Instructor: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD
Office: J266 / Office Hours per schedule
Tel: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

 

Christianity & Citizenship

POL 431
Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays, 12:00-12:50PM

California Baptist University
Spring Semester, 2009

 

 

Course Description

 

The principal goal of the course is development of a Christian perspective toward politics.  The course begins with an examination of the important roles that Christianity played in the founding of the United States, and its continuing influences through analyzing the impact of Christianity on political culture and behavior in the United States (and vice versa, considering the influence of secular political culture and behavior on Christianity). The course also carefully considers a number of political worldviews and ideologies from a Christian perspective, and introduces students to the duties and obligations of American Christians in the arenas of contemporary democratic politics.

 

 

Course Objectives

 

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1)      understand the disparate streams of thought that comprise Christian political thought;

2)      be able to locate their own thought and faith tradition in the light of these streams and their impacts on modern thought;

3)      explain the impact of Christianity on political culture and behavior in the United States; and

4)      know what is required and be prepared to take practical action to fulfill one’s Christian role in modern democratic society.

 

 

Required Texts

 

John Coleman (ed), Christian Political Ethics (Princeton University Press, 2008)    [Coleman]

Robert Fowler, Allen Hertzke, Laura Olson & Kevin Dulk, Religion and Politics in America: Faith, Culture, and Strategic Choices, 3rd ed (Westview Press, 2004)    [Fowler]

Glenn Tinder, The Political Meaning of Christianity: The Prophetic Stance (HarperSanFrancisco, 1991 / Wipf & Stock, 2000 – either edition will suit)    [Tinder]

 

Other books, handouts and websites also may be referenced throughout the term, contents of which all students will be responsible.

 

Readings & Assignments Schedule

 

  Week #1
  (Jan 7/9)

  Introduction to course, requirements and expectations
  Fowler, ch.1: Religion and political culture in America (5-24)

  Week #2
  (Jan 12/14/16)

  Fowler, ch.2: Christianity and its major branches (27-50)
  Fowler, ch.3: Non-Christian faiths – pluralism and political culture (57-75)

  Week #3
  (Jan 19/21/23)

  Fowler, ch.4: Voting and religion (79-103)
  Fowler, ch.5: Organized religion and group politics (107-138)
            19th – Martin Luther King, Jr, holiday: no class meeting [extra credit option]

  Week #4
  (Jan 26/28/30)

  Fowler, ch.5: Organized religion and group politics (107-138)
  Fowler, ch.6: Religion and political elites (143-169)

  Week #5
  (Feb 2/4/6)

  Fowler, ch.6: Religion and political elites (143-169)
  Fowler, ch.7: Evangelicals (173-191)
            6th – First review paper due, no later than 11:59PM

  Week #6
  (Feb 9/11/13)

  Fowler, ch.8: Legal system (195-214)
  Fowler, ch.9: Church and state in the courts (217-240)

  Week #7
  (Feb 16/18/20)

  Fowler, ch.12: Theories (291-311)
  Coleman, ch. One: Christianity and civil society (Banner, 3-21)

  Week #8
  (Feb 23/25/27)

  Coleman, ch. Two: Limited state (Coleman, 22-53)
  Coleman, ch. Three: Protestant response (Stackhouse, 54-63)

  Week #9
  (Mar 2/4/6)

  Midterms week [date of midterm to be decided by class consensus or vote;
  other days will be free for review and study]

  Week #10
  (Mar 9/11/13)

  Coleman, ch. Ten – Thirteen: War and peace (Finnis, Boyle, Koontz, and Cartwright;
  191-277)

  Week #11
  (Mar 16/18/20)

  Spring Break
            16th – Second review paper due, no later than 11:59PM

  Week # 12
  (Mar 23/25/27)

  Tinder, Preface – Part Two (1-99): Prophetic stance to prophetic hope

  Week #13
  (Mar 30; Apr 1/3)

  Tinder, Part Three – Four (101- 195): Liberty to social transformation

  Week #14
  (Apr 6/8/10)

  Tinder, Part Five – Postscript (197-243): Prophetic spirituality to world politics
  10th – Easter Break: no class meeting

  Week #15
  (Apr 13/15/17)

  13th – Easter Break continues
  15th-17th – No class meetings

  Week #16
  (Apr 20/22)

  Review for final exam
  20th – Summary reports on civic engagement projects due, at beginning of class

 
  Friday, Apr 24

 
  Final Examination period as set by University, 2:00-4:00PM

 

Assessment & Grading Scale

  Midterm Exam = 25%

  90 - 100 = A range  (90-94 = A-)

  Final Exam = 25%

  80 - 89 = B range  (80-83 = B-  /  87-89 = B+)

  Civic Engagement Project = 20%

  70 - 79 = C range  (70-73 = C-  /  77-79 = C+)

  Review Papers = 20% (2 @ 10% each)

  60 - 69 = D range  (60-63 = D-  /  67-69 = D+)

  Participation/Attendance = 10%

  0 - 59 = F

 

Review Papers

Two review papers are required during the term, each worth 10% of the final course grade. Both papers are to be submitted through Blackboard (Bb) via the Assignments section, no later than the date/time due as noted in the syllabus. Late papers will not be accepted for marking. Papers submitted on time but falling outside designated lengths (whether too short or too long) will automatically lose 10% of the paper’s point value.

 

The first paper is to be a precisely written review of an audio interview conducted by Terry Gross with Frank Schaeffer, available online (link is posted on Bb in the External Links section). The review should be ~600 words in length (not fewer than 580; not more than 620). Assume that you are writing a review + opinion piece for publication (hence the strict length requirements), either as a personal editorial comment in a local newspaper, or as an official press release from an advocacy organization to which you belong. Thus, you must be concise and incisive in your analysis, and provide sound reasons for your response/opinion that a reasonable reader would find convincing.

 

The second paper is to be a critique of any one of the essays we will have discussed in class from Coleman’s collection. The review should run ~1200 words in length (not fewer than 1000; not more than 1800) and provide a critical analysis of the author’s position, with sound reasons provided for agreeing or disagreeing with the author’s points and conclusions.

 

 

Civic Engagement Project

 

Students individually, or as member of a small group (2-4 students), will develop and implement a service project that demonstrates an integration of faith with their academic coursework. At the end of the semester, the individual/group will submit a narrative summary paper for evaluation, outlining exactly what was done, when/how often, by whom, with what intentions, with what outcomes. Digital reports, with photos and audio or video clips embodied in a PowerPoint presentation format, are encouraged but not mandated. Submit your summary report no later than the beginning of class on 20th April. The project and summary report combined constitute 20% of the final course grade. (N.B. Participation in an ongoing service project developed by others is permitted, but participation alone will not satisfy the project requirement of creative development and implementation traceable to the student.)

 

 

Midterm and Final Examinations

A midterm (date to be determined) and final examination will be given, per the University schedule. The exams cover all materials and discussions assigned during their set period (midterm = from beginning of term / final = post-midterm to end of semester).

Specific guidance as to length and specific requirements will be proffered before the test dates. Format generally will emphasize short answer and essay questions, requiring application of terms, concepts and principles in relation to the topics covered in class.

The exam is closed book/open notes. This means you are permitted to bring to each exam one standard-sized page (8˝” x 11”) of notes you have personally prepared, front and back, without regard to print-size or margins. Other materials, such as website printings or professionally prepared texts or notes, are not permitted.

 

 

Participation

 

Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position or interpretation, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others’ experiences and insights within the context of our discussions. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching “right” conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class.

To give direct incentive to so engage, 10% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your classroom participation during the semester. Participation is to include in-class discussions during the semester, and does include attendance.

 

Both because of the nature of the course and its content, attendance is expected, with a simple threshold requirement: we have 35 scheduled class sessions, and you are expected to attend at least 26 class sessions (~75%). Should you miss more than 9 class sessions, you must speak with me before you will be permitted to complete the course.

 

 

CBU Statement on Academic Dishonesty

Faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) have been asked to include the following statement in all our syllabi. Do speak with your instructor if at any time you have questions or concerns about this statement and its meaning for or application in your classes.

 

Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, copying, and other forms) will be reported to the Dean of Students. Judicial sanctions for offense are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the seriousness of the violation, prior violations and other factors. Judicial sanctions may include, but are not limited to, loss of a letter grade or failure in the course in which the offense occurred, suspension, and/or dismissal from the University. A detailed discussion of academic dishonesty is located in the Student Handbook.

Source: 2008-2009 Undergraduate University Catalog, at p.51

 

 

Extra Credit

 

Extra credit opportunities will be made available during the semester, including on- and off-campus presentations and online programs, about which you would provide a written review. I will make occasional announcements in class about these opportunities as they arise. You should speak with me for details before preparing and submitting a written review for marking.

 

 

Caveat

 

This syllabus schedule is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings and assignments that will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.