Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Christian Social Ethics

Unit Code: 
DMR332
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit is an examination of different patterns of Christian thinking about society and their implications for social change. Explicit attention will be given to contemporary social teaching of the Christian churches, as well as to the approaches to social issues in other faith traditions. Particular attention will be given to the following topics: justice and human rights, war and peace, ecology, Christian morality in a pluralist society. The questions of land rights and of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers will also be considered.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. reflect critically on contemporary social issues in light of Christian ethical traditions
  2. understand the evolution of Christian traditions of social thought
  3. apply Christian social thinking to a particular case study
  4. demonstrate appropriate use of research skills to investigate issues of social ethics
Lecturer/s: 
Geoffrey King
Timetabling
Unit Frequency: 
Biennial
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Graduate Diploma in Theology
Courses: 
Master of Divinity
Courses: 
Master of Theological Studies
Field: 
Field D Theology: Mission and Ministry
Disciplines: 
Moral Theology
MDiv Field: 
Christian Life and Ministry
Department Name: 
Department of Moral and Practical Theology
Unit Level
GradDip Field: 
Elective
MDiv Type of Study: 
Specialised
Prerequisites: 

DMR250 Contemporary Christian Ethics or equivalent

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

3 hours of lectures and seminar discussion per week for 12 weeks

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours per week: 
12
Total workload hours for unit: 
144
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

1 x 3000 word essay

Weighting: 
50%
Assessment Type: 

1 x 3000 word essay

Weighting: 
50%
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

Curran, Charles E. and Richard A. McCormick. Readings in Moral Theology 5. New York: Paulist, 1986.

Dorr, Donal. Option for the Poor. New York: Orbis, 1983.

Himes, Kenneth, ed. Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations. Washington: Georgetown UP, 2005.

Hollenbach, David. Claims in Conflict. New York: Paulist, 1979.

Hollenbach, David. The Common Good and Christian Ethics. Cambridge: CUP, 2002.

Hollenbach, David. The Global Face of Public Faith: Politics, Human Rights, and Christian Ethics. Washington: Georgetown UP, 2003.

Mahoney, Jack. The Challenge of Human Rights: Origin, Development, and Significance. Oxford: Blackwell, 2007.

McDonagh, S. The Greening of the Church. London: Chapman, 1990.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.