DI4827 Christian Ethics and Contemporary Society

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

Lecture: 1.00 - 2-00; Monday, Seminar: 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm Thursday

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr J M Perry

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr J Perry

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module explores Christian responses to a number of contemporary moral issues. We will compare how various Christian responses differ among themselves over history and how they differ from those offered by non-Christians. Our goal is to better understand the historical and theoretical background to common moral arguments nowadays; often we are familiar with the arguments without perceiving their presuppositions or genealogies. In particular, we will seek to understand how Christian ethics relates to the ethos of liberal democracy, which is oriented toward rights, freedom, and equality. Is Christian ethics fundamentally compatible with, or in tension with, values such as freedom of speech and a secular state? We seek to answer this question by careful study of issues such as abortion, euthanasia, global poverty, the use of religious reasons in public debate, same-sex marriage, and war.

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 hour lecture and 2 hour seminar

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

267

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Knowledge and Understanding: At the end of the course, students should… 1. be familiar with the key terms, principles, and debates in contemporary theological ethics; 2. understand Christian thought and teaching on ethical issues and how it impacts (positively or negatively) wider society; 3. have a detailed grasp of contributions by key thinkers and how they relate to one another; 4. be able to formulate persuasive arguments which are both forceful and fair, and which engage with key arguments made by prior thinkers in the Christian tradition; and 5. understand how the topics discussed relate to other areas within theology (doctrine, biblical studies, liturgy), as well as to other disciplines in the university (philosophy, medicine).
  • Skills: 6. read carefully, 7. efficiently summarize a written text, 8. present arguments clearly and persuasively to a small group of peers, 9. articulate another’s argument even when they disagree, 10. be able to explain key debates in contemporary medical ethics and key arguments