H. T. Engelhardt, Jr., Misrepresented and Misunderstood: Beyond a Philosophy of Difference and toward a Theology of Unity

H. T. Engelhardt Jr.’s article in this issue criticizes those “founding giants” of Christian bioethics, who developed a Christian bioethics without a sufficient reliance on Christ. His essay, like his work as a whole, is ripe for misunderstandings and misrepresentations. Thus, this essay considers some of the common portrayals of Engelhardt by his critics that fail to take the entirety of his project into account. The goal of this essay is not just to encourage a reading of Engelhardt’s secular philosophical project, a philosophy that takes differences seriously, but it also encourages a consideration of his theological perspective and mission, which is to bring all to true theological unity. Although these projects may seem disconnected, it turns out that Engelhardt’s understanding of theology serves to connect them.