HEYTHROP COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Course Description, International Programmes
Course
code
Module title
DT1005
Module co-ordinator
Module staff
Programme(s) for which
chiefly intended (as core
or option)
Pre-requisite course(s)
Co-requisite course(s)
Prohibited combination
Course aims
Credit value
30
Academic
level
4 /5
Christian Ethics
Anna Abram
Core
Option
CertHE Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (Level 4)
BD/BA Theology, DipHE Theology, CertHE
Theology, BA Theology with English
N/a
N/a
N/a
To enable students to examine:
i) The philosophical background in relation to:
a) The Nature of Humankind: the Christian account of
human nature compared with other theories; the worth
of persons and the value of human life; the nature of
conscience; the freedom of the will;
b) The Nature of Human Acts: the relation of acts to
consequences; acts and omissions; the principle of
double effect; deontological and teleological accounts of
right action.
(ii) The characteristics of Christian ethics in relation to the basic
Christian doctrines concerning God, humankind and society.
(iii) A consideration of selected contemporary moral problems in
the light of the foregoing.
Learning outcomes
Level 4
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to:
Show knowledge and understanding of key texts,
definitions, concepts, doctrines and theories;
Demonstrate an awareness of a different
approaches/interpretations/versions;
Outline the objections to key concepts, e.g. natural rights,
natural law;
Explain distinctions between key concepts and attitudes,
e.g. ‘male’ and ‘female sins’, ‘domination’ and ‘dominion’.
Intellectual and Cognitive Skills
Students will be able to:
Discuss critically different debates and conflicts in Christian
ethics;
Outline some of the difficulties of interpreting biblical texts
for today’s moral issues;
Outline and discuss arguments given for and against
contemporary moral issues.
Practical and Transferable Skills
Students will be able to:
Conduct a systematic analysis of texts and ideologies and
to debate the issues in an open-minded way;
Show a developing ability to assess texts from sociocultural and historical perspectives;
Construct a balanced account and assessment of
opposing views;
Select and organise material from a limited range of
sources;
Produce clear, accurate and well-structured written work;
Show an ability to manage their own learning, including
working effectively to deadlines.
Level 5
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to:
Show an excellent knowledge and understanding of key
texts, definitions, concepts, doctrines and theories;
Demonstrate an awareness of a range of
approaches/interpretations/versions;
Explain the objections to key concepts, e.g. natural rights,
natural law;
Give a clear account of distinctions between key concepts
and attitudes, e.g. ‘male’ and ‘female sins’, ‘domination’
and ‘dominion’.
Indicative course
content
Intellectual and Cognitive Skills
Students will be able to:
Discuss critically a range of debates and conflicts in
Christian ethics;
Outline the key difficulties of interpreting biblical texts for
today’s moral issues;
Explain and analyse a range of arguments for and against
contemporary moral issues.
Practical and Transferable Skills
Students will be able to:
Conduct a systematic critical analysis of texts and
ideologies and to debate the issues in an open-minded
and rigorous way;
Show a well-developed ability to assess texts from sociocultural and historical perspectives;
Construct a detailed and balanced account and
assessment of opposing views;
Select and organise material from a range of sources;
Produce clear, accurate and well-structured written work;
Show a well-developed ability to manage their own
learning, including working effectively to deadlines.
Topics studied may include:
How ought we to live? How do we assess difficult moral
situations? Does being a Christian make a difference to the
decisions we make? The study of Christian ethics seeks to
provide some answers to these general questions as well as
looking at areas of particular difficulty, and will draw on previous
work – biblical, philosophical and historical – that you have
undertaken in the course of your degree.
Learning and teaching
methods
Resources available on the Virtual Learning Environment may
include:
Subject guide
Articles, extracts from longer texts, and/or links to other
electronic resources
Course discussion forum
Opportunities for formative feedback include:
Essay-marking service
Tutoring at a supporting institution
Selected Bibliography:
Select from the following:
Anderson, Terence R. ‘Environmental ethics’ in Macquarrie, John
and James F. Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian
ethics. (London: SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.196–98.
Cahill, Lisa Sowle ‘Abortion’ in Macquarrie, John and James F.
Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics. (London:
SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.1–5.
Childress, James F. ‘Sin(s)’ in Macquarrie, John and James F.
Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics. (London:
SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.585–86.
Deidun, Tom ‘The Bible and ethics’ in Hoose, B. (ed.) Christian
ethics: an introduction. (London: Cassell, 1998) [ISBN
0303702641] pp.1–46.
Evans, Mark Just war theory: a reappraisal. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press, 2005) [ISBN 9780748620753].
Gill, Robin (ed.) The Cambridge companion to Christian ethics.
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000) [ISBN
9780521779180].
Gula, Richard M. ‘Conscience’ in Hoose, B. (ed.) Christian ethics:
an introduction. (London: Cassell, 1998) [ISBN 0303702641]
pp.110–22.
Gula, Richard M. What are they saying about moral norms? (New
York: Paulist Press, 1982) [ISBN 0809124122].
Hannon, Patrick ‘Morality and law’ in Hoose, B. (ed.) Christian
ethics: an introduction. (London: Cassell, 1998) [ISBN
0304702641] pp.186–98.
Hare, R.M. ‘Utilitarianism’ in Macquarrie, John and James F.
Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics. (London:
SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.640–43.
Hoose, Bernard (ed.) Christian ethics: an introduction. (London:
Cassell, 1998) [ISBN 0303702641].
Hoose, Bernard ‘The punishment of criminals’ in Hoose, B. (ed.)
Christian ethics: an introduction. (London: Cassell, 1998)
[ISBN 0303702641] pp.199–209.
Houlden, J.L. ‘Paul, ethical teaching of’ in Macquarrie, John and
James F. Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics.
(London: SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.457–60.
Hughes, Gerard J. ‘Natural law’ in B. Hoose (ed.) Christian ethics:
an introduction. (London: Cassell, 1998) [ISBN 0303702641]
Chapter 2.
Kelly, Kevin New directions in moral theology. (London: Geoffrey
Chapman, 1992) [ISBN 0225666391].
Little, David ‘Natural rights’ in Macquarrie, John and James F.
Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics. (London:
SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.414–15.
MacNamara, Vincent ‘The distinctiveness of Christian morality’ in
Hoose, B. (ed.) Christian ethics: an introduction. (London:
Cassell, 1998) [ISBN 0303702641] pp.149–62.
Macquarrie, John and James F. Childress (eds) A new dictionary
of Christian ethics. (London: SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045].
Messer, Neil SCM study guide to Christian ethics. (London: SCM,
2006) [ISBN 9780334029953].
Nelson, James B. ‘Homosexuality’ in Macquarrie, John and James
F. Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics.
(London: SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.271–74.
Wood, Thomas ‘Euthanasia’ in Macquarrie, John and James F.
Childress (eds) A new dictionary of Christian ethics. (London:
SCM, 1993) [ISBN 0334022045] pp.210–12.
Selected other
recommended texts
Lists of further reading are provided in the subject guide.
Assessment
Three-hour examination
Student evaluation
opportunities
Indicative student time
allocation
Date of module
description
development or
modification
Annual online student feedback survey
300 hours
16/11/2011