Conclusion

Summary

One could argue endlessly about the merits of each of these characterizations of the ethical; but what they have in common is more important than their differences.

Peter Singer, Practical Ethics

Fruitful dialogue between faith and reason cannot but render the work of charity more effective within society, and it constitutes the most appropriate framework for promoting fraternal collaboration between believers and non-believers in their shared commitment to working for justice and the peace of the human family.

Pope Benedict xvi , “Caritas in Veritate”

The previous six chapters have shown us in specific detail both how Peter Singer and Christian ethics can mutually push each other, and also how much they have in common. Indeed, it is precisely because of how much they have in common that the arguments are so interesting and productive. But in concluding this book let me pull back from these details and make some ‘big picture’ observations and suggestions.

HOW PETER SINGER HELPS PUSH CHRISTIAN ETHICS

Perhaps Singer's most important gift to Christians, and indeed to all who care about ethics, is his formidable and authentic push to think and act consistently with regard to one's ethical beliefs. He does this with his own crowd (the classic example being his insistence that one must support infanticide for the same reasons one supports abortion), but he of course calls out his opponents for their inconsistencies as well. As we saw in Chapter 3, he argues that when anti-abortionists claim to support and defend life, they almost never mean what they say. And while he is certainly correct that most self-described pro-lifers inconsistently limit their concerns to topics related to abortion and euthanasia, this unfortunate situation has been in the process of changing.