Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
Business, Economics and Christian Ethics
Syllabus
Rel 482 ST (01): Fall 2006
The Rev. Kapp L. Johnson, M.A., J.D.
8 Nygreen Hall
Telephone: (805) 493-3340
Email: kljohnso@callutheran.edu
Class meeting:
MWF 1:30- 2:35 p.m.
118 Humanities
Office Hours:
MF 10:00 – 12:00 p.m.
W 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Course Description
This course investigates key biblical, classical, cross-cultural, and
contemporary texts on how faith, especially Christianity, has shaped economic life in
the past and how it can continue to do so in our emerging global civilization. The
course will draw from historical, theological, and social-theory resources as well as
contemporary social statements and ethical discussions from Roman Catholic and
Protestant Churches.
Required Material
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On Moral Business, Stackhouse, McCann and Roels, ed. Eerdmans, 1995.
Ethics in Business: Faith at Work, James M. Childs, Jr., Augsburg, 1995.
The HarperCollins Study Bible
Student Learning Objectives
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Creative and Critical Thinking
o Develop Critical thinking and ethical-reasoning skills through class
assignments, case discussion and homework;
Ethical and Professional Judgment
o Identify and critically evaluate business ethical theory and corporate
social responsibility as identified in readings, lectures and case studies;
Understanding Cultural and Global Diversity
o Identify, interpret, and analyze the global, political, social,
environmental, technological, cultural, religious context of the legal
environment as identified in selected readings;
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California Lutheran University
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
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Written Communication
o Two written papers analyzing the confluence of economics, business
and Christian Ethics;
Oral Communication and Listen Skills
o Articulate through class presentations issues in Christian
denominational positions on business and economic issues;
Interpersonal & Teamwork Skills, Principled Leader
o Group project involving group presentation
Information Literacy and Computer Skills
o Use of Online Learning Center; Use of Book Companion Website; Use
of Economic, Business and Christian Ethics resources on the Web and
topically relevant websites.
Course Format
This course follows the texts closely. For each topic covered, you should read
the relevant assignments in the textbook and any other supplemental reading for that
lecture prior to class. Each class will begin with a lecture covering the assigned topic.
Class discussion will center on the class topic and current issues and events as they
relate to the class topic. Weekly the assigned questions and will be reviewed and
handed in.
You are expected to do the assigned readings. Those topics that are very
important are covered in great detail. These readings serve to reinforce what is
covered in class. However, time does not allow all topics to be covered in such detail.
Therefore, the readings are necessary.
You are responsible for all material covered in assigned readings, whether or
not we have time to cover it in class. Reading ahead is required, as it will facilitate
your understanding of material presented in class. Re-reading after class is also
encouraged, as it will help solidify the concepts just presented.
Course Evaluation
Grades will be awarded on the basis of academic performance in the four areas
listed below. Completing all the assignments in a timely manner is very important
for the quality of the grade achieved.
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Group Projects
Papers (2)
Midterm examination
Final Examination
Total
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20%
40%
20%
20%
100%
90 – 100
80-89
70 – 79
60 – 69
o – 59
A
B
C
D
F
California Lutheran University
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
There will be no make-up exams. If you have an excuse deemed valid by me
for missing an exam, your final grade will be based on your performance on the
completed exams. If you miss the final exam with a valid excuse, you will receive an
incomplete and arrangements will be made for the completion of the course. If you
do not have a valid excuse for missing an exam, it will count as zero.
In order to be excused from an exam, I must be contacted before the exam. In
most cases I will require documentation to support why the student is unable to sit for
the exam. Note: A simple note that a doctor saw you on the day of the exam does
not, in and of itself, constitute sufficient documentation. Excuses will be granted if
the student can show that he/she is unable to take the exam because of exigent
circumstances, i.e., serious illness or injury, or significant personal or professional
commitment.
Group Projects
Group projects are an integral part of this course. The class will be divided
into an equal number of groups for the purpose of this exercise. The projects will
involve group analysis and presentation of denominational economic statements.
Paper
Critial thinking, analysis and communication, written and oral, are important
skills in the intersection of religion and life. Though out the semester you will asked
to develop and exercise these skills. As such, you will be asked to write two papers of
8-12 pages which discusses some issues, as discussed in this class, that are of interest to
you. Your paper must be a reasoned defense of some claim that you will make. In
other words, you must offer an argument which is more than the mere expression of
your opinions or the opinions of the writers we discuss. In particular, you have to
defend the claims you make. You have to offer the reader reasons to believe them. In
addition, a good ethics paper is modest and makes a small point; but it makes that point
clearly and straightforwardly, and offers good reasons in support of it. The aim of
this paper is for you to show that you understand the material and that you are able to
think critically about it. To do this, your paper does have to show some independent
thinking.
The first paper is due Monday October 16th. the second paper is due Friday
December 8th. In addition, you will also be asked to provide a draft of your papers as
reviewed by the writing center. That draft of the papers with the comments of the
writing center will be due with the final draft of your papers on the due date.You
have to discuss with me and chosen your first topic by September 15th and your second
topic by November 6th.
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California Lutheran University
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
Potpouri
Academic integrity is an expectation on my part and the University. Any
work produced for this course is expected and assumed to be the work of the author.
Students are expected to complete their own work and may not try to pass off the
work of others as their own. In those circumstances (the team project and homework
problems sets) students may work together in their teams. Nevertheless, in the case
of homework, each student is still responsible for submitting, understanding, and
being able to complete the problem on his or her own. In addition, all work taken
from sources must be appropriately recognized. Anything less than a complete and
full citation to the source used violates the standard of academic honesty. There is a
no tolerance standard for academic dishonesty. All work so submitted will be deemed
a fail.
To be sure, this course is fast-paced and demanding. A significant amount of
time outside of class is required in order to master the material, both prior to class in
preparation for class discussions and in the completion of the assigned work. You are
responsible for reviewing the assigned material prior to class and are expected to
participate in class discussions.
Regular attendance is required in order to successfully complete the course.
Although there is no specific numerical value attributed to class attendance and
participation, this aspect of a student’s involvement in the course may be considered
in awarding the grade. There is a significant correlation between class attendance,
participation and the final grade.
Topic and Homework Assignments
The following is the homework schedule, subject to change.
Week #1
Topic
Wednesday, August 30th
Orientation to the Course
Friday, September 1st
What is Christian Ethics?
Week #2
Monday, September 4th
No Class – Labor Day
Wednesday, September 6th
How do we organize our Economics lives?
Gibson:
The Market System and Its Critics, pp.9-12.
Elements of the Market System - Buchholz, et al., pp. 13-24.
The Invisible Hand - Adam Smith, pp. 25-27.
What is Capitalism - Ayn Rand, pp. 27-33.
Gibson:
An Egalitarian Theory of Justice – John Rawls, pp. 33-39.
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Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
Socialist Democracy - Carl Cohen, pp. 39-43.
The Right to Eat and the Duty to Work - Trudy Govier, pp. 43-52.
How Do Managers Think about Market Economics and Morality? - Ulrich et al.,
pp. 52-60.
Friday, September 8th
The Basis for Christian Ethical Decisions
Week #3
Monday, September 11th
Stackhouse:
Biblical Principles for Economic Theory and Practice – George
Monsma, 38ff.,
Genesis 1:1-4:1; 4:17-26; Scarcity, Faith and Wisdom – Barry
Gordon, pp. 49ff. (Creation and Fall)
Wednesday, September 13th
Stackhouse:
Continued
Exodus 6:2-10; 15:19-21; The Birth of Covenant – Paul D. Hanson,
56ff., The Ten Commandments: Economic Implications – Max L.
Stackhouse, pp. 59ff. (Exodus and Covenant)
Friday, September 15th
Stackhouse:
The Bible and Christian Ethics: Old Testament
Continued
First Paper Topic due
Deuteronomy 15:1-23; Sirach 27:29-27:4; 29:8-17; 31:1-11; 38:24-34;
Property and Riches in the Old Testament and Judaism – Martin
Hengel, 67ff. (Prophecy and Wisdom)
Week #3
Monday, September 18th
The Bible and Christian Ethics: New Testament
Stackhouse:
The Use of the New Testament in Social Ethics – Stephen Charles
Mott, pp. 70ff.
Matthew 5-7; Ethical Implications of the Sermon on the Mount – Lisa
Sowle Cahill, pp. 79ff. (Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount)
Wednesday, September 20th
Stackhouse:
Matthew 25:1-46; Work as Stewardship – Leland Ryken, pp. 84ff.
(Matthew’s Parables)
Wealth and Poverty in the New Testament World – Bruce J.
Malina, pp. 88ff. (Luke’s Poor)
Friday, September 22nd
Stackhouse:
Pr. K. Johnson
Continued
Continued
From the Jesus Movement to the Urban Christians – Elizabeth
Schussler Fiorenza, pp. 101ff. (Paul and the Letters)
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Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
What then Shall We Do? On Using Scripture in Economic Ethics –
Max L. Stackhouse, pp. 109ff.
Week #4
Monday, September 25th
Childs:
Bridging the Shareability Gap, pp. 1-13. From Being a Nobody to Being a
Somebody, pp. 14-27.
Wednesday, September 27th
Childs:
Continued
The Not-So-Secular World, pp.28-41. From Dualism to Dialogue, pp. 42-55.
Friday, September 29th
Childs:
Ethics in Business: Faith at Work
Continued
Beyond the Moral Minimum, pp.56-70. Beyond Leadership to Servant
Leadership, pp.71-85.
Week #5
Monday, October 2nd
Stackhouse:
Plato, On the Myth of the Ring and the Economics of the City, pp. 116ff.
Aristotle, On the Management of the Household and the Perils of Trade, pp.
126ff. Cicero, On Justice, Law, and Nature, pp. 133ff.
Wednesday, October 4th
Stackhouse:
The Catholic Theological Traditions
Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?, pp.
142ff. Augustine, On Good and Evil, pp. 151ff. Benedict, The Rule of St.
Benedict, pp. 155. Thomas Aquinas, Of Justice and Of Cheating, pp. 158ff.
Friday, October 6th
Stackhouse:
Ancient Philosophers
The Reformation Traditions
Martin Luther, Trade and Usury, pp. 173ff. John Calvin, The Moral Law
and the Christian Life, pp. 180ff. Ulrich Stadler, The True Community of
the Saints, pp. 188ff. Gerard Winstanley, The True Leveller’s Standard
Advanced, pp. 190ff. John Wesley, The Use of Money, pp. 194ff.
Week #6
Monday, October 9th
Stackhouse:
John Locke, Of Property, pp. 203ff. Adam Smith, Of the Causes of
Improvement, pp. 209. John Stuart Mill, Private Property and Its Critics,
pp. 216ff. KarlMarx, The Manifesto of the Communist Party, pp. 238ff.
Wednesday, October 11th
Stackhouse:
Enlightenment Theories
Religion and Modernity
Max Weber, Asceticism and the Spirit of Capitalism, pp. 248ff., Harold J.
Berman, Theological Sources of the Western Legal Tradition, pp. 260ff.
Talcott Parsons,Christianity and Society, pp. 276ff.
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Friday, October 13th
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
No Class – Academic Holliday
Week #7
Monday, October 16th
Stackhouse:
Charles C. West, Marxism and Christianity, pp. 284ff. Andrew Carnegie,
The Administration of Wealth, pp. 292ff. Reinhold Neibuhr, Marx, Barth,
and Israel’s Prophets, pp. 302ff. James W. Skillen, Human Freedom, Social
Justice, and Marxism: A Biblical Response, pp. 306ff.
First Paper Due
Wednesday, October 18th
Stackhouse:
Socialism, Capitalism, and Christianity
Socialism, Capitalism, and Christianity
Peter J. Parish, Slavery, Capitalism, and Religion, pp. 313, Janet Thomas,
Women and Capitalism: Oppression or Emancipation?, pp. 324ff. Gustavo
Gutierrez, Liberation and Development, pp. 332ff. Peter L. Berger, Social
Ethics in a Post-Socialist World, pp. 348ff.
Friday, October 20th
Midterm Exam
Week #8
Monday, October 23rd
Stackhouse:
Max L. Stackhouse, Spirituality and the Corporation, pp. 501ff. Donald W.
Shriver, Three Images of Corporate Leadership and Their Implictions for
Social Justice, pp. 533ff. Patrick E. Murphy, Creating Ethical Corporate
Structures, pp. 546.
Wednesday, October 25h
Stackhouse:
The Corporation and Christian Ethics
Shirley J. Roels, Evangelical Christians and Economic Democracy, pp. 561ff.
Robert Kinloch Massie, Corporate Democracy and the Legacy of the South
African Divestment Movement, pp. 577ff.
Friday, October 27th
Stackhouse:
The Corporation and Christian Ethics
Business Ethics and Christian Ethics
John Kavanaugh, Challenging a Commodity Culture, pp. 593ff. Jon P.
Gunnemann, Capitalism and Commutative Justice, pp. 599ff. Dennis P.
McCann, The Church and Wall Street, pp. 621ff.
Week #9
Monday, October 30th
Stackhouse:
Moral Business Leadership
M. L. Brownsberger, Christian Faith and Business: A Story, pp. 667ff.
J. Erwin Miller, How Religious Commitments Shape Corporate Decisions,
pp. 705ff. LarryL. McSwain, Christian Ethics and the Business Ethos, pp.
719ff.
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Wednesday, November 1st
Stackhouse:
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
Globalization and Christian Ethics
Peter Berger, The Gross National Product and the Gods: The Idea of
Economic Life, pp. 743ff. Michael Novak, Toward a Theology of the
Corporation, pp. 775ff. Ronald J. Sider, A Biblical Perspective on
Stewardship, pp. 802. Robert H. Nelson, Unoriginal Sin: The JudeoChristian Roots of Ecotheology, pp. 837ff.
Friday, November 3rd
Continued
Week #10
Monday, November 6th
Stackhouse:
S. Prakash Sethi, The Righteous and the Powerful: Differing Paths to Social
Goals, pp. 862ff. J. Philip Wogaman, The Ethical Premise for Social
Activism, pp. 867ff. Lloyd Gite, The New Agenda of the Black Church:
Economic Development for Black America, pp. 877ff.
Wednesday, November 8th
Stackhouse:
Business, Economics and Christian Ethics Today
J. Richard Finlay, Ethics and Accountability: The Rising Power of
Stakeholder Capitalism, pp. 898ff. Michael Novak, The Lay Task of CoCreation, pp. 903ff. Robert Benne, The Great Refusal and My Discontent,
pp. 917ff.
Friday, November 10th
Stackhouse:
Business, Economics and Christian Ethics Today
Business, Economics and Christian Ethics Today
Daniel Rush Finn, The Four Problems of Economic Life, pp. 934ff. Robin
Klay, Liberating Thoughts about the Ethics of Exchange and Trade, pp. 945ff.
Max L. Stackhouse and Dennis P. McCann, A Postcommunist Manifesto:
Public Theology after the Collapse of Socialism, pp. 949ff.
Week #11
Monday, November 13th
Childs:
Ethics in Business: Faith at Work
Beyond Affirmative Action, pp. 86-101. Beyond Mere Survival, pp. 102-120.
Wednesday, November 15th
Friday, November 17th
Childs:
Continued
Beyond Certainty, pp. 121-135. Beyond the Company Walls, pp. 136-148.
Week #12
Monday, November 20th
Continued
Wednesday, November 22nd
No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24th
No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday
Week #13
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California Lutheran University
Rel 482 ST (01) Syllabus
Monday, November 27th
Church Documents
Wednesday, November 29th
Church Documents
Friday, December 1st
Church Documents
Week #14
Monday, December 4th
Church Documents
Wednesday, December 6t
Church Documents
Friday, December 8th
Church Documents
2nd Paper Due
Week #15
Finals Week
Wednesday, December 13th
Final Exam
1:30-3:30 p.m.
THE END!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Pr. K. Johnson
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California Lutheran University