Summer 2018/Online

ET513

Kaemingk

ET513: PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL ETHICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Matthew Kaemingk.

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DESCRIPTION: This course will examine the ethical relationship between the church and society.We will explore and apply evangelical approaches to a variety of ethical issues including human sexuality, race, the environment, economics, and politics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated: (1) the ability to understand a theological bases for Christian ethics in the public square, (2) the ability to apply different ethical approaches to the church’s public witness in civic discourse,(3) confidence in the way of Jesus and humility in offering a Christian ethic in the public square, and(4) the ability to evaluate contemporary social issues and offer a theological basis for a Christian moral response to those issues in a winsome manner.

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: Approx. 1,300 pages required.

King, Martin Luther. Strength to Love. Fortress Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800697402. Pub Price $24.00. [109 pp.].

Lovin, Robin. Christian Faith and Public Choices: The Social Ethics of Barth, Brunner, and Bonhoeffer. Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800617776. Out of print, available as a used book. [158 pp.].

Wilkens, Steve ed. Christian Ethics: Four Views. IVP Academic, 2017. ISBN:978-0830840236. Pub Price $21.00 [150 pp.].

Selected Reading: Students select only four categories (Approx. 850 pages)

1. Creation Ethics

Davis, Ellen. Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. Cambridge, 2009. ISBN:978-0521732239. Pub. Price $30.99 [120 pp.].

Berry, Wendell. Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community. Pantheon, 1993. ISBN: 978-0679756514. Pub. Price $9.98 [80 pp.].

2. Sexual Ethics

Jones, Beth Felker. Faithful: A Theology of Sex. Zondervan, 2015. ISBN:978-0310518273. Pub. Price $11.99 [90 pp.].

Simon, Caroline. Bringing Sex Into Focus: The Quest for Sexual Integrity. InterVarsity Press, 2012. ISBN:978-0830836376. Pub. Price $17.00 [150 pp.].

3. Cultural Ethics

Rah, Soong-Chan. The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830833603. Pub Price $18.00 [200 pp.].

4. Interfaith Ethics

Kaemingk, Matthew. Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in An Age of Fear. Eerdmans, 2018. ISBN:978-0802874580. Pub. Price $28.00 [236 pp.].

5. Political Ethics

Koyzis, David T. Political Visions and Illusions. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830827268. Pub. Price $27.00 [200 pp. assigned].

6. Economic Ethics

Keller, Timothy and Katherine Leary Alsdorf.Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work.Dutton, 2012.ISBN:978-0525952701, Pub. Price $26.95 [250 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Boesak, Allan A. Farewell to Innocence: A Socio-Ethical Study on Black Theology and Black Power. Orbis Books, 1976. ISBN: 978-0883441305. Out of Print. [185 pp.].

Bonino, Jose Miguez. Christians and Marxists: The Mutual Challenge to Revolution. Wm. B. Eerdmans Co, 1976. ISBN: 978-0802834775. Out of Print. [157 pp.].

Lee, Hak Joon. The Great World House: Martin Luther King, JR and Global Ethics. Pilgrim Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0829818215. Pub. Price $25.00 [265 pp.].

Mott, Stephen. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199739370. Pub. Price $35.95 [264 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Class discussion and participation. Two weekly posts (250 words each). (40% of total grade). [This is related to all learning outcomes] [20 hours].
2. 1,300 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes]. [85 hours].
3. Weekly Lessons. [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes] [10 hours].
4. Reflection Papers. Students will complete four reflection papers on the four ethical categories that they select (politics, economics, sexual, etc). Each reflection paper will be four pages long (40% of total grade). [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes]. [20 hours].
5. Final paper (3000 words). The final term paper is the signature assignment for ET513. This scholarly paper has to engage at least two different Christian ethical perspectives on the same ethical issue or variable in light of a student’s own particular cultural context (20% of total grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3 and #4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills the TH5 or TH6 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2016). Fulfills the TH6 requirement in the 80 MAT and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2016). Option to meet the C4 or TH5 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2014). Option to meet the C4 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets ETH in the 144 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.