RS 495F §RU01: Seminar in Religious Studies: Christian Moral Life
Fall, 2007
TR 12:15-1:30pm
Location: Loyola 10 on Tuesdays and Loyola 11 on Thursdays
Dr. Thomas B. Leininger Tel 303-964-5082 E-mail tleining@regis.edu (Use voicemail rather than e-mail
for time sensitive matters) Office Loyola 32 Hrs: W 1:15-2:15; TTH 1:30-2:30; TTH 4:30-5:00 or by
appointment. Website: http://academic.regis.edu/tleining/
__________________________________________________________________________________
TEXTS
Mattison, William C. Living a Good Life: An Introduction to Moral Theology. Forthcoming. Grand
Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2008.
Other readings will be available through Electronic Reserve (“ER”) Password: “rs495f”, the Course
Website (“CR”)”, handouts, and as announced in class.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This seminar will explore the foundations of moral theology (basic concepts and sources) and how
these foundations inform Christian moral living, character, and practical moral reflection on particular
moral issues selected by the seminar members and guest seminar participants.
1.
2.
3.
4.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Develop a solid grasp of the foundations of moral theology.
Explore selected moral topics in relationship to foundational concepts and sources in moral theology.
Reflect upon “How ought we to live?” vs. “How do we live?”
Examine the bases for our moral choices/actions in order to understand how to improve them.
EVALUATION
• Participation, Attendance, Discussion Leadership
20%
• Write-ups on assigned readings
25%
• Three Papers
30%
• Final Paper
25%
TOTAL 100%
HOW WE AGREE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS
1. Class Participation, Attendance, and Discussion Leadership
 Be Textually Informed. Complete assigned readings before class and share questions and insights
rooted in a careful and thoughtful reading of the assigned texts and your reflection in the write-ups
 Share Responsibility for Fruitful Class Discussion. In this small seminar, we need to have everyone
present at each class meeting sharing joint responsibility for creating fruitful discussions on the
assigned texts.
 Attend Each Class Meeting. The class participation and write-up components of the grade are
designed so that a student cannot pass the course with excessive absences.
 Lead at Least One Class Discussion. Sign up for a class meeting in which you will arrive prepared
to set up and guide the conversation for the first 25 or 30 minutes by opening with your own reflections
and questions based upon your paper on the assigned topic. Draw our attention to key passages from a
text, or to key issues a text proposes, or to key links between texts or ideas that you are noticing.
Provide a one page (or less) handout to the class. You may also draw upon other media as you set up
the conversation (to clarify a point or illuminate a complex idea) but such external sources should not
exceed 5-10 minutes.
2. Write-ups on Assigned Readings & Feedback for Mattison
In no more than one page single-spaced 14 point font demonstrate the quality of your engagement
with the assigned texts by reflecting on key issues, questions, arguments, or passages in ways that will
Fall ’07
RS 495F SYLLABUS
Page 2 of 4
generate fruitful class discussion of the text. This may include self-reflection stimulated by the text. The
write-ups are due at each class meeting so that students can draw upon their write-ups in class discussion.
If you cannot attend a class meeting, it is your responsibility to arrange to have a classmate bring your
write-up to class and share your contributions in class discussion. Write-ups cannot be made up.
Each student will e-mail to Dr. Leininger typewritten feedback on each chapter for William C.
Mattison, author of Living a Good Life: An Introduction to Moral Theology. This feedback for the author
is due as indicated on the “Schedule” below and will count the same as two write-ups.
Grading for write-ups: Check = adequate; Check Minus = inadequate; Zero = Not turned in or
entirely inadequate. I will drop your lowest write-up grade and assess the overall pattern of your write-ups
at the end of the semester.
3. Three Papers.
These 3-4 page papers (double-spaced, 14 point font) will reflect on a key concept and/or questions
raised by the assigned texts and class discussions. They should demonstrate your grasp of the assigned
texts and your ability to analyze central concepts and arguments. One of the three papers will be due at the
class meeting that you will lead.
NOTE: The seminar participants have consulted together and agreed upon this syllabus. If
anything is contrary to our agreement, notify me by our next class meeting.
GRADING SCALE
A 94-100
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
A- 90-93 Outstanding
B 83-86 Very Good
C 73-76 Good
B- 80-82
C- 70-72
Pass > C-; pass/fail student with a “D+ receives an F
D+
D
DF
67-69
63-66 Minimum
60-62
59-0 Fails
POLICIES
Late/Missed Assignments. Tardy work is bad form and unfair to the other students who met the
deadline. If you miss the deadline for an assignment, you will lose 10% of the grade for the first week it is
late, after which time the assignment will earn a zero. Thus, a paper due on Friday the 1st will lose 10% of
the grade until Friday the 8th. After class on the 8th, the paper is worth 0. In exceptional circumstances that
require an extension for a paper, you must arrange it no later than two class meetings prior to the due date.
Academic Dishonesty. Students must know and comply with the “academic dishonesty policy”
of Regis University (see Regis University Bulletin and Student Handbook). Evidence that an assignment, or
portion of that assignment, is not the student’s own work, and has been used without proper citation, will
result in a grade of 0 for that assignment and/or a failing grade for the semester. You must cite the author if
an idea is not your own. This means providing proper citations not only for quotations, but also for
paraphrases and other restatements of another’s ideas. If you have any doubt about how to meet these
standards, see me for clarification prior to submitting an essay.
Disability Statement: If you have a documented disability requiring academic adjustments for this
class, please contact Disability Services (303-458-4941, disability@regis.edu) in a timely manner. After the
meeting with Disability Services, please make an appointment with me to discuss your accommodation.
Changes to this syllabus, the course requirements, office hours, etc. will be posted on the course
website and/or announced in class or via e-mail throughout the semester.
Fall ’07
RS 495F SYLLABUS
Page 3 of 4
SCHEDULE
Date
1. T
Topic(s)
Aug 28
Assignment
Course Overview & Intro
2. TH Aug 30
What is Christian morality?
Mattison, ch. 1: “Morality, Happiness, and the Good Life”
3. T
Intention & Freedom
Mattison, ch. 2: “Intention, Good Acts, & Human Freedom”
4. TH Sep 6
Virtue
Mattison, ch. 3: “Why Virtue? The Moral Life as About
More Than Acts”
5. T
Affectivity, Prudence, &
Conscience
Mattison, chs. 4-5: “Temperance & the Passionate Moral
Life” and “Knowing the Truth & Living It: Prudence &
Conscience in the Moral Life”
6. TH Sep 13
Vision & Prudent Drinking
DL: Jacqueline Silverman
Mattison, chs. 6 & 10: “Test Case One: American College
Life and Drinking Alcohol” and “Actions, Practices, & the
‘Big Picture’ Beliefs about the ‘Way Things Are’”
7. T
Love: Dr. Kari Kloos
ER: Augustine, Teaching Christianity, Bk. 1, pp. 106-128;
Augustine, Confessions, Bk. 2 (handout)
8. TH Sep 20
Faith, and Narrative
Mattison, ch. 11 “Faith and Living A Story”
9. T
Christian Moral Life in William
F. Lynch, S.J.: Dr. John Kane
ER: Lynch, Christ and Apollo, Ch. 1, “The Definite,” pp. 330
10. TH Sep 27
Lynch continued
DUE: PAPER ONE; ER: Kane, “Politics & Hatred”
11. T
Oct 2
Natural Law
Dillon and McCarthy, “Natural Law, Law, and Freedom” in
McCarthy and Lysaught, eds., Gathered for the Journey
12. TH Oct 4
Natural Law
Hughes, “Natural Law” pp. 47-56 ” in Bernard Hoose, ed.,
Christian Ethics: An Introduction.
13. T
Justice and Just War
DL: Katie McIlvain
Mattison, ch. 7: “Justice & Fighting Wars Justly” and ER:
McBrien, “Just War Doctrine”
Just War and Hiroshima
Mattison, ch. 9: “Test Case Two: Dropping the Atom Bomb
at Hiroshima”
Fall Break
Nonviolence: Kathy Kelly
NO CLASSES
DUE: MATTISON FEEDBACK via e-mail
Reading: T.B.A. DUE: Attend public lecture 7pm Chapel
Nonviolence & Scripture: Dr.
Kelli O’Brien
ER: Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New
Testament, Ch. 14, “Violence in Defense of Justice,” pp.
317-347
17. TH Oct 25
Scripture & Ethics
Spohn, Go and Do Likewise, Introduction & Ch. 1, “Ethics
and the Word of God,” pp. 1-5 and 9-26; Optional:
Leininger, “Scripture and Ethics” (website)
18. T
Sin & Redemption
DL: McKenzie Letendre
Mattison, chs. 12 & 14: “Sin” and “Jesus Christ &
Redemption”
Charity
DL: Mel Corley
Mattison, ch. 15: “Charity: form of the Christian Life”
Sep 4
Sep 11
Sep 18
Sep 25
Oct 9
14. TH Oct 11
T
Oct 16
15. TH Oct 18
16. T
Oct 23
Oct 30
19. TH Nov 1
Fall ’07
0. T
Wed
Nov 6
RS 495F SYLLABUS
Heschel
DL: Rachel Dunphy
Page 4 of 4
Heschel, “The Ineffable,” “The World is an Allusion,” and
“The Ultimate Question,” in Man is not Alone, chs. 1, 3, &
8, pp. 3-9; 19-23; 57-65.
DUE: PAPER TWO at L32 in Dr. L’s mailbox (Note
Paper Three = due on date that you lead discussion)
Nov 7
21. TH Nov 8
Grace
22. T
Nov 13
Discernment
Leininger, “Christian Discernment” (handout); ER: Spohn,
“Discernment” in Westminster Dictionary of Christian
Ethics, p.158; ER: Gula, Reason Informed by Faith, ch. 21,
“Discernment of Spirits,” pp. 314-329
23. TH Nov 15
Discernment
Spohn, Go and Do Likewise, “Dispositions and
Discernement,” ch. 7, pp. 142-162
24. T
Chastity & Premarital Sex
DL: Emily Dufficy
Mattison, ch. 17: “Test Case Three: Chastity & Premarital
Sex”
Thanksgiving Break
NO CLASSES
Nov 27
History of Moral Theology
Noonan, “Development in Moral Doctrine,” in Curran, ed.,
Change in Official Catholic Moral Teachings, pp. 287-305
26. TH Nov 29
History of Moral Theology
Mahoney, The Making of Moral Theology, Ch. 1, “The
Influence of the Auricular Confession,” pp. 1-36
27. T
Morality & Religious Pluralism
Nov 20
TH Nov 22
25. T
Dec 4
28. TH Dec 6
DL: Kasey Miller
Mattison, chs. 16: “Grace & the Life of Discipleship”
Review and Wrap Up
Monday Dec 10 Final Paper
DUE: FINAL PAPER in my box in L32