Evolution and Holiness

Book contents

Foreword by Darrel R. Falk Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 The Aim of This Study 1.2 Brief Summary of Main Chapters 1.3 What Is at Stake? 1.4 Brief Clarifications Before Main Chapters Chapter 2: Sociobiological Explanations of Altruism 2.1 An Introduction to Biological Altruism 2.2 Sociobiological Altruism: From Darwin to Dawkins 2.3 Moving Forward Chapter 3: Altruism and the Explanatory Limitations of Evolution 3.1 The Environment and Its Influence on Human Behavior 3.2 Problematic Language 3.3 Reductionism and Its Relationship to the Explanation of Altruism 3.4 A Reductionist-Driven False Opposition Between Philosophy/Theology and Sociobiology 3.5 Conclusion Chapter 4: Overcoming Genetic and Environmental Constraints on Altruism 4.1 The Determined Human Person? 4.2 The Human Person as Influenced but Not Determined 4.3 Humans Are Genuinely Free and Consequently Responsible 4.4 Conclusion Chapter 5: Wesleyan Holiness Against a Backdrop of Evolution 5.1 The Quest for Holiness 5.2 Genetic Selfishness and Its Implications for Wesleyan Ethics 5.3 Conclusion Chapter 6: How Wesley Nurtured Altruism Despite Biological Constraints 6.1 Wesley’s Structure and Organization 6.2 How Wesley Understood and Nurtured Altruism by Way of Holiness 6.3 Environmental Constraints That Temper Biological Constraints 6.4 Conclusion Chapter 7: A Lifestyle of Holiness 7.1 Brief Summary of Main Chapters 7.2 Holiness Outside the Wesleyan Community 7.3 Practical Implications and Further Explorations 7.4 Conclusion Appendix 1:Excerpt from "Principles of a Methodist" on the Topic of Christian Perfection Appendix 2: Excerpt from "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" Appendix 3: Rules of the Band Societies--Drawn Up Dec. 25, 1738 Bibliography General Index