SOUTHERN EVANGELICAL SEMINARY

Transcription

1 SOUTHERN EVANGELICAL SEMINARY 3000 TILLEY MORRIS RD, MATTHEWS, NC COURSE SYLLABUS Summer 2016 AP412 Christian Ethics: The Bible and Moral Issues Richard Land, D.Phil. I. DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE This course is a study of ethical alternatives and issues from a Christian perspective. 3 credit hour II. PURPOSE STATEMENT The issues of our day are increasingly complex, and the need to engage the ever-expanding list of issues from a biblical worldview is more important than ever. This course will deal with issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the environment, cloning, genetic engineering, homosexuality, racism, religious liberty, and church-state issues. It will also explore how biblical truth instructs our understanding of these issues. III. OBJECTIVES After completing the course, the student should be able to 1. Evidence a clear and comprehensive understanding of the ethical issues enumerated in the purpose statement. 2. Give an accurate and comprehensive explanation of biblical truths as it applies to the ethical issues enumerated in the purpose statement. 3. Evaluate the premises, perspectives, and arguments of various critiques of the biblical view of ethics. 4. Build an intellectual framework useful for responding to future challenges. 5. Develop a personal apologetic for biblical Christianity that will stimulate a deeper walk with the Lord and a life-long study in these areas. IV. REQUIRED RESOURCES FOR THE COURSE 1. Feinberg, John S. and Paul D. Feinberg Ethics for a Brave New World. 2nd ed. Wheaton: Crossway Books, ISBN X 2. Grudem, Wayne. Politics According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, ISBN Land, Richard. Real Homeland Security. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, ISBN Land, Richard. Imagine: A God-Blessed America. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, ISBM Land, Richard. The Divided States of America. 2nd ed. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, ISBN

2 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 2 V. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE 1. Reading: Read carefully the assigned portions of the text for each subject in the course outline. Read the assigned texts as soon as possible. Please use the course outline (VII and VIII) to guide you in the reading assignments. 2. Attendance: Since this is a modular course, it is very important that you make every effort to read the assigned texts as soon as possible. Each student should plan to put at least 130 hours total into a 3 credit hour course by the end of the completion date. 3. Book Reviews 1 : A book review for each of these texts will be due as indicated Ethics for a Brave New World (8-10 pages, due 6/4/16) Real Homeland Security and Imagine! (one review of pages due, 6/25/16 Divided States (8-10 pages, due 7/19/16) Grudem s Politics According to the Bible (8-10 pages, due 7/23/16) 4. Examinations: There will be a mid-term and a final exam focusing on the reading and the lectures. The mid-term exam will be a 2-hour exam (essay and objective questions) covering the material for the first half of the course. It should be taken by midnight June 11, The 3-hour final exam will be comprehensive. It should be taken by midnight July 30, Project: Grudem s Theology of Salt and Light Essay: Turn in a page essay in which you develop a theology of being salt and light in society as a disciple of Christ. (Detailed instructions will be given online.) Due August 12, VI. GRADING Grading Scale A = B- = D+ = A- = C+ = D = B+ = C = D- = B = C- = F = You will find the books available on Amazon.com. Be sure to purchase the 2011 paperback of Divided States, ISBN-10:

3 Syllabus AP412 Summer 2016 Page 3 Grade Percentages Assessment Percentage of grade Approximate Time Reading and book reviews of readings 40% 60 hours Completing of lectures 5% 24 hours Mid-term exam 20% 6 hours Project #1: Theology of Salt and Light Essay 10% 15 hours Final exam 25% 10 hours (3 hour exam) 100% ~ 120 VII. OUTLINE OF THE COURSE A. Sources of Truth: Epistemology and Issues B. Christian Ethics: Application of God s Truth to the moral issues and questions of life and its meaning C. Mega Ethical Issue: MAN 1. What is Man: Who and why is God mindful of him? 2. Abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, cloning, etc. 3. God made man a social creature D. Man in relationship 1. Male and female, the gift of gender 2. The Family: God s plan 3. Man s relation to others: neighbor, society, work, government 4. Salt and Light responsibilities (Matthew 5) E. Christians and Conflict: War and Peace 1. Just War Theory F. Christians and the Creation: 1. Stewardship responsibilities VIII. CLASS SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTIAN ETHICS Class Class Topics Text Readings 1 Syllabus and overview of class Moral decision making and the Christian 2 Abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment Ethics for a Brave New World (EBNW): EBNW: Genetic engineering, Reproductive technologies EBNW:

4 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 4 4 Introduction to the ethics of human sexuality: sex and birth control Homosexuality Divorce and remarriage 5 A Prayer for our nation? A promise for our nation? Who are God s people for today? Humility, American style Seeking God in prayer 6 When God hears and responds: the person God will bless, the family God will bless, the Church God will bless, the community God will bless, the government God will bless 7 Imagine a God-Blessed America: how it could happen and what it would look like Could the best be yet to be? Why your faith matters so much; the unique value of very human life; sexuality is honored, not degraded; stable and happy marriages are the norm; children are not victimized by adults; Christians who are radical change agents 8 Imagine a God-Blessed America: churches that reflect Christ, not culture; liberated from the cult of self; commitment to the common good; a vision for America 9 Government in America: what to do and what not to do; where has God been in America: all the President s faith; Why we re so confused about Church and State 10 Government in America: what happens when you mix God and country and what happens when you don t? Does America have a special role in the world? What does it mean to say, God Bless America? 11 The Christian and war: Christian faith in a nuclear age 12 The Christian and the secular State; Christians and creation EBNW: , Real Homeland Security: Real Homeland Security: Imagine! A God-Blessed America: Grudem: Chaps. 1-3 Imagine! A God-Blessed America: Grudem: Chaps. 4-6 The Divided States of America: Grudem: Chaps. 7-9 The Divided States of America: Grudem: Chaps EBNW: Grudem: Chaps EBNW: Grudem: Chaps IX. GUIDELINES FOR SALT AND LIGHT ESSAY A. Use appropriate research format (Turabian, 8 th edition), especially for footnotes and the bibliography. Please do not use endnotes. B. Include your full name, course name, project name, and date, all at the top left side of your first page. Center your title underneath your heading. Example: Alexander Student AP512: Christian Ethics Project #1: Salt and Light Paper August 14, 2016

5 Syllabus AP412 Summer 2016 Page 5 X. SCHOOL POLICIES: ATTENDANCE AND PLAGIARISM Attendance This is a one-week residential/live streamed class. It will meet M-F from 6-10:30 and 8-4:30 on Saturday. Attendance is expected at all class sessions, except in cases of emergency. Students who are absent from one of these class sessions will have their course grade reduced by 1/3 a letter grade. Students who are absent from more than one of the class meetings will be given automatic academic failure as consequence. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism and cheating, regardless of the reason, are considered unethical and a violation of the Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College student code of conduct. The first offense will result in an automatic academic failure for the assignment and/or the course by a decision of the professor and approval by the Academic Dean. A statement will be added to the student s file concerning the offense and consequence. A student may appeal this decision to the Academic Committee. Subsequent offenses or those involving a thesis or dissertation may involve suspension from the Seminary or Bible College upon recommendation of the Academic Committee and decision by the faculty for dismissal from the Seminary and/or the revocation of a degree. Decision by the faculty is final. XI. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ETHICS* The Grounding of Ethics: God and the Good Aertsen, Jan A. "The Convertibility of Being and Good in St. Thomas Aquinas, " New Scholasticism 59 (1985): Aquinas, Thomas. "The Goodness of God." Summa Theologica. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Westminster, Maryland: Christian Classics, 1981, Ia, 6. Chamberlain, Paul. Can We Be Good Without God? A Conversation about Truth, Morality, Culture and a Few Other Things that Matter. Downers Grove, IL: Moreland, J. P. "God and the Meaning of Life." In Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Moreland, J. P., and Kai Nielsen. "Does It Matter that God Exists? The Debate Continued." In Does God Exist? The Great Debate. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990, Republished as Does God Exist? The Debate Between Theists and Atheists. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, Noebel, David A. Understanding the Times: The Story of the Biblical Christian, Marxist/Leninist and Secular Humanist Worldviews. Manitou Springs, CO: Summit Press, 1991.

6 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 6 Sproul, R. C. The Holiness of God. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, If There Is a God, Why Are There Atheists? A Surprising Look at the Psychology of Atheism. Minneapolis: Dimension Books, Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy. San Francisco: Harper & Row, Publishers, God and Evil Adams, Marilyn McCord, and Robert Merrihew Adams, eds. The Problem of Evil. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990; Paperback reprint, New York: Oxford University Press, Aquinas, Thomas. On Evil. Translated by Jean Oesterle. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, Davies, Brian. The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil. London: Continuum, Thomas Aquinas on God and Evil. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Geisler, Norman L. If God, Why Evil? A New Way to Think about the Question. Minneapolis: Bethany House, Kreeft, Peter. Making Sense out of Suffering. Ann Arbor: Servant Books, McCabe, Herbert. God and Evil in the Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. London: Continuum, Plantinga, Alvin C. God, Freedom, and Evil. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Wenham, John W. The Enigma of Evil: Can We Believe in the Goodness of God? Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Atheistic/Humanistic/Skeptical Ethics Dershowitz, Alan. Rights from Wrongs: A Secular Theory of the Origin of Rights. New York: Basic Books, Perseus Books Group, Johnson, B. C. "God and Morality." In The Atheist Debater's Handbook, Buffalo: Prometheus Books, Kurtz, Paul, ed. Humanist Manifestos I and II. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, Mackie, J. L. Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong. London: Penguin Books, 1990.

7 Syllabus AP412 Summer 2016 Page 7. "Moral Arguments of the Existence of God." In The Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and Against the Existence of God, Oxford: Clarendon Press, Martin, Michael. "Christian Ethics." In The Case Against Christianity, Philadelphia: Temple University Press, "The Moral Argument." In Atheism: A Philosophical Justification, Philadelphia: Temple University Press, Nielsen, Kai. Ethics Without God. London: Pemberton Books, Buffalo: Prometheus Books, "Morality and the Will of God." In Peter A. Angeles, ed. Critiques of God, Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, Smith, George H. "Ethics, Rationality, and Religion." In Atheism: The Case Against God, Buffalo: Prometheus Books, Philosophy and Ethics Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. In The Basic Works of Aristotle, edited by Richard McKeon. New York: Random House, Frankena, William K. Ethics. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Hume, David. Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals. Oxford: Clarendon Press, Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. Translated by H. J. Paton. New York: Harper & Row, Harper Torchbooks, Critique of Practical Reason. Trans. by Lewis White Beck. New York: Macmillan Publishing, London: Collier Macmillan, Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Plato. Euthyphro. In The Collected Dialogues of Plato, translated by Lane Cooper, edited by Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns. Princeton: Princeton University Press, Pojman, Louis P. Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1989.

8 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 8 The Justification of Christian Ethics Aquinas, Thomas. "Of Goodness in General." Summa Theologica. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1981, Ia, 5.. "Treatise on Man's Last End [Happiness]. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1981, IaIIae, "Good." De Veritate [Truth]. Translated by Robert W. Schmidt. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, Q "The Tendency to Good and the Will." De Veritate, Q. 22. Budziszewski, J. Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, What We Can't Not Know: A Guide. Dallas: Spence Publishing, Fagothey, Austin. Right and Reason: Ethics in Theory and Practice Based on the Teachings of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, 2nd ed. Charlotte: Tan Books and Publishers, Feinberg, John S., and Paul D. Feinberg. Ethics for a Brave New World, 2nd ed. Wheaton: Crossway, Geisler, Norman L. "Absolute Nature of Morality." In Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999, Christian Ethics: Options and Issues. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Geisler, Norman and Frank Turek. Legislating Morality: Is It Wise? Is It Legal? Is It Possible? Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, George, Robert P. In Defense of Natural Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, The Clash of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion, and Morality in Crisis. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, Kreeft, Peter. The Best Things in Life: A 20th Century Socrates Looks at Power, Pleasure, Truth and the Good Life. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, The Unaborted Socrates: A Dramatic Debate on the Issues Surrounding Abortion. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Lutzer, Erwin. The Necessity of Ethical Absolutes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing

9 Syllabus AP412 Summer 2016 Page 9 House, Dallas Texas: Probe Ministries, Owens, Joseph. "Christian Conscience vs. Aristotelian Right Reason." In Towards a Christian Philosophy. Vol. 21, Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy, ed. Jude P. Dougherty. Washington, DC: The Catholic University Press of America. Dougherty. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Sproul, R. C. Ethics and the Christian: Right and Wrong in Today's World. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, Veatch, Henry B. Rational Man: A Modern Interpretation of Aristotelian Ethics. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, "What Price Ethics in the Eyes of Modern Moral Philosophers?" In Swimming Against the Current in Contemporary Philosophy: Occasional Essays and Papers. Vol. 20, Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy, ed. Jude P. Dougherty. Washington, DC: The Catholic University Press of America, Watkins, William D. The New Absolutes: How They Are Being Imposed on Us; How They Are Eroding Our Moral Landscape. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, The Application of Ethics: The Public Sphere Government Holmes, Arthur F., ed. War and Christian Ethics: Classic Readings on the Morality of War. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Murray, Charles. In Pursuit of Happiness and Good Government. New York: Simon and Schuster, Limbaugh, David. Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Novak, Michael. Free Persons and the Common Good. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, Economic Policy Bernbaum, John A., ed. Economic Justice and the State: A Debate Between Ronald H. Nash and Eric H. Beversluis. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Chilton, David. Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators: A Biblical Response to Ronald J. Sider. Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian Economics, 1981.

10 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 10 Cromartie, Michael, ed. Gaining Ground: New Approaches to Poverty and Dependency. Ethics and Public Policy Essay 60. Washington, DC: Ethics and Public Policy Center, D'Souza, Dinesh. The Virtue of Prosperity: Finding Values in an Age of Techno- Affluence. New York: The Free Press, Nash, Ronald H. Poverty and Wealth: The Christian Debate Over Capitalism. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, Schaeffer, Franky, ed. Is Capitalism Christian? Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, Social Policy Ball, William Bentley, ed. In Search of a National Morality: A Manifesto for Evangelicals And Catholics. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House and San Francisco: Ignatius Press, Bork, Robert H. Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline. New York: Regan Books, D'Souza, Dinesh. The End of Racism: Principles for a Multiracial Society. New York: The Free Press, Horn, Carl, ed. Whose Values? The Battle for Morality in Pluralistic America. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Books, Keyes, Alan L. Masters of the Dream: The Strength and Betrayal of Black America. New York: William Morrow and Company, Kilpatrick, William. Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong: Moral Illiteracy and the Case for Character Education. New York: Simon and Schuster, Olasky, Marvin; Schlossbert, Herbert; Berthoud, Pierre; and Pinnock, Clark H. Freedom, Justice, and Hope: Toward a Strategy for the Poor and the Oppressed. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, Sowell, Thomas. Compassion Verses Guilt and Other Essays. New York: William Morrow And Company, Ethnic America: A History. New York: Basic Books, Migrations and Cultures: A World View. New York: Basic Books, Preferential Policies: An International Perspective. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1990.

11 Syllabus AP412 Summer 2016 Page 11. The Quest for Cosmic Justice. New York: The Free Press, Race and Culture: A World View. New York: Basic Books, The Vision of the Anointed. New York: Basic Books, Thomas, Andrew Peyton. Crime and the Sacking of America: The Roots of Chaos. Washington: Brassey's, Williams, Walter. All It Takes Is Guts: A Minority View. Washington, DC: Regnery Books, Family Values Gairdner, William D. The War Against the Family: A Parent Speaks Out on the Political, Economic, and Social Policies that Threaten Us All. Toronto: Stoddart, Gallagher, Maggie. Enemies of Eros: How the Sexual Revolution Is Killing Family, Marriage, and Sex and What We Can Do About It. Chicago: Bonus Books, The Environment Bailey, Ronald, ed. The True State of the Planet: Ten of the World's Premier Researchers in a Major Challenge to the Environmental Movement. New York: The Free Press, Environmental Beisner, E. Calvin. Prospects for Growth: A Biblical View of Population, Resources, and The Future. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, Prosperity and Poverty: The Compassionate Use of Resources in a World of Scarcity. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, Where Garden Meets Wilderness: Evangelical Entry into the Environmental Debate. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company, The Embracing of Ethics: Personal Holiness Adams, Jay E. How to Overcome Evil. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, Bridges, Jerry. The Pursuit of Holiness. Colorado Springs: Navpress, Ironside, H. A. Holiness: The False and the True. Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, McDowell, Josh. Right from Wrong: What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right

12 Syllabus Ethics AP412- Summer 2016 Page 12 Choices. Dallas: Word Publishing, Packer, J. I. Keep in Step with the Spirit. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell, Rediscovering Holiness. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications, Ryle, J. C. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Balancing the Christian Life. Chicago: Moody Press, Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, n.d. Warfield, Benjamin B. Perfectionism. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, *Complied by Dr. Richard Howe