstacles to moral judgment in the college classroom, this book charts a path that helps us to avoid both fundamentalism and relativism. Review We live in a world screaming for sober and reflective moral judgment, but dangerously lacking what Bain-Selbo calls "the courage to engage in substantive moral conversation." Bain-Selbo's book explains why such judgments seem so presumptuous today, argues that appearance deceives, and shows how to make them in a sophisticated and mature fashion. This is a book I would recommend to all who teach morally charged issues, and for anyone concerned with their own capacities for viable moral judgments--in short, for all of us. Charitable yet courageous, humble but audacious, the exemplifies the virtues it aims to defend.--Charles T. Mathewes, University of Virginia An engaging, innovative, and deeply thoughtful set of essays, at once wide-ranging and subtly intertwined, on the need and possibilities in today's plural world for new forms of moral dialogue.--John Wall, Rutgers University Eric Bain-Selbo's new book, Judge and Be Judged, provides an intelligent and humane way to navigate our contemporary moral situation Avoiding the extremes of fundamentalism and moral relativism, Bain-Selbo provides an account of moral judgment grounded in his insightful account of the dialogical virtues and he demonstrates its importance for various domains of life, from cross cultural realities to political and pedagogical contexts. This book is highly recommended both for its clarity of expression and its depth of insight into the questions that best everyone.--William Schweiker, The University of Chicago About the Author Eric Bain-Selbo is Chair and Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Lebanon Valley College.