The John Leland Center for Theological Studies
Introduction to Christian Ethics, TP 2310
Time: Thursdays 4:00-6:00
Instructor: Tracey Mark Stout, Ph.D.
Office Phone: 276-326-4245
Home Phone: 276-326-1591
E-Mail: tstout@bluefield.edu
Purpose:
Introduction to Christian Ethics is a course designed to introduce to the basic terminology and methods of Christian ethical decision making. Careful attention will be devoted to the ethics of the New Testament. Students will become familiar with some of the approaches used in applying New Testament ethics to contemporary ethical issues. The ethical issues considered this semester include, but are not limited to: the ethics of war, marriage and divorce, sexual ethics, and abortion.
Required Texts:
Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. San Francisco: Harper, 1996.
Mattison, William C. Introducing Moral Theology: True Happiness and the Virtues. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2008.
Stassen, Glen H. and David P. Gushee. Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2003.
Requirements:
Course Outline:
Week One: Introduction
Approaches to Ethics Handout
The Morality of Happiness Mattison 19-55
Week Two: Holistic Virtue Ethics
Mattison 57-72
Stassen and Gushee 55-78
Week Three: The Virtues of Temperance and Prudence
Mattison 75-130
Week Four: The Virtues of Justice and Fortitude
Mattison 134-143, 180-194
Week Five: The Theological Virtues
Mattison 195-230, 251-270, 290-308
Week Six: The Christian Story – Creation and Redemption
Mattison 231-249, 273-288, 311-331
Week Seven: Ethics in Scripture and Scripture in Ethics
Hays 1-15, 187-213
Stassen and Gushee 81-98
Week Eight: The Ethics of Paul
Hays 16-71
Week Nine: The Ethics of Mark and Matthew
Hays 73-110
The Sermon on the Mount as a Test Case
Stassen and Gushee 125-145
Week Ten: The Ethics of Luke and John
Hays 112-155
Week Eleven: The Ethics of Warfare
Hays 317-344
Mattison 144-178
Stassen and Gushee 149-193
Week Twelve: Marriage and Divorce
Hays 347-376
Stassen and Gushee 271-289
Week Thirteen: Sexuality
Mattison 333-362
Hays 379-403
Stassen and Gushee 290-324
Week Fourteen: The Ends of Life – Abortion and Euthanasia
Mattison 364-390
Hays 444-460
Stassen and Gushee 215-251
Week Fifteen: Being Creatures – Biotechnology and the Environment
Stassen and Gushee 252-267, 427-446