DESCRIPTION:

A careful, critical, common reading and analysis of eight books by the two most influential Christian ethicists in the U.S. in this century, and comparison and critical assessment of their approaches to theological and social ethics in their historical context and current importance. Themes include the meaning of revelation, responsible selfhood and human nature, Christian realism, historical relativism and postmodernism, church practice, understanding God's action in history, and love and justice.

We learn Christian discipleship in part by testing the fruitfulness of major ways of doing Christian ethics in the laboratory of history and church practice. The Niebuhrs have shaped many teachers and practitioners of Christian ethics; we have much to learn from them, and much to learn from assessing them critically and appreciatively in their historical context; thus, the seminar has direct relevance for church history and Christian theology as well as theological ethics.

Seminar discussions, in which we help each other understand, analyze, compare and assess the approach of the two different Niebuhr brothers in their historical context. Offered primarily for doctoral students, the seminar is open on a limited basis to qualified master's level students.

Fox, Richard Wrightman. Reinhold Niebuhr. Harper & Row, 1987.

Niebuhr, H. Richard. The Meaning of Revelation. Macmillan, 1941.

_________. The Kingdom of God in America. Harper, 1959. OR

_________. The Purpose of the Church and Its Ministry. Harper, 1956.

_________. The Responsible Self. Harper & Row, 1963.

_________. Theology, History and Culture. Yale University Press, 1996.

Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Irony of American History. Scribner, 1984. OR

_________. Moral Man and Immoral Society. Scribner, 1960.

_________. The Nature & Destiny of Man, Vol. I and II. Westminster/John Knox, 1996.

_________. Love and Justice. Westminster/John Knox, 1992.

_________. Justice and Mercy. Westminster/John Knox, 1991.

Stassen, Glen; Diane Yeager; and John Howard Yoder. Authentic Transformation: A New Vision of Christ and Culture. Abingdon, 1996.

Attend all seminar sessions prepared to analyze the readings of the day. Prepare a paper that assesses how one Niebuhr (or both) approaches a particular ethical issue, or that focuses on how a Niebuhrian ethical or theological assumption responds to their historical context and underlies his or their approach to ethical issues. The common reading and shared analysis is a very large part of the seminar, and weekly analysis of the reading is more emphasized than some seminars; accordingly, the expectation for the paper might have to be somewhat less extensive. Reduced assignment to be negotiated for 500 level students.

For master's level students: one prior course each in Christian ethics, theology, and church history, and permission of instructor.

Elective.

None. At the time of the exam, we may meet to discuss students' papers.