Summer 2019/Phoenix
ET522
Christian

ET522: CHRISTIAN ETHICAL TRADITIONS: LIBERATIONIST, EVANGELICAL, AND EMERGENT (4 Units: 160 Hours). Charles W. Christian

DESCRIPTION: Developing a strong Christian ethic means being aware of key traditions that influence our approaches to ethics. This is because particular ethical traditions face specific cultural, moral, and political challenges and responsibilities. This course will explore key portions of the Christian ethical landscape, with special focus upon Liberationist (e.g., African-American, Latino/a, and Feminist ethics), Evangelical (including Protestant influences of major Evangelical traditions), and Emergent church perspectives. Students will be invited to engage these perspectives and enter into dialogue in such a way that allows a generous conversation with these traditions in relation to the student’s own background and influences.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) a beginning understanding of a range of Christian ethical traditions, both theologically and practically; (2) the ability to interact critically and sympathetically with the various Christian approaches to ethics, including variations in gender, race, and ethnicity; (3) consideration of the importance and necessity of Christian engagement in society; (4) the development of one’s own approach to Christian ethics by carefully identifying with one or more traditions; and (5) a developing approach to ministry that recovers or creates ways of shaping Christian life as a practical application of Christian ethics.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets as a two-week intensive. The first week, the class meets on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for three-hour sessions and Saturday for an eight-hour session. The second week, the class meets on Monday, Tuesday and Friday for three-hour sessions and Saturday for a four-hour session for a total of 30 hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,250 pages of required reading

De la Torre, Miguel A. Doing Ethics From the Margins. 2nd edition. Orbis, 2014. ISBN: 978-1626980754, Pub. Price $35.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [377 pp. assigned].

Penner, Myron B., ed. Christianity and the Postmodern Turn: Six Views. Brazos Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1587431081, Pub. Price $26.00 [240 pp.].

Sanders, Cheryl J. Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People: A Path to African American Social Transformation. Fortress Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-0800629175, Pub. Price $17.00 [152 pp. assigned].

Wells, Samuel. Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics. Brazos Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-1-4412-1288-7, Pub. Price $24.00 [240 pp. assigned].

Plus choose ONE of the following:

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. Spiegel and Grau, 2015 ISBN: 978-0812993547, Pub. Price $24.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [176 pp.]

DeYoung, C.P. and Karen Chai Kim, et al. United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation As An Answer to the Problem of Race. Oxford Press USA, 2003. ISBN: 978-0195177527, Pub. Price $19.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [240 pp.].

Dyson, Michael Eric. Between God and Gangsta Rap: Bearing Witness to Black Culture. Oxford, 1996. ISBN: 978-0195115697, Pub. Price $24.95 [240 pp.].

Harris, Paula and Douglas Schaupp. Being White. IVP, 2004. ISBN: 978-0830832477, Pub. Price $18.00. [192 pp.].

Ingersoll, Julie. Evangelical Christian Women: War Stories in the Gender Battles. NYU Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0814737699, Pub. Price $89.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [191 pp.].

Law, Eric H.F. The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community. Chalice Press, 1993. ISBN: 978-0827242319, Pub. Price $19.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [131 pp.].

Tyson, Tim. Blood Done Sign My Name. Three Rivers Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1400083114, Pub. Price $16.00. [368 pp.].

Volf, Miraslov. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon Press, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687002825, Pub. Price $29.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [336 pp.].Volf, Miraslov. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon Press, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687002825, Pub. Price $29.99 [336 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1,250 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, and 3] [75 hours].
Students will write an analysis and critique of the chosen book option (Coates, Garcia, or Storkey) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 4] [15 hours, including 10 hours of DLAs].
Two case studies (approximately 1,000 words each) addressing ethics from various Christian ethical traditions and ethnic perspectives (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4 and 5] [15 hours total].
A research paper, around 2,500 words (12 point Times New Roman, double-spaced, one inch margins), addressing key themes of this course, illustrating the student’s ability to interact withdiversetheological perspectives and concluding with the student’s perspective and analysis. The paper will focus upon at least two different Christian ethical perspectives,one of which must be from a different race, ethnicity, or gender than that of the student, on an ethical issue. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #4 and 5] [25 hours].
Classroom time [30 hours] -- Lecture, videos, group discussion, and case discussions.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills C4 or C5 requirement. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in Ethics (ETH).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.