Fred Glennon

Fred Glennon, Ph.D. (Courses)
Professor (RH 227)
Department of Religious Studies
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, New York 13214
(315) 445-4774

REL 337

Course Schedule

Section 01 Grewen Hall 113 Tues./Thurs. 11:30-12:45

Date

Class Topics and Assignments

1/18

Introductions

1/20

Introductions, Blackboard, Learning Covenants

Fred Glennon, "The Learning Covenant: Promoting Freedom and Responsibility in the Religious Studies Classroom" CSSR Bulletin (April 1995): 32-37. (This essay will provide a framework for the pedagogical style I use in this class.)

Read Syllabus and Learning Covenant materials (learning covenant guidelines, activity options) on Blackboard (http://blackboard.lemoyne.edu) or my web page (http://web.lemoyne.edu/~glennon/rel337.htm)

Revise your profile on blackboard

I.

Elements of a Christian Social Ethic

1/25

Facts and Perceptions

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 3-21, 57-69

1/27

Loyalties/Social-Institutional Location/Ethical Styles

"Ethical Action," in Ring et al., Introduction to the Study of Religion, 97-113 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)

2/1

Beliefs, Values and Moral Principles

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 22-56

2/3

Moral Argument

Anthony Weston, "A Word to Students: How to Write an Ethics Paper," in A Practical Companion to Ethics, 85-97 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)

II.

Gender, Sexuality, Marriage, Family

2/8

The Social Construction of Sex and Gender

James Nelson, "Embodiment in Sexual Theology," Embodiment, 19-36 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)

2/10

The Politics of Sexuality

Love the Sin, chaps. 1-2

2/15

The Morality of Sexual Variations

Love the Sin, chap. 3

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986),";

Walter Wink, "To Hell with Gays: Sex and the Bible," Christian Century 2002 (June 5-12), 32-34.

Fred Glennon, "Must a Covenantal Sexual Ethic Be Heterocentric? Insights from Congregations" (on reserve on Blackboard)

2/17

Marriage in Christian Perspectives

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons (2003)"

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 5

2/22

Parenthood and Family

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 2.

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 16.

Karen Lebacqz, "Parenthood in Scriptural Perspective," (on electronic reserve)

Bill McKibben, "The Case for Single Child Families" (on Blackboard)

2/24

Sexual Justice

Love the Sin, chaps. 4-5

John Stoltenberg, "How Men Have (a) Sex: An Address to College Students," Redefining Sexual Ethics, 145-156 (on Blackboard)

III.

Rights and Justice

3/1

Conceptions of Justice (Distributive, Contributive, and Restorative)

Karen Lebacqz, "Redress: Injustice and the Oppressor" in Justice in and Unjust World (on Blackboard).

Stephen Mott, "God's Justice and Ours," in Biblical Ethics and Social Change (on reserve).

3/3

Justice (continued)

3/8

Human Rights (Case Study: Abortion)

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 4.

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 3.

Vatican Declaration on Procured Abortion 1974

Daniel McGuire, "A Question of Catholic Honesty," Christian Century 1983-84 (Sep. 14-21): 803-807

3/10

Race, Crime and Punishment

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 226-244

Peggy McIntosh, "White Privilege" (on Blackboard)

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 7.

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 8.

IV.

Economic Issues

3/15

The Global Economy

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 73-83

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 12

Notable Quotations from Catholic Bishops letter on the U.S. Economy, Economic Justice for All 1986

3/17

Private Property, Consumerism and Greed

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 245-261

Other Readings to be announced

3/22

Work

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 11

Notable quotations from Catholic social teaching
on the theme of Work and Workers' Rights

Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed (on Blackboard)

William May, "Theology of Work," New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought, 991-1001 (on Blackboard)

Fred Glennon, "Desperate Exchanges: Secondary Work, Justice, and Public Policy," Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics 1992: 225-244 (on Blackboard)

3/24

Easter Break (no class)

3/28-4/3

Spring Break (no classes)

4/5

Income, Poverty and Welfare

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 84-100

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 148-168

Fred Glennon, "Renewing the Welfare Covenant: Responsible Poverty Policy," Living Responsibly in Community (on blackboard)

Fred Glennon, "Welfare/Welfare State;" "Social Security," in New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought (on Blackboard)

V.

Environmental Issues

4/7

The Ecological Crisis

Lynn White, "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis" (on Blackboard)

Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 14.

4/12

Student Presentation: Derek Larsen

Discussion of Group Final Process

4/14

Environmental Issues

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 122-139

VI.

Medical Issues

4/19

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide - Film Presentation

4/21

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide - Film Discussion

"The Vatican's Declaration on Euthanasia, 1980"

Karen Lebacqz and H. Tristram Englehardt, "Suicide and Covenant," 345-353 (reserve # 782)

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins,

4/26

Stem-cell Research

Karen Lebacqz, "Stem Cells and Justice," (on Blackboard)

Lebacqz, et al., "Research with Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Ethical Considerations" (on Blackboard)

Vatican Declaration on "The Gift of Life: Respect for Human Embryos" 1987

VII.

Violence and Nonviolence

4/28

What is Violence and Nonviolence? Capital Punishment

Walter Wink, Jesus and Nonviolence, 1-50

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 183-199

Final revisions on covenant due

5/3

War and Terrorism

Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 101-121

5/5

Nonviolent Social Change

Walter Wink, Jesus and Nonviolence, 51-103

Fred Glennon, "Baseball's Surprising Moral Example: Branch Rickey, Jackie Robinson, and the Racial Integration of America," in Faith of Fifty Million: Baseball and Religion in American Culture, 145-166 (on Blackboard)

Last Day of Class

5/12

Final exam: 12-2:30pm (Exam due 5/13 by 5pm)

Date	Class Topics and Assignments
1/18	Introductions
1/20	Introductions, Blackboard, Learning Covenants Fred Glennon, "The Learning Covenant: Promoting Freedom and Responsibility in the Religious Studies Classroom" CSSR Bulletin (April 1995): 32-37. (This essay will provide a framework for the pedagogical style I use in this class.) Read Syllabus and Learning Covenant materials (learning covenant guidelines, activity options) on Blackboard (http://blackboard.lemoyne.edu) or my web page (http://web.lemoyne.edu/~glennon/rel337.htm) Revise your profile on blackboard
I.	Elements of a Christian Social Ethic
1/25	Facts and Perceptions Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 3-21, 57-69
1/27	Loyalties/Social-Institutional Location/Ethical Styles "Ethical Action," in Ring et al., Introduction to the Study of Religion, 97-113 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)
2/1	Beliefs, Values and Moral Principles Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 22-56
2/3	Moral Argument Anthony Weston, "A Word to Students: How to Write an Ethics Paper," in A Practical Companion to Ethics, 85-97 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)
II.	Gender, Sexuality, Marriage, Family
2/8	The Social Construction of Sex and Gender James Nelson, "Embodiment in Sexual Theology," Embodiment, 19-36 (on electronic reserve and Blackboard)
2/10	The Politics of Sexuality Love the Sin, chaps. 1-2
2/15	The Morality of Sexual Variations Love the Sin, chap. 3 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986),"; Walter Wink, "To Hell with Gays: Sex and the Bible," Christian Century 2002 (June 5-12), 32-34. Fred Glennon, "Must a Covenantal Sexual Ethic Be Heterocentric? Insights from Congregations" (on reserve on Blackboard)
2/17	Marriage in Christian Perspectives Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons (2003)" Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 5
2/22	Parenthood and Family Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 2. Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 16. Karen Lebacqz, "Parenthood in Scriptural Perspective," (on electronic reserve) Bill McKibben, "The Case for Single Child Families" (on Blackboard)
2/24	Sexual Justice Love the Sin, chaps. 4-5 John Stoltenberg, "How Men Have (a) Sex: An Address to College Students," Redefining Sexual Ethics, 145-156 (on Blackboard)
III.	Rights and Justice
3/1	Conceptions of Justice (Distributive, Contributive, and Restorative) Karen Lebacqz, "Redress: Injustice and the Oppressor" in Justice in and Unjust World (on Blackboard). Stephen Mott, "God's Justice and Ours," in Biblical Ethics and Social Change (on reserve).
3/3	Justice (continued)
3/8	Human Rights (Case Study: Abortion) Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 4. Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 3. Vatican Declaration on Procured Abortion 1974 Daniel McGuire, "A Question of Catholic Honesty," Christian Century 1983-84 (Sep. 14-21): 803-807
3/10	Race, Crime and Punishment Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 226-244 Peggy McIntosh, "White Privilege" (on Blackboard) Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 7. Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 8.
IV.	Economic Issues
3/15	The Global Economy Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 73-83 Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 12 Notable Quotations from Catholic Bishops letter on the U.S. Economy, Economic Justice for All 1986
3/17	Private Property, Consumerism and Greed Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 245-261 Other Readings to be announced
3/22	Work Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 11 Notable quotations from Catholic social teaching on the theme of Work and Workers' Rights Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed (on Blackboard) William May, "Theology of Work," New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought, 991-1001 (on Blackboard) Fred Glennon, "Desperate Exchanges: Secondary Work, Justice, and Public Policy," Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics 1992: 225-244 (on Blackboard)
3/24	Easter Break (no class)
3/28-4/3	Spring Break (no classes)
4/5	Income, Poverty and Welfare Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 84-100 Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 148-168 Fred Glennon, "Renewing the Welfare Covenant: Responsible Poverty Policy," Living Responsibly in Community (on blackboard) Fred Glennon, "Welfare/Welfare State;" "Social Security," in New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought (on Blackboard)
V.	Environmental Issues
4/7	The Ecological Crisis Lynn White, "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis" (on Blackboard) Progressive Christians Speak, chap. 14.
4/12	Student Presentation: Derek Larsen Discussion of Group Final Process
4/14	Environmental Issues Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 122-139
VI.	Medical Issues
4/19	Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide - Film Presentation
4/21	Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide - Film Discussion "The Vatican's Declaration on Euthanasia, 1980" Karen Lebacqz and H. Tristram Englehardt, "Suicide and Covenant," 345-353 (reserve # 782) Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins,
4/26	Stem-cell Research Karen Lebacqz, "Stem Cells and Justice," (on Blackboard) Lebacqz, et al., "Research with Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Ethical Considerations" (on Blackboard) Vatican Declaration on "The Gift of Life: Respect for Human Embryos" 1987
VII.	Violence and Nonviolence
4/28	What is Violence and Nonviolence? Capital Punishment Walter Wink, Jesus and Nonviolence, 1-50 Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 183-199 Final revisions on covenant due
5/3	War and Terrorism Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 101-121
5/5	Nonviolent Social Change Walter Wink, Jesus and Nonviolence, 51-103 Fred Glennon, "Baseball's Surprising Moral Example: Branch Rickey, Jackie Robinson, and the Racial Integration of America," in Faith of Fifty Million: Baseball and Religion in American Culture, 145-166 (on Blackboard) Last Day of Class
5/12	Final exam: 12-2:30pm (Exam due 5/13 by 5pm)