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

 

Christianity & Citizenship

POL 431
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9:30-10:50AM

California Baptist University
Spring Semester, 2010

 

 

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 religion generally, and Christianity specifically, 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

 

Timothy Beal, Religion in America: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2008)  [Beal]

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, 4th ed (Westview Press, 2010)    [Fowler]

David Kuo, Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction (Free Press, 2006))    [Kuo]

 

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)

  Introduction to course, requirements and expectations
  Beal, ch. 1-2

  Week #2
  (Jan 12/14)

  Fowler, ch. 1-2
  Beal, ch. 3

  Week #3
  (Jan 19/21)

  Fowler, ch. 2-3
  Beal, ch. 4

  Week #4
  (Jan 26/28)

  Fowler, ch. 4
  Beal, ch. 5

  Week #5
  (Feb 2/4)

  Fowler, ch. 5
  Kuo, ch. 1-4
            4th – First review paper due, no later than 11:59PM

  Week #6
  (Feb 9/11)

  Fowler, ch. 6-7
  Kuo, ch. 5-8

  Week #7
  (Feb 16/18)

  Fowler, ch. 8-9
  Kuo, ch. 9-12

  Week #8
  (Feb 23/25)

  Fowler, ch. 12
  Kuo, ch. 13-Epilogue

  Week #9
  (Mar 2/4)

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

  Week #10
  (Mar 9/11)

  Coleman, ch. One - Two

  Week #11
  (Mar 16/18)

  Spring Break
            

  Week # 12
  (Mar 23/25)

  Coleman, ch. Two - Three

  Week #13
  (Mar 30 / Apr 1)

  30th – Coleman, ch. Four
  1st – Easter Break; no class meeting

  Week #14
  (Apr 6/8)

  Coleman, ch. Four-Five
 

  Week #15
  (Apr 13/15)

  13th – Coleman, ch. Twelve
  15th – no class meeting / Second review paper due, no later than 11:59PM

  Week #16
  (Apr 20)

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

  Thursday, Apr 22
 

  Final Examination period, as set by University
  11:00am – 1:00pm 

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 Martin Luther King, Jr, Letter from Birmingham Jail, available on Bb in the Course Documents section as a pdf file (a pdf file copy of the letter/advertisement written by eight white clergymen to which King is responding is also posted for background context). The review should be ~650 words in length (not fewer than 630; not more than 670). 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 24 scheduled class sessions, and you are expected to attend at least 18 class sessions (~75%). Should you miss more than 6 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: 2009-2010 Undergraduate University Catalog, at p.53

 

 

Extra Credit

 

Extra credit opportunities may 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.