Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
CHTH 131
God and Ethics in the Modern World
Campus Course Outline 2017
This paper offers an introductory study of the
foundations and character of Christian ethics within
the context of Modern Western culture. Our ethical
Lecturer:
judgements are shaped by a range of factors,
Professor Murray Rae
predominantly the culture in which we have been
nurtured, so it is important to understand
[email protected]
something about how our culture has been formed
and to recognise some of its leading assumptions
Ph: 03 479 5393
about the nature and purpose of human life. The
Western cultural story was shaped to a large extent
by the biblical story, but in the Modern era Western
culture has developed in ways that are often at odds with the biblical understanding of the
nature and purpose of human life. The two stories are set alongside each other in this
course in order to facilitate a better understanding of both. We will investigate both the
commonalities and the divergences between the Christian story and the story of Modern
Western culture.
SEMESTER 2 2017
Western culture is the focus of our study simply because that is the culture that dominates
New Zealand society, and much of global society. As we proceed through the course,
however, we will give some attention to voices from other cultures, and, it is hoped, that
students with diverse cultural backgrounds who are taking the course, will contribute their
own insights on the ways in which dominant Western assumptions should be critiqued.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students who complete this course will:
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Develop an understanding of the historical and intellectual forces that have shaped
contemporary Western culture
Learn to critically engage with the prevailing assumptions of contemporary culture
Become acquainted with some common approaches to ethics in the Western
intellectual tradition
Learn to consider the contrast between Western and other cultural perspectives
Develop an understanding of the foundations and character of Christian ethics
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Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
COURSE STRUCTURE
Module One: The Modern Western Worldview
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Introduction to Pre-Modern Western Society
Knowledge Confined to Nature
Modern Conceptions of Humanity
Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Society
Module Two: Christian Ethics in Outline
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What is Ethics?
Foundations of Christian Ethics
Developments in Christian Ethics
Righteousness and Grace
Module Three: Church and Community: Applications of Christian Ethics
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Ethics and the Bible
Ethics and the Church
Applications
TEACHING
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Weekly lectures (Tues and Thurs, 1.00 - 1.50 pm)
2 components of online discussion (this will form a component of the assessment)
ASSESSMENT
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One 1500 word essay, worth 30% of the final mark
Two online discussions, together worth 10% of the final mark
One 3 hour exam, worth 60% of the final mark
RESOURCES
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Blackboard, the University’s online learning tool;
This Course Outline and the Course Book
eReserve, a resource for electronic readings, which you can access via Blackboard;
The Department's “Study and Style Guide” which recommends students use the
16th edition of the Chicago citation style when writing essays. It is available online at
http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/study/studentresources/
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Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Please Note: You must have access to Blackboard and your University email
address in order to complete this paper. You will receive access once your enrolment is
complete. Communications from your lecturer regarding teaching matters will be provided
only through Blackboard and your University email address, as outlined in the University's
Student Communications Policy, so you must check these emails regularly. eVision will
also send important messages through your University email. If you have any concerns
about your access to Blackboard or to other course resources, please contact the lecturer
or administrative staff immediately so that these can be resolved.
You will find there is a lot of helpful information and resources on the Department’s
website. In particular, we require you to read the section called “Essential Student
Information.” You will find it here:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/study/studentresources/
This page provides a number of useful resources such as the Study and Style Guide and
the Plagiarism Declaration Form you must attach to your assignments. It supplies detailed
information on assessment and student support. In particular, it contains guidance on the
topics of plagiarism and deadlines, both of which can incur penalties if not heeded. This
also is where you will find instructions for making online discussion posts and submitting
assignments electronically. So it is very important you make yourself familiar with this
material. Our assumption is that you have read it.
We will make reference to information on the website in the following pages, so do take
the time to follow the links and absorb the material.
ASSESSMENT
There are three forms of assessment for this paper: online discussion, an essay and an
exam.
TYPE
Online Discussion
Essay (1500 words)
Exam (4 questions / 3 hours)
PERCENTAGE
10%
30%
60%
Online Discussion
You will engage in two online discussions in the course. You might think of this as a virtual
tutorial in which you discuss the issues at hand with your classmates. So you are having a
conversation in which you make a response to the questions I have set; or ask a question
of your own that arises out of your own reading and reflection; or respond to the questions
of other students and the ongoing thread of discussion. Please observe the following
rules:
1. Keep your messages relevant, focused and to the point; you don’t have to write
everything you know about a topic, but you need to engage in a discussion with
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Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
other participants. Your essay will allow you to expand your discussion on the
topic. Please note: messages longer than the maximum will be deleted!
2. Reply only if you have something new to add. Do respond specifically to other
students, and where you agree or disagree offer specific reasons for doing so.
Keep an open mind, and respect all contributions from your fellow students.
3. Keep your ideas focused on the topics being discussed. If you want to write about a
related, but different subject, start a new thread. Give your postings a specific title
to help others to find your posts later on.
4. Try not to dominate the discussion, but give others space.
5. Electronic discussion is prone to misunderstanding, and it is reasonably easy to
cause offence without intending to. So choose your words carefully and precisely,
giving thought to how they might be received. Feel free to use emoticons – they are
an important way of conveying tone. And don’t take offence too quickly – perceived
slights may not be real or intended. If you don’t understand what someone has said
online, ask them to clarify it. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, contact me directly.
There will be two two-week periods of online discussion:
1. 12.01am Monday July 24 – 11.59 pm on Sunday August 6
2. 12.01am Monday August 21 – 11.59pm on Sunday September 3.
You will find the questions that launch each discussion within the Course Book. The
discussion will take place on Blackboard. Please see the 'Essential Information' web page
for advice on participating in Blackboard discussion sessions.
You must make at least two postings in each of these two-week discussions.
Contributions should not exceed the maximum length specified in the Online Discussion
task and should conform to the protocols listed above. Postings that exceed the allowable
length or that are deemed by the course teacher to violate the protocols will be deleted.
Your postings will be assessed by a course tutor according to the following scale.
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4
3
2
ONLINE GRADING SCHEDULE
This is an excellent post. You have engaged well with the key issue,
show an awareness of appropriate sources and contribute to the
discussion in a relevant and intelligent way.
This is a very good post. It doesn’t quite have the flair or critical
insight of a 5, but it is accurate, knowledgeable and contributes
helpfully to the discussion.
This post shows your effort to engage seriously in the discussion,
and is passable, although it is not wholly to the point and may reveal
that there are some aspects of the topic that you haven’t fully
grasped.
This post shows an honest attempt to engage in the discussion but
it may be too brief, or it may reveal some substantial
misunderstanding of the topic. It does not convey much in the way
of independent reading or critical thinking.
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Theology and Religion
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CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
This is substandard. You get one mark for participation but the
content is severely off-topic or it reveals that you haven’t understood
the issues well at all.
The overall grade will be calculated by adding the marks for all four postings and dividing
by 2. This will give a mark out of 10.
Essay: Due Date 11.59pm, September 13
EITHER:
Select an ethical issue currently being debated in contemporary New Zealand
Society and offer a contribution to the debate drawing upon the resources of
this course.
OR:
The first word sentence of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) is ‘I am
the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of slavery . . .’ Why is this claim so important for the way the commandments
are to be interpreted?
OR:
Select one parable told by Jesus and discuss the ethical challenge posed by
that parable.
Marking Criteria:
Engagement with the topic. (Approximately 40%)
The essay should maintain a clear focus on the topic throughout. Begin by introducing the
topic; identify the key issues to be considered; develop your discussion of them in a clear
and coherent way and draw appropriate conclusions.
Quality of Argument. (Approximately 40%)
Ensure that your argument makes sense and is developed in a clear and logical way;
ensure that you provide appropriate evidence for your claims and engage intelligently with
reputable sources. Make good use of sources, but do not be afraid to develop your own
arguments and critical judgements.
Appropriate Use of Sources (Approximately 10%)
A good essay will make use of appropriate sources, both from the coursebook and
beyond. All sources should be acknowledged and they should be referenced
appropriately. See the department Style Guide here:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/otago029305.pdf
Presentation (Approximately 10%)
Accurate spelling and grammar matter. They create an impression of care and intelligence,
and will put your tutor in a happy and generous mood!
Exam
The date and venue for the exam will be posted on your eVision calendar as soon as it
has been set by the Examinations Office. It is your responsibility to check these details
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Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
and note them carefully. All arrangements and enquiries regarding examinations are
handled by the Examinations Office: [email protected]
The exam will be for three hours and is worth 60% of the final mark. Further
information on the exam will be provided by your lecturer later in the Semester and posted
on Blackboard.
REFERENCING SYSTEM
For writing essays, the Department requires that you use the 16th edition of the Chicago
Style Guide, which is the norm for many academic journals in the Humanities and is often
recommended for theses in the humanities. The Department has prepared a Study and
Style Guide, which outlines the Chicago Style and offers other advice on essay
presentation. You may find it via the Department’s “Student Resources and Information”
page: http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/study/studentresources/
SUBMITTING WRITTEN WORK
All assignments shall be submitted electronically via the “Assignment” feature on
Blackboard by midnight on the due dates notified. Please do not submit paper copies.
For full instructions about how to submit assignments electronically via Blackboard as well
as other important information on plagiarism, grading, and deadlines, please see the
“Essential Information” web page.
All Assignments submitted in the Department of Theology and Religion must be prefaced
with a student Plagiarism Declaration Form. They will not be deemed to have been
submitted unless and until the Plagiarism Declaration Form has been submitted. It can be
downloaded from http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/study/studentresources/
It is also on the Blackboard site for this course.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic integrity means being honest in your studying and assessments. It is the basis
for ethical decision-making and behaviour in an academic context. Academic integrity is
informed by the values of honesty, trust, responsibility, fairness, respect and courage.
Students are expected to be aware of, and act in accordance with, the University’s
Academic Integrity Policy.
Academic Misconduct, such as plagiarism or cheating, is a breach of Academic Integrity
and is taken very seriously by the University. Types of misconduct include plagiarism,
copying, unauthorised collaboration, taking unauthorised material into a test or exam,
impersonation, and assisting someone else’s misconduct. A more extensive list of the
types of academic misconduct and associated processes and penalties is available in the
University’s Student Academic Misconduct Procedures.
It is your responsibility to be aware of and use acceptable academic practices when
completing your assessments. To access the information in the Academic Integrity Policy
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Theology and Religion
CHTH131
Campus Course Outline
and learn more, please visit the University’s Academic Integrity website at
www.otago.ac.nz/study/academicintegrity or ask at the Student Learning Centre or Library.
If you have any questions, ask your lecturer.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/policies/otago116838.html
http://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/policies/otago116850.html
STUDENT SUPPORT
The “Essential Information” web page provides helpful information on how to access the
University Library’s resources, as well as a guide to the support services available to
students at the University of Otago, including the Student Learning Centre and Disability
Support.
For all administrative enquiries, please contact:
The Administrative Assistant for Theology and Religion.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 03 479 8516
We recommend that you contact the Department as soon as possible if you have
any problems participating in the course or accessing resources. Please remember
to check your University email account regularly for updates and announcements.
DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
www.otago.ac.nz/theology
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