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Canyon College

online christian social ethics course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Christian Social Ethics


Course Title:Christian Social Ethics - TH390
Department:Bachelor of Theology
Instructor: Dona Williams, MTh, BS, E-Mail Vita
Prerequisites:None

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course is an introduction into the world of Christian Social Ethics. It seeks to acquaint students with the general atmosphere of this world and to lead students into an understanding of the dynamics involved in doing social ethics from a Christian perspective. We will explore some particular and pressing social issues. It is hoped that as students reflect on the readings and their interactions with the professor, students will begin to understand their own theological ethic and be able to articulate more clearly and consistently why they might hold a certain thing to be either right or wrong and thereby becoming a more responsible self.

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 suggest that we write, "God wills that everyone obeys God’s will."

REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Book Store
  1. Peavy, Sr., Don E., ‘"What Must I Do?": Exploring Themes in Christian Ethics,’ soft-cover, Indiana: Authorhouse, 2002. ("Peavy"), ISBN: 0759637458 Online Bookstore Secondary Source Third Source
  2. Jersild, Paul T. And Dale A. Johnson. "Moral Issues & Christian Response," 5th ed., soft-cover, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1993. (Jersild and Johnson"), ISBN: 0030180627, book is out-of-print but used copies can be purchased at amazon.com
  3. Trimiew, Darryl M. "Voices of the Silenced: The Responsible Self in a Marginalized Community," soft-cover, Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 1993. ("Trimiew"), ISBN: 0829814957
2. Conferences. Students may schedule no more than two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. These should be scheduled as necessary by the student. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the bulletin board.

3. 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.

4. Papers. There will be a short paper of no more than two single-spaced pages or 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 and not research or the "author said" papers. Students should indicate their understanding of the texts and this cannot be done merely by quoting the authors.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:
Papers 30%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 50%
5. 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

WEEK 1

Read pages xi to 20 of Trimiew and the Preface and Introduction of Peavy and pages xi to xviii of Jersild & Johnson.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is ethics?
  2. Which is most important? Being or doing? Can you cite a biblical example of this conflict?
  3. Who or what is a marginalized self?
  4. What is your source of ethics?
WEEK 2

Read pages 1-36 of Trimiew, Chapter One of Peavy, and pages 2-36 of Jersild & Johnson.

Discussion Questions:
  1. You have been married for over fifty years. Your spouse has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given less than six months to live. The doctor tells you further that your spouse will be in a great deal of pain and discomfort and will eventually have to be in hospice care. Your spouse remains silent throughout the doctor’s talk and your discussion with the doctor. Upon your arrival home, your spouse turns to you and says: "Look honey, we have had a good life. I do not want our last days to be our worst days. I want to have a dinner party for our closest friends and relatives and then I want you to help me to end my life." You love your spouse and you are a person of strong Christian faith. Nevertheless, you know how stubborn your spouse is and there is no doubt of your spouse’s sincerity.

    Using what you have learned this week, and particularly Peavy’s "Model of Discernment," discuss how you would go about deciding what to do in response to your spouse’s request.
WEEK 3

Read Peavy Chapters Two and Three and Jersild & Johnson Chapter 6.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What does Peavy find wrong with seeking ethics in relationships and experiences? Do you agree or disagree?
  2. You are the chairman of your church’s governing board and the chairperson of a pastor search committee? A woman has applied. A member of the search committee says, "We can’t consider a woman! The Bible is against it." Prepare a written response to the comment.
PLEASE COMPLETE MIDTERM EXAMINATION BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.

WEEK 4

Read pages 63 to 91 of Trimiew and Chapter Four of Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are some of the responses of a responsible self to a marginalized society?
  2. Can people of different Christian communities (such as white, black, Baptist, Catholic, etc.) have different ethics or rather do they? Is there anything wrong with this? Does this mean that Christian ethics is relative to the community in which one lives?
  3. It is said that Sunday worship times are the most segregated segments of American society. Do you agree? Why or why not? Is this a problem? If so, what can be done? What are you doing about it?
WEEK 5

Read pages 93 to 104 of Trimiew, Chapter Six of Peavy, and pages 209 to 252 of Jersild & Johnson.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Are there limitations to a responsible self? If so, what are they? If not, why not?
  2. "By delineating the parameters of martydom above, it is intended to dissuade the misguided from arbitrarily throwing oneself in harm’s way. It is further hoped to facilitate a reappraisal of the worth of human life and a declaration that life is always worth the living." Reconsider your response to the scenario in Week Two in view of Chapter Six of Peavy’s book. What changes, if any, have you made in your analysis? If you have not made any changes, why not?
WEEK 6

Read pages 140 to 169 of Jersild & Johnson and Chapter Five of Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Assume that you belong to a denomination which does not have a formal declaration on the issue of homosexuality and your pastor has been asked to perform an affirmation ceremony for a gay couple. The pastor hears that you are completing a course in Christian ethics and asks you for a two-paged position paper on what she should do. What will you write in view of the readings you have digested for this course? Write such a position paper!
WEEK 7

Review week.

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