Winter 2012/Pasadena
ET844/544
H. J. Lee
ET844/544: COVENANT AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS. Hak Joon Lee.
DESCRIPTION: This seminar studies the biblical foundation, theological
meaning, and moral significance of the idea of covenant in organizing our
personal and social life. Relying on Daniel Elazar's monumental survey on the
history of the covenant tradition in politics/ethics, the seminar examines the
contribution of the covenant tradition to the rise of a modern democracy, human
rights, and constitutionalism, while exploring its enduring significance in
today's global, pluralistic society for the renewal and ordering of various
spheres of life--politics, economics, family, medicine, international laws, and
religious organizations.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Covenant is biblically the most prominent
way that the triune God relates to God's creation, and has made a huge impact
on the shaping of the modern Western civilization. The knowledge of its
biblical and theological meaning is, therefore, crucial for Christians to
understand God's nature, economy (oikonomia), and demands for human
sanctified life. Its significance grows especially as American society
increasingly loses its covenantal underpinning in its cultural and
institutional life through the rise of secularization, postmodernism, and
individualism. The reconstruction of the idea of covenant is vital for the
public witness of the church in proclaiming the fullness of God's sovereignty
over every aspect of human life.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this seminar (1) will have demonstrated
their understanding of the significance of the biblical, theological, and
ethical meanings and significance of covenant for the Christian life; (2) will
have displayed their enhanced appreciation of the covenantal nature of our
relationship with God and other human beings/creatures in the context of their
personal, institutional, and social life; (3) will have shown their ability to
contrast and compare a covenant model of ethics from other forms of ethics; and
(4) will have demonstrated ability to apply covenant ethics to major social
issues of contemporary society.
COURSE FORMAT: Seminar discussions, weekly for three hours, to analyze,
compare, and assess the meaning and significance of covenant in Christian
ethics.
REQUIRED READING:
- Elazar, Daniel J. Covenant and Polity in Biblical Israel.
Volume 1 of The Covenant Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers,
1995. ISBN: 1560001518. Pub. price: $29.95 [450 pages].
- _______. Covenant and Commonwealth. Volume 2 of The Covenant
Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers, 1996. ISBN: 1560002085.
Pub. price: $59.95 [360 pages].
- _______. Covenant and Constitutionalism. Volume 3 of The Covenant
Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 1560002352.
Pub. price: $37.50 [380 pages].
- Horsley, Richard. Covenant Economics: A Biblical Vision of Justice for
All. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233952.
Pub. price: $25.00 [180 pages].
- Horton, Michael. Introducing Covenant Theology. Baker Books. 2009.
ISBN: 9780801071959. Pub. price: $17.99 [194 pages].
- May, William. Testing the National Covenant: Fears and Appetites in
American Politics. Georgetown University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1589017658.
Pub. price: $24.95 [164 pages].
- Stackhouse, Max L. Covenant and Commitment. Westminster/John Knox
Press, 1997. ISBN: 064254675. Pub. price: $30.00 [160 pages].
- Wright, N. T. The Climax of the Covenant. Fortress Press, 1993.
ISBN: 0800628276. Pub. price: $27.00 [267 pages].
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Allen, Joseph L. Love and Conflict: A Covenantal Model of
Christian Ethics. University Press of America, 1995. ISBN: 978-0687228065.
$54.00.
- Brueggemann, Walter. The Covenanted Self. Fortress Press, 1999.
ISBN: 0800631765. Pub. price: $19.00.
- May, Williams. The Physician's Covenant: Images of the Healer in Medical
Ethics. Westminster/John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 0664222749. Pub. price:
$30.00.
- Moot, Glenn. Politics Reformed: The Anglo-American Legacy of Covenant
Theology. University of Missouri Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0826218858.
Pub. price: $44.95.
- Mount, Eric. Covenant, Community and the Common Good: An Interpretation
of Christian Ethics. Pilgrim Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0829813555.
Pub. price: $18.95.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Attend all seminar sessions, prepared to analyze the readings of the day.
- Two brief reflection papers (4 pages, double spaced), in addition to two
in-class presentations (5 pages, double spaced).
- A term paper that discusses a methodological significance of covenant for
Christian ethics, or the application of covenant ethics to one major
contemporary moral issue in the areas of marriage and sex, politics, medicine,
economy, or international relations.
- At the 500 level, 3 brief reflection papers and 1 term paper.
PREREQUISITES: Master's level students: permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (October 2011)