Frank G. KirkpatrickFall, 2010
297-2476
McCook 207
Meetings by appointment
Mondays: 1:15-3:55
Religion 338
Christian Social Ethics
{See Syllabus under “Course Information” on Moodle}
- Each student will write 2 (two) 5 page papers on selected topics within the reading assignments and
- 1 (one) 10 (ten) page research paper on a topic of your own choosing.
First Paper due: Wednesday, October 13 (on a topic dealing with sexual ethics)
Second Paper due: Monday, November 15 (on a topic dealing with political or foreign policy)
Research paper due: Monday, December 13
2. Each student will post on the Moodle Forum by no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day of each class 2 carefully written-out critical questions explicitly based on something from the reading for that class period. All students in the class are encouraged to read and react to these questions on Blackboard prior to class. The instructor will call upon students at random to share their questions in class.
3. Preparation for each set of critical questions as well as for class discussion willrequire you to:
1)identify the moral issue at stake in the topic (both as defined by the authors you are reading and by yourself);
2)identify the moral principles involved in dealing with it (including those that may be in conflict with each other);
3)specify the facts that are relevant to an ethical assessment of the topic, including the projected consequences of particular courses of action;
4)outline various arguments for and against proposed resolutions of the moral issue: consider counter-arguments;
5)propose your own resolution of the moral issue using the Christian moral principles discussed at the beginning of the course.
4. Class discussion will engage the various arguments and positions taken by the various authors you’ve read for that session. Locate the differences in emphasis, approach, argument, and conclusion among the authors.
6. The final grade will be based on the papers:
20 points for the first paper,
25 points for the second paper,
40 points for the research paper),
5 points for faithful handing in and quality of the 2 questions for each class session,
10 points for substantive participation in class discussion.
7. Faithful attendance at class. You may have one unexcused absence for the term. Additional absences will result in a letter grade drop for each missed class. You must contact me ahead of time if you have to miss a class or contact me immediately after your absence if it was impossible for you to contact me ahead of time. Conflicts due to the demands of other courses do not count as legitimate excuses for failing to attend class.
8. All of the assigned work must be turned in by no later than the last class (December 13) in order to pass the course. Late work throughout the semester will be marked down 5 points a day, and failure to turn in any assigned piece of work by December138 will result in an “F” for the course.
Course Document (MD} indicates a reading found under “Course Documents” on Moodle
*** = book may be purchased from Bookstore
Readings and Discussions:
September 13: Week One: Introduction
Nature and History of Christian Ethics: I
***Roger Crook, An Introduction to Christian Ethics, 5th ed., revised
Chapter 1: “An Overview of Ethics,”1-10
Chapters 3-4: “Alternatives Within Christian Ethics,” and “Sources of Guidance,” 28-66
Chapters 5-6, “Biblical Ethics,” and “Faith Working Through Love,” 67-116
Reinhold Niebuhr, Moral Man and Immoral Society, Chapter 3: “The Religious Resources of the Individual for Social Living” (51-82); Chapter 9: “The Preservation of Moral Values in Politics,” (231-256); Chapter 10: “The Conflict Between Individual and Social Morality” (231-277)- Found on Moodle - MD
Moral Principles and Foundations:
Bernard Hoose, ed. Christian Ethics: An Introduction[Course Documents Moodle)
Tom Deidun, “The Bible and Christian Ethics,” 3-46 [Course Document]
Gerald Hughes, “Natural Law,” 47-56
James Keenan, “Virtue Ethics,” 84-94
Susan Parsons, “Feminist Ethics,” 135-148 - Moodle
“Principles and Assumption of a Christian Ethic” – Moodle
“Concepts in Christian Ethics” - Moodle
***Patricia Jung and Shannon Jung: Moral Issues and Christian Responses, 7th edition
Brueggemann, “Biblical Authority” 31-37
Bilgrien, “The Voice of Women in Moral Theology,” 37-43
Hauerwas, “Theology as Soul-Craft,” 43-49
September 20:Week Two
Love, Marriage, and the Family:
Hoose, Christian Ethics, ed.
Gareth Moore, “Sex, Sexuality and Relationships,” 223-247 - Moodle
Crook, Chap. 7 “Human Sexuality and the Marriage Relationship”, 117-132, 140-145 (omitting homosexuality)
Robert Bellah, Habits of the Heart “Love and Marriage,” 85-112 -Moodle
Jung and Jung,Moral Issues and Christian Responses, 7th edition
Soto, “The Church and Marriage,” 55-58
Ellison, “Common Decency: A New Christian Sexual Ethics,” 59-65
Lebacqz, “Love Your Enemy: Sex, Power and Christian Ethics,” 65-74
Rinehart, “Losing Our Promiscuity,” 74-82
Thatcher, “When Does Christian Marriage Begin?” 82-86
Browning and Browning, “The Church and the Family Crisis: A New Love Ethic,” 89-95
Torode and Torode, “Make Love and Babies,” 95-99
Peter Singer, “Should This Be the Last Generation?” - Moodle
Abortion:
Crook, “Abortion” 146-152
Zaretskey and Mappes, "Abortion," Social Ethics (1-31: Blackmun, White, Noonan, Warren, D. Callahan) - Moodle
***Thomas A. Shannon, An Introduction to Bioethics (3rd edition), Chap. 4, “Abortion,” pp. 41-54
Jung and Jung:
Harrison and Cloyes, “Theology and Morality of Procreative Choice,” 153-161
Callahan, “Abortion and the Sexual Agenda,” 161-172
Abortion Readings Christian Century: Moodle
Daniel Maguire, “Abortion: A Question of Catholic Honesty” (Christian Century)
Frances Kissling, “Ending the Abortion War: A Modest Proposal” (Christian Century)
James Kelly, “Beyond Slogans: An Abortion Ethic for Women and the Unborn,” (Christian Century)
Abortion: Compact, Editorial, Peters: Moodle
“A New American Compact”
David Heim, "Pro-Choice: Saying Something Theological,"(Christian Century
Peters, “In Search of the Perfect Child,” 177-183
September 27:Week Three
Homosexuality:
Crook, Chapter 7 “Human Sexuality and the Marriage Relationship,” 132-140
Bible on Homosexuality:
Genesis 1:25-31, 2:15 – 3:17
Leviticus 18:22, 20:13
Genesis 19:1-23
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
1 Timothy 1:9-10
Romans 1:26-27
***Jeffrey Siker, ed. Homosexuality in the Church
Richard Hays, “Awaiting the Redemption of Our Bodies,” 3-17
Victor Furnish, “The Bible and Homosexuality,” 18-35
Cardinal Ratzinger, “Letter to the Bishops,” 39-48
John McNeill, “Challenging the Church to Grow,” 49-57
Lisa Cahill, “Homosexuality: A Case Study in Moral Argument,” 61-75
Chandler Burr, “Homosexuality and Biology,” 116-134
Virginia Mollenkott, “Overcoming Heterosexism,” 145-149
Chris Glaser, “The Love that Dare Not Pray Its Name,” 150-157
Jung and Jung:
Nelson, “Sources for Body Theology: Homosexuality as a Test Case,” 276-285
The Ramsey Colloquium, “The Homosexual Movement: A Response,” 285-292
Heim, Johnson, Matzko and Stackhouse, “Homosexuality, Marriage, and the Church: A Conversation,” 292-302
October 4: Week Four
Bioethics I:
***Thomas A. Shannon, An Introduction to Bioethics, 3rd edition
General Issues, 3-37
***Thomas A. Shannon, Made in Whose Image?
Chapters 1-9, pp. 1-131
Bioethics and Health Care II:
Crook:
Chapter 8 “Life and Death: Issues in Biomedical Ethics,” 146-178
Bernard Hoose, ed. Christian Ethics - Moodle
Joyce Poole, “Ethical Problems Arising From New Reproductive Techniques,” 290-303
Jung and Jung:
Crysdale, “Christian Responses to the Human Genome Project,” 107-119
Walter, “Presuppositions to Moral Judgments on Human Genetic Manipulation,” 119-127
Cahill, “Stem Cells: A Bioethical Balancing Act,” 127-132
Verhey, “Cloning and the Human Family: Theology After Dolly,” 135-137
Ryan, “The New Reproductive Technologies: Defying God’s Dominion,” 137-144
Ashley and O’Rourke, Ethics of Health Care, 3rd edition,
“Reconstructing Human Beings,” 141-158
October 11: Week Five NO CLASS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13: PAPER #1 DUE
October 18:Week Six
The Provision of and Access to Health Care:
Thomas A. Shannon, An Introduction to Bioethics (3rd edition),
Chaps. 7-10, pp. 77-121
***Ashley and O’Rourke, Ethics of Health Care, 3rd edition,
“Defining Human Health,” 43-53
“Personal Responsibility for Health,” 55-70
“Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals,” 71-86
“Death and Dying,” 179-202
Jung and Jung:
Keenan, “The Case for Physician-Assisted Suicide?” 186-193
Farley, “Issues in Contemporary Christian Ethics: The Choice of Death in a Medical Context,” 193-205
Bernard Hoose, ed. Christian Ethics - Moodle
Richard Gula, “Euthanasia,” 277-289
Ashley and O’Rourke, Ethics of Health Care
“Social Responsibility for Health Care,” 87-104
Dan Brock & Norman Daniels, “Ethical Foundations of the Clinton Administration’s Proposed Health Care System” - Moodle
Role Playing Exercise in Health Care Provision
October 25:Week Seven
Pacifism and Just War:
Crook:
Chap. 13 “War and the Quest for Peace,” 248-266
James T. Johnson, Can Modern War Be Just?1-63 - Moodle
Jung and Jung:
Wallis, “A Light in the Darkness,” 351-354
Cahill and Baxter, “Is This Just War?” 355-361
Kirkpatrick, “Post-Just War” - Moodle
Yoder, When War Is Unjust, pp. 56-73
Elshtain & Sizemore on Just War, - Moodle
War and Foreign Policy:
James T. Johnson, Can Modern War Be Just?,
Chapter 5: “Weapons, Tactics, and Morality in War,” 107-128
Chapter 7: “Individual Decisions and Morality in War,” 153-173
Chapter 8: “The Causes of War and the Restraint of War,” 174-190
John Bennett, “Foreign Policy as a Problem for Christian Ethics,” 11-31,
“The Ethics of Force in the Nuclear Age,” 102-126, “International Goals—Illusions and Hopes,” 127-143 - Moodle
James Hecht, “Good Intentions,” Christian Century - Moodle
Alberto Coll, “Some Christian Reminders for the Statesman” - Moodle
November 1:Week Eight
Foreign Policy and Human Rights:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: UN – Moodle
Michael J. Perry, “Is the Idea of Human Rights Ineliminably Religious?” 11-41 (in The Idea of Human Rights) - Moodle
Robert Johansen, The National Interest and the Human Interest, 3-37, 393-407, Parts 1 and 2- Moodle
Jung and Jung:
Robinson, “Christian Theology and Development,” 420-423
Berger, “Social Ethics in a Post-Socialist World,” 424-430
O’Rourke, “Contemporary Globalization: An Ethical and Anthropological Evaluation,” 431-441
November 8:Week Nine
The Political Order I: Principles
Jung and Jung:
Benne, “The Church and Politics: Hot and Cool Connections,” 17-24
Elshtain, “What Does it Mean to Take Washington, D.C., Seriously? 24-28
Crook:
Chapter 11: “Citizenship in a Democracy,” 217-234
Bellah, Habits of the Heart,
“The National Society,” 250-271
“Transforming American Culture,” 275-296 - Moodle
November 15: Week Ten
The Political Order II: The Status of Women, Race and Ethnicity
Paper #2 is due today:
Crook:
Chap. 9: “Christian Ethics and Ethnicity,” 179-197
Chap. 10: “The Status of Women,” 198-216
Chap. 12: “Punishment for Crime,” 235-247
Jung and Jung:
Polter, “When Body Meets Soul,” 250-56
Kersten, “What Do Women Want? A Conservative Feminist Manifesto,” 256-263
Loury, “Black Dignity and the Common Good,” 230-239
West, “Race Matters,” 239-243
Grant, “The Sin of Servanthood and the Deliverance of Discipleship,” 264-273
November 22:Week Eleven
Economic Teachings I: Principles:
***Tenth Anniversary Edition of Economic Justice for All, pp. 13-61
Crook:
Chap. 14: “Work, Property, and Community,” 267-287
Hoose, ed. - Moodle
Timothy Gorringe, “Property,” 173-185
Bible on Economics: Isaiah 10; Amos 2, 5; Jeremiah 6, Psalm 73; Matthew 25; Luke 1, 4; Acts 4
***Michael Zweig, Religion and Economic Justice
Michael Zweig, “Economics and Liberation Theology,” 3-46
Jung and Jung:
Roberts, “Just a Little Bit More: Greed and the Malling of our Souls,” 377-382
Charry, “When Generosity is Not Enough,” 394-403
Williams, “Catholic Social Teaching: A Communitarian Democratic Capitalism for the New World Order,” 403-411
Lind, “To Have and Have Note: Notes on the Progress of the American Class War,” 411-416
November 29: Week Twelve
Economic Teachings II: Capitalism
Novak, Capitalism and Socialism- Moodle
Capitalism: Kristol and Berger Irving Kristol, "The Disaffection from Capitalism," 15-29;
Peter Berger, "Capitalism and Socialism: Empirical Facts," 85-96
Peter Berger, “Capitalism and Socialism: An Ethical Assessment,” 97-105
Capitalism: Novak and Wattenberg
Michael Novak, "Seven Theological Facets," 109-128;
Ben Wattenberg, "The Success of the American Economic System," 152-175
Zweig, Religion and Economic Justice
Norman Gottwald, “Values and Economic Structures,” 53-77
Tenth Anniversary Edition of Economic Justice for All, pp. 63-137
Robert Kuttner, “Markets and Politics,” from Everything for Sale
Moodle
Zweig, Religion and Economic Justice
Gregory Baum, “An Ethical Critique of Capitalism” 78-94
Pamela Brubaker, “Economic Justice for Whom? Women Enter the Dialogue,” 95-127
Amata Miller, “Global Economic Structures,” 163-195
Michael Zweig, “Class and Poverty in the U.S. Economy,” 196-218
Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, “The Economy Produces People,”
221-244
Economic Ethics IV: Applications 1:
***Houck and Williams, Is the Good Corporation Dead?
Samuelson, “The Good Corporation: R.I.P.” 3-14
DeGeorge, “The Myth of Corporate Social Responsibility,” 17-35
Green, “Responsibility and the Virtual Corporation,” 37-47
Post, “The New Social Contract,” 49-63
Sethi, “Moving From a Socially Responsible to a Socially Accountable Corporation,” 83-100
Whitman, “The Socially Responsible Corporation: Responsible to Whom and for What?” 129-148
Wogaman, “Accountability in a Global Economy,” 151-168
Novak, “Seven Corporate Responsibilities,” 189-202
McCann, “Corporate Social Responsibility: Wisdom from the World’s Religions,” 231-250
Capitalism: Post and Lodge - Moodle
James E. Post, "Perfecting Capitalism: A Systems Perspective on Institutional Responsibility", 45-60;
George C. Lodge, “The Large Corporation and the New American Ideology,” 61-76
Capitalism: Murray and Jones - Moodle
Edwin A. Murray, Jr., “Ethics and Corporate Strategy,” 91-117;
Peter T. Jones, “Sanctions, Incentives, and Corporate Behavior,” 118-137
“Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibility” - Moodle
December 6:Week Thirteen
Economic Ethics V: Applications 2
Tenth Anniversary Edition of Economic Justice for All, pp. 1-12
Charles Powers, “Meaningful Social Investment Initiatives from the Churches: An Outline of Possibilities and Limitations” 85-111,
Appendix A: “What is Corporate Responsibility?” 183-205
Steven Lydenberg, “Moving Money in Step With Conscience”
Appendix B: “The Use of the Resources of the World in Stewardship for the Whole of Mankind”
Houck and Williams, Is the Good Corporation Dead?
Cavanagh, “Evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility” 169-188
Fox, “How One Company is Socially Responsible,” 277-282
Ford, “The Value of Corporate Values,” 283-291
Role Playing Session on economic ethics
December 13:Week Fourteen
Ecology:
Crook:
Chap. 15 “Ecology and Moral Responsibility,” 288-304
***Thomas Derr, Environmental Ethics and Christian Humanism, pp. 11-124, 139-146
Alan During, “Long on Things” - Moodle
Lappe and Collins: Food First– Moodle
“Too Many People?” 13-17
“What Is Food Self-Reliance?” 457-504
Jung and Jung:
Martin-Schramm, “Toward an Ethic of EcoJustice,” 330-334
Derr, “The Challenge of Biocentrism,” 335-342
Rasmussen, “Is Eco-Justice Central to Christian Faith,” 342-347
Summing Up, Final Reflections
Research paper due today
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