Fall 2018/Fuller Online

ET501
Christian

ET501: CHRISTIAN ETHICS (4 Units: 163 hours). Dr. Charles W. Christian

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DESCRIPTION: A foundational course in Christian ethics that studies core Christian ethical vision, values, and convictions (telos, norms, and virtues) shaping and guiding Christian moral agency, decisions, and ecclesial practices. The course discusses the methods of ethical decisions, authority of Scripture, formation of moral agency, norms of love and justice, together with the issues of economic, racial, and ecological justice, the sanctity of life, sexual faithfulness, and violence and peacemaking with special attention to global, pluralistic contexts of Christian ministry today.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will demonstrate that they (1) understand core Christian moral convictions, vision, values, and virtues of Christian faith (the kingdom of God, covenant, law, cruciformity/cross, love and justice, human dignity, nonviolence, community, etc.); (2) have learned the basic skills of critical moral description, analysis, and ethical reasoning; (3) understand and can assess different ethical views and assumptions besides their own; (4) have gained competence in teaching Christian ethics in their own particular social contexts and in articulating their moral convictions in the public realm in conversations with others; (5) have learned how to identify and apply core Christian vision, values, and virtues to major contemporary ethical issues.

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. 1,200 pp. of required reading.

Stassen, Glen, and David Gushee. Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2016. ISBN: 978-0802874214, Pub.Price $40.00 [400 pp. assigned].

Wright, Christopher J.H. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. IVP Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839612, Pub. Price $35.00 [520 pp. assigned]

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SETS:

SET 1:

Evans, James Jr. We Shall All Be Changed: Social Problems and Theological Renewal. Fortress Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0800630843, Pub. Price $24.00 [120 pp. assigned]

Harrison, Beverly Wildung. Justice in the Making: Feminist Social Ethics. Westminster/John Knox, 2004. ISBN: 978-0664227746, Pub. Price $30.00 [235 pp. assigned].

SET 2:

King, Jr., M.L. Why We Can’t Wait. Signet Classics Edition, 2000. ISBN: 978-0451527530, Pub. Price $9.99 [166 pp. assigned].

Welch, Sharon. A Feminist Ethic of Risk. Fortress Press, 1990. ISBN: 978-0800631857, Pub. Price $25.00 [208 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Baker-Fletcher, Garth Kasimu. Dirty Hands: Christian Ethics in a Morally Ambiguous World. Fortress Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0800630782, Pub. Price $17.00 [156 pp.]

Batstone, David. Saving the Corporate Soul – and Who Knows? – Maybe Your Own. Jossey Bass, 2003. ISBN: 978-0787964801, Pub. Price $26.95 [250 pp.]

Grenz, Stanley J. The Moral Quest. Intervarsity, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830815685, Pub. Price: $30.00 [379 pp.]

Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament. HarperCollins, 1996. ISBN: 978-0060637965, Pub. Price: $26.99 [520 pp.]

Heyer, Kristen. Kinship Across Borders: A Christian Ethics of Immigration. Georgetown University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-1589019300, Pub price $29.95 [208 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 [256 pp.]

Lebacqz, Karen and Joe Driskill. Ethics and Spiritual Care. Abingdon, 2000. ISBN: 978-0687071562, Pub. Price $21.99 [174 pp.]

Marsh, Charles and John Perkins. Welcoming Justice: God’s Movement Toward Beloved Community. IVP, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830834532, Pub. Price $17.00 [140 pp.]

Sanders, Cheryl. Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People. Fortress Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-0800629175, Pub. Price: $18.00 [152 pp.]

Sider, Ronald J. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. Rev. Ed. Thomas Nelson, 2010. ISBN: 978-0849945304, Pub. Price $15.99 [368 pp.]

Smedes, Lewis. Sex for Christians: The Limits and Liberties of Sexual Living. Eerdmans, 1994. ISBN: 978-0802807434, Pub. Price: $22.00 [244 pp.]

Stassen, Glen, ed. Just Peacemaking: The New Paradigm for the Ethics of Peace and War. Pilgrim Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0829817935, Pub. Price $20.00 [224 pp.]

Wells, Samuel. Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics. Brazos Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-1441212887, Pub. Price $24.00 ($13.20, Kindle). [240 pp.]

Yarhouse, Mark. Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture. Intervarsity, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830828593, Pub. Price: $20.00 [191 pp.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [80 hours].
2. Viewing of video lectures, videos, and PowerPoint presentations. [25 hours].
3. 3 substantive weekly forum posts minimum (approx. 100 words each) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3] [12 hours].
4. Two responses to forum posts each week minimum (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3] [8 hours].
5. One 500-word Case Study based upon assigned texts and lectures. Special emphasis will be placed upon the Evans/Wildung or King/Welch book set– whichever the student chooses. (30% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [3 hours].
6. One book review, approximately 800 words from the student’s assigned reading book set (15% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3]. [5 hours].
7. 3,000 word term paper (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3 and 4]. [30 hours]. The final term paper is the signature assignment for ET501. The scholarly paper has to engage at least two different Christian ethical perspectives on the same ethical issue or variable, e.g. human dignity, justice, power, in light of a student’s own particular cultural context.

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. Meets MAT program requirement (Winter 2010) and Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for other MA degrees (Winter 2010).

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.