Course Syllabus
GS120L- Introduction to Christian Ethics
Instructor: Richard Cates, D.Min.
Phone: 619-770-9655
Tuesdays 1/8/2013- 3/26/2013
Horizon University exists to enable students to develop critical thinking skills, a broad knowledge base,
and a biblically integrated understanding of their vocation, so that wherever they serve, they will be
successful in their profession. This will result in graduates who embody a life exemplified by Simply
Jesus, Superior Academics, and Servant Leadership.
They will effectively:
o Succeed in their chosen profession
o Engage minds, whether in their workplace, graduate school, or the global community
o Win a person to Jesus Christ
o Disciple a person in Jesus Christ and
o Send a person for Jesus Christ
Course Description
In a pluralistic society where subjective individualism results in every person defining morality on their
terms, it needs to be evaluated whether objective moral truth exists. This course will study the objective
moral truth of the Christian ethic and examine how it differs from the subjective value systems of the
atheist, moralist, humanist and evolutionist. Most importantly, through the examination of the Christian
ethic, the student will ideally come to see that this study is not simply an academic study of values and
truths; this type of life is God’s desire for us. Ultimately, Christian ethics is a way of life.
Learning Outcomes
After taking this course, students will know or be able to do the following:
1. Describe the basic concepts, terms, and theories associated with the study of ethics.
2. Be able to provide comprehensive explanation on how Christian ethics differs from other ethical
systems.
3. Provide an ethical analysis of current trends, changes, and issues from various ethical systems,
with an emphasis on Christian ethics.
4. Propose resolutions to different ethical dilemmas within the Christian ethical framework.
5. Demonstrate a commitment to Christian character in personal and business life.
Required Textbook:
Trull, Joe E. Walking in the Way: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1997.
Bible (NKJV, ESV, or NASB preferred. No paraphrased Bibles please).
Course Requirements:
A. Bible reading: All students will be required to read the book of Proverbs during the semester.
The assigned reading for Proverbs, as well as for the course textbook, will be listed on the
class schedule. A reading assignment sheet will require signing by the students each week
signifying the completion of the assignments. Possible points- 12. (Learning outcome 2 & 3).
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B. All students are expected to listen to the weekly audio lectures. An audio assignment sheet
signifying completion of this task will require signing by the students each week.
Additionally, a one-page outline of each lecture will be turned in the following week.
Possible points-12. (Learning outcomes 1-5)
C. All students will participate in the weekly on-line questions taken from the textbook. See the
class schedule for each week’s assignment. Comments by the students should reflect having
read the weekly assigned reading and should demonstrate an understanding of the material.
Possible points- 2 per week= 24 total. (Learning outcomes 1,2,3 & 4)
D. Midterm exam: Halfway through the course a midterm exam will be required. The purpose of
the exam is to give each student the opportunity to reflect and analyze the role of Christian
ethics and be able to communicate their knowledge through an on-line essay exam. Possible
points- 15. (Learning outcomes 1, 2 & 4)
E. Book report: All students will select one book from the suggested bibliography and write a 3page paper explaining the purpose of the book, what role it plays in the Christian ethic, and
how it affects your life as a Christian. The paper must follow the Turabian format and be
turned in no later than the last day of class. Possible points- 5. (Learning outcomes 1,2,3 & 4)
F. Quizzes: There will be five “ethical dilemmas” handed out over the twelve weeks of class.
Each situation will require a 2-3 page written response to be handed in the following week.
Students will be expected to defend their views in a biblical manner, using footnotes as
needed. Each paper is expected to follow the Turabian format. Each paper is worth 4 points
for a total of 20. (Learning outcomes 1,2,3 & 4)
G. Final paper proposal: Students will be required to turn in a three- page proposal of their final
paper. The proposal will consist of a one-page summary of the chosen topic, along with a
one-page outline of the paper, and a one-page proposed bibliography. Proposal is due no later
than 2/27/2013 and must be approved prior to commencement of final paper
H. Final paper: Each student will complete an 8-10 page final paper due on the last day of class.
Each paper (double-spaced, font size 12, footnotes) will follow the Turabian format, and will
consist of a topic to be determined during class. The paper will not only examine one of the
key doctrinal issues of Christian ethics, but will also focus on the current practicality of the
topic. Possible points- 20. (Learning outcomes 1, 3, 4 &5)
Papers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1. The student’s ability to convey a thorough understanding of a complex ethical issue
while objectively communicating all views involved. Students must also biblically
defend their own assessment. Paper needs to be in an academic/theological style of
writing, not a narrative. Minimum of 10 footnotes are required- 70%.
2. Presenting a clear, concise, and organized paper while following their approved
proposal- 20%.
3. Following the Turabian format, including grammar- 10%.
Horizon University 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive San Diego, CA 92111
858-695-8587, [email protected], www.horizonuniversity.info
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Grading:
Value of Assignments
Final paper
20%
Grading Scale
96-100 A
70-72
C-
Midterm exam
15%
92-95
A-
67-69
D+
Ethical dilemmas
20%
88-91
B+
63-66
D
Book report
5%
84-87
B
60-62
D-
Assigned reading
10%
80-83
B-
<60
F
On-line participation to questions 20%
77-79
C+
Lecture Outlines
73-76
10%
C
Suggested Bibliography:
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics. New York: Simon & Schuster Publishers, 1955.
Chamberlain, Paul. Can We Be Good Without God? Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Clark, David K. and Robert V. Rakestraw. Readings in Christian Ethics, Volume 1, Theory and Method.
Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994.
Frankena, William. Ethics. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1973.
Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics: Options and Issues. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989.
Gill, David W. Becoming Good: Building Moral Character. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Hollinger, Dennis P. Choosing the Good. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.
Gough, Russell W. Character is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life. New York:
Crown Forum, 1998.
Jersild, Paul. Making Moral Decisions: A Christian Approach to Personal and Social Ethics.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990.
Jones, David Clyde. Biblical Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994.
Lee, Cameron. Beyond Family Values: A Call to Christian Virtue. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
1998.
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1976.
MacIntyre, Alasdair. A Short History of Ethics. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1996.
Horizon University 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive San Diego, CA 92111
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Mott, Stephen Charles. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.
Wadell, Paul J. Happiness and the Christian Moral Life: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. New York:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2008.
Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972.
Class Schedule:
Class
Topics
Readings
Assignments for Following
Week
----
------
Class 1
(1-9-2013)
Introduction to class.
Class 2
(1-16-2013)
1.Handout ethical dilemma #1.
2. Respond to question 2 in
textbook- page 14. Due 1/16
3.Audio outline from week 1 is
due.
Proverbs 1-3
Introduction in textbook.
Class 3
(1-23-2013)
1.Dilemma #1 is due.
2.Respond to question 3 in
textbook- page 38. Due 1/23
3. Audio outline from week 2 is
due.
Proverbs 4-5
Chapter 1.
Class 4
(1-30-2013)
1.Handout dilemma #2.
2.Respond to question 2 in
textbook- page 52. Due 1/30
3. Audio outline from week 3 is
due.
Proverbs 6-8
Chapter 2.
Class 5
(2-6-2013)
1.Dilemma #2 is due.
2.Respond to question 3 in
textbook- page 80. Due 2/6
3. Audio outline from week 4 is
due.
1.Handout dilemma #3.
2.Respond to question 5 in
textbook- page 102. Due 2/13
3. Audio outline from week 5 is
due.
Proverbs 9-10
Chapter 3.
Proverbs 11-13
Chapter 4.
1.Midterm Exam in class.
2.Dilemma #3 is due.
3.Respond to question 4 in
textbook- page 131. Due 2/20
4. Audio outline from week 6 is
due.
Proverbs 14-16
Chapter 5.
Class 6
(2-13-2013)
Class 7
(2-20-2013)
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Class 8
(2-27-2013)
1.Handout dilemma #4.
2.Respond to question 2 in
textbook- page 155. Due 2/27
3.Proposals are due.
4. Audio outline from week 7 is
due.
Proverbs 17-19
Chapter 6.
Class 9
(3-6-2013)
1.Dilemma #4 is due.
2.Respond to question 4 in
textbook- page 188. Due 3/6
3. Audio outline from week 8 is
due.
Proverbs 20-22
Chapter 7.
Class 10
(3-13-2013)
1.Handout dilemma 5.
2.Respond to question 6 in
textbook- page 224. Due 3/13
3. Audio outline from week 9 is
due.
Proverbs 23-25
Chapter 8.
Class 11
(3-20-2013)
1.Dilemma #5 is due.
2.Respond to question 6 in
textbook- page 251. Due 3/20
3. Audio outline from week 10 is
due.
Proverbs 26-28
Chapter 9.
Class 12
(3-27-2013)
1.Final paper due.
2.Book report is due.
3.Respond to question 6 in
textbook- page 283. Due 3/27.
4. Audio outline from week 11 is
due.
Proverbs 29-31
Chapter 10 & Conclusion
Horizon University Academic Policy:
Attendance: A student who misses 3 or more classes will be automatically dropped from the course
unless arrangements have been made previously with the instructor due to emergency or extreme
circumstances. A student who misses class is responsible for all class notes, assignments and any exams
that occurred during their absence. It may or may not be possible to make up these assignments, at the
discretion of the instructor. Excused absences (that do not fall under the definition of emergency or
extreme circumstances) will not count against the “automatic drop” policy, but the grade will reflect a
reduction for such absences for each class period missed.
Readings: Assigned readings are mandatory and should be completed in advance of the classes for which
they are scheduled in the syllabus. Knowledge of the readings will be critical for understanding the
lectures and subsequent discussions, and for preparing for the final examination.
Horizon University 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive San Diego, CA 92111
858-695-8587, [email protected], www.horizonuniversity.info
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Quality of Writing: Written assignments should be undertaken as though you were preparing them for
publication, even if only for publication in your church or denomination. This discipline should help to
improve the quality of your writing. Emphasis in this class will always be placed on the quality rather
than the quantity of your work. I appreciate and reward good and lucid writing, and I depreciate and
downgrade poor and obscure writing. It is a matter of communication. Clarity and precision of language
make communication easier and understanding more pleasurable.
Formal Style of Writing: All assignments should be typed and written in a formal style, for example, no
contractions or excessive use of slang. Papers should include notations (footnotes, endnotes, or
parenthetical notations), and a bibliography or works cited that follow the format for bibliographical
references found in Turabian’s, A Manual for Writers.
Plagiarism: Anyone who plagiarizes (i.e., presents as one’s own work something which has been taken
from someone else) may receive an automatic failure on that piece of work and a warning. (Plagiarism
can involve the taking of an idea or structure of a written work as well as the actual copying of what is
written.) For a first-time offense, the student will receive a 0% grade for the paper with a 1-week grace
period to rectify and correct the paper. If such corrections are made on time and to the standards of the
course outline the result will be a grade maximum grade of 60%. A second offense of plagiarism will
result in failure (“F”) for the final course grade.
Late Papers: All papers are due at the prescribed dates specifically listed in this syllabus. Each paper is
due prior to the start of the class period. (Example, if it is an evening class, then the paper shall be due by
6pm. If an afternoon class, then the paper shall be due by 1pm.) No late papers will be accepted. Failure
to turn in a paper on time will result in a 0 grade for that paper. Extenuating circumstances will be the sole
reason that a paper can be turned in late, but prior written approval to the instructor is needed.
Completion of Work: All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. Extended due
dates will be granted only in cases of hardship such as hospitalization or emergency absence from class.
Unless such a situation arises immediately before a deadline, arrangements cannot be made after the fact
without receiving a reduction in your grade. A similar policy applies with regard to course incompletes.
Incomplete: If the student finds they will be unable to complete the course within the allotted time period
they may request an Incomplete from the instructor. To request an Incomplete the student must obtain an
Incomplete Form either from the website or the Horizon University office. They are to complete this form
and submit it to the instructor for approval by the last class session. Students are ineligible to request an
Incomplete for a class after the last class session. The instructor will then file the Incomplete Form with
the Administrations office. The student has a maximum of 4-weeks from the last class to complete all
course work. If the course work is not completed within the allotted time period the student will receive
the grade earned as a result of not completing the course work.
Horizon University 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive San Diego, CA 92111
858-695-8587, [email protected], www.horizonuniversity.info
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