Fall 2004/Pasadena
ET501
Stassen

ET501: CHRISTIAN ETHICS. Glen Stassen.


DESCRIPTION:

This introduction to Christian ethics aims to identify and compare basic convictions, regular practices, and dimensions of character 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.

RELEVANCE FOR 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 in understanding the fundamental assumptions in others' ethics. We will study how biblical and theological faith are integrated with experiential information in growing character, in confronting moral problems, and in practices of Christian churches.

COURSE FORMAT:
Lectures and discussion. Class will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Strength to Love. Walker & Co., 1996.

Sider, Ronald. Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America. Baker, 1999.

Stassen, Glen and David Gushee. Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Students will also choose one of the following parallel reading tracks:
  1. Kimball, Charles. When Religion Becomes Evil. HarperSanFrancisco, 2002. And
    Stassen, Glen, ed. Just Peacemaking: Ten Practices for Abolishing War. Pilgrim, 1998 or 2004.

  2. Roberts, Samuel K. African American Christian Ethics. Pilgrim, 2001.

  3. De La Torre, Miguel A. Reading the Bible from the Margins. Orbis, 2002. And
    Tooley, Michelle. Voices of the Voiceless: Women, Justice, and Human Rights in Guatemala. Herald, 1997.

  4. Smedes, Lewis. Mere Morality. Eerdmans, 1987. And
    Mount, Eric. Covenant, Community, and the Common Good. Pilgrim, 1999.

  5. Clark, David K. and Robert V. Rakestraw. Readings in Christian Ethics, Vol. 2: Issues and Applications. Baker, 1996.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Reading and analyzing assigned texts; class participation; five brief-essay quizzes. Optional term paper on suggested topics.

PREREQUISITES:
None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
Meets M. Div. core requirement in Christian Ethics (ETH).

FINAL EXAMINATION:
No final exam; students may make up a quiz at exam time.