James F. Caccamo Ph.D. Awarded Louisville Institute Grant

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Caccamo

PHILADELPHIA, PA (06/21/2011)(readMedia)-- James F. Caccamo Ph.D., associate professor of theology at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, was awarded the Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant for Researchers for his proposal to write Rewiring Virtue: Christian Ethics in an Age of Gadgets. The book will discuss the ethics of communication and information technologies from a Christian perspective.

"There is really nothing like my book proposal in Christian ethics literature right now," says Caccamo. "This grant, combined with an SJU sabbatical, will provide a great opportunity to move forward on this project." Caccamo will be on sabbatical for the 2011-12 academic year.

The first-of-its-kind book will explore contemporary technologies, analyzing them through a virtue approach. Virtue ethics is a moral method that focuses on the formation of good character through development of good moral habits – or virtues – like prudence, justice and love. Caccamo hopes the book will provide readers with tools to morally evaluate the way technological gadgets are used. He anticipates the book will be used for upper-level college courses.

A Christian social ethicist with a special interest in the ethics of media, computing and telecommunications technology, Caccamo recently co-authored Living Worship (Brazos Press, 2011), with Todd Johnson, Ph.D., of Fuller Theological Seminary and Lester Ruth, Ph.D., of Duke Divinity School. Living Worship is an interactive multimedia case study of the worship life of Ravenswood Covenant Church, a Christian congregation in Chicago.

Founded in 1990 as a center for research and leadership education on American religion, the Louisville Institute seeks to nurture inquiry and conversation regarding the character, problems, contributions and prospects of the historic institutions and commitments of American Christianity in ways that mutually benefit both scholars and religious leaders. The Sabbatical Grants for Researchers program supports research and research-related projects undertaken in the interest of Christian churches in North America.

Background: Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive, educational experience. One of only 141 schools with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,600 traditional day students, 750 College of Professional and Liberal Studies adult undergraduates and 3,500 graduate and doctoral students. Steeped in the 450-year Jesuit tradition of scholarship and service, Saint Joseph's was named to the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for General Community Service. The University strives to be recognized as the preeminent Catholic comprehensive university in the Northeast.