INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS (CE-8109)

Christian ethics requires rigorous, careful reflection on the ways moral ideas and practices are embodied in our lives. It asks about the shape of a good society, the relationship between the individual and society, and what it looks like to maintain ethical relations with fellow human beings. In this course, we'll engage the pioneering work of several Christian ethicists, trace the history of the field, and mark points of overlap and divergence. We'll look at what makes each of these scholars' "pioneers" in their time and call upon relevant ethical theories for our discussion and analysis of current moral and social problems. Together, we will explore a range of sources, perspectives, and Christian ethics methods for addressing moral problems in society and in our lives. Success in this course will be defined by depth of engagement - as demonstrated in reading, writing, and class discussions - with the complexity of fundamental and practical ethical questions in conversation with Christian tradition. Throughout the semester, students and the instructor will collaborate to find sources and methods for constructing a liberative Christian ethics that is anti-racist, feminist, and anti-imperialist. [Auditors with faculty permission]