    Kenefick Chair |
Theology 757 Christian
Non-Violence: Jesus Prince of Peace Spring
2003 Wednesdays
4 – 6:30 Dr. Wendy M. Wright 402 280-2611 Office Hours: Tuesday 11-12
and Wednesday 1-2 Syllabus
Description: This
class is designed to introduce students to the tradition of peacemaking
and non-violence as it has developed in the Christian tradition. The focus will be upon the historical development of that
tradition, both in theory and practice, with an emphasis on the
twentieth and twenty-first century centuries. The course will include
both academic and pastoral dimensions: students will be expected to
engage critically with the sources and to produce a graduate-level
research paper but will also be asked to embark upon a semester-long
program of prayerful reflection upon the spirituality of peacemaking and
non-violence. Time during
each class period will be allotted to each of these components.
Required books: Butigan,
Ken, et al. From Violence to Wholeness. Pace et Bene. Egan,
Eileen. Peace Be With
You: Justified Warfare or the Way of Non-Violence. Orbis
Books. King.
Martin Luther, Jr. Strength
to Love. Fortress Press. Kownacki,
Mary Lou. The
Non-Violent Moment. Pax
Christi, USA. Required Video series (on reserve in library
and shown in segments throughout semester during brown bag lunch
series): “A
Force More Powerful: A Century of Non-violent conflict.” Six
segments of 1/2 hour each. Recommended: Merton,
Thomas. Passion for
Peace: the Social Essays. Crossroad. Woolman,
John. Journal of John
Woolman. Academic Honesty: The
University policy on academic honesty will be upheld. (See student
handbook). Infractions of
this policy will result in a lowered grade and will be referred to the
appropriate University offices and committees and incorporated into the
student’s file. Attendance: The
instructor must be notified in the case of any absence.
Excessive absences will affect the final grade. Assignments: Reading: Students will be expected to
read assigned material before class and to participate in discussion.
Students will take turns facilitating discussion of assigned reading
and/or leading prayer/process of Pace et Bene study program. Viewing: Students should view all
assigned videos either at the brown bag lunch series or by the class
period after they are publicly shown and be ready to discuss them in
class. A one page reflection paper on each video segment will be due on
the class following the showing. Papers:
Students will prepare a 12-18 page research paper
on some aspect of the material covered in the course.
Topics should be approved by instructor in advance. Papers will be evaluated on
the following criteria: Clear, succinct thesis, clear,
succinct method, writing style including bibliographic and note style
(please use Chicago Manual of Style), grasp of content, facility of
ideas, imagination of presentation, and maturity of integrative
reflection. Presentations: Each student should present
the results of his/her research to the class during the last month of
the semester. Presentations should be no more than 20 minutes in length.
Presentations will be graded on the following criteria: organization,
clarity of delivery, effective communication of the nature, purpose,
content and importance of the topic, and imagination of presentation. Special Lecture: Students should make every
effort to attend the special Humanities luncheon lecture given by
Professor Thee Smith on March 25. Grading: Final grade will be based on
class participation, final paper and presentation in equal parts.
Class
schedule
January
15 Introduction to the course and
each other January 21, Tuesday 12:30-1:30 Student Center 104 Showing of segment #1: A Force
More Powerful: Nashville, “We Were Warriors” January
22
Non-violence in the Gospels and Early Church
Readings: Handouts and Egan, 1 and 2
Formation element: Prepare Kownacki, first half January
29
Just War Tradition
Readings: Handouts, Egan, 4 and 5
Formation element: Prepare Kownacki, second half February
5
Historic Peace Churches: Anabaptists and Quakers
Readings: Handouts and Egan, 6
Formation element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 1 February 10, Monday 12:00-1:00 Student Center 104 Showing of segment #2:
A Force More Powerful: India, Defying the Crown February
12
Historic Peace Churches: Church of the Brethren/ Bruderhof
Reading: Handouts
Formation element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 2 February 19
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reading: Selections from Strength to Love
Formation
element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 3 February 25, Tuesday 12:30-1:30 Student Center 104 Showing of segment #3:
A Force More Powerful: : A
Force More Powerful: South Africa, “Freedom in Our Lifetime” February
26
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reading: Selections from Strength to Love
Formation element: Prepare
Pace et Bene, 4 March
5
Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker
Reading: Egan, 16
Formation
element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 5 March 12 Spring break
March 17, Monday 12:00-1:00
Student Center 104 Showing of segment #4: A Force
More Powerful: Denmark, “Living With the Enemy” March
19
Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker
Reading: Egan, 17 and handouts
Formation
element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 6
March 25, Tuesday 1:00-2:00
Student Center Ballroom
Kenefick Humanities Lecture: Dr. Thee Smith, Emory University
“The Non-violent Life as a Humane Life”
Reading: selections
from Thee Smith March
26 No class April
2
Thomas Merton
Reading: Handouts
Formation element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 7 April 3, Thursday 12:30-1:30 Student Center 104 Showing of segment #5:
A Force More Powerful: Poland, “We’ve Caught God By the
Arm” April
9
Thomas Merton
Reading: Handouts
Formation
element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 8 Present Projects April 14, Monday 12:00-1:00
Student Center 104 Showing of segment #6:
A Force More Powerful: Chile, Defeat of a Dictator April
16
Contemporary Catholic Pacifism
Reading: selections from Gordon Zahn, John Dear and Egan,
7-9
Formation element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 9
Present Projects April
23
Contemporary Catholic Pacifism
Reading: selections from Jim and Shelley Douglass and Egan, 10-12
Formation element: Prepare Pace et Bene, 10
Present Projects April
30
Contemporary Protestant Pacifism
Reading: selections from Hauwerwas and Yoder and Egan,
13-15
Present Projects May 7
Final exam week
Present Projects
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