Assessment

Quizzes Discussions 20% + Tutorials 10% + Case Study Essay 30% + Exam 40%

Module Aims

This module introduces learners to Christian ethics. It explores the foundational sources for Christian ethics, including scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. It presents learners with a variety of moral theories and methods for ethical decision-making, including deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. It informs learners about key elements of moral decision making, central themes and principles of Christian ethics, the formation of one’s conscience and moral development. The module equips learners to ethically evaluate contemporary issues, through analysis of accompanying case studies, such as war, racism, environmental degradation, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other moral issues.

Indicative Syllabus

• Christian ethics, moral theology, and other ethical perspectives and approaches

• Foundational sources for Christian ethics: scripture, tradition, reason, experience

• Christian ethics and the Bible

• Forming and informing conscience for moral decision-making

• Elements of, and steps in, moral decision-making

• Christian ethics, war, and peace

• Christian ethics, racism, and discrimination

• Christian ethics, ecology, and environmental degradation

• Christian ethics, criminal justice, and capital punishment

• Christian ethics, bioethics, and abortion

• Christian ethics, end-of-life decision-making, and euthanasia

• Christian ethics and friendship

Learning Outcomes

• — Recall and relate the foundational sources of Christian ethics, including scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.
• — Recognize and describe different moral theories and approaches to ethical decision-making, including deontology, consequentialism, and virtue.
• — Identify and illustrate the elements of the triple-font approach for morally evaluating a human action: the object, the intention(s), and the circumstances/consequences.
• — Explain and demonstrate conscience as a process and the stages of moral formation.
• — Consider and appraise current scholarship and magisterial teaching about Christian ethics and contemporary moral issues.
• — Examine and apply central themes and principles of Christian ethics to address a contemporary moral issue.

Bibliography

• — Austin, Victor Lee. 2012. Christian Ethics: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Bloomsbury/T&T Clark.
• — Boyd, Craig A. and Don Thorsen. 2018. Christian Ethics and Moral Philosophy: An Introduction to Issues and Approaches. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
• — Bretzke, James T. 2004. A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.
• — Christie, Dolores L. 2013. Moral Choice: A Christian View of Ethics. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
• — Connors, Russell B., Jr. and Patrick T. McCormick. 1998. Character, Choices and Community: The Three Faces of Christian Ethics. New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press
• — Curran, Charles E. 1999. The Catholic Moral Tradition Today: A Synthesis. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.
• — 1993. The Church and Morality: An Ecumenical and Catholic Approach. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
• — Dowler, Edward. 2011. Theological Ethics. London: SCM Press.
• — Gill, Robin (ed). 2012. The Cambridge Companion to Christian Ethics, 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• — 2014. A Textbook of Christian Ethics, 4th edition. London: Bloomsbury/T&T Clark.
• — Hannon, Patrick. 2005. Moral Decision Making. Dublin: Veritas Publishing.
• — Hauerwas, Stanley and Samuel Wells (eds). 2004. The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics. Oxford: Blackwell.
• — Jung, Patricia Beattie and L. Shannon Jung (eds). 2013. Moral Issues and Christian Responses, 8th edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
• — Junker-Kenny, Maureen. 2019. Approaches to Theological Ethics: Sources, Traditions, Visions. London: Bloomsbury/T&T Clark.
• — Lamoureux, Patricia and Paul J. Wadell. 2010. The Christian Moral Life: Faithful Discipleship for a Global Society. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
• — Long, D. Stephen and Rebekah L. Miles (eds). 2023. The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics. London and New York: Routledge.
• — Mattison III, William C. 2008. Introducing Moral Theology: True Happiness and the Virtues. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.
• — McCarthy, David Matzko and M. Therese Lysaught (eds). 2007. Gathered for the Journey: Moral Theology in Catholic Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
• — McCormick, Patrick T. and Russell B. Connors, Jr. 2002. Facing Ethical Issues: Dimensions of Character, Choices and Community. New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press.
• — Salzman, Todd A. and Michael G. Lawler. 2019. Introduction to Catholic Theological Ethics: Foundations and Applications. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
• — Sparks, Richard C. 1996. Contemporary Christian Morality: Real Questions, Candid Responses. New York: Crossroad Publishing.
• — Wadell, Paul J. 2002. Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice, and the Practice of Christian Friendship. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press.
• — 2016. Happiness and the Christian Moral Life: An Introduction to Christian Ethics, 3rd edition. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
• — Wells, Samuel and Ben Quash. 2010. Introducing Christian Ethics. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
• — Winright, Tobias (ed). 2021. T&T Clark Handbook of Christian Ethics. London: Bloomsbury/T&T Clark.