| COURSE NUMBER: |
THEO 374 |
| COURSE TITLE: |
Micah's Challenge |
| NAME OF
INSTRUCTOR: |
Roy Berkenbosch, M.Div., Jonathan Nicolai Dekoning |
| CREDIT WEIGHT
AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: |
credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0) |
| COURSE
DESCRIPTION: |
The
Hebrew prophet Micah summarized the calling of God’s people in the
simple yet profound verse: “What does the Lord require of
you? To
do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your
God.”
This ancient but succinct statement remains a powerful summons for the
people of God to understand the nature of biblical justice and to be
engaged in the quest for justice today. In a world besieged
by
economic inequality, violence, poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS, war and
famine, Micah’s Challenge is immediate and urgent. In this
course
students will examine the biblical and theological foundations for
justice and seek to apply and test those concepts in the context of the
Millennium Development Goals.
Prerequisites: THEO 250 |
| REQUIRED TEXTS: |
- Globalization, Spirituality and Justice, Daniel G Groody, Orbis
- Shalom: The Bible’s Word for Salvation, Justice and Peace, Perry Yoder (course pack)
- Justice in a Global Economy, P. Brubaker, R. Todd-Peters, Laura Stivers, ed. Westminster John Knox Press, 2006
|
| MARK
DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT: |
|
| Reading Journal |
25% |
| Research Project |
30% |
| Participation |
15% |
| Final Exam/Book Review |
30% |
|
|
|
100% |
|
| COURSE
OBJECTIVES: |
Upon completion of this course you should
- Have a thorough understanding of the idea of justice
as articulated in the Biblical narrative
- understand how justice has been treated theologically
in the history of the church
- recognise the importance (and challenge) of a
holistic Christian missional response to poverty and related issues.
- understand and appreciate the idea of
“integral mission”
- be familiar with the holistic causes and responses to
poverty with special attention given to the Millennium Development
Goals.
- have developed a capacity for teaching and training
others in appreciation, awareness and action concerning the issues
raised in class
- have a more strongly developed sense of personal
vocation and calling to be an advocate and champion for
Transformational Development.
|
| COURSE OUTLINE: |
- January 10 Introduction and course overview, project assignments
- January 17 Theological Foundations
- January 24 I.S no class
- January 31 Theological Foundations
- Read Yoder, page 52-85 **
- February 7 Theological Foundations
- February 14 Restorative Justice
- Read Groody, chapter 3 and 4
- February 21 No class, reading week
- February 28 Justice and the Poor
- Read Groody chapter 2, 7 **
- March 7 Poverty and Development
- March 14 Justice for Strangers: Immigration and Refugees
- March 21 Food Justice
- Read JIGE, chapters 1, 4**
- March 28 Climate Justice – read JIGA, chapters 7, 8
- April 4 Research Presentations (TBD)
- April 11 Research Presentations (TBD)
|
THE KING'S UNIVERSITY