This book is not a biography. It does not pretend to cover every aspect of
Asa Mahan's life, and it concludes its exploration at the end of the Civil
War. It is an attempt to trace powerful ideas in the teaching and writing of
ethics through the Civil War, and it asks how these ideas were embodied
among the debate over slavery in America. Asa Mahan's life serves as a
lens through which to view the interaction and sometimes the outright
mutual exclusivity of these ideas.
Today it is easy to segregate ourselves within disciplines and even to
separate ourselves from the world of ideas. An ordained clergyperson who
articulates the finer points of philosophy is rare, and those dedicated to
studying American intellectual currents are not typically representatives
of organized religious movements. Asa Mahan was both a pastor and student
of profound ideas. He is perhaps best known for his theological contributions
to the tradition that advocated Christian Perfection or Holiness,
but these practices of faith were informed by his philosophical acumen.
