30
Lessons
47
Videos
06
QUIZZES
6 Weeks
Duration
English
Language
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to Christian and Biblical ethics. It is designed to make an examination of the methodology and content of Christian ethics with application to specific contemporary issues. The study includes a detail study of biblical ethics, an evaluation of ethical theories and a reflective discussion of some present-day moral issues in light of biblical teachings. This course will help students to take biblically informed ethical decisions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to gain:
- Knowledge:
The student learns ethics from a Christian view point along with the various methodologies that are employed to address ethical issues. To help the students know and identify how the Bible speaks into situations, relate it to the contemporary challenges, and recognize and reaffirm it as the authority for Christian living and decision-making. - Skills:
To develop in students the skill to biblically evaluate and engage with various contemporary ethical issues while being sensitive to the context they live in. - Attitude:
To value ethics and commit oneself to lead a biblically ethical life. To inculcate in students a lifelong desire and a sense of responsibility to identify and engage with different ethical issues of their times.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
REQUIRED READING
Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues & Options. 2nd ed. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Print.
Grudem, Wayne. Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Reasoning. Illinois: Crossway, 2018. Print.
James, Emmanuel. Ethics: A Biblical Perspective. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 1992. Print
SUPPLEMENTARY / RECOMMENDED READING AND TOOLS (Bibliography)
Attwood, David. Changing Values: How to Find Moral Truth in Modern Times. Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1998. Print.
Cahill, Lisa Sowle. Between the Sexes: Foundations for a Christian Ethics of Sexuality. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985. Print.
Chandran, J Russell. Christian Ethics. Reprinted. Delhi: ISPCK, 2004. Print.
Das, Somen. Christian Ethics and Indian Ethos. Delhi: ISPCK, 2004. Print.
Davis, John Jefferson. Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today. 3rd ed. New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2004. Print.
Frame, John M. Medical Ethics: Principles, Persons and Problems. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1988. Print.
Gooding, David and John Lennox. The Bible and Ethics: Finding the Moral Foundations of the Christian Faith. Belfast: Myrtlefield House, 2019.
Lehmann, Paul L. Ethics in a Christian Context. London: SCM Press Ltd., 1963. Print.
Lobo, Benjamin P. The Answer to Drug Addiction. Bombay: Benjamin P. Lobo, 1986. Print.
Mabry, Hunter P., ed. Christian Ethics – An Introductory Reader. Reprinted. Delhi: ISPCK, 2002. Print.
Mahendra, Shivraj K. A Christian Response to Pornography. Delhi: ISPCK, 2007. Print.
McDowell, Josh and Norm Geisler. Love is Always Right: The Key to Making Right Moral Decisions in an Age of Relative Values. Cumbria: Alpha, 1998. Print.
Mills-Powell, Dana. Decide for Peace: Evangelicals and the Bomb. UK: Marshall Pickering, 1986. Print.
Pierce, T. Burton. Ministerial Ethics: A Guide for Spirit-Filled Leaders. Missouri: Legion Press, 1996. Print.
Rudnick, Milton L. Christian Ethics for Today: An Evangelical Approach. Michigan: Baker Book House, 1979. Print.
Stephen, M. Introducing Christian Ethics. Delhi: ISPCK, 2005. Print.
Stephen. M. Christian Ethics: Issues and Insights. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, 2007. Print.
Stott, John. Issues Facing Christians Today. Reprinted. Bombay: Gospel Literature Service, 1984. Print.
Strauss, Mark L. ed. Remarriage After Divorce in Today’s Church: 3 Views. Michigan: Zondervan, 2006. Print.
Wennberg, Robert N. Terminal Choices: Euthanasia, Suicide, and the Right to Die. Reprinted. Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990. Print.
Wright, Christopher J H. Living as the People of God: The Relevance of Old Testament Ethics. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1983. Print.
Wintle, Brian., ed. South Asia Bible Commentary. Udaipur: Open Door Publications, 2015. Print.
GUIDELINES FOR INTERACTIONS
We anticipate our students to have varied viewpoints which will enrich the discussions in our learning community. Therefore, we ask our students to be charitable and respectful in their interactions with each other, and to remain focused on the topic of discussion, out of respect to others who have committed to being a part of this learning community.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
- Discussion Forum
A. Weekly Discussions and Written Responses: (Weeks 1 and 2 only): 300 Words each, 2 questions, (Total 10%)
Late responses are not accepted.. Each week’s initial response is due on Wednesday(11:59pm) and interactions with other responses are due on Saturday (11:59pm).
Attendance in this course is demonstrated by regular log-ins and up-to-date participation in forums and live classes.
Every Monday (for weeks 1 and 2 only), a weekly discussion question will become visible. Each student will read through the question and take time to formulate a response.
Aim for responses that display a thorough understanding of the textbooks and primary sources relevant to each question and a clear engagement with the class discussions and lectures, especially identifying areas of your understanding of each week’s themes that have challenged, changed, and/or enriched you. This is not a summary of the readings and the lectures, but a response to particular themes/arguments. Be specific and brief, but not superficial.
The initial response should be 300 words but there is no set limit on words for the subsequent interactions between students. In order to maximize the benefit of this element of the course, the student should post his/her initial response by 11:59 pm on Wednesday of the week and then spend the remainder of that week interacting with their colleagues (at least responding to 2 students) in the class until Saturday at 11:59pm.
Each weekly questions and themes will be discussed on following week during optional class meetings
DISCUSSION FORUM AND GRADING RUBRIC
(see the General Grading from FBC Grading standards)
|
Areas of Evaluation
|
Grade A
|
Grade B
|
Grade C
|
Grade D
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Completeness of post
|
Addresses all parts of question; meets and did not exceed word limit; comprehensive response
|
Addresses all parts of question; respectable length & did not exceed limit; somewhat comprehensive
|
Addresses some parts of question; shorter length; incomplete post
|
Rarely addresses question; far too short or far too long; incomplete post
|
|
Clarity of post
|
Clear and concise posts; grammatically correct with rare
|
Clear, but can be more concise; a few grammatical or spelling errors
|
Somewhat clear, but with significant number of errors in spelling and grammar
|
Unclear, poor spelling and grammar in most posts
|
|
Critical engagement with class material (lectures, readings)
|
Thoughtful; opinions and ideas are substantiated with class material and additional resources (quotations and/or references); active reflection & questioning; obvious integration with one’s context
|
Thoughtful; opinions and ideas are occasionally substantiated with class material; some reflection & questioning; some integration
|
Less thoughtful; opinions and ideas are sometimes substantiated with class material; insufficient reflection & questioning; less integration with one’s context
|
Opinions and ideas are not substantiated with class material; no reflection & questioning; no integration with one’s context
|
|
Promptness & quality of responses
|
Posting on time; responds to all group members’ comments on your post, interacting with other students’ postings in timely manner; thoughtful responses
|
Posting on time; responds to some of group members’ comments on your post, limited interaction with other students’ postings in timely manner; somewhat thoughtful responses
|
Posting mostly on time; interaction with only 1-2 students’ postings; less thoughtful responses
|
Late posting; rarely responds to group members’ comments on your post and/or students’ postings; responses not thoughtful
|
B. Reflective Questions (Weeks 1 and 2 only): 300-500 words, 4 assignments, Total 20%. Due on every Saturday, 11:59PM
A reflective question will be given (2 per week for the first 2 weeks). The student needs to reflect his/her thoughts on the given question based on the readings and lecture videos. The answer requires an understanding of the content learnt through the week and the practical application of the same in addressing the question.
C. Essays/Research Papers:
-
- Research Paper 1 (Old Testament Ethics) – 1500 Words, 10%. Due on 23rd June, 11:59PM.
Question: (1) Choose an ethical topic and clearly explain what the Old Testament teaches about the topic you have chosen. Explain in detail with references and academic citations in about 1500 words. Please use sufficient academic sources to build your paper.
- Research Paper 1 (Old Testament Ethics) – 1500 Words, 10%. Due on 23rd June, 11:59PM.
-
- Research Paper 2 (New Testament Ethics) – 1500 Words, 10%. Due on 30th June, 11:59PM.
Choose any one epistle from the New Testament (not discussed in the class) and identify its ethical teachings. Briefly in about 1500 words, explain the ethics from the book you have chosen.
- Research Paper 2 (New Testament Ethics) – 1500 Words, 10%. Due on 30th June, 11:59PM.
A few pointers to help you write your paper:
-
-
- Write a brief introduction to the paper
- In the body of the paper, explain the following:
- Briefly explain the background of the epistle and the historical context in which the book was written
- Identify the major ethical theme/themes and/or ethical problems the book is dealing with
- Describe in detail the ethics you have identified and how the Writer had proclaimed them in his writing.
- What attributes of God can you identify in the book and how do those attributes address the ethical issues
- What measures does the Writer suggest to handle the ethical issues?
- Application to present day context
- Any other relevant information
- Conclusion
-
-
- Major Research Paper (Contemporary Ethical Issues) 3000 Words, 30%. Due on 09th July, 11:59PM.
a) Choose any ethical issue (not discussed in the class) and draft a real-life or simulated case clearly mentioning the Primary Question (PQ). Now write a detailed Research Paper analyzing various factors (social, political, legal, economic, cultural, religious etc.,) that influence an ethical decision.
b) Give a detailed explanation of what Bible says about the ethical issue.
c) Now give your response to what you would like to (a) Reject (b) Retain (c) Rework based on your evaluation
D. SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
Evaluation is based upon the completion of the following assignments:
|
1. |
Weekly Discussions and Responses (Weeks 1 and 2) |
10 % |
|
2. |
Reflective Questions |
20 % |
|
3. |
Research/Essay Papers (3 no.s) |
50 % |
|
4. |
Class Interaction |
10 % |
|
5. |
Course Completion |
10 % |
|
6. |
Total Grade |
100 % |
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN WORK
Submission Method and Late Submission
Submission: Papers to be submitted electronically in .doc or .docx format via Global Classroom
Late Submission Penalties:
- Weekly Responses and Primary Source Analysis Paper will NOT be accepted as
- All other late assignments will be penalized 1% (1 point) per
Citing References
In all assigned work, proper style guidelines must be used and followed exactly; failure to do so will render the submitted assignment unacceptable.
For proper citation style, consult the FBC Style Guide or the full edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers: Seventh Edition, especially chapters 5 and 6 for arrangement of entries through in-text citations and Works Cited.
Academic Integrity
Integrity in academic work is required of all our students. Academic dishonesty is any breach of this integrity, and includes such practices as cheating (the use of unauthorized material on tests and examinations), submitting the same work for different classes without permission of the instructors; using false information (including false references to secondary sources) in an assignment; improper or unacknowledged collaboration with other students, and plagiarism.
Global Classroom takes seriously its responsibility to uphold academic integrity, and to penalize academic dishonesty.
COURSE EVALUATION (Feedback)
Global Classroom values quality in the courses it offers its students. End-of-course evaluations provide valuable student feedback and are one of the ways that Global Classroom works towards maintaining and improving the quality of courses and the student’s learning experience. Student involvement in this process is critical to enhance the general quality of teaching and learning.
Before the end of the course, students will receive an email with a link to the online course evaluation. The link can also be found in the left column on the course page. The evaluation period is 2 weeks; after the evaluation period has ended, it cannot be reopened.
Course Evaluation results will not be disclosed to the instructor before final grades in the course have been submitted and processed. Student names will be kept confidential and the instructor will only see the aggregated results of the class.
ONLINE PRIMARY SOURCE READINGS
The readings can be found as PDF files on the course web page at under “Materials”.
