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Canyon College
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COURSE SYLLABUS: DV530 - Christian Social Ethics

Course Title: DV530 - Christian Social Ethics
Department: Religious Studies
Instructor: Gerald FitzGerald, BD, MDiv, DMin, Phd Theology CandidateE-Mail -- Vita
Prerequisites: None


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

This course is an introduction into the world of Christian Social Ethics. We will explore some particular and pressing social ethics issues as well as themes which have always been present in Christianity as people throughout the centuries have wrestled with what it is they ought to do or not do as Christians. It is hoped that as students reflect on the readings and their interactions with the instructor, students will begin to understand their own ethics and be able to articulate more clearly and consistently why they might hold a certain thing to be either right or wrong and understand just what it is they are called to be and to do as Christians. It is also expected that students will be able to engage in ethical discernment by adopting one of the models of discernment discussed in this course and have a working bibliography to which they can turn for further study and reflection.

DOCTRINAL STATMENT

Canyon College is a non-sectarian, non-denominational school committed to the study of God in all the richness and diversity of God's revelations to humanity and an exploration of what those revelations mean to the everyday lives of finite human beings. Canyon College does not advocate any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than the reality of God and does not require that its students and faculty subscribe to any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than a willingness to be challenged and a commitment to an investigation into truth and the pursuit of academic honesty and excellence.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would require us to write, "God wills that everyone obey God's will."

COURSE UPDATES

Please do not send attachments. Instead copy/paste to an email your weekly assignments to the Professor at his/her Canyon email address. Include your name, student number, course name and number, and include the questions within the text of your answers.

If the book you order and receive has a different publishing date, notify the Professor because some adjustment may be needed to the page numbers of the assignments.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Texts  Online Bookstore Exams. There will be a midterm exam and a comprehensive final examination. The exams will cover the assigned readings. The midterm exam should be taken prior to the end of the week indicated below and the final examination should be taken during the week following the last week of readings.

Papers. There will be a short paper of no less than 750 words no more than 1,250 words (not counting end-notes and bibliography), due at the end of each week's readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. Papers should conform to the form and style outlined in Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," 6th ed. Students should use end notes instead of footnotes. Finally, the papers are intended to be reflection papers in reaction to the assigned readings and not research or personal opinions papers. Students should indicate their understanding of the texts and this cannot be done merely by quoting the authors or stating what the students believe. After all, part of what this course reveals is that many of our “beliefs” are inconsistent with what it is we are called to be and to do as Christians!

Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

Papers 35%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 35%


Grading Scale.
90 - 100% A = Excellent
80 - 89% B = Above Average
70 - 79% C = Average
60 - 69% D = Below Average
59% or below F = Failing Grade


A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.
B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.
C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.
D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.
F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.


Week 1


Read all of Miles.

Discussion Questions:
  1. How does Miles define ethics?
  2. What is the difference between ethics and morals? Please cite biblical examples.
  3. In the movie, “Match Point,” the main character, Chris, says it is better to be lucky than good. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Week 2


Read the Preface, Introduction, and Chapters 1 and 2 of Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is your reaction to the article on "Ways Experience Shapes Ethics," particularly in light of the sources of ethics?
  2. How does Peavy’s definition of ethics differ from the one offered by Miles, if it does?
  3. What is ethical discernment? Using the method of ethical discernment recommended by Peavy, give a summary of how you would go about formulating a position on the issue of euthanasia.
Week 3


Read all of Betsworth.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are the dominant cultural narratives which have shaped the sense of self and world for the majority of Americans?
  2. What is social ethics?
  3. What is a cover story? What is the significance of cover story to Betsworth's book?
  4. What would you say is the point or thesis of Betsworth's book?
Week 4


Do you have any questions, comments, complaints, concerns, confessions? If so, please email them to the instructor.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE MIDTERM EXAMINATION BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.

Week 5


Read all of Nelson.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is the point or thesis of Nelson's book?
  2. Do you agree or disagree? Devote your entire paper to a discussion of this most interesting book. In particular, discuss Nelson's concept of body theology.
Week 6


Read pages 1-42 and 45-69 of Bordo. Read chapters two and three of Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Are women as concerned with their weight as Bordo suggests? Discuss this issue by citing examples from ads in current publications and/or on television and reflecting on any television programs you care to discuss.
  2. How do you explain women who cherish their weight and do not give in to the marketing strategies of those Bordo complains of?
  3. Are the issues cited by Bordo ethical issues? Why or why not?
  4. What should be the proper response(s) of Christians to the issues raised by Bordo? Does Peavy’s book help in this regard?
Week 7


Read all of Poling.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Much has been said and written about the problems facing the Catholic Church in respect to clergy misconduct involving the sexual abuse of children. Discuss the matter in view of Poling's book.
  2. Do you see the issues raised by clergy sexual misconduct as an abuse of power? Why or why not?
  3. Should ministers be expected to treat their spouses and significant others differently (better) than none ministers? Why or why not?
Week 8


Read chapters five and six of Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Stem cell research has generated an enormous amount of debate. For many, stem cell research raises ethical issues. Do you agree?
  2. Why or why not? If you agree that it does, discuss what ethical stance you would take in deciding the matter. If you see more than one ethical issue raised by stem cell research, then name some of them but discuss only one of them.
Week 9


PLEASE COMPLETE THE FINAL EXAMINATION BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.