Spring 2017/Pasadena

ET513

Mouw

ET513: PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL ETHICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Richard Mouw.

DESCRIPTION: This course will examine the relationship between the church and state in contemporary culture.  We will explore different approaches to evangelical engagement in public policy issues including human sexuality, war and peace, the environment, human rights and justice.  The emphasis of this course will be to develop an approach to political engagement that reflects the Scriptural emphasis on being a distinct community of faith as well as an ability to communicate about those issues in a public square.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated: (1)the ability to understand the biblical and theological bases for Christian ethics in the public square, (2) the ability to apply different ethical approaches to the church’s public witness in political discourse,(3) confidence in the way of Jesus and humility in offering a Christian ethic in the public square, and (4) the ability to evaluate contemporary social issues and offer a theological and biblical basis for a Christian moral response to those issues in a winsome manner.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,190 total number of pages required.

Bacote, Vincent E. The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life. Zondervan, 2015. ISBN: 978-0310516071. Pub Price $11.99 [86 pp. assigned].

Ballor, Jordan J. and Robert Joustra, eds. The Church’s Social Responsibility. Christian’s Library Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-1942503262. Pub Price $14.95 [126 pp. assigned].

Boff, Leonardo and Clodovis Boff. Introducing Liberation Theology. Orbis Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0883445501. Pub Price $16.00 [97 pp. assigned].

Chan, Simon. Grassroots Asian Theology: Thinking the Faith from the Ground Up. Intervarsity Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830840489. Pub Price $24.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Coles, Robert. Dorothy Day: A Radical Devotion. Da Capo Press, 1987. ISBN: 978-0201079746. Pub. Price $18.50 [160 pp. assigned].

Koyzis, David T. Political Visions and Illusions: A Survey & Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies. Intervarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830827268. Pub. Price $27.00 [265 pp. assigned].

Swartz, David R. Moral Minority: The Evangelical Left in an Age of Conservatism. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0812223064. Pub. Price $24.95 [255 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Budziszewski, J. Evangelicals in the Public Square. Baker Academic, 2006. ISBN: 978-0801031564. Pub Price $24.00 [224 pp.].

Boesak, Allan A. Farewell to Innocence: A Socio-Ethical Study on Black Theology and Black Power. Orbis Books, 1976. ISBN: 978-0883441305. Out of Print. [185 pp.].

Bonino, Jose Miguez. Christians and Marxists: The Mutual Challenge to Revolution. Wm. B. Eerdmans Co, 1976. ISBN: 978-0802834775. Out of Print. [157 pp.].

Cahill, Lisa Sowle. Theological Bio-ethics: Participation, Justice, Change. Georgetown University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1589010758. Pub. Price $29.95 [304 pp.].

Cone, James H. A Black Theology of Liberation. Orbis Books, 1986. ISBN: 978-1570758959. Pub. Price $20.00 [192 pp.].

Guitierrez, Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation. Translated by Caridad Inda. Orbis Books, 1988. ISBN: 978-0883445426. Pub. Price $24.00 [264 pp.].

Lee, Hak Joon. The Great World House: Martin Luther King, JR and Global Ethics. Pilgrim Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0829818215. Pub. Price $25.00 [265 pp.].

Mott, Stephen. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199739370. Pub. Price $33.95 [264 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 30 hours of in-class lecture and discussion [This is related to all learning outcomes].

2. 1,190 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes]. [80 hours].

3. Completion of three 3-page essays (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and #2]. [15 hours].

4. 3,000 word term paper. The final term paper is the signature assignment for ET513. This scholarly paper has to engage at least two different Christian ethical perspectives on the same ethical issue or variable, e.g. human dignity, justice, power, in light of a student’s own particular cultural context. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3 and #4]. [30 hours].

5. Final exam covering readings and lecture (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #4]. [5 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills the TH5 or TH6 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2016). Fulfills the TH6 requirement in the 80 MAT and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2016). Option to meet the C4 or TH5 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2014). Option to meet the C4 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets ETH in the 144 MDiv Program. Meets MAT program requirement (Winter 2010) and Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for other MA degrees (Winter 2010). Requirement in Christian Ethics emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, in class.