GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THEO 72: Religion, Ethics, and International Affairs Fall Semester, 2009 Professor Marilyn McMorrow, RSCJ COURSE CALENDAR DATE CLASS SESSION ASSIGNMENT DUE Fri Aug 21 Thurs Sept 3 Mon Sept 7 Tues Sept 8 Thurs Sept 10 Tues Sept 15 Ramadan Begins At Sunset Introduction LABOR DAY NO UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY CLASSES Instance of how religious leaders draw on religious tradition to address new political issues; Creation story as substructure. Comprehensive definition of 1. Brief Bio in which globalization, as contrasted with what Steger calls globality and with the ideologies he suggests we have formed in response to the processes of globalization. What is Happening to Our Beautiful Land? 1988 Pastoral Letter from Catholic Bishops Conference in the Philippines Bb, Websites You identify your own religious background or lack thereof, as well as an indication of the extent of any education about your own faith tradition. You indicate how you currently think about the effects of religious beliefs and ethical judgments on the conduct of world politics. (Due posted on Bb, under Assignments and also due in hard copy.) 2. Read Mark Steger, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction A. Read Mark Lilla, The Politics of God. Bb, under Websites B. Read Francis Fukuyama, The End of History? Bb under Websites
Thurs Sept 17 On the Discussion Board, in Blackboard, 1. Indicate an idea from readings to date that has given you an insight 2. And an argument with which you take exception. Edit your post carefully, substantively, and succinctly. DATE CLASS SESSION ASSIGNMENT DUE Fri Sept 18 Sat Sept 19 Tues Sept 22 Rosh HaShanah Begins at Sunset Eid Al-Fitr Begins at Sunset The Beloved Community: Desire for a Polity That Reflects Our Deepest BeliefsAnd Values Acts of the Apostles 2: 5-47 A Modell of Christian Charity, John Winthrop Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Vision of the Beloved Community. Thurs Sept 24 Sun Sept 27 Mon Sept 28 Tues Sept 29 Thurs Oct 1 Tues Oct 6 Thurs Oct 8 Mon Oct 12 The Beloved Community: The Society of Friends in Pennsylvania Colony Handout Yom Kippur Begins at Sunset Yom Kippur (Ethical) Scheme for International Society as a Beloved Community (Religious) Scheme for International Society as a Beloved Community (Religious) Appeal for a Beloved Community No Class: Common Word Conference. Concurrent Sessions COLUMBUS DAY NO CLASSES Bb "Websites" Daniel Boorstin, The Inward Plantation, The Colonial Experience Mervyn Frost, Global Ethics: Anarchy, Freedom, and International Relations, pp. 1-142 Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, chs. 2-6 and conclusion. 21-78 Bb, under Websites A Common Word Between Us and You Bb, under Websites UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY
Tues Oct 13 Catholic Social Teaching: Basic Principles Buddhist Basic Principles Bahai Statement: The Prosperity of Humankind (1995) Bb under websites DATE CLASS SESSION ASSIGNMENT DUE
Thurs Oct 15 In Class Debate: Two Issues: Debate A: A Religious Vision of the Beloved Community is Sustainable (or not). (Work on your arguments for your debate positions.) Debate A: PRO Austin, Claire Frenel, Stephanie Haney, Dan (Captain) Mantha, Madoorya Matthews, Jarvis McGarry, Bethan Mortensen, Erik Shan, Anishi (assigned) Wojantik, Andrew Debate B: Secular Visions of the Beloved Community are deficient (or not) to the extent they lack emphasis on human evil and sin. Debate A: CON Garza, Mike Hunt, Chrissy (Captain) Lewis, Allison Petrovani, Anya Pilch, Erica Vasquez, Jose Voerhees, Coerte Zhang, Fred Debate B: PRO Barrow, Tanore (Captain) Costello, Michaela Dvorak, Mike Grice, Stephanie Maitra, Sayoni McInnis, Roy Murto, Michael Pappas, Helen Debate: CON Antunes, Alice Durfee, Emily Hayes, Lucy Horne, Katelyn Ibarra, Clinton Stodder, Sarah Tsai, Diana Tripathi, Udayan (assigned) Wagner, Allison (Captain
**Fri Oct 16 Upper-Class Deficiency Reports Due DATE CLASS SESSION ASSIGNMENT DUE Oct 16-18 Parents Weekend Parents Weekend Tues Oct 20 Freedom of Religion Essay Due: Write on one of the following two topics, making an argument that you support by reference to the reads covered in The Beloved Community unit. A. Essential elements for the viability of a religious vision of the Beloved Community. B. Essential elements for the viability of a secular ethical vision of The Beloved Community The essay is limited to four pages and must make an argument. Thurs Oct 22 Religious Toleration 1. John Locke, "A Letter Concerning Toleration." 2. Hebrew Scriptures on Religious Toleration: The Book of Ruth 4. Christian Passage on Religious Toleration: John IV 4. Quranic Passage on Religious Toleration. Tues Oct 27 Secular Texts on Religious Freedom 5. Bahai Teaching on Religious Toleration. 1. Thomas Jefferson: Statute on Religious Liberty for Commonwealth of Virginia; 2. Thomas Jefferson, Excerpt from Notes on the State of Virginia. 3. Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Thurs Oct 29 Religious Texts on Religious Vatican II: Declaration on Religious Freedom Freedom; Bahai: Freedom to Believe Tues Nov 3 Just War Tradition, Pacifism, David Cortright, Peace: A History of and Peace-Building Movements and Ideas, chs. 1, 9, 10 Thurs Nov 5 Non-Violent Direct Action Bhikhu Parekh Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction chs. 1-4 Tues Nov 10 The Moral Imagination (to move out of violence) Gandhi, A Very Short Introduction, chs. 5-7. John Paul Lederach, The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace (Excerpt Handout) Thurs Nov 12 Peace-making Cortright, Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas, chs. 11-14. Frost, Global Ethics, ch. 4 Global Terrorism Understood in Ethical Terms Tues Nov 17 Deterrence The Challenge of Peace: God s Promise and Our Response, (Excerpt on Bb) Cortright, Peace, chs. 7, 15, 16 Thurs Nov 19 Discussion in class of points Two to three page thought essay due. Write on one of the following: raised in thought essays due. 1) Where do you stand with regard to the feasibility of what Cortwright calls realistic pacifism (pp. 334ff)? Be sure your essay specifies whatever religious and/or ethical principles inform your view... 2) Both Cortright and Frost (ch,4) are astounded/ dismayed, by the United States Response to Terrorism (post 9/11). Which of their ethical claims have you found persuasive? Or nonsensical? Be sure your essay engages the ethical aspects. 3) Alternative** See Box Below
Thurs Nov 19/ Sat Nov 21 7:30 pm Pray the Devil Back to Hell Lohrfink Auditorium, MSB Alternative: Attend the Video of Pray the Devil Back to Hell. **3) Write a two-three page thought essay, teasing out the essential components of this particular instance of Non-Violent Direct Action. Essay would be due by Saturday night to McCarthy 109 and on posted on Bb. Tues Nov 24 Migration Strangers No Longer, Bb Review Frost, Global Ethics, pps. 110-123. Thurs Nov 26 Thanksgiving Day University Holiday Tues Dec 1 Thurs Dec 3 Ethics in a World of Strangers vs Caritas in Veritate in a Community of Communities? Do Appiah and Benedict hold different or complementary world views and of how we should live together on the planet? Anthony Kwame Appiah, Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers, Intro and chs. 1-5 Appiah, Cosmpolitanism, chs. 6-10 Review Caritas in Veritate Tues Dec 8 Explanation of Group Oral Final Examination and Distribution of Take-Home Essay Assignment (due at Dec 14 session). Religion and Ethics as forces of Globalization? And/ or as challenges to Globalism? Evaluations Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Review ch. 1, chs. 6-8
Mon Dec 14 4:00pm-6:00pm Final Examination: Group Oral Exercise Submission of Take-Home Essay Assignment (2-3 pages) due at this session. (Supper afterwards, for those who wish?)