On helping one's neighbor : severe poverty and the religious ethics of obligation /

The main purpose of On Helping One's Neighbor is to make reader's aware of what Ranganathan (Univ. of Nebraska, Omaha) calls "the moral horror that is severe poverty" (p. xvi). He places special emphasis on the obligations of the wealthy to mitigate this reality. Beginning with a survey of Christian obligations related to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the author elaborates that "what Christian ethics demands is that we love all people as our neighbors," further contending that in today's world "severely poor people are our neighbors. And yet, severe poverty continues to exist" (p. 10). Ranganathan then examines the issues raised through political and ethical philosophy, citing, for example, "Charles Beitz and Thomas Pogge, [who] each argue for obligations to people around the globe ... incurred by virtue of our shared participation in economic and political institutions" (p. 5). Although this volume is not suitable for general readers, scholars of religion, ethics, theology, and philosophy will likely have an appreciation for this book. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty. --Carl L. Hansen, emeritus, Midland University