Between Mt. Moriah and Mt. Golgotha: How is christian ethics possible?

Abstract

In this paper, I explore a new way of understanding Christian ethics by critically interconnecting the theological meanings of the Aqedah (binding) narrative of Mt. Moriah and the Passion story of Mt. Golgotha. Through an in-depth critical-theological investigation of the relation between these two biblical events, I argue that Christian ethics is possible not so much as a moralization or as a literalistic divine command theory, but rather as a covenantal-existential response to God's will in the impossible love on Mt. Moriah as well as in the Son's willing embrace of God's will on Mt. Golgotha. © 2012 Journal of Religious Ethics, Inc.