Christian Ethics
SE 571—Christian Ethics and Social Issues
Patrick T. Smith, Course Instructor
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Fall Semester 2011
Friday Sessions, 6:00-10:00 PM; Saturday Sessions, 9:00-4:30 PM
Email: ptsmith@gcts.edu
Phone: 978-646-4120
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Description
This course is a study of the interaction between Christian ethics and social issues. Attention is given to biblical, theological and philosophical perspectives on select contemporary social issues facing the church.
Course Textbooks
Required:
1. Carroll R., M. Daniel. Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible,
Baker Academic Books, 2008.
2. Hoffmeier, James K. The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible. Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Books, 2009.
3. Hollinger, Dennis. Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex World. Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic Books, 2002.
4. Stassen, Glen and David P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary
Context, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
5. Additional essays listed on the course schedule below are provided by the course instructor
Choose one of the following texts to read to make up for the remaining 1.5 contact hours:
6. Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions,
InterVarsity Press, 1999.
[OR]
7. Hughes, Dewi. Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
1
Course Objectives
The student who successfully completes this course should develop and demonstrate the following skills:
1. To become familiar with the academic discipline of Christian ethics in its central concepts, methodological approaches, biblical and theological norms, and the variety of critical issues it seeks to address.
2. To develop a holistic framework for understanding the scope and content of Christian ethical decision making.
3. To understand some of the reasons for the social and
Patrick T. Smith, Course Instructor
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Fall Semester 2011
Friday Sessions, 6:00-10:00 PM; Saturday Sessions, 9:00-4:30 PM
Email: ptsmith@gcts.edu
Phone: 978-646-4120
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Description
This course is a study of the interaction between Christian ethics and social issues. Attention is given to biblical, theological and philosophical perspectives on select contemporary social issues facing the church.
Course Textbooks
Required:
1. Carroll R., M. Daniel. Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible,
Baker Academic Books, 2008.
2. Hoffmeier, James K. The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible. Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Books, 2009.
3. Hollinger, Dennis. Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex World. Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic Books, 2002.
4. Stassen, Glen and David P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary
Context, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
5. Additional essays listed on the course schedule below are provided by the course instructor
Choose one of the following texts to read to make up for the remaining 1.5 contact hours:
6. Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions,
InterVarsity Press, 1999.
[OR]
7. Hughes, Dewi. Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
1
Course Objectives
The student who successfully completes this course should develop and demonstrate the following skills:
1. To become familiar with the academic discipline of Christian ethics in its central concepts, methodological approaches, biblical and theological norms, and the variety of critical issues it seeks to address.
2. To develop a holistic framework for understanding the scope and content of Christian ethical decision making.
3. To understand some of the reasons for the social and