DESCRIPTION: The course is an introduction to historical perspectives on Christian faith in relationship to democratic responsibility and political engagement.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) This course should enable students to acquire a basic understanding of the biblical mandate of influencing contemporary society through democratic means. It will help students understand political engagement and opinion building, as they emerge out of the prophetic responsibility of the church. (2) It will provide case studies from the experience of the instructor in the Swedish Parliament, Nordic Assembly, and the UN to give students tools for involvement in the political process in their own country. (3) The course will, through the biblical and historical background and perspectives on Christians involved in politics, offer a heightened appreciation of the practice of democracy. (4) Students will increase their critical skills in reading, writing, and discussing through the examination of specific aspects of Christianity and the practice of politics.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: By motivating and inspiring Christians to be involved in the political process in their contemporary society the course will enable students to take part in the prophetic and democratic responsibility of the church. The course seeks to lead students to a broader perspective on how Christian values can be identified and then expressed in contemporary political engagement.

COURSE FORMAT: Class will meet once a week for a four-hour session for lectures, with discussion sessions devoted to student papers as assigned (see below).

REQUIRED READING:

Eidsmoe, John. God & Caesar: Christian Faith & Political Action. Crossway Books, 1984.

Ellul, Jacques. The Politics of God & the Politics of Man. Eerdmans, 1972.

Marshall, Paul. Thine Is the Kingdom: A Biblical Perspective on the Nature of Government and Politics Today. Eerdmans, 1984 (out of print, but copies available).

Minnery, Tom. Why You Can't Stay Silent: A Biblical Mandate to Shape Our Culture. Tyndale, 2001.

Tutu, Desmond. No Future Without Forgiveness. Doubleday, 1999.

Wallis, Jim. God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.

Winter, Bruce W. Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens. First-Century Christians in the Graeco-Roman World. Eerdmans/Paternoster, 1994.

Yoder, John Howard. The Christian Witness to the State. Faith and Life Press, 1964.

Henry, Paul B. Politics for Evangelicals. Judson Press, 1974 (out of print).

Hinchliff, Peter. Holiness and Politics. Eerdmans, 1982 (out of print).

Mouw, Richard J. Politics and the Biblical Drama. Eerdmans, 1976.

The Political Ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas, Representative Selections. Ed. with an Introduction by Dino Bigongiari. Hafner Press, 1953.

Simon, Arthur. Christian Faith & Public Policy: No Ground for Divorce. Eerdmans, 198.

Snyder, Howard A. A Kingdom Manifesto. InterVarsity Press, 1986 (out of print).

Tinder, Glenn. The Political Meaning of Christianity: The Prophetic Stance. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.

Whitehead, John. Christians Involved in the Political Process. Moody Press, 1994.

Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. Eerdmans, 1972.