Politics and Christian Civilization
POLITICS AND CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION: JEWISH LAW
Professor: Dr. David Marzak
Office Hours M/W/F by Appointment
Class Time Tuesday & Fridays 7:00 – 8:15
E-mail: director@kolbefoundation.org
Course Description:
The overall goal is to educate students in the rudiments of Christian politics and
social ethics with sufficient knowledge to make them conversant participants in the
social restructuring of modern society based on the theory, derived norms, and
practical examples supplied from Christian social teachings and its development in
world civilization beginning with its foundation in Ancient Israel and then its
subsequent development in Medieval Christendom in the following course.
Politics and Christian Civilization: Introduction
Politics and Christian Civilization
OUTLINE OF STUDIES:
ANCIENT ISRAEL DEUTERONOMY & MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW
The section begins with a study of politics in the Garden of Eden followed by its subsequent
history and written record in the Torah and a study of Ancient Israel including its socio-economicpolitical system based on scriptural principles albeit form the Old Law, which provides the only
record of a revealed social system in world history. Students will study the judicial, ceremonial and
moral precepts institutionalized in Ancient Israel including a comparative study of the Jewish idea
of the best regime vis a vis the Greek Aristotelian idea to explore the relationship between faith
and reason as well as between political structure and form to provide a much needed solution to
the problem of the best regime and the importance of form over structure.
•The Ten Commandments (moral, judicial and ceremonial precepts)
•The Best Regime from the perspective of the Old Testament
•Jewish legal structure, economic and political institutions at time of Judges
•Institution of Kingship
Readings:
•Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Written summaries)
•Josephus, History of the Jews
EXAM
Politics and Christian Civilization: Introduction
Politics and Christian Civilization
TOPIC 2: MEDIEVAL CHRISTENDOM: FEUDALISM,
CHRISTENDOM
This section includes a detailed analysis of the Medieval socio-economic/political system, which
includes a balanced and objective study of feudalism, land distribution, common law and the
arrangement of Catholic social, political, and economic institutions in the Middle Ages. It presents a
thorough examination of the political thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Thomistic perspective
regarding the best structure and form of government and an examination of the relationship
between Church and State and among the Divine Law, Natural Law, and Positive Law.
Readings:
•Aquinas ‘ Treatise on Law
Politics and Christian Civilization: Introduction
Politics and Christian Civilization
TOPIC 3: MEDIEVAL CHRISTENDOM: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTENDOM (Usury, St.
Thomas Aquinas: Plenitudo Potestatis, Guild Solidarity)
Politics and Christian Civilization II reaches its high point with a study of the Medieval socio-political
and economic system typified by the guild and prohibitions against usury, competition and
speculation necessary to promote a Solidaristic and Personalist socio-economic system. A comparison
and contrast is made between the life and socio-economic system on the feudal estate and a newly
emerging towns and cities and more democratic guild system
Major emphasis will be placed on: Marketing, Competition, Finance, Personalism.
Readings:
•Cahil, Msgr. The Framework of a Christian State (excerpts)
•Pope Benedict XIV: Vix Prevenit: on Usury
Politics and Christian Civilization: Introduction
Politics and Christian Civilization
TOPIC 4: DISSOLUTION OF THE MEDIEVAL SYNTHESIS
Machiavelli, Protestant Reformation, English Pogrom, Economic Changes, Age of Discovery,
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Absolutism in England and France
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Readings:
Machiavelli: The Prince
John Calvin: On Civil Government and Resistance
Martin Luther: Address to German Nobility, Freedom of a Christian, Jews and Their Lies
Hobbes: Leviathan
Rousseau: Social Contract
Locke: Second Treatise on Civil Government, A Letter Concerning Toleration
Bossuet: Treatise on Divine Right
King Henry VIII: The Act of Supremacy
English Parliament: Declaration of Right
Various other excerpts from Kolbe’s Greatest Book
FINAL EXAM
Politics and Christian Civilization: Introduction
Politics and Christian Civilization
Final Grades
Letter Grade
Grade Point
Percentage
Each faculty member has the right to either post or not post final course grades for each class. Final course grades provided
A
4.0
Exceptional
to a student by a faculty member should not be considered official. Official grade reports can be obtained only through the
3.7
College of St. Thomas More Registrar’s Office.A- All accounts must
be paid Praiseworthy
in full before a student may receive official grade
B+
3.3
Good
reports or apply for a transcript.
B
3.0
Fair
C+
2.3
Average
Attendance Policy:
B2.7
Above Average
A student who misses more than two (2) unexcused
classes may
be asked
to withdraw by the instructor.
C
2.0
Below Average
Policy on Plagiarism
Students are required to honor the norms of good
scholarship
and
learning
which
C1.7
Passing includes never presenting as one’s own the
work of others in essays or examinations. Procedure
that are followed
when
this principle seems to be violated are published
D+
1.3
Barely passing
in Information for Students available at the College of St. Thomas More website.
D
1.0
D-
0.7
Unsatisfactory
Disabilities
F
0.0
Once admitted to this course, the student has the responsibility of informing the course instructor in writing of any disabling
FA
Failure for absences
condition, which will require modification.
W
Withdrawal
Incomplete Policy
WP
Withdrawal,
An incomplete (I) will be given to undergraduates only upon written request from the student addressed to his professor for
WF
Passing
that class. The student must obtain a “Request for Incomplete Grade” from the office, fill it out and present it to the professor,
UW
Failing
who will decide whether to grant the request for
an incomplete grade. Withdrawal,
If the request
is granted, the professor will sign the form
I
UnofficialiWithdra
and turn it into the Registrar’s Office. This written request must be turned into the Registrar’s Office by the last day of actual
walof the uncompleted work, an agreed upon
classes (the Friday before finals’ week). This Aud
request must include a description
date of completion (no more than 60 days from the end of the semester), and
the signatures of both the student and the
Incomplete
professor.
Audit, Zero Credit