Content

This unit introduces the student to legal and theoretical concepts of human rights and their relevance and application to Christian faith and practice. It will challenge the student to apply critical thinking to the impact of human rights theories on contemporary social issues and evaluate how this affects Christian ethics and belief. It will examine the impact of human rights on the Church, the Church’s response to human rights and the Church’s engagement with international human rights frameworks.

Unit code: DM3116B

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Missiology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catherine Booth College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Clearly articulate international human rights frameworks and principles

2.

Apply missiological reflection to human rights concepts

3.

Critically evaluate the place of human rights within the church

4.

Analyse and articulate biblical responses to human rights issues within the global community

5.

Apply critical thinking to a contemporary human rights issue demonstrating the capacity to communicate the complexities of that issue to both a secular and faith community audience.

Unit sequence

30 points in Field D

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials, class debate

Indicative Bibliography

  • Amesbury, Richard and George Newlands. Faith and Human Rights: Christianity and the Global Struggle for Human Dignity. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2008.
  • Burnside, Julian. Watching Brief: Reflections on Human Rights, Law, and Justice. Carlton North: Scribe Publications, 2009.
  • Küng, Hans. A Global Ethic for Global Politics and Economics. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Marshall, Christopher D. Crowned with Glory and Honour: Human Rights in the Biblical Tradition. Telford: Pandora Press, 2001.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. On Human Dignity: Political Theology and Ethics. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1984.
  • Tutu, Desmond. No Future Without Forgiveness. New York: Doubleday, 1999.
  • UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 10 December 1948, 217 A (III)
  • Wallace, Howard and John Bottomly. Hope for Justice and Reconciliation: Isaiah’s voice in an Australian Context. Melbourne: United Academic Press, 2012.
  • Wink, Walter. Jesus and Non-violence: A Third Way. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
  • Witte, John and Frank Alexander. Christianity and Human Rights: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
  • Wright, Tom. Surprised by Hope. Great Britain: SPCK, 2007.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Debate

Participate in a formal class debate and provide accompanying 2,000 word essay on specific debate topic

2000 40.0
Essay

Essay 3,000

3000 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-28 14:50:32 +1100