ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND WAR

Critical Moral/Social Concerns

 

BLS 5621, THS 5641

Fall Semester, 2003

 

Drs. James B. DeYoung & J. Carl Laney

 

Course Description

 

            This course seeks to consider three issues confronting Christians in contemporary society and evaluate them in light of the Bible.  Abortion, homosexuality, and war challenge Christian belief and practice.  These issues command a growing public awareness.  They carry moral, social, and legal ramifications, and are institutionalized in differing degrees.  Instructors:  J. Carl Laney and James B. De Young.  2 hours.

 

Course Objectives

 

1.      To investigate the biblical evidence on each of the three topics:  abortion, homosexuality, and war.

2.      To study competing views that Christians and non-Christians have held on these three issues.

3.      To address the institutionalization of evil as represented by society’s acceptance of the behaviors involved.

4.      To lay a foundation for formulating a position on each of the issues that is informed, coherent, and biblically based.

5.      To formulate a method by which to evaluate these and other social-moral issues and appropriate Christian responses.

 

Requirements

 

1.      Read the following texts:

 

a.       Keith Fournier and William Watkins, In Defense of Life. Colorado Springs, NavPress, 1996.

b.      James B. De Young, Homosexuality:  Contemporary Claims Examined in Light of the Bible and Other Ancient Literature and Law.  Grand Rapids:  Kregel, 2000.

c.       James B. De Young, Religion, Morality, and Law:  Guidelines for Christian Involvement in Civil Government (not yet published).

d.      Read any additional articles or selections of books which are distributed or assigned during the semester.

 

2.      Write two papers (6 to 8 pages) based in two of the three issues covered in the course.  The first must be on the subject of abortion, and is due at midterm.  The second is due on the final class period.

 

Course Topics

 

1.      A basis for ethical decision making.

2.      The miracle of life

3.      A Biblical Theology of Life

4.      History of abortion

5.      Abortion and Christian activism

6.      Abortion and civil disobedience

7.      Post abortion counseling

8.      Sterilization, contraception, or natural family planning

9.      Homosexuality and the Old Testament:  the beginning of a standard

10.  Homosexuality in the intertestamental biblical material: the LXX and the Apocrypha reflect increasing concern with Greek immorality

11.  Homosexuality and the teaching of Jesus:  affirmation of marriage

12.  Homosexuality in the teaching of Paul:  appeal to natural law and inventing new terminology

13.  Homosexuality among the Greeks and Romans:  orientation, practice, and prohibitions

14.  Homosexual and legal limitation:  beginning with the Greeks and Romans

15.  War and government; just war theory

16.  Principles for Christian submission to government

 

Course Schedule

 

 

Sept       4        Course Introduction

                        Approaches to ethical decision making; “Cider House Rules”

           

            11        The Miracle of Life:  What does science reveal?

                        Developing a Theology of Life: 

 

            18        What does the Bible say about abortion and the Sanctity of Life

 

            25        The History of Abortion

                        Abortion and Christian Activism

 

Oct      2         Abortion and Civil Disobedience

 

9         Post Abortion Counseling: Helping those who have had abortions or paid for them.

 

            16        Sterilization, Contraception, or Natural Family Planning.

 

23        Homosexuality and the Old Testament. The Jew’s early and unique contribution  to restricting homosexual behavior.

 

30        Homosexuality in the interestamental Jewish material.  The Septuagint, the Apocrypha, and the Pseudepigrapha reflect increasing concern with Greek immorality.

 

Nov      6         Homosexuality and the testing of Jesus: An affirmation of marriage and

                        proper sexual expression.

 

13        Homosexuality and the teaching of Paul: An appeal to natural law, creating new terminology and limiting homosexual behavior by law.

 

20        Homosexuality among the Greeks and Romans: Orientation, practice and prohibitions.

 

            27        Thanksgiving! 

 

Dec       4        Homosexuality and legislation: from the Jews, Greeks and Romans to the

U.S. Supreme Court.

 

11        Government, war and the just war theory. Principles for a Christian relationship to the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Report                                                                        Name:_________________

Due December  11th                                                                Box #:________

 

Please not whether or not you have read the following assigned materials:

 

In Defense of Life                                                         Yes                  No

 

Homosexuality: Contemporary Claims Examined           Yes                  No

 

Religion, Morality and Law                                           Yes                  No

 

Assigned articles                                                           Yes                  No