This essay examines the broad spectrum of Christian responses to Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning and urges caution when integrating Kohlberg's theory with Christian Scripture. The past integrative models of Motet (1978), Shepard (1994), and Gibson (2004) are found to be problematic. Criticisms are also raised concerning the empirical validity of Kohlberg's theory and its compatibility with New Testament ethics. In the end, this essay calls into question Kohlberg's framework of lower and higher stages of moral reasoning, especially when this framework is used prescriptively.
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