DESCRIPTION: This introduction to Christian ethics aims to identify and compare
fundamental assumptions that shape how Christians exercise their Christian
discipleship, seeking a method that aids repentance and correction, and growth
in wholeness and commitment to serve Jesus Christ as Lord in all of life and
ministry. The agenda will be set by the Sermon on the Mount, and so issues of
violence and peacemaking, sanctity of life, sexual faithfulness, truth-telling,
love, justice (economic, racial, and ecological), and prayer will be
included.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Christian ministers teach Christians to be
disciples and to make disciples, equipping persons to be Christians in
character and lifestyle, followers of Christ, rather than unaware captives of a
secular culture. Christian ethics seeks to develop skills for that central
ministry, which is at the heart of what Jesus did and taught. Such skills begin
with growth in our own Christian ethics as well as understanding the
fundamental assumptions in others' ethics. We will study how biblical and
theological faith are integrated with experiential information in growing
character and in confronting moral problems faced by church members and other
folks. Each topic will have a focus on practices of Christian churches, and not
only on individual decision-making.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: The first course objective is that you understand and
dialogue with some of the key variables in different ways of reasoning besides
your own. Second, that your own ethics grows in its relation with biblical
faith, especially Jesus' kingdom ethics, and in your ability to explain your
ethics to someone else. Third, that you increase your skill in teaching or
communicating your Christian ethics in your present and future places of
ministry and in helping others live Christian ethics. Fourth, that you be able
to reason articulately in relation to several contemporary ethical issues that
we will study. Fifth, that the course's holistic method, with its variables,
help you identify key ingredients in reasoning ethically about other issues
beyond those we can study in this one term.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week
lesson program aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. Each week, students and
the instructor will interact with the material and each other through threaded
discussions, live Internet "chats," and written assignments. Lectures for each
lesson will be available online.
REQUIRED READING: