Course Description
In an era marked by profound and often deepening environmental, social, and economic crises, we are challenged to seek sustainable solutions to these issues. This course surveys, analyzes, evaluates, and applies ways in which various Christian thinkers and communities define these local and global crises and seek sustainable solutions.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be assigned additional readings, added or
more extensive written assessments, and a 15-20 minute research
presentation not assigned to undergraduate students. These
additional requirements will draw from sources, especially
primary sources, not assigned to undergraduate students.
Graduate students will be assessed according to additional
and/or more intensive criteria, such as breadth and depth of
analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application of sources.
Athena Title
Christianity and Sustainabilit
Prerequisite
Junior or senior student standing or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Specific: • To survey definitions and models of sustainability, as well as organizations devoted to these concerns and outcomes. • To encounter, analyze, and evaluate the history of Christian theoretical and practical responses to concerns in various areas of the triple bottom line of sustainability—ecology, society, and economy. • To apply knowledge from the course to local Christian communities/organizations. General: • To teach students research methods and to foster independent research. • To strengthen high-level critical thinking skills, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, by means of activities and assessments, such as reading, reflection, discussion, essays, papers, reports, and examinations. • To strengthen skills in written composition by means of activities and assessments, such as reflection questions, essays, papers, reports, online discussions, and examinations. • To strengthen skills in oral expression and dialogue by means of activities and assessments, such as presentations, discussions, debates, and oral examinations. • To enhance and facilitate computer literacy by the use of word processing, the E-Learning Commons (eLC), web-based research, and multi-media course materials and assessments. • To assist in the continued development of moral and ethical reasoning and reflection by encouraging creative thinking regarding individual and community concerns and needs, the challenging of prejudices and stereotypes, and examining rational and ethical bases of constructive social interactions.
Topical Outline
I. Defining Sustainability A. History and development of the concept B. The triple bottom line—ecological, social, and economic sustainability C. Models of sustainability D. Governmental and non-governmental organizations for sustainability II. Christianity and Sustainability A. “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis?” B. Christian models of the God-world, God-human, human-human, and human-world relationships C. Awakening to new concerns and responses—equity, pluralism, environmentalism D. Christianity and the triple bottom line—ecological, social, and economic sustainability E. Relating the spheres—creation, community, commerce III. Applying Sustainability in Local Christian Communities/Organizations A. Sustainable ministry survey B. Collect, record, and analyze data from local Christian ministry C. Create action plan to increase ministry sustainability D. Provide action plan to ministry (if desired; follow-up in future semesters possible)
Syllabus