Winter 2010/Pasadena
ET837/537
Murphy

ET837/537: ANABAPTIST ETHICS AND THEOLOGY. Nancey Murphy.


DESCRIPTION: This is a 6-unit seminar for doctoral students, also offered at the 500-level as a 4-unit course open to a limited number of master's level students. The purpose of the seminar is to examine ethical issues of particular relevance to the radical-reformation tradition, as well as to consider other current ethical issues from an Anabaptist perspective. The course will begin with a historical survey of radical church theology in order to see its relevance to Anabaptist ethical stances.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course aims to make students involved in contemporary radical-reformation churches more aware of and intentional in adhering to and developing from their own theological roots and for students from other traditions to provide points of contrast and comparison with their own theological and ethical positions. These aims are relevant both to scholarship and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course (1) will have demonstrated familiarity with both contemporary and historical sources; (2) will have enhanced ability to think critically about the relations among theology generally, ecclesiology in particular, and ethics; (3) will have demonstrated ability to write clearly and critically on issues relating to the course; and (4) will have enhanced appreciation of traditions and ethical positions different from their own.

COURSE FORMAT: This is a bi-level course for advanced master's students and for PhD and ThM students. The class will meet once per week for a three-hour session. A small part of class time will be devoted to introductory lectures; most to discussions of the assigned readings.

REQUIRED READING:

Estep, William R. The Anabaptist Story, 3rd ed. Eerdmans, 1996 (230 pages).

Lind, Millard. Yahweh is a Warrior: The Theology of Warfare in Ancient Israel. Harold Press, 1980 (175 pages).

McClendon, James. Ethics: Systematic Theology, Volume 1, 2nd ed. Abingdon, 2002 (350 pages).

Miller, Roman J., et al., eds. Viewing New Creations with Anabaptist Eyes. Cascadia, 2005 (295 pages).

Murphy, Nancey, and G. F. R. Ellis. On the Moral Nature of the Universe: Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics. Fortress, 1996 (150 pages).

Thiessen Nation, Mark. John Howard Yoder: Mennonite Patience, Evangelical Witness, Catholic Convictions. Eerdmans, 2006 (200 pages).

Weaver-Zercher, David, and W. H. Willimon, eds. Vital Christianity: Spirituality, Justice, and Christian Practice. T & T Clark, 2005 (235 pages).

Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus, 2nd. ed. Eerdmans, 1994 (250 pages).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Careful reading of texts; regular attendance; class participation.
PhD and ThM students: six 3-page (900 word) papers due in preparation for class sessions (40% of grade), one 20-page (6000 word) paper due at end of term (60%).
Master's-level students, one 10-15 page paper (60%), four 3-page papers (40%).

PREREQUISITES: Master's students: previous coursework in ethics, G.P.A. of 3.5.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective at master's level.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/09)