Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Science, Religion, and the Ideal Eugenic Man

2. Theological Influences on the Scientific Revolution

3. The Metaphysics and Theology of Genetic Medicine

4. Natural Theology and Genetic Ontology

5. Disability and Personhood

6. The Limits of Natural Law in Christian Genetics

7. Practical, Embodied Wisdom

8. Disability Inclusion and Virtue within the Church

Conclusion

About the Author

Devan Stahl is an associate professor of religion at Baylor University and editor of Bioenhancement Technologies and the Vulnerable Body.

Reviews

"In Disability's Challenge to Theology, Devan Stahl offers an insightful and multilayered critique of liberal Christian embrace of eugenics movements. . . .Her work is particularly valuable for the spotlight it shines on the theological and social conflation between sin, suffering, and disability." —Political Theology "Devan Stahl's Disability's Challenge to Theology is a step toward reconciliation for some of the sins of the modern church, offering itself as a starting point for developing processes for faithful decision-making and guidance in relation to genetic testing and therapies." —Journal of Disability and Religion "Given the relative dearth of books in theological bioethics, Disability's Challenge to Theology: Genes, Eugenics, and the Metaphysics of Modern Medicine is a welcome contribution to the field. In addition to being of interest to Christian ethicists, Stahl's book will be of interest to those considering the implications of the capability approach for bioethics and disability studies." —Hastings Center Report "Stahl argues that churches must include the voices of disabled individuals in Christian ethical discernment. This important, theologically rich book will be of interest to scholars of theological bioethics, especially those working in the Protestant tradition. Interested lay readers, too, may find the text helpful." —Choice "In this beautifully deep work, Devan Stahl highlights the wisdom of disabled people, too often left out of theological considerations around the utilization of medical advancements. Disability's Challenge to Theology is a bedrock book for bioethics and disability theology and sets the table for us to have conversations in nuanced, faithful ways that will bear fruit." —Bethany McKinney Fox, author of Disability and the Way of Jesus "Drawing on a rich tapestry of Catholic and Protestant sources, Devan Stahl demonstrates the need for metaphysics if Christian bioethics is to successfully confront the eugenic temptations of genetic technologies." —Paul Scherz, co-editor of The Evening of Life "While Stahl draws from and speaks to Christian ethicists and theologians, non-Christian and even non-religious thinkers will benefit from reading her book." —Reading Religion "Devan Stahl brilliantly outlines a theologically substantive counternarrative to the implicit metaphysics that guides medicine in general and genetic technology specifically." —Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics