Summer 2020/Fuller Online

ET528

Mustol

ET528: CREATION CARE AND SABBATH ECONOMICS. (4 Units: 160 hours). John Mustol.[1]

DESCRIPTION: In a time of increasing ecological stress and economic inequality that threaten human well-being, justice, and the integrity of God’s creation, Christians are called to faithfully steward God’s creation and to bear witness to God’s justice. This course studies biblical, theological, and ethical principles for ecological and economic responsibility and care. Study includes ethics, history, ecological and economic systems, globalization, biblical and theological principles of creation care, "sabbath economics," justice and love, the life and teachings of Jesus and the Kingdom of God as they relate to our current ecological and economic context.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: On successful completion of the course, students will demonstrate that they have (1) increased their biblical, theological, economic, and ecological knowledge in understanding the current economic system, social-cultural norms, structures, and practices and how these have led to injustice and ecological decline; (2) gained knowledge of our Christian prophetic heritage and biblical, theological, and ethical resources available for care of creation and sabbath economics; (3) appreciate the key role of people of color and poor and marginalized people in creation care and economic justice; and (4) learned positive ways in which Christians can take action and acquired competency for teaching and leading others in sabbath economics and creation care in their ministries and local settings.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course studies the theology and ethics of creation care and sabbath economics that inform our personal and corporate responsibility as followers of Jesus. The course seeks to implement the SOT PLO ‘Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically and informed theological and ethical reflection.’

COURSE FORMAT: The course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with one another, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, readings, interactions, and other activities that promote active learning, critical thinking, thoughtful reflection, and deeper spiritual and moral life.

REQUIRED READING: (approx. 1200 pages)

Bouma-Prediger, Steven. For the Beauty of the Earth. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801036958, Pub. Price: $28.00. Available as e-book in the Fuller library [183 pp. assigned].

Davis, Ellen. Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0521732239, Pub. Price: $32.99. Available as e-book in the Fuller library [180 pp. assigned].

Horsley, Richard A. Covenant Economics: A Biblical Vision of Justice for All. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233952, Pub. Price $27.00. [180 pp. assigned].

Kinsler, Ross and Gloria Kinsler. The Biblical Jubilee and the Struggle for Life. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1999. ISBN: 978-1570752896, Pub. Price $25.00. [163 pp. assigned].

Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2015. ISBN: 978-1612783864, Pub. Price $12.95. Available online at: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html[180 pp. assigned].

Course Packet (accessible electronically) [280 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bahnson, Fred and Norman Wirzba. Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830834570, Pub. Price: $18.00.

Bauckham, Richard. The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-1602583108, Pub. Price: $29.95.

Berry, Wendell. The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry. Edited by Norman Wirzba. Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2003. ISBN: 978-1593760076. Pub. Price: $15.95.

Brower, Michael and Warren Leon. The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0609802816, Pub. Price: $15.00.

Bullard, Robert D. Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality. 3rd ed. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1990, 1994, 2000. ISBN: 978-0813367927, Pub. Price: $48.95.

Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford University Press, 1949, 1968. ISBN: 978-0195007770, Pub. Price: $12.95.

McKibben, Bill. Hope Human and Wild: True Stories of Living Lightly on the Earth. Milkweed, 2007. ISBN: 978-1571313003, Pub. Price: $15.00.

Moltmann, Jürgen. God in Creation: A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 978-0800628239, Pub. Price: $29.00.

Moo, Douglas J. and Jonathan A. Moo. Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018. ISBN: 978-0310293743, Pub. Price: $24.99.

Santmire, H. Paul. The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985, 1991. ISBN: 978-0800618063, Pub. Price: $24.00.

Schaeffer, Francis A. and Udo Middelmann. Pollution and the Death of Man: The Christian View of Ecology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1970, 2011. ISBN: 978-1433519475, Pub. Price: $18.99.

Sittler, Joseph. Evocations of Grace: Writings on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics. Edited by Steven Bouma-Prediger and Peter Bakken. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0802846778, Pub. Price: $26.50.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. ~1,200 pages required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4]. [75 hrs.].
  2. Weekly Lessons including audio files, videos, teacher’s posts, student comments, other directed learning activities (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4] [20 hrs.].
  3. Weekly Forums. 200 to 250-word weekly initial forum posts, and two 100-word weekly forum responses (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4] [15 hrs.].
  4. Field Trip: Each student will visit an organization such as an intentional community, business, church, nonprofit organization, government agency, or other entity that deals with or promotes economic justice or ecological care. Write (4 pp) one of the following: (1) a journal reflecting on your experience as a volunteer/participant, or (2) a critical report on your interview of a representative or official in the organization, community, or agency (20%). Due week 5. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3 and 4]. [10 hrs.].
  5. Critical Review of a Movie on Economics or Ecology. Each student will view and write a critical review of a movie of her/his choice on one of these topics. A list of acceptable movies will be provided. (Examples include The Big Short, Chasing Ice, Do the Math, Food Inc, Panic: The Untold Story of the 2008 Financial Crisis, Erin Brockovich.) Other movies may be acceptable but will require instructor approval. Write a critical review (4 pp) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [5 hrs.].
  6. Final Project. Each student will complete a final project. They may choose from the following options. Students must choose an option and submit a proposal for their paper for instructor approval no later than Week 8; paper due last day of quarter (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4] [35 hrs.]:
    1. Research paper (10-12 pages) examining an economic or ecological issue within the purview of the course (e.g. globalization, climate change, wealth inequality, environmental racism, environmental justice, the impact of the globalized economy or climate change on a local community, etc.). The paper will include: (1) use of course readings, lectures, and other sources, (2) a biblical-theological assessment of the issue with recommendations for Christian action. (More detailed instructions will be given in the course.)
    2. Plan or Strategy (10-12 pages) for approaching economic justice and ecological ethics in the setting of a particular church, community, or Christian organization.
    3. Curriculum (10-12 pages). Student may develop a curriculum for teaching/training in creation care or sabbath economics for their local church or Christian organization.
    4. Economic or ecological video. The student may produce a video (10-12 minutes) that addresses an aspect of sabbath economics or creation care that could be used in a congregation or Christian organization to encourage action in these areas.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C1 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

[1] Appreciation is given to Dr. Hak Joon Lee for allowing use of his materials for this ECD.

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.