JPS/THL 588 CHRISTIAN ETHICS OF WAR AND PEACE
TuTh, 3:30-4:45, Creighton Hall 431, Fall 2008
Dr. Roger Bergman, Instructor
Creighton Hall 425A, M-F 1:00-2:00 and by app’t
280-1492; rbjps@creighton.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the development and application of Christian
theological and ethical perspectives on the use of lethal force from the biblical period to
the present day. Both just war theory and pacifism will be considered in both Catholic
and Protestant traditions. Special attention will be given to the formation of personal
conscience in light of Christian traditions and in the context of responsible citizenship.
AN HISTORICAL PRECEDENT [new for 2009]
“In the twelfth century, when Peter Abelard wished to exercise the theological ingenuity of his
students, he presented them with a series of conflicting ‘authorities,’ the famous Sic et Non.
Included among the theses and antitheses was the proposition that ‘Christians are not allowed for
any reason to kill anyone, and the contrary [view].” Abelard knew, of course, that opinions could
be adduced from Christian tradition to support both sides of the argument, and he set before his
students the task, of resolving, if possible, the contradictions.” --David G. Hunter, “A Decade of
Research on Early Christians and Military Service”
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Students will be able to trace the development of, and major themes within, Christian
ethical perspectives on the use of lethal force from the biblical period to the present
day, especially in light of seemingly irreconcilable tensions between (and within)
Christian realism (just war) and Christian witness (pacifism).
2. Students will be able to articulate the development and formation of their own
consciences on matters of war and peace in light of Christian ethical tradition(s).
3. Students will be equipped to consider current public and global issues related to war
and peace in light of Christian ethical tradition(s).
4. Students will demonstrate enhanced critical, analytical, writing, and oral
communication skills.
TEXTS (also expect several handouts)
Holmes, War and Christian Ethics (2nd ed.)
Long, Facing Terrorism: Responding as Christians
US Catholic Bishops, The Challenge of Peace (available online)
Wink, The Powers That Be
Wood, Perspectives on War in the Bible
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REQUIREMENTS
1. Preparation of reading assignments, regular attendance (more than 2 unexcused
absences may affect the final grade in borderline cases), and participation in class
discussion (outstanding participation may affect the final grade in borderline cases).
Class cancellation procedure: If a session must be cancelled, students will be notified
in one or more of three ways: 1) in class in advance when possible, 2) via email as much in advance as
possible, 3) by proxy or posted notice at the time and location of the class. No special notice will be given if
the university is closed for inclement weather (CU weather hotline: 280-5800) or The Rapture.
2. An almost weekly "workbook on conscience": about once a week you will write a
personal reflection of one page (~250 words, may be handwritten but must be legible) on
a topic for that week, to be turned in at a following class period. Ten entries are due by
the last class (five by midterm). Each entry is worth a maximum of 10 points. 100
points total. Please turn in each entry as a single page; you may want to use a binder for
safekeeping and for reference as you prepare your final statement of conscience (see #4).
3. Two take-home essay exams on the readings, one at midterm (100 points) and one at
the end of the semester over the second half of the syllabus (100 points).
4. A final statement of conscience referring substantially to the readings, explaining why
you adhere personally to either just war theory or pacifism – or how you negotiate the
tension between (and within) those two perspectives. Address the strengths and
weaknesses of the positions you adopt and reject, demonstrating that you understand the
theological tension between (and within) Christian realism and Christian witness, even as
you stake out a defensible position on one side or the other. (8-10 pages, 100 points)
GRADING (400 points total)
A ~ 93 % (370), B+ ~ 88 (350), B ~ 83 (330), C+ ~ 77 (310), C ~ 70 (280), D ~ 60 (240)
Grades on the exams will be based on comprehension (70 points), critical/creative response (20), and quality of writing
(10). Closure paper proportions will be 40/40/20. Workbook points will be apportione d 5/4/1. Borderline cases
of final grades will be determined by attendance and participation.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES
Four extra credit opportunities event are included on the syllabus and others may be announced in class.
You will receive up to 5 points for each one-page report/reflection turned in, up to a total of 10 points (e.g.,
three reports given 4 points each would add 10 points to your total for the course).
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
You are expected to do your own work (and no one else's) on all assignments (cooperative studying,
however, is encouraged, and cooperative projects may be assigned). Cheating on exams and plagiarizing
on papers violate the trust placed in you by your instructor, fellow students, and the university. Offending
students are subject to failure or zero on the assignment or dismissal from the course with an F. All
violations will be reported to the dean of the college for possible further action. For a discussion of
plagiarism, see www.creighton.edu/plagiarism/Plagiarism.doc. For College policies and procedures,
consult http://puffin.creighton.edu/ccas/FacStaff/polManual/polManual.htm.
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ASSIGNMENTS
Aug 28 Orientation, introductions, pre-quiz, former students’ comments, handout
Aug 29 Extra credit option: An Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, will speak at First United Methodist
Church, 7020 Cass Street, in Mead Hall (enter from the west), 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Sep 2 Wood, Introduction, Chapter One: The Concept of Holy War in Ancient Israel
and Appendix: Methods of Warfare
Sep 4 Wood, Chs. Two and Three: Holy War: Ancient Israel Active…[and] Passive
Sep 9 Wood, Ch. Four: War as Vengeful…and Ch. Five: War as Redemptive…
Sep 9
Extra credit option: Women and War film series, Harper Center 3023, 7pm
Sep 11 Wood, Ch. Six: Pacifism
Sep 16 Wood, Ch. Seven: Just War Motifs and Ch. Eight: Summary and Conclusion
Sep 18 Wink, “Jesus’ Third Way” and “Practical Nonviolence” [early dismissal]
Sep 23 handout: Mott, “After All Else – Then Arms?”
Sep 25 handout: Hunter, “Early Christians & Military Service”; Holmes, 37-54
Sep 30 Holmes, 55-60 (Ambrose) and 61-83 (Augustine), and handout (Langan)
Oct 2 Holmes, 87-117 (Bernard and Aquinas)
Strongly recommended extra credit option:
15th Annual Markoe-DePorres Social Justice Lecture, 7:30pm, SSC Ballroom
“The Challenge of Peace 25 Years Later: Watershed or Wasteland?
Has the U.S. Bishops’ Teaching on War and Peace Made a Difference?
A Dialogue with Drew Christiansen, SJ, and George Weigel”
Oct 3 Breakfast discussion with Fr. Christiansen and Mr. Weigel
Oct 7 Holmes, 118-136 (Vitoria) and 140-164 (Luther)
Oct 9 Holmes, 195-225 (Suarez) – distribution of exam questions
Oct 14 Catch up and review for exam
Oct 14
Extra credit option: Women and War film series, Harper Center 3023, 7pm
Oct 16 midterm exam essays due; five workbook entries should be in by today
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Assignments after Recess
Oct 28 Holmes, 177-189 (Erasmus, Menno), Holmes, 291-300 (Abbott)
Oct 30 Holmes, 301-313 (Niebuhr)
Nov 4 handout: John Ford, SJ, “The Morality of Obliteration Bombing”
Nov 6 handout: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1967 speech “A Time to Break Silence”
Listen online: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm
Nov 11 The Challenge of Peace, Introduction and Chapter 1
Nov 13 guest instructor, Dr. Murray: handout: Hauerwas, “Should War Be Eliminated?”
Nov 18 handouts: George Weigel, “The Just War Case for the War” and Gerard Powers,
“An Ethical Analysis of War Against Iraq”
Nov 20 Holmes, 373-390 (Weigel) and 391-399 (Williams)
Nov 25 Holmes, 352-372 (Friesen on convergence) and Wink, “Beyond Pacifism and
Just War” and “But What If…”
Dec 2 Long, chs 1-2
Dec 4 Long, chs 3-4 (esp. 3)
Dec 9 Long, chs 5-6 (esp. 5)
Dec 11 Catch up and review for final exam; post-quiz; remaining 5 workbook entries
should be in this week
Dec 15 Statement of conscience due @ 3:00 (Monday of finals week)
Dec 18 Final exam essay due @ 5:00 (Thursday of finals week)
Please note: If you think it would be helpful to write the exam before you write the
statement of conscience, you may reverse the due dates. In other words, one assignment
is due on the 15th and the other on the 18th but it’s your choice which is which.