TS505DE 10: Christian Social Ethics Dick Kantzer
Summer 2013 Bethel Seminary of the East
Online 6/17/13 to 8/23/13 cell: 609-651-3379
email:
Christian Social Ethics
Course [Catalog] Description:
A study of the ethical dimension of Christian theology. This class begins with an analysis of theoretical ethics, terminology, approaches, and biblical bases, and then concentrates on the application of ethical theory to specific ethical issues facing Christians today. [Four Credits]
Learning Outcomes:
1. Thinking: We will understand the ethical implications of the Christian God, Story, and Faith for Christians living together in community and in the world. We will understand the connection between theological realities and concrete social realities which provide the context for ministry praxis and personal formation.
2. Being: We will demonstrate, even if imperfectly, the humility and patient hope demanded of Christians living within tension and ambiguity due to the already realized but not yet consummated reality of Christian Kingdom life in the Spirit. We will become morally formed by the Spirit speaking in scripture and through conversation with one another and with authors we read.
3. Doing: We will read, read, and read and remember God’s Story, God’s people in the past and, above all, our Lord Jesus who loves us and gave himself for us sinners and for the world. We will practice interacting with one another about theology and life (Christian community in Discourse); reasoning together (Christian community in Deliberation); and practice, by God’s grace with God’s Spirit, coming to conclusions together which will lead us to concrete behaviors in our lives and communities (Christian community achieving a level of Discernment).
So we will gain skill in reflection on how the Christian Community’s life should be shaped by Word, Spirit, and Experience.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
1. Time. Based on a 130-140 hour requirement for this four (4) credit course, it is estimated that the student will invest 65-75 hours reading assignments, 35-40 hours on weekly Moodle assignments, and 25-35 hours preparing a team project case study.
2. Required Resources
De La Torre, Miguel A. Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins. Orbis, 2004.
Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation. A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. Harper, 1996
Stassen, Glen H. and David P. Gushee. Kingdom Ethics. Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. IVP, 2003
Supplementary Books – selected list.
Adeney, Bernard T. Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World. IVP, 1995
Atkinson, David J. et. al. Editors. New Dictionary of Christian Ethics & Pastoral Theology. IVP, 1995
Cameron, Nigel and Joni Tada. How to be a Christian in a Brave New World. Zondervan, 2006
Carter, James E. and Joe Trull. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation of Church Leaders. Baker, 2004 (2nd ed.)
Clark, David K., and Rakestraw, Robert V. eds. Readings in Christian Ethics. Issues and Applications. Baker, 1996
Colson, Charles, ed. Human Dignity in the Biotech Century: A Christian Vision for Public Policy. IVP, 2004
Corbett, Steve and Fikkert, Brian. When Helping Hurts. Moody, 2009
Davis, John J. Evangelical Ethics. Issues Facing the Church Today. P&R, 2004 (3rd ed.)
Dorrien, Gary. Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition.
Wiley-Blackwell, 2010
Dunnington, Kent. Addiction and Virtue: Beyond the Models of Disease and Choice. IVP, 2011
Green, Joel B. Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics. Baker, 2011
Grenz, Stanley J. The Moral Quest. Foundations of Christian Ethics. IVP, 1997
Hauerwas, Stanley. The Peaceable Kingdom. A Primer in Christian Ethics. Notre Dame, 1983 or SCM, 2003
Hollinger, Dennis P. Choosing the Good. Christian Ethics in a Complex World. Baker, 2002
Johnson, Luke Timothy. Scripture & Discernment. Decision Making in the Church. Abingdon, 1996 (revised 1983 ed.)
Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. Toward Old Testament Ethics. Zondervan, 1983
Kilner, John, ed. Cutting Edge Bioethics: A Christian Exploration of Technologies and Trends. Eerdmans, 2002
Kunhiyop, Samuel Waje. African Christian Ethics. Hippo Books (Zondervan), 2008
Longenecker, Richard N. New Testament Social Ethics for Today. Eerdmans, 1984
McClendon, James William, Jr. Systematic Theology. Ethics. Abingdon, 1986
Meeks, Wayne A. The Origins of Christian Morality: The First Two Centuries. Yale, 1993
Meilander, Gilbert. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Eerdmans, 2004 (2nd ed.)
Mott, Stephen C. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. Oxford UP, 2011 (2nd ed.)
O’Donovan, Oliver. Resurrection and Moral Order. An Outline for Evangelical Ethics. Revised. ed., Eerdmans, 1994
Shuman, Joel and Brian Volck. Reclaiming the Body: Christins and the Faithful Use of Modern Medicine. Brazos, 2006
Thompson, James W. Moral Formation according to Paul. Baker, 2011
Verhey,Allen. Remembering Jesus: ChristianCommunity, Scripture, and the Moral Life.Eerdmans,2002
Webb, William J. Slaves, Women, and Homosexuality. Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis. IVP, 2001
Wells, Samuel. Improvisation. The Drama of Christian Ethics. Baker, 2004
Wright, Christopher J. H. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. IVP, 2011
Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 1994
3. Assignments: Required Activities and Papers
1. Reading. This course will be a graduate seminar where every participant is expected to contribute for the good of all. To accomplish this online will not be easy but a minimal requirement is to complete your reading and post interactions as scheduled each week. 9 weeks X 10 pts = 90 total pts if on time; late reading earns 5 pts/week.
2. Weekly Written Interaction with Reading. A minimum of a one page [350-500 words] written interaction with the reading assignment is required each week. [This is NOT a synopsis or summary of content. You are welcome to write these but they won’t count]. This will be posted in the appropriate Forum and may be read by the class and will be graded by the instructor. You may comment on a position, an argument, a use of scripture, or bring up some issue from contemporary life showing why and how you think the class should address it in light of the week’s reading, or suggest a conceptual/behavioral response you are contemplating as a member of your Christian community. In other words (using categories from Verhey’s Remembering Jesus) provide and stimulate some Discourse (express your viewpoint), Deliberation (offer your persuasive argumentation for or against), or Discernment (help us remember Jesus in assessing our viewpoints, reading and remembering scripture and church history, and making choices). On the LAST DAY: in addition to the one page interaction with the reading, write up at least a one page FINAL REFLECTION ON THE ENTIRE COURSE AND YOUR LIFE. 9 weeks X 10 pts if on time [1 pt/wk penalty for late posts]. Final Reflection worth 10 points. 100 pts total.
3. Second Thoughts Discussion Forum. Each week the instructor or a student will post some “second thoughts” in reflection on issues raised by reading and posted interactions. Each member of the class should check on this weekly, think about the posted comments, then add a personal reflection interacting with the original posted thoughts and with at least two comments previously posted that week. We can experiment with allowing new threads or working on single threads to see what makes for the best conversation. In order to make this a genuine conversation the posting period will automatically be closed after two weeks time (let’s negotiate this to get something that works for all) and no late postings will be allowed. One (the lowest) posting grade may be dropped to accommodate emergencies. 8 weeks X 5 pts = 40 pts
4. Movie Review. Write a one page review assessing the social ethical stance of the movie Romero [starring Raul Julia; not the new bio movie which came out in 2012]. This movie is available in most public libraries. A form will be posted in a Moodle forum which gives questions to guide this review/assessment. Graded. May be read by class members. 30 pts
5. Group or Team Project in working out a jointly affirmed proposal which addresses a social ethical issue. During the last three weeks of the term you have reading assignments in De La Torre, Parts II, III, and IV, chapters 4-15. He addresses 9 issues of Global, National, or Business life. Each of these 9 issues is accompanied by 5 Case Studies. Each Team will Sign up for one of these 9 issues (first come, first serve); select one of the case studies; and prepare a 5 page [1500-2000 word] response in which you argue for a jointly agreed Christian position. If you fail to agree sufficiently to one position or a compromise position, then you will need to clarify how you differ and how important this difference is to your ability to work together, for example, on the leadership staff of a local church or school or parachurch agency such as a mission board or relief agency. You will be graded for accuracy of observation or “way of seeing” of the case study, bringing “basic convictions”, world view or theological values to bear on the issue (hermeneutics of scripture and persons), use of “ways of reasoning,” showing self-awareness of your own “loyalties, trusts, interests and passions,” and persuasiveness of the argument for the actual choice you make. For these categories, see Stassen/Gushee, p. 59ff. This will be Graded. Students may read and post comments on these projects but are not required to do so. Due by Week 9. See Course Schedule for project deadlines. 40 points
6. Non-Graded Assignment: Choose a (personal – not necessarily individual) ethical formation area of life to intentionally explore, become informed about, reflect on, confess, struggle, and grow in during this term. Examples: in areas of violence, ethnicity, wealth and poverty, nationalism/globalism. As a class we can pray together and help inform and shape one another concerning this selected area of living and character development.
4. Incomplete Policy
There will be no extensions for work in this class except for extenuating circumstances, family emergencies, or medical reasons. In such cases a “Course Work Petition” form must be completed by the student, signed by the Course Professor, and returned to the appropriate Dean prior to the conclusion of the last day of class. The final approval for petitions is granted by the Academic Programs Assessment and Accreditation Committee. (See the “Incomplete Policy” in the Student Handbook for further details.)
5. Disabilities
Any student, who because of a disability may require some special arrangements to meet course requirements, should contact the instructor or the Access Coordinator for the Bethel Office of Disability Services as soon as possible to discuss reasonable accommodations. Please see the Student Handbook, p. 12.
6. Grading
The requirements for this course will be evaluated with a grade (ABCDF). The grade will be determined as follows.
Requirements have been assigned point values. I will ask you to send me a statement in which you assign yourself point totals for each of the 5 requirements, including scores for reading which is not graded and the rest which are graded. Your final grade will be computed by averaging my point total with yours with the proviso that if there is a large discrepancy we will confer together and seek consensus. If no consensus is reached then I will assume the burden of this judgment.
non-qualitative points Student/Professor
1. Reading the texts on time: 9 weeks X 10 points ...... 90 pts
Reading the texts late 9 weeks X 5 points ...... 45 pts
qualitative points:
2. Interaction writing/+Final Reflection 9 wks X 10 pts + 10pts…...... 100 pts
3. ONLINE “Second Thoughts” 8 weeks X 5 points……..……………40 pts
4. Movie Review ………………………………………………………..30 pts
5. Team Projects ………………………………………………………..40 pts
6. Personal Ethical Formation area: ………………………. ..……..non-graded
Totals: ______/______
Average ______Grade______
The scale for letters: A = 276-300 Excellent 92%
B = 246-275 Exceed minimum 82%
C = 216-245 Passing, satisfactory 72%
D = 186-215 Passing, unsatisfactory 62%
F = below 62 Fail
Course Schedule of Topics and Readings
S/G = Stassen/Gushee; DLE=De La Torre
Readings Completed by Week –see Moodle for Calendar of Weeks
PART ONE: THEORY, METHOD, AUTHORITY
Week 1 Introduction, Syllabus, Initial Moodle Exercise (See Forum: Bribery, Tip, or Fee?) Hays. Preface and Intro 1-11. 4-Fold Task
S/G. Preface ix-xvi. Author’s Bio’s and Agenda
DLT. Acknowledgement, Preface, Ch 1: “Doing Christian Ethics” and Epilogue
Week 2 Biblical and Personal Foundations of Christian Social Ethics
Hays. 13-111 Paul, Mark, Matthew
S/G. 1: 1,2,3: (pp 19-78) Reign, Virtues, Holistic Character
Week 3 Hermeneutics of Scripture and Ethical Authority and Method
Hays. 112-312 (omit 215-290) Luke, Paul, John, Rev., Synthetic and Hermeneutic
S/G. 2: 4,5,6 (pp 79-145) Authority/Scripture, Norms, Sermon on the Mount
Due: Self Assessment on Hay’s Proposed Guidelines: Moodle.
Due: Team Topics Selected from DLT Parts II Global, III National, IV Business
PART TWO: ISSUES
Week 4 Violence, Peace, and Just War
Hays. 313-346 Violence
S/G. 3: 7,8,9 (pp 147-214) Just War, Peace, Restorative Penalties
Week 5 Divorce, Remarriage / DLT View from the Margins
Hays. 347-378 Divorce/Remarriage
S/G. 4:13 (pp 269-289) Marriage and Divorce
DLT. 2 De-Liberation of Ethics
DUE: Team Case Study Selection
Week 6 Sexuality and Homosexuality / DLT View from the Margins
Hays. 379-406 Homosexuality
S/G. 4: 14, 15 (pp 290-324) Sexual Roles, Gender
DLT. 3. Liberation of Ethics
Week 7 Race; Abortion and Life / DLT View from the Margins
Hays. 444-461 Abortion
S/G. 3: 10, 11, 12 (pp 215-267) Life at Beginning, Life at End, Biotechnology
S/G. 6: 19 (pp 389-408) Race
DLT. Part II: 4 Introducing Global Relationships
DUE: Team Plan for dividing work
Week 8 Global Ethical Issues: Poverty, War, Environment / / Love and Justice Imperatives
DLT Part II: 5, 6, 7 Poverty, War, Environment
S/G. 6:20, 21 (pp 409-446) Economics, Care of Creation
S/G 5:16, 17 (pp 325-365) Love, Justice
Week 9 National Issues: Poverty, Politics, Life and Death (Health Insurance/Capital Punishment)
DLT Part III: 8, 9, 10, 11 Poverty, Politics, Life and Death
S/G. 7: 22, 23 (pp 447-483) Prayer, Politics
Due: Team Project Posted on Moodle
Week 10 Business Ethical Issues
DLT Part IV: 12,13,14,15 Corporate Accountability, Affirmative Action, Private Property