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- Title
A CHRISTIAN AFFIRMATION OF RAWL'S IDEA OF JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS--PART II.
- Authors
Beckley, Harlan R.
- Abstract
In the first part of this essay (Beckley, 1985) I argued that Christians advocating policies for distributive justice face a dilemma when they simultaneously attempt to be faithful to Christian beliefs and values and respect the liberty of those who do not share their beliefs and values. The dilemma arises if we are morally opposed to enforcing our distinctive morality upon others and yet are unwilling to compromise our beliefs and values in order to accommodate agreement on a conception of justice. A resolution to this dilemma is possible only if, on the basis of their beliefs and values, Christians can embrace general beliefs which justify obligating all persons to a system of distributive justice. I further argued that John Rawls's idea of justice as fairness, as embodied in his fair contract situation, provides a potential basis for resolving this dilemma. Rawls's contract theory is helpful because it justifies a conception of justice on the basis of the general and shared beliefs that persons are free, rational, and equal without ignoring the distinctive beliefs and moralities persons also hold. In this way Rawls intends to justify universal obligation to a system of justice without obtaining full agreement on the good or all other moral values and principles.
- Subjects
DISTRIBUTIVE justice; ETHICS; CHRISTIANITY &; justice
- Publication
Journal of Religious Ethics, 1986, Vol 14, Issue 2, p229
- ISSN
0384-9694
- Publication type
Article