Theology and Ethics

5 Credits

Module Content:

1. Understanding Current Challenges Moral pluralism and its responses: between moral relativism, Christian fundamentalism and cynicism; the technological imperative, market economics and liberal individualism; the ambivalent role of religion in society : contradictory patterns of ‘secularisation’, the fragmentation of religious institutions, the increasing public profile of religion; violence and the legacy of conflict; the place and use of Scripture in contemporary ethics.
2. Approaches to Christian Ethics, with a focus on how different ethical approaches construe the relationships between the different sources of Christian moral understanding (bible, tradition, experience, exemplary practice): ecclesial communitarianism; virtue ethics; natural law, classical and revisionist; autonomous ethics; feminist ethics.
3. The Role of Christian Ethics in Public Debate With Particular Reference to the Irish Context; The philosophical and theological positions of key contributors to the debate about the role of religious voices in public discourse including R Williams, J Habermas, P Ricoeur and J Rawls; the role of religious convictions in public reason; the churches as agents of and as a forum of debate in civil society on questions of justice and of human flourishing (for example on matters relating to the legalisation of same- sex relationships, abortion, etc.); the political contribution of the churches in dealing with the legacy of violence and conflict (Hard Gospel, Moving Beyond Sectarianism, etc.).

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module students will be able:

• To analyse and evaluate the nature of the current challenges in and to Christian ethical discourse, with specific reference to the Irish context.
• To understand the different ways in which the sources of Christian moral understanding (bible, tradition, experience, exemplary practice) function within the Christian moral life.
• To recognize and make use of the different forms of ethical argumentation that are evident in different traditions of Christian ethics.
• To connect scriptural understanding with ethical decision making.
• To include a consideration of the relationship between preaching and ethical decision making.
• To recognize the manner in which the different forms of argumentation occur in contemporary ethical debates about personal and social ethics (as for example in relation to sexuality, bioethics, economics, etc.).
• To articulate and evaluate the criteria by which different Christian ethical traditions draw conclusions about moral norms in contemporary society.
• To appreciate and evaluate the different ways in which the church can participate in moral debate in contemporary society, with particular reference to the Irish context.

Methodology:

Part-time Mode A:

This module will be taught through a series of lectures and student-led seminars.

Students will be required to participate and lead class seminars and also to take part in collaborative small groups and independent study.

There will be a joint seminar with each of the other two strands – Biblical Studies and Christian Practice in Church and Society

Part-time Mode B:

This module will be taught through workbook and DVD lectures. Students will also contribute to online seminars and will be required to engage in independent study of set texts. Students will also be required to take part in collaborative small groups and independent study

There will be a joint seminar with each of the other two strands – Biblical Studies and Assessment: 2,500 words of coursework (e.g. essay or project as agreed by course leader)

Contact Hours: 20 Student Work Load: 100 - 120 hrs