WO 4560 Worship and Ethics: Political Worship

Fall Semester 2008: Second Six Weeks

Luther Seminary

NW 232

Thursdays 6:30-9:30

 

Instructor

Dr. Christian Scharen

Office: NW 320 F

P 641-3459

E cscharen001@luthersem.edu

 

Course Description

“Beginning with historical and contemporary understandings of the political meaning of the church in liberal democratic societies, the course explores the political nature of the church with worship as the central practice of the 'fellow citizens with the saints' (Eph. 2:19).”

 

Objectives

For each student and for the class as a whole:

1.       To consider together the nature and character of Christian citizenship, seen both in relation to our loyalty to God in Christ through the rule of the Spirit, and in relation to our loyalty to a particular nation-state;

2.      To more deeply understand such citizenship in relation to the nature of contemporary liberal democratic societies, especially considering the United States as a case, and attending both to its political and underlying theological claims;

3.      To gain facility with contemporary Protestant and Catholic theologians working at the intersection of worship and ethics in relation to the concrete topic of citizenship/politics;

4.      To consider strategic means to lead congregations in a way of life that seriously engages their place as ‘citizens with the saints’ in relation to the calling of citizenship in and for the sake of the national society.

 

Structure

Students will engage in lively and close engagement with texts, case studies from the current Fall 2008 political presidential election, and in relation to projects considering life and mission in actual congregations.  Participation is highly valuable and thus constitutes its own grade.

 

Evaluation/Grading and Requirements

1)      Pledge of Allegiance Paper                                          10%     Due 2nd meeting

2)      5 Participation/Response Journals                              50%     Due 2nd -6th meeting

3)      Final Paper                                                                  40%     Due finals week

The course can be taken for a letter grade (A,B,C, etc.) or on a Pass/Marginal/Fail basis.

 

Notes on Assignments

1) In brief form, note the diversity and complexity of your experiences of national citizenship up to today.   Consider early formation, family life, public celebrations, military service, citizenship classes, scouts, political action, public service or employment, or any other examples that have shaped your sense of national citizenship.  Less that 5 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font.

2) After the first session and each subsequent session, students should write a one-page response to their learning in the class.  This ought to consist only of questions, of wondering at the edge of your learning, not a report on the readings or class discussion.  Expect a response from the professor.

3) Final paper, 15 pages double spaced and 12 point font, on topic negotiated with the professor by the third session.  Paper must engage in thinking through the materials of the course in relation to strategic means to lead congregations in a way of life that seriously engages their place as ‘citizens with the saints’ in relation to the calling of citizenship in and for the sake of the national society. 

 

 

Required Textbooks

 

Dan Erlander, Manna and Mercy (1992)

Steven M. Tipton, Public Pulpits: Methodists and Mainline Churches in the Moral Argument of Public Life (Chicago: 2007)

William Cavanaugh, Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics and the Body of Christ (Blackwell 1998)

Bernd Wannenwetsch, Political Worship: Ethics for Christian Citizens (Oxford 2004) (On Reseve and eReserve only)

Sam Wells, God’s Companions: Reshaping Christian Ethics (Blackwell 2006)

 

Various additional readings posted in eReserves and from the daily newspapers.

 

 

Calendar

 

 

October 30

Public Pulpits: Churches and Citizens in an Ambiguous Polity

 

Assigned Readings

 

·          Erlander, Manna and Mercy, chapters 1-2

·          Tipton, Public Pulpits, chapters 1, 2, 7, 11 and appendix

 

 

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November 6

Political Worship: A Contemporary Catholic Proposal I

 

Assigned Readings

·          Erlander, Manna and Mercy, chapters 3-4

·          Cavanaugh, Torture and Eucharist, Introduction and chapters 1-4

 

 

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November 13

Political Worship: A Contemporary Catholic Proposal II

 

Assigned Readings

·          Cavanaugh, Torture and Eucharist, chapters 5-6

·          Aquinas, Treatise On The Virtues, selections

 

 

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November 20

Political Worship: A Contemporary Protestant Proposal I

 

Assigned Readings

·          Erlander, Manna and Mercy, chapters 7-8

·          Wannenwetsch, Political Worship, chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 8

 

 

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December 4

Political Worship: A Contemporary Protestant Proposal II

 

Assigned Readings

·          Wannenwetsch, Political Worship, chapters 9, 11, 12, 13

·          Luther, “Concerning the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ and the Brotherhoods,” Luther’s Works 35: 9-23

 

 

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December 11

 

Assigned Readings

·          Erlander, Manna and Mercy, finish

·          Wells, God’s Companions

 

 

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October 18

 

Final Paper Due