Christianity and Consumption:

Sustainable Energy, Environmental Stewardship,

and Just Economics in Christian Life and Perspective

GEN205 / Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar / Spring 2005

Instructors: 

Sean Cordry - VPH132, ext. 7072  scordry@nwciowa.edu

 

Michael Andres - VPH1115, ext. 7079  andres@nwciowa.edu

Time:  Tuesday 8:00-9:40 pm    Class Location:  VPH305

Course Description:

This course shall be a reflection on the consumption of energy and material possessions, the treatment of creation, and economic justice in light of the Christian faith.

Course Goals:

By the end of the course students will be able to:

• Articulate a biblical account of the use of material possessions and resources.
• Articulate an understanding of humans as an ecological component of the Earth.
• Articulate a theological perspective on consumption, economic justice, and environmental stewardship.
• Articulate an understanding of the carrying capacity of the Earth.
• Adopt a personal strategy for striving toward a sustainable society.

Required Texts:

• Bible (modern English translation; no paraphrase Bibles)

• Lester Brown, Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble (Norton, 2003)

• Richard Heinberg, The Party’s Over (New Society Publishers, 2003)

• Vincent J. Miller, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture (Continuum, 2003)

• Arthur Simon, How Much is Enough?: Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture (Baker, 2003)

Course Evaluation:

Oral Report = 50 points

• Students will pick one of five possible topics listed below in the State of the Planet reports and make a 20 minute presentation (with discussion) on that topic.  The Oral Report handout has further details.

Papers = 300 points

• Paper #1 -- Written Version of oral report (due Feb 22 / 50 points / 1500 words).  Handout lists further guidelines.

• Paper #2 -- Biblical/Theological Analysis (due Friday, Apr 29 / 100 points / 2000 words).*

• Paper #3 -- Response/Application Position Paper (due May 10 / 150 points / 3000 words).

 

*Guidelines Paper #2

 

1.  Choose from one of the following:

 

• A national economic policy.
• A multinational corporation mission statement and/or advertising campaign.
• A mass media outlet mission statement, including advertisement policy.

 

You should read relevant portions of primary sources.  In addition, read various secondary sources; be sure to read sources from alternate viewpoints on your subject.  Pick out and focus on key, crucial areas in your subject.  Be discerning.  Put emphasis on main themes (“best”) rather than less-central (“good/interesting”) issues; you do not need to say everything there is to say on your chosen policy, mission statement, or campaign.  (Approximately 10-20% of paper)

 

2.  After researching the primary materials and resources on your subject, then analyze it theologically.  You may want to reflect its implicit or explicit doctrine of God (theocentrism, anthropocentrism, trinitarianism, etc.), creation (e.g. origin, nature, goodness, as commodity, proper use and end, etc.), providence (e.g. divine action in world, sustaining the cosmos, interplay between human and divine, etc.), humanity (e.g. image of God, materiality, social and personal sin, desire/greed, purpose, etc.), Christology (e.g. mediation, atonement, resurrection, etc.), Holy Spirit, soteriology (e.g. view of salvation/liberation, etc.), sanctification (e.g. view of ‘the good life,’ attaining goodness/holiness, use of power, view of spirituality, etc.), eschatology, community/ecclesiology, worship (e.g. sacraments), and so on.  You need not discuss all of these doctrines, only key views arising out of your chosen policy or mission statement.  This should not merely be an exercise in ethics, it should be primarily theological.  Be fair, nuanced, and sensitive to all views held or implied by your chosen policy.  (Approximately 50% of paper)

 

3.  After you carefully present the explicit and implicit theological views of the policy or mission, then evaluate it.  Try to empathize with and understand the persuasive power of the view you are evaluating, even if you do not finally agree with it.  However, do not be afraid to state any fair criticisms of the view.  Evaluation should be based on Scripture, church tradition (key theologians, creeds, and confessions), reasonable arguments, findings from general revelation (other disciplines, science, etc.), and Christian experience (but take care that you do not lapse into mere feelings or opinions).  (Approximately 30-40% of paper)

 

Students will be evaluated according to their overall grasp of the subject matter, the clarity of explanation, the fairness of analysis and evaluation, and the quality of research demonstrated in their paper.

Half-day field trip to Earth Dome in Sioux City, on Apr 5, leaving at 12 noon.

Links:

Consumerism and Simple Living Links

Course Schedule: