Includes bibliographical references and index.

General editor's preface Acknowledgments -- Sex, gender, and the problem of moral argument -- Feminism and foundations -- Particular experiences, shared goods -- 'The body"– in context An interlude and a proposal -- Sex, gender, and early Christianity -- Sex, marriage, and family in Christian tradition -- The new birth technologies and public moral argument -- Concluding reflections

This book endorses feminist critiques of gender, yet upholds the insight of traditional Christianity that sex, commitment,and parenthood are fulfilling human relations. Their unity is a positive ideal, though not absolute norm. Women and men should enjoy equal personal respect and social power, which excludes patriarchy. In reply to same feminist critics of oppressive gender and sex norms, as well as to some communitarian proponents of Christian morality, Cahill argues that effective intercultural criticism of injustice requires a modest defense of moral objectivity. The book thus adopts a critical realism as its moral foundation, drawing on Aristotle and Aquinas. Moral judgment should be based on reasonable, practical, prudent, and cross-culturally nuanced reflection on reasonable, practical, prudent, and cross-culturally nuanced reflection on human experience, regarding which the body anchors many common aspects. The approach is combined with a New Testament model of community, centered on solidarity, compassion, and inclusion of the economically or socially marginalized.