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HDS 2393

Christian Ethics, Persuasion, and Power I

Mark D. Jordan

Description

Early Christians wrote their ethical teaching not only in response to existing religious law or rite, but in competition with philosophical programs for soul-shaping. The religious traditions and the philosophic schools alike wanted to discipline bodily actions and passions, but even more to elicit certain roles or characters. This course reads some ancient philosophical examples of ethical persuasion before turning to Christian texts that want to surpass them in power to shape lives. Readings will include the following, as a whole or in substantial part: Plato Phaedrus, Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics, Epictetus Enchiridion, Gregory of Nyssa Life of Macrina and Life of Moses, Ambrose On the Duties of Ministers, Augustine Enchiridion, early medieval penitentials and treatises on the virtues, Bonaventure Collations on the Ten Commandments, Thomas Aquinas Summa of Theology, and Porete Mirror of Simple Souls.

Enrollment Limited: No
Open to BTI Students: Yes

Scheduling

Half Course
Expected to be offered: Fall 2010
Course times to be announced.
Location to be announced.

Relationship to Program Requirements

Program Requirement	Area / Category / Art / Designation
MTS Area(s) of Focus	Religion, Ethics, and Politics Theology
MDiv Distribution Category/ies	Christianity
MDiv Art(s) of Ministry	none
ThM, pre-2007 MTS, and pre-2005 MDiv Area	Area 2
Language Course Designation(s)	n/a