Spring 2012/Pasadena
ET837/537
Murphy

ET837/537: ANABAPTIST ETHICS AND THEOLOGY. Nancey Murphy.


DESCRIPTION: This is a 6-unit seminar for doctoral students, also offered at the 500-level as a 4-unit course open to a limited number of master's level students. The purpose of the seminar is to examine ethical issues of particular relevance to the radical-reformation tradition, as well as to consider other current ethical issues from an Anabaptist perspective. The course will begin with a historical survey of radical church theology in order to see its relevance to Anabaptist ethical stances.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course aims to make students involved in contemporary radical-reformation churches more aware of and intentional in adhering to and developing from their own theological roots and for students from other traditions to provide points of contrast and comparison with their own theological and ethical positions. These aims are relevant both to scholarship and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course (1) will have demonstrated familiarity with both contemporary and historical sources; (2) will have enhanced ability to think critically about the relations among theology generally, ecclesiology in particular, and ethics; (3) will have demonstrated ability to write clearly and critically on issues relating to the course; and (4) will have enhanced appreciation of traditions and ethical positions different from their own.

COURSE FORMAT: This is a bi-level course for advanced master's students and for PhD and ThM students. The class will meet once per week for a three-hour session. A small part of class time will be devoted to introductory lectures; most to discussions of the assigned readings.

REQUIRED READING:

Estep, William R. The Anabaptist Story. 3rd ed. Eerdmans, 1996 (ISBN 978-0-8028-0886-8; 230 pgs; $24.00).

McClendon, James. Doctrine: Systematic Theology, Volume 2. Abingdon, 1994 (ISBN 0-687-12015-2; 488 pgs; $39.00).

Miller, Roman J., et al., eds. Viewing New Creations with Anabaptist Eyes. Cascadia, 2005 (ISBN 1-931038-32-5; 295 pgs; $23.95).

Murphy, Nancey, and G. F. R. Ellis. On the Moral Nature of the Universe: Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics. Fortress, 1996 (ISBN 0-8006-2983-3; 150 pgs; $23.00).

Stayer, James. Anabaptists and the Sword. 2nd ed. Wipf and Stock, 2002 (ISBN 87291-081-4; 337 pgs; $31.30).

Swartley, Willard. Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women. Herald Press, 1983 (ISBN 0-8361-3330-7; 330 pgs; $18.99).

Yoder, John Howard. Preface to Theology. Brazos, 2002 (ISBN 1-58743-219-6; 413 pgs; $23.38).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Careful reading of (selections from) texts; regular attendance; class participation. PhD and ThM students: two 5-6-page (1500- to 1800-word) papers due in preparation for class sessions (20% of grade), one 20-page (6000 word) paper due at end of term (80%).
Master's-level students: one 10-15 page paper (80%), two 5-6-page papers (20%).

PREREQUISITES: Master's students: previous coursework in theology and ethics, GPA of 3.7.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective at master's level.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2012)