1
TET 540 -- JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENTJack Cottrell, Instructor
ASSIGNMENTS -- FALL 2007Two credit hours
A.Purpose of the Course. This course falls under the general heading of Christian Doctrine and under the specific heading of Ethics. It may be included in the concentration requirements for anyone majoring in theology at either the M.A. or the M.Div. level. The purpose of the course is to explore the meaning of the Biblical concept of justice, especially as this applies to the purpose and work of civil government as compared with the purpose and work of the church. This includes a discussion of the moral requirements of justice with regard to the government's role in specific matters such as war, capital punishment, abortion, economics, and environmental protection.
B. Objectives of the Course. After taking this course --
1.The student should have a clear understanding of the Biblical teaching concerning the nature of justice and the purpose of civil government.
2.The student should understand how to apply this general teaching to specific social issues.
3.The student should be able to explain these ideas to others.
4.The student should be motivated to take a more active role in influencing those in law-making and law-enforcing positions to act in accord with the Biblical teaching on the purpose of government.
- Absence Policy. This course meets on Monday from 6:30 to 8:20 p.m., from Aug. 27 through Dec. 10, 2007. You are expected to attend all class sessions. When an absence is unavoidable, you should arrange to have someone tape that session; and you should listen to the tape. Under certain circumstances three absences will require extra work, and four absences will exclude you from the course.
- For each class session you should bring to class a Bible (NASB preferred but not required) and a copy of the latest course outline, available in the bookstore. Meals are not to be eaten in the classroom.
E.The professor reserves the right to change the requirements for this course as deemed necessary.
F.Determination of Course Grade.1.Book Reviews -- 15% each
2.Mid-term Exam -- 35%
- Final Exam -- 35%
G.Reading Report. On or before Dec. 10, submit a report, on the form provided, showing all the readings that have been completed during the term. Failure to complete all the readings will have a negative impact on your grade.
H.Book Reviews. Below is a book list divided into three sections. During the semester you will read one book from each section and review two of them (c. 1250-1500 words each, put word count on title page). Each review must be submitted on or before the date due. A one-week extension may be granted at the instructor's discretion.
SECTION ONE.
Bandow, Doug. Beyond Good Intentions: A Biblical View of Politics. Westchester, IL: Crossway, 1988.
Butler, Paul. What the Bible Says About Civil Government. Joplin: College Press, 1990.
Budziszewski, J. Evangelicals in the Public Square. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006.
Colson, Charles. Kingdoms in Conflict. Grand Rapids: Zondervan/William Morrow, 1987.
Culver, Robert. Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government. Chicago: Moody, 1974.
Eidsmoe, John. God and Caesar: Christian Faith and Political Action. Westchester, IL: Crossway, 1984.
Smith, Gary S., ed. God and Politics: Four Views on the Reformation of Civil Government. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1989.
SECTION TWO.
Alcorn, Randy. Is Rescuing Right? Breaking the Law to Save the Unborn. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1990.
Baker, William H. On Capital Punishment. Chicago: Moody, 1985. (Former title: Worthy of Death.)
House, H. Wayne. The Christian and American Law. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998.
House, H. Wayne; and John H. Yoder. The Death Penalty Debate. Waco: Word, 1991.
North, Gary. When Justice Is Aborted: Biblical Standards for Non-Violent Resistance. Tyler, TX: Dominion Press, 1989.
Skillen, James. Christians Organizing for Political Service. Washington, D.C.: APJ Education Fund, 1980.
Skillen, James. The Scattered Voice: Christians at Odds in the Public Square. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.
SECTION THREE.
Clouse, Robert G., ed. War: Four Christian Views. Revised ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1991.
Cole, Darrell. When God Says Ware Is Right: The Christian’s Perspective on When and How To Fight. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2002.
Holmes, Arthur F., ed. War and Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975.
Ramsey, Paul. The Just War, Force, and Political Responsibility. Lanham, MD: Littlefield Adams, 1991; or Scribner's, 1968.
Ramsey, Paul. War and the Christian Conscience. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1961.
Sider, Ronald. Christ and Violence. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1979.
Sider, Ronald. Non-Violence: The Invincible Weapon? Waco: Word, 1989.
Yoder, John H. The Politics of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.
I.Assignments.
Aug. 27 -- First class session
Sept. 3 -- Labor Day; no class
Sept. 10 -- Read J. Cottrell, God the Redeemer (Joplin: College Press, 1987), ch. 4.
Sept. 17 -- Read J. Cottrell, Tough Questions, Biblical Answers II (Joplin: College Press, 1986), chs. 1-7.
Sept. 24 -- Read Carl Henry, Aspects of Christian Social Ethics (Gr. Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964), chs. 1, 3, 5.
Oct. 15 -- Read any book from section one above; review option #1.
Oct. 22 -- On this date a take-home mid-term exam will be distributed.
Oct. 29 -- Bring the completed mid-term exam to class for grading.
Nov. 5 -- Read any book from section two above; review option #2.
Dec. 3 -- Read any book from section three above; review option #3.
Dec. 10 -- Final exam. Reading report due.
J. How To Write a Book Review.
A book review should attempt to answer the following questions. First, what is the writer's overall purpose? What does he hope to accomplish with the book? What main point is he trying to make?
Second, how well does the writer accomplish his purpose? Does he cover the subject adequately? Does he leave any loose ends, any questions unanswered? Does he treat all viewpoints fairly and take account of all the options? Such questions as these must be answered only in terms of the author's intended purpose.
Third, are there logical or theological weaknesses or errors in the author's presentation? Are his conclusions really supported by the evidence presented? Are his presuppositions legitimate? Is his thinking Biblical? To answer such questions as these, the reviewer must read the book critically. He must not simply report what the book says, but must evaluate what is said.
Fourth, what is the value or usefulness of the book? Who would profit most from reading it?
A reviewer need not and probably should not slavishly outline his review according to the four categories mentioned above. All the elements should be included, but the form will vary according to the nature of the book being reviewed.
K.How To Communicate with the Professor: E-mail:
Phone: 513-244-8166 (school); 812-637-9628 (home)
Address: 2700 Glenway Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45204
------
L. TET 540 -- FALL 2007 NAME
Reading Report Form
Use this form to report completed readings at the end of the semester. A check mark in the appropriate blank is sufficient. If the entire assignment was not completed, write in the number of pages actually read.
If you have completed all the readings, please circle this ALL.
Cottrell, God the Redeemer, ch. 4
Cottrell, Tough Questions, chs. 1-7
Henry, chs. 1 3 5
Third (unreviewed) book: give title
Bibliography for
JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENT
Cincinnati Bible Seminary
FALL 2007
I. The Concept Of Justice
Bernbaum, John A., ed. Economic Justice and the State: A Debate Between Ronald H. Nash and Eric H. Beversluis. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986. Nash argues that justice does not require extensive government involvement in the economy.
Blocker, H. Gene, and Elizabeth H. Smith, eds. John Rawls' Theory of Social Justice: An Introduction. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 1980.
Coppenger, Mark T. A Christian View of Justice. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983. A thoughtful and detailed attempt to apply the concept of justice (or rights) to specific areas of government and society.
Cottrell, Jack. What the Bible Says About God the Redeemer. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1987. Relevant here is chapter four, "The Righteousness of God."
Garcia, Ismael. Justice in Latin American Theology of Liberation. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1987. An overview of leading liberation theologians' views of justice, e.g., Gutierrez and Miranda.
Gushee, David P., ed. Christians and Politics Beyond the Culture Wars: An Agenda for Engagement. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.
Gushee, David P., ed. Toward a Just and Caring Society: Christian Responses to Poverty in America. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. Leftwing evangelicalism, for the most part.
Havelock, Eric A. The Greek Concept of Justice: From Its Shadow in Homer to Its Substance in Plato. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1978.
Kekes, John. A Case for Conservatism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ. Press, 1998.
Kekes, John. Against Liberalism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ. Press, 1999.
Lampman, Lisa Barnes, ed. God and the Victim: Theological Reflections on Evil, Victimization, Justice, and Forgiveness. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Lebacqz, Karen. Justice in an Unjust World. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1987. A onesided liberal approach. The end (conquering injustice) justifies any means that will accomplish it.
Lebacqz, Karen. Six Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical and Theological Ethics. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986. Discusses J. S. Mill, John Rawls, Reinhold Niebuhr, etc.
Montgomery, John W. Human Rights and Human Dignity: An Apologetic for the Transcendent Perspective. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986. Analyzes human rights and their basis in the transcendent God.
Mott, Stephen C. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982. This call for social action works from a typically onesided view of justice, absorbing it into love and grace. An example of "leftwing" evangelicalism.
Nash, Ronald H. Social Justice and the Christian Church. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1990. Reprint of Mott Media 1983 ed. Takes a conservative stance.
Niebuhr, Reinhold. Love and Justice, ed. D. B. Robertson. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1957. Essays on church and state by an eminent liberal who was a lifelong student of the subject.
Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971. An influential secular work with socialist leanings.
Reventlow, Henning Graf; and Yair Hoffman, eds. Justice and Righteousness: Biblical Themes and Their Influence. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1992.
Sandel, Michael. Liberalism and the Limits of Justice. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1982. A challenge to Rawls' theory and to liberalism's concept of the person.
Sterba, James P. How To Make People Just: A Practical Reconciliation of Alternative Conceptions of Justice. Lanham, MD: Rowman, 1989.
Tanner, Kathryn. The Politics of God: Christian Theologies and Social Justice. Minneapolis: Augsburg/Fortress, 1992.
Thomson, Judith Jarvis. The Realm of Rights. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990. A philosophical study.
II. The Purpose Of Government
Bandow, Doug. Beyond Good Intentions: A Biblical View of Politics. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1988. A good conservative treatment of how to apply Biblical principles to politics.
Bauman, Michael; and David Hall, eds. God and Caesar: Selected Essays from the 1993 Evangelical Theological Society Convention. Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1994.
Brown, Harold O. J. The Reconstruction of the Republic. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1977. A conservative analysis of the purpose of government as well as its limits, especially as related to the American situation.
Brunner, Emil. Justice and the Social Order, tr. Mary Hottinger. New York: Harper, 1945. A useful indepth analysis from a leading neoorthodox writer.
Budziszewski, J. Evangelicals in the Public Square. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006
Burke, Thomas J. Jr., and Lissa Roche, eds. Man and State: Religion, Society, and the Constitution. Hillsdale, MI: Hillsdale College Press, 1988. Various conservative authors discuss firstamendment issues regarding separation of church and state.
Butler, Paul. What the Bible Says About Civil Government. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1990.
Carter, Craig A. The Politics of the Cross: The Theology and Social Ethics of John Howard Yoder. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2001.
Colson, Charles. Kingdoms in Conflict. Grand Rapids: Zondervan/ William Morrow, 1987. Thoughts on government and the Christian's relation to it.
Cord, Robert L. Separation of Church and State: Historical Fact and Current Fiction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. Attacks the Supreme Court's interpretation of the first amendment.
Cottrell, Jack. Tough Questions, Biblical Answers, Part 2. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1986. Reprint of Standard Publishing's The Bible Says (1982). The first seven chapters deal with issues related to justice and government.
Cromartie, Michael, ed. Caesar's Coin Revisited: Christians and the Limits of Government. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
Culver, Robert. Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government. Chicago: Moody, 1974. Thorough study of both the OT and the NT data on the purpose of government.
Eidsmoe, John. God and Caesar: Christian Faith and Political Action. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1984. An excellent conservative study of the Biblical view of government, and how it applies to various specific issues.
Ellul, Jacques. The Politics of God and the Politics of Man. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.
Frame, Randall L.; and Alan Tharpe. How Right Is the Right? A Balanced and Biblical Approach to Politics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
Geisler, Norman; and Frank Turek. Legislating Morality. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1999 . Asks, whose morality should become law?
Goldberg, George. Reconsecrating America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984. Traces the courts' corrupt interpretations of the first amendment and argues for a return to its original meaning.
Gushee, David P., ed. Christians and Politics Beyond the Culture Wars: An Agenda for Engagement. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.
Gushee, David P., ed. Toward a Just and Caring Society: Christian Responses to Poverty in America. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. Mostly leftwing evangelicalism.
Hall, David, ed. Welfare Reformed: A Compassionate Approach. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1994. Authors include Neuhaus, Bandow, Sproul, and Beismer.
Henry, Carl F. H. Aspects of Christian Social Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980. Reprint of Eerdmans 1964 ed. One of the best explanations of the role of government in relation to the role of the church.
House, H. Wayne, ed. The Christian and American Law: Christianity's Impact on America's Founding Documents and Future Direction. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998.
House, H. Wayne, ed. Christian Ministries and the Law: What Church and ParaChurch Leaders Should Know. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1999.
Land, Richard D.; and Louis A. Moore, eds. Citizen Christians: The Rights and Responsibilities of Dual Citizenship. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994.
Marshall, Paul. Thine Is the Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986. Attempts to set politics in a Christian framework as one part of our overall Christian service.
Morecraft, Joseph III. With Liberty and Justice for All: Christian Politics Made Simple. Sevierville, TN: Onward Press, 1991. The purpose and work of government from the standpoint of dominion theology (theonomy). Introduction by R. Rushdoony.
Mott, Stephen. A Christian Perspective on Political Thought. New York: Oxford University press, 1993.
Mouw, Richard J. Politics and the Biblical Drama. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.
Nash, Ronald H. Freedom, Justice, and the State. Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1980. A conservative approach to questions regarding social and economic justice. Argues for a more limited involvement of the state. Very useful.
Neuhaus, Richard John, ed. The Bible, Politics, and Democracy. "The Encounter Series," vol. 5. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
O’Donovan, Oliver; and Joan Lockwood O’Donovan, eds. From Irenaeus to Grotius: A Sourcebook in Christian Political Thought. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Sanders, Thomas G. Protestant Concepts of Church and State. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1964. Surveys the various options in their historical context, including Lutheran and Anabaptist.
Sider, Ronald J. Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. Leftwing evangelicalism.
Smidt, Corwin E., ed. In God We Trust? Religion and American Political Life. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
Smith, Gary Scott, ed. God and Politics: Four Views on the Reformation of Civil Government. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1989. Discusses the views of theonomy, principled pluralism, Christian America, and national confessionalism.
Stanmeyer, William A. Clear and Present Danger: Church and State in PostChristian America. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Books, 1983. Who will interpret the constitution, especially the first amendment? Humanists, or Christians?
Tinder, Glenn. The Political Meaning of Christianity: The Prophetic Stance. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991. Reprint of 1990 publication by L.S.U. Press. Discusses the political implications of Christian principles.
Wogaman, J. Philip. Christian Perspectives on Politics. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1988. Four informative sections on Christian pacifist/anarchist perspectives, Christian liberationism, the neoconservative Christian perspective, and mainstream liberalism.
Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. 2 rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. Sets forth the life, teachings, and work of Jesus as the model for every aspect of life, including government.
III. SocialPolitical Action
Boice, James M., ed. Transforming Our World: A Call to Action. Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1988. How should Christians be involved in shaping public policy? Essays by Boice, Guinness, Sproul, Packer, Neuhaus, etc.
Cerillo, Augustus Jr., and Murray W. Dempster, eds. Salt and Light: Evangelical Political Thought in Modern America. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989. Surveys four varieties: evangelical radical right, evangelical liberal, evangelical conservative, and fundamentalist new right.
Cizik, Richard, ed. The High Cost of Indifference: Can Christians Afford Not To Act? Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1984. Essays on the need to act in various arenas, e.g., poverty, pornography, abortion. A good section on practical suggestions.
Cotham, Perry. Politics, Americanism, and Christianity. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1976. A church of Christ scholar gives an excellent analysis of the need for Christian involvement in politics and government.
Cromartie, Michael, ed. No Longer Exiles: The Religious New Right in American Politics. Washington, D. C.: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1993. Authors include Carl Henry and George Marsden.