Christian Bioethics

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating Ethical Pathways Through Christian Perspectives

Introduction

Welcome to the Christian Bioethics information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Christian Bioethics, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1380-3603
PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1995 to 2006, from 2010 to 2024
AbbreviationCHRIST BIOET / Christ. Bioet.
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressGREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

Christian Bioethics focuses on the intersection of Christian theology and bioethical issues, addressing moral questions arising from medical practice and health care through a distinctly Christian lens. The journal seeks to provide a platform for scholarly discourse that reflects on ethical dilemmas while integrating faith-based perspectives.
  1. Integration of Christian Theology and Bioethics:
    The journal emphasizes the application of Christian theological principles to bioethical issues, exploring how religious beliefs inform moral decision-making in health care.
  2. End-of-Life and Palliative Care Ethics:
    A consistent focus on ethical considerations surrounding end-of-life issues, including euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and palliative care, highlighting Christian perspectives on suffering and death.
  3. Emerging Medical Technologies and Ethics:
    The journal investigates the ethical implications of new medical technologies, such as artificial gestation and reproductive technologies, and how these innovations challenge traditional Christian views on life and personhood.
  4. Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy:
    A significant area of interest is the role of chaplaincy and pastoral care in health care settings, examining how faith can guide ethical practices and support patients and families.
  5. Cultural and Social Context of Health Care:
    The journal explores how cultural, social, and economic factors influence health care decisions, emphasizing the church's role in addressing health disparities and advocating for justice.
Recent publications in Christian Bioethics indicate a clear evolution in the themes being explored, with several emerging scopes gaining traction. These trends reflect the journal's responsiveness to contemporary challenges faced by the medical community and society at large.
  1. Ethics of New Reproductive Technologies:
    There is a notable increase in examination of ethical dilemmas posed by new reproductive technologies, such as artificial wombs and ectogestation, suggesting a growing concern about how these technologies intersect with Christian views on life and personhood.
  2. Mental Health and Pain Management:
    Recent themes emphasize the importance of addressing mental health and chronic pain within the context of Christian caregiving, reflecting a broader societal recognition of these issues and their ethical implications.
  3. Faith-Based Responses to Public Health Crises:
    Emerging discussions surrounding the church's role in public health, particularly in relation to crises like the opioid epidemic, indicate a trend toward integrating faith with practical responses to societal health challenges.
  4. Theological Reflections on Trust and Hope in Healthcare:
    There is an increasing focus on the concepts of trust and hope in clinical settings, exploring how these theological virtues can inform patient care and health outcomes in a contemporary context.
  5. Interfaith and Multi-faith Dialogue in Healthcare:
    The journal is beginning to explore more multi-faith perspectives, emphasizing the importance of collaborative ethical frameworks in increasingly diverse healthcare environments.

Declining or Waning

While Christian Bioethics has maintained a robust engagement with various themes, certain areas appear to be declining in prominence based on recent publications. This shift may reflect changing societal concerns or a reallocation of focus within the bioethical discourse.
  1. Traditional Ethical Frameworks in Bioethics:
    There seems to be a waning interest in exclusively traditional ethical frameworks, such as deontological or consequentialist approaches, as the journal increasingly embraces more nuanced theological explorations.
  2. Focus on Historical Bioethical Debates:
    Papers addressing historical debates in bioethics, such as those centered on past controversies surrounding abortion or euthanasia, appear less frequently, possibly as the journal shifts towards contemporary issues and emerging technologies.
  3. Legalistic Approaches to Bioethics:
    The journal has seen a decrease in articles that focus predominantly on legalistic interpretations of bioethical issues, suggesting a move towards more relational and holistic understandings of health care ethics.

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