ET541/841
Stassen
ET541/841: THEOLOGICAL ETHICS OF REINHOLD AND H. RICHARD NIEBUHR. Glen
Stassen.
DESCRIPTION:
- A careful, critical, common reading and analysis of eight books by
the two most influential Christian ethicists in the U.S. in this century, and
comparison and critical assessment of their approaches to theological and
social ethics in their historical context and current importance. Themes
include the meaning of revelation, responsible selfhood and human nature,
Christian realism, historical relativism and postmodernism, church practice,
understanding God's action in history, and love and justice.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- We learn Christian discipleship in part by testing the fruitfulness
of major ways of doing Christian ethics in the laboratory of history and church
practice. The Niebuhrs have shaped many teachers and practitioners of Christian
ethics; we have much to learn from them, and much to learn from assessing them
critically and appreciatively in their historical context; thus, the seminar
has direct relevance for church history and Christian theology as well as
theological ethics.
COURSE FORMAT:
- Seminar discussions, in which we help each other understand,
analyze, compare and assess the approach of the two different Niebuhr brothers
in their historical context. Offered primarily for doctoral students, the
seminar is open on a limited basis to qualified master's level students.
REQUIRED READING:
- Fox, Richard Wrightman. Reinhold Niebuhr. Harper & Row,
1987.
- Niebuhr, H. Richard. The Meaning of Revelation. Macmillan, 1941.
- _________. The Kingdom of God in America. Harper, 1959.
OR
- _________. The Purpose of the Church and Its
Ministry. Harper, 1956.
- _________. The Responsible Self. Harper & Row, 1963.
- _________. Theology, History and Culture. Yale University Press,
1996.
- Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Irony of American History. Scribner, 1984.
OR
- _________. Moral Man and Immoral Society.
Scribner, 1960.
- _________. The Nature & Destiny of Man, Vol. I and II.
Westminster/John Knox, 1996.
- _________. Love and Justice. Westminster/John Knox, 1992.
- _________. Justice and Mercy. Westminster/John Knox, 1991.
- Stassen, Glen; Diane Yeager; and John Howard Yoder. Authentic
Transformation: A New Vision of Christ and Culture. Abingdon, 1996.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attend all seminar sessions prepared to analyze the readings of the
day. Prepare a paper that assesses how one Niebuhr (or both) approaches a
particular ethical issue, or that focuses on how a Niebuhrian ethical or
theological assumption responds to their historical context and underlies his
or their approach to ethical issues. The common reading and shared analysis is
a very large part of the seminar, and weekly analysis of the reading is more
emphasized than some seminars; accordingly, the expectation for the paper might
have to be somewhat less extensive. Reduced assignment to be negotiated for 500
level students.
PREREQUISITES:
- For master's level students: one prior course each in Christian
ethics, theology, and church history, and permission of instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None. At the time of the exam, we may meet to discuss students'
papers.