Summer 2020/Fuller Online

ET525

Huber

ET525: THE ETHICS OF DIETRICH BONHOEFFER. (4 Units: 160 hours). Ryan Michael Huber.

DESCRIPTION: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor, theologian, and resistor of the Nazi regime, has been claimed as an ethicist of responsibility, peace, divine command, and more. In this class we will explore Bonhoeffer primarily as an ethicist of formation. Formation lies at the heart of Bonhoeffer’s ethical project and links the realities of discipleship and ethics in his historical context, personal story, and theological writings. We will engage these themes from within our own contexts in order to better practice and understand discipleship and ethics in our life together as Christians.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will (1) demonstrate historical and theological understanding of the major facets of the ethical thinking and life story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer; (2) deepen the theological (especially Christological) grounding of their own ethics; (3) engage the insights of Bonhoeffer’s theology and ethics (most notably, formation, discipleship, and life together as the Body of Christ) for their own life, ministry and contemporary social and political involvement; and (4) situate and evaluate their own ethical thinking in relation to ethics of formation, virtue ethics, character ethics, and ethics of responsibility.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Electives fulfill the MAT PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study.” Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 pp. required.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Fortress, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800683245, Pub. Price $21.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [118 pp. assigned].

________. Ethics. Fortress, 2008. ISBN:978-0800683269, Pub. Price $39.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [338 pp. assigned].

________. Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible. Fortress, 2004. ISBN:978-0800683252, Pub. Price $21.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [118 pp. assigned].

Huber, Ryan. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ethics of Formation. Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2020. ISBN: 978-1978701717, Pub. Price $95.00. [250 pp. assigned]. SEE NOTE

Stassen, Glen Harold. A Thicker Jesus: Incarnational Discipleship in a Secular Age. Westminster John Knox, 2012. ISBN: 978-0664238179, Pub. Price $27.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [163 pp. assigned].

Course Packet (accessible electronically). [Approx. 200 pp.].

Note: The book Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ethics of Formation, by Ryan Huber, and published by Fortress Press/Lexington Books, should be available prior to the start of the course in June of 2020. Dr. Huber should have a discount code by June to reduce the price. If further production delays occur, Dr. Huber will distribute PDF proofs of the book at no charge. An e-book version should also be available.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bethge, Eberhard. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography. Fortress Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0800628444, Pub. Price $59.00.

Dahill, Lisa E. Reading from the Underside of Selfhood: Bonhoeffer and Spiritual Formation. Pickwick Publications, 2009. ISBN: 978-1556354250, Pub. Price $35.00.

De Gruchy, John, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0521587815, Pub. Price $41.99.

Kelly, Geffrey, and Burton Nelson. The Cost of Moral Leadership: The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802805119, Pub. Price $28.00.

Rasmussen, Larry L. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reality and Resistance. Westminster John Knox Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664230111, Pub. Price $35.00.

Tödt, Heinz Eduard. Authentic Faith: Bonhoeffer’s Theological Ethics in Context. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN 978-0802803825, Pub. Price $28.00.

Williams, Reggie L. Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. Baylor University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1602588059, Pub. Price $39.95.

Zimmermann, Jens. Incarnational Humanism: A Philosophy of Culture for the Church in the World. ISBN: 978-0830839032, Pub. Price $38.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3] [70 hours].
2. Weekly lessons including audio files, videos, teacher’s posts, other directed learning activities [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [20 hours].
3. 250-word weekly forum posts based on readings (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [10 hours].
4. Two 100-word weekly forum responses (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2-4] [10 hours].
5. Completion of two 5-page essays (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [20 hours].
6. A research essay on one major theological or ethical motif in Bonhoeffer’s writings, engaging this motif from within your own ethical, cultural, and political context [3,000 words] (30%) OR students may choose to write a journal of 4 substantial entries in dialogue with required reading throughout quarter, engaging Bonhoeffer’s writings from the perspective of your own contemporary ministry and personal context [3,000 words] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Auditors must complete all assignments.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.