Bethesda University. 730 North Euclid Street, Anaheim, California Tel: (714) , Fax: (714) Estée Song

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1 GH 250 Christian Ethics Fall 2014 Estée Song Class Hour: Monday 6:50 PM 9:20 PM Class Room: Click here to enter text. Office: TBA Phone: (714) Office Hours/ Consultation: TBA E- mail: TA: TBA (To Be Arranged) Credit Unit: 3 A. Mission Statement 1. Bethesda University Mission of the Bethesda University Bethesda University is a Christ- centered community of higher education preparing Korean/English speaking men and women with professional competence, academic excellence, and spiritual integrity to be servant leaders in the Church, community, and global society. 2. Bethesda University General Education Mission Statement The Mission of General Education at Bethesda University is to facilitate the acquisition and integration of knowledge, abilities, ethics and spirituality in order to form a foundation for lifelong learning through the interdisciplinary study. B. Course s Academic Level and Place in Curriculum: This is one of general education courses for all undergraduate students. This course may be taken at anytime. But, it fits best if it is taken at the first stage of your course of study. C. Course Description This course is an introductory study in Christian ethics designed to assist college students in the integration of belief and will examine the objective moral truth of Christian ethic. Most importantly, through the examination of the Christian ethic, the student will gain a biblical understanding of an infallible authority in the realm of moral life and ethical reflection.

2 D. Course Objectives & Student Outcomes After completing this course, students will have achieved the following: Expected Student Outcomes Spiritually Demonstrate a commitment to Christian character in personal life. Intellectually Describe the basic concepts, terms, and theories associated with the study of ethics. Be able to provide comprehensive explanation on how Christian ethics differs from other ethical systems. Socio- Emotively Provide an ethical analysis of current trends, changes, and issues from various ethical systems, with an emphasis on Christian ethics. Vocationally Demonstrate and propose resolutions to different ethical dilemmas within the Christian ethical framework. E. Class Formation A diverse range of learning and teaching methods will be used. (Cognitive Approach, Audio- Lingual Method, The Natural/ Communicative Approach and Community Language Learning) F. Required Textbook(s) No. Title Author Publisher Library code Year 1 Bible (NKJV, ESV, or NASB preferred.). 2 Walking in the Way: An Introduction to Christian Ethics Joe E Trull Holman Christian Ethics in Plain Thomas Kerby Anderson Language Nelson 2005 G. Recommended Reading and Other Course Resources (All reserved for reading) No. Title Author Publisher Library Year 1 Exploring Christian Ethics: Biblical Westminster- Kyle D. Fedler Foundations for Morality John Knox Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Inter Varsity Glen H. Stassen Contemporary Context. Press The Cost of Discipleship Bonhoeffer, MacMillan Deitrich Publishing Bonhoeffer Speaks Today Mark Divine B & H Academic 2005

3 H. Course Calendar/Schedule, include the following Wk Date Topic Reading CHAPTER Assignment Bible Reading Proverbs Written assignment 1 8/25 Introduction / Ethics and Society - Christian Worldview 2 9/1 No Class 3 9/8 Christian Ethics Intro /15 Christian Ethical Foundation Reflection 5 9/22 Bible and Christian Ethics Reflection 6 9/29 The Ethics of the Bible Reflection 7 10/6 The Church & the world Reflection 8 10/13 Midterm I 9 10/20 Moral Decision Making Reflection 10 10/27 The Christian and personal Ethics Reflection 11 11/3 Sexuality and Marriage Reflection 12 11/10 Human Equality Reflection 13 11/17 Midterm II 14 11/24 Biomedical Ethics 9 Reflection 15 12/1 Economics and Politics 10 / Conclusion Reflection 16 12/8 Final Presentation

4 I. Assignment 1. Reading Reflection: Reading reports are based on the reading assignments indicated in the syllabus. Reports will be graded based on completing the reading assignment, quality of the reflection and excellence in writing. Write a brief summary of each chapter stating the significant contribution of the text to your present knowledge/understanding of children, children s learning, and the facilitating of learning by children. Identification of 3-5 key insights (new ideas) gained from each textbook and how these insights may impact you and your specific ministry. Each report should be double- spaced and 1-2 pages in length, at the end of your paper, please indicate how much of the text you have completed using this scale: 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% 2. Each student will make lead several discussions about the concepts in the textbook. The discussion should begin with a very brief overview of the idea (perhaps one to two minutes), and then several questions should be asked that will provoke discussion. J. Evaluation/Assessment Rationale for Grade Determination 1. Grade Assessment Requirements Points Attendance & Participation 10 Written Assignments 40 Mid terms 30 Final Presentation 20 Total Grade definition A B C D Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

5 F Failure 3. Grade scale Letter Grade Numeric Grade Grade Points A A B B B C C C D D D F 59 or below 0 K. Course Policies 1. Attendance at BCU is mandatory! Students must regularly attend class and be prepared to participate in class discussions and activities. Be forewarned that three or more unexcused absences will result in an automatic fail, and all students are required to report to the admissions director after a second absence. Arriving late or leaving early every two times equals an absence, and missing one half of a class session will also be considered an absence. Only a valid excuse provided in writing will count toward pardoning an absence. Students who are absent are responsible for contacting a classmate to learn of any missed assignments or changes in the course schedule. All course work is due on the dates assigned. Students who fail to submit assignments on time will be subject to the course s late grading policy. In all other cases and unless otherwise stated by the instructor, all course work is due by 4:00 p.m. on the last day of the semester. Late work will not be accepted without penalty unless students make arrangements for an extension before the due date. Late essays will receive a whole letter grade reduction per day, so please turn in papers on time. 2. A grade of incomplete will only be awarded to students who cannot physically complete their course work by the last day of the semester due to an avoidable situation such as a serious illness. In such cases, students must provide valid evidence of their condition. After a semester has ended it is no longer possible to request an incomplete. Incompletes will not be granted simply because of poor time management. Students who assume that an incomplete will be issued because they failed to finish their course work by the end of the semester will automatically receive a grade of F. Incompletes must first be approved by the Academic Affairs office. To apply for an incomplete, student must fill out an incomplete-grade-

6 request form and submit it to the office by December 2, After receiving approval from the office, the student must then obtain approval from his or her instructor. 3. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable. Plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else s ideas, arguments or other original material without acknowledging the source. L. COURSE PRAYER SUBJECTS: 1. Growth in grace: We may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) 2. Time with God: Let nothing hinder our time with God. Protect us from the distractions of busyness, unnecessary demands, fatigue, over commitment, compromise, and doubt. Bless us with rich study time, and give us opportunities, desire, and places to seek You (God) in prayer, both alone and with others. (Acts 6:2-4; Mt. 26:41; 2 Tim. 2:15; Mk. 1:35; Acts 1:14) 3. Worship: Draw us into deeper worship of You (God). Give us a vision of heaven, and keep us from traditions that hold the form of godliness but deny its power. 4. Passion for God: Lord please instill in us a soul that followeth hard after thee, one that clings passionately to you. (Ps. 63:8) 5. Knowledge: Enlighten the eyes of us so that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of our glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power that is in us who believe. Let us see the full revelation of Jesus Christ. May we know Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Eph. 1:18-19; Gal. 1:12; Phil. 3:10) M. Suggested Bibliography: Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics. New York: Simon & Schuster Publishers, Chamberlain, Paul. Can We Be Good Without God? Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Clark, David K. and Robert V. Rakestraw. Readings in Christian Ethics, Volume 1, Theory and Method. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, Frankena, William. Ethics. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice- Hall, Inc., Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics: Options and Issues. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Gill, David W. Becoming Good: Building Moral Character. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Hollinger, Dennis P. Choosing the Good. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.

7 Gough, Russell W. Character is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life. New York: Crown Forum, Jersild, Paul. Making Moral Decisions: A Christian Approach to Personal and Social Ethics. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Jones, David Clyde. Biblical Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, Lee, Cameron. Beyond Family Values: A Call to Christian Virtue. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Lloyd- Jones, Martyn. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., MacIntyre, Alasdair. A Short History of Ethics. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, Mott, Stephen Charles. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Class Schedule: