Contemporary
Christian Ethics
BDOC
354
Harding
University
Spring
2011
Monday 6:00-8:30 pm MCIN 233
Instructor: Dr. K. Stanglin
Office phone: 279-4620
Email: kstanglin@harding.edu
Websites: www.harding.edu/kstanglin and www.facebook.com
Office hours: MCIN 209, 10:00-11:00, 1:00-2:00 (M-F)
I want you to do well in this course, so please let me know if you are
having difficulty with the class material.
Office hours, phone, and email should suffice for class business.
Course
Description (from catalog):
Application of the Scriptures to current moral issues to help students gain biblical insights into moral problems.
Course Objectives:
1. Gain a biblical, foundational understanding of ethics from both philosophical and theological perspectives.
2. Students can
make responsible moral decisions in difficult situations, and counsel others
through similar processes.
3. Be able to evaluate contemporary social issues.
4. Use moral vocabulary with precision.
Required Course Textbooks:
David K. Clark and Robert V. Rakestraw. Readings in Christian Ethics. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
Bring these books to each class meeting. A Bible will also be helpful for many lectures.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. In the event of illness, family emergency, a school-sponsored activity, or an extenuating circumstance, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor as soon as possible of the reason for the absence. With regard to excuses, I defer to the criteria set by Academic Affairs. A doctor’s note is required for excusing personal illness. Print a hard copy for my records. N.B.: Excuses will not be accepted more than one week after returning to class.
The official policy of COBR states that the equivalent of one week of unexcused absences (1) is allowed in this class. Each additional absence above 1 automatically reduces your final grade by 9 percentage points. Anyone accumulating a total of 3 unexcused absences will be dropped from the course with a “WF” (withdrawn, failing).
You will be considered tardy if you are not present when the roll is checked or if you leave during class. 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to make sure you were not counted absent. If you come in more than 10 minutes late, or leave before the end of class without telling me why, you will be counted absent, and will not be allowed to take the test or quiz. Take care of all business before and after class.
Academic Honesty:
Classroom Expectations and Decorum:
I expect all students to behave in a Christian manner in and out of the classroom. Appropriate behavior includes abiding by the conduct and dress codes set by the university. Turn off all cell phones. Do not eat food in the classroom. Only drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed in class. If you make a mess, it is your responsibility to clean it up or pay for it to be cleaned.
If it looks to me like you are sleeping, texting, or doing other work in class, I will ask you to leave and it will be counted as an unexcused absence.
You may use laptops for taking notes only. If you use a laptop, you must sit on the front row.
Class will begin promptly at 6:00, so be ready. It will be dismissed when I finish, not necessarily when the bell rings.
Course Requirements:
1. Reading and preparation. You are responsible for completing all the readings assigned for each week, including vocabulary words at the beginning and end of each chapter. Reading questions can be found online at www.harding.edu/kstanglin .
2. Nearly every week, a quiz will be given at some point during the class that assesses your grasp of the readings and vocabulary, the evening’s lecture, or any other assignment. (10 pts each = ca. 100 pts.) There will be no make-up quizzes.
3. There will be two unit exams and a comprehensive final exam. Exams will normally consist of short answer questions, vocabulary definitions, and a couple of essays. Study reading questions and lecture notes. (Unit exams = 125 pts. each; Final exam = 200 pts.) Make-up Policy: A test may be made up for full credit only if the absence is excused (see “Attendance Policy” above). Contact or see me as soon as possible to arrange it. After I am notified, the make-up test will be given on Tues./Thurs., 6:00 p.m., room 233. All make-up tests will be entirely essay format. In general, there will be no make-ups for unexcused absences. In certain cases, though, I reserve the right to allow unexcused make-ups, but only with a significant deduction of points.
4. Paper. Each student must write a paper that consists of two parts. a) The first part is a personal code of ethics. It should include principles by which you live your life and the reasons for them. It should also be specific to your chosen vocation, enumerating practices that are obligatory and others that are prohibited. This first part of the paper should be at least one page (“page” means double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman).
b) The second part of the paper is a response to a case
study to be selected by the teacher. In
light of your personal code of ethics, how would you address the
situation? How does your response differ
now from when the course began? This
part of the paper must be at least two pages in length. 50 pts.
5. Topical paper and presentation (for three-hour students). Write a paper on a topic of your choice that takes a stand on an ethical position. You will select some ethical issue and do independent reflection concerning it during the course. You will write a 6 to 8 page paper. Topics that arise from the readings will be appropriate, or you may suggest your own topic of interest. I will have the final right of approval. Topics are due, in writing, Jan. 31.
The content must be based on an ethical
claim over which there may be some reasoned disagreement, and you must defend a
particular viewpoint. For example, “A
discussion of abortion” would be an unacceptable thesis, but “I oppose abortion
for the following reasons…” would be acceptable.
The paper should be divided into two
main sections. In the first section, you will make your positive case in favor of your
viewpoint. In the second, you will raise
and refute the strongest objections to your claim. N.B.: Do not short-change the second
section. You must convince me that you
have read deeply and thought seriously about your opponents’ points of view, and that you can credibly refute their
best objections.
You should explore your topic fairly
deeply—consulting a variety of reputable sources would be appropriate. Due Mar. 28.
In addition to the hard copy, you must
also submit the paper electronically before the deadline. Go to www.turnitin.com.
The class ID is 3760247, and
the password is ethics. Click “submit” and follow the
instructions. Papers not submitted
through this website will not be accepted.
Additional
guidelines:
a. 6-8 pages (Times New Roman, double-spaced, not
including bibliography).
b. Use Turabian style footnotes and proper,
academic English style.
c. Assessment criteria will include such things as: clearly stated purpose,
logical organization, faultless style, evidence of research, and interaction
with sources.
d. At least five scholarly sources should be consulted. These sources may include relevant surveys,
special monographs, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Do not cite unsigned articles (whether online
or in print). Do not cite sources in the
bibliography unless they are used in the paper.
e. Papers are due at the beginning of class, March 28. A penalty of 10% each day will be assessed to
late papers. Papers will not be accepted
after April 4.
75
pts.
After the paper has been returned to
you, present the core of your paper to the class in a five to ten minute
presentation. The presentation must be
polished and professional. Visual and
other aids may be used sparingly and must contribute to understanding the
issue. Be prepared to answer questions
and objections. 25 pts.
6. Extra Credit: Write a
careful
review and evaluation of an approved book
from the bibliography.
(See the structure for book reviews posted on my website.) Points earned will be commensurate with the
length of the book and the depth of the review.
Due Apr. 25. Late work will not be accepted for extra
credit. (up to 20 pts. on final exam)
Grading Scale: ca. 600/700
points total
90-100% = A 80-89 = B (“Good”) 70-79 = C (“Average”) 60-69 = D 0-59 = F
Course Schedule:
Week 2, Jan. 24 Course Introduction; History of Moral Philosophy (Socrates through Neo-Platonism)
For Week 3, Phil Thompson, “Introduction to Ethics,” and Modules 2-4 “Relativism,” “Consequences,” and “Duties” (iTunesU)
Week 3, Jan. 31 Ethical Systems. Vol. 1, Ch. 1: The Nature of Ethics
Ch. 2: Grounding Moral Norms, O’Donovan, McGrath, Packer
Week 4, Feb. 7 Moral Decision Making; Christian Ethics
Ch. 3: Moral Dilemmas, Rakestraw, Thielicke, Geisler
Ch. 4: Moral Situations, Packer, Bloesch
Week 5, Feb. 14 Ch.
5: Use of Bible, Longenecker, Fee and Stuart
Witherington Lecture, “Jesus the author and finisher of our
ethics”
Week 6, Feb. 21 Golden
Rule and Love Commands
Ch. 6: Love and
Justice, Smedes, Henry
Ch. 7: Virtue and
Character, Hauerwas
Exam 1
For Week 7, watch two interviews
with Scott Rae, at http://www.publicchristianity.com/Videos/medical_ethics.html
and http://www.publicchristianity.com/Videos/medical_ethics2.html
Week 7, Feb. 28 Medical
Oaths; Personhood; Abortion. Vol.
2, Ch. 1: Abortion, Cottrell
Week 8, Mar. 7 Sickness
and Suffering; Euthanasia
Ch. 3:
Euthanasia, Moreland, Meilaender, Rakestraw
SPRING BREAK
Week 9, Mar. 21 Ch.
4: Sexuality, Wenham, Grenz
“Reproductive
Technologies” Guest lecturer: Steven Moore
Week 10, Mar. 28 Sexual
Ethics; Ch. 5: Homosexuality, Wright, Sider
Exam 2
Week 11, Apr. 4 Ch.
6: Divorce and Remarriage, Ryrie, Keener
Ch. 8: Gender
Issues, Van Leeuwen, Bloesch,
Oden
Week 12, Apr. 11 Ch.
9: Wealth and Economics, Nash Wogaman, Sider
Week 13, Apr. 18 Ch.
11: Civil Disobedience, Ryrie, Geisler, Piper
Week 14, Apr. 25 Ch.
13: Peace and War, Sider and Taylor, Hoekema
Week 15, May 2 “Nursing
Clinical Ethics” Guest lecturer: Robin Hill
May 9, 6:00 pm Final Exam
Students
with Disabilities:
It is the policy for
Assessment: Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding. Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, 4. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
. Ethics. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, 6. Trans. Ilse Tödt and Ernst Feil. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.
Clark, David K. and Robert V. Rakestraw. Readings in Christian Ethics. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
Grenz, Stanley J. Sexual Ethics: An Evangelical Perspective. 1990; repr. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Hare, John E. Why Bother Being Good? The Place of God in the Moral Life. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1996.
Meilaender, Gilbert. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
Miller, Patrick D. The Ten Commandments. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
Smedes, Lewis B. Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
Vaughn, Lewis. Bioethics: Principles, Issues, and Cases. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament. 2 vols. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009–10.
Wogaman, J. Philip. Moral Dilemmas: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Wogaman, J. Philip and Douglas M. Strong, eds. Readings in Christian Ethics: A Historical Sourcebook. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.
Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Justice: Rights and Wrongs. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008.
Wright, Christopher J. H. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2004.