Law & Christian Political Thought Syllabus

Law and Christian Political Thought in Africa

A Course of Study
Uganda Christian University
Faculty of Law

Brian Dennison, J.D., MBA, BA
dbriandennison@gmail.com

Class Blog:
http://uculcpt.blogspot.com/

Original Course Developed by
Jeffrey R. Adams

Syllabus
September Semester 2010
Short Description:

Students will be introduced to the development of Christian political thought over the two millennia since the Incarnation, with a particular emphasis on the use and application of Christian political thought in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. The first portion of the course covers the foundations of Christian political thought. The second portion of the course surveys topical issues.

This is a seminar course. Each student is expected to complete reading assignments in a timely fashion and to contribute actively and productively to classroom discussions. Most class sections will begin with a lecture followed by discussion of the assigned readings.

This is a reading intensive course and a writing intensive course. This course will require time and discipline.

There is officially a tutorial period for this course. On four occasions all students will be expected to attend the tutorial. These specific tutorials are indicated in bold on the syllabus. Generally, however, the tutorial period will be provided to address questions concerning the readings and to provide one on one direction on writing assignments. The lecturer will be in the office during tutorial times and will be available for consultation.

Students will be evaluated based upon class participation (20%), the mock speech writing assignment (10%), class presentation (10%), eight journal entries (20%) and a term paper (40%).

Class Scheduling and Attendance:

Lectures will be conducted twice per week.

You are permitted two unexcused absences over the course of the semester. Any additional absences will impact your class participation grade in a negative manner. Per university policy you must attend at least 75% of the classes to pass the course.

Class Participation Grade:

In addition to the minimum attendance requirement, your class participation grade will be based on your prepared attendance and your participation in class. Required readings should be completed prior to attending class in order to get full credit for attendance. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. You will not receive any credit for attending the class late. You will also not receive credit if you leave class early without prior approval. Attendance will normally be taken five to ten minutes after the scheduled time for class to begin.


Class Presentation:

You will be required to make one short class presentation over the course of the semester. The presentation should not exceed 20 minutes. The presentation may be made on any topic relevant to the course. You should reserve your topic with the teacher in order to avoid duplication with other students.

Journal Entries:

You are required to submit at least ten journal entries. Journal entries must be turned in at the beginning of each class. You may turn in one journal entry at every day of class you attend. The journal entries will make up 20% of your grade. Your ten highest journal entry marks will be counted in your journal entry grade.

The syllabus includes proposed journal entries for each day of class. You should submit journal entries on the journal topic for that day. You may also write on your own topic that pertains to the reading assigned for that day. If you choose to submit a journal entry that is not timely your mark for that journal entry will be reduced.

Your journal entries will be graded based on the quality of the writing, quality and originality of thought, and integration of course material. The journal entries should be limited to two pages in length.

The lecturer may select journal entries for posting on the Class Blog at http://uculcpt.blogspot.com/ Posted journal entries will receive perfect marks. In order to get special grading credit for a posted blog the student will need to type out the selected journal entry and e-mail it to the professor at dbriandennison@gmail.com or provide a soft copy via flash drive.

The Mock Electoral Speech:

This writing assignment requires a bit of imagination. First, you must imagine that the 2011 Ugandan presidential election is between two candidates: Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas (They are both alive and eligible to be president due to a special constitutional amendment that was passed a few weeks ago). You are a freelance speech writer. You are going to submit a speech to one of the candidates for use in the campaign. The purposed of the speech is to show how your candidate has the best political philosophy and political ideas for Uganda. Although neither candidate has endorsed negative campaigning you should include a substantive critique of the opponent in the speech. Your speech will be largely evaluated on the incorporation of the actual political philosophy, ideas and experiences of the candidates into your speech’s claims and critiques. Footnoted citations to the sources are essential for demonstrating this incorporation to the lecturer. Those footnotes are where you will demonstrate your scholarly acumen. You can have fun with the speech itself. Write it as if it was an actual campaign speech in Uganda. The speech should not exceed 12 pages and should be at least 6 pages double-spaced, with single-spaced footnotes.

Term Paper:

You are required to submit a term paper at the conclusion of the semester. The term paper should be at least 12 pages long, double-spaced. There is no page limit. The paper can be on any topic you choose that is within the scope of the course. The paper should be topically distinct from the subject of your class presentation. The paper should have a thesis. The term paper must include an analytical application of Christian political thought.

Primary Texts:

The Holy Bible.

O’Donovan, Oliver and Joan Lockwood O’Donovan, eds., From Irenaeus to Grotius: A Sourcebook in Christian Political Thought, Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans and Sons, 1999.



Excerpts from the Following Texts:

Finnis, John, Natural Law and Natural Rights, Oxford, Clarendon Law Series,1980.

Kraynak, Robert, Christian Faith and Modern Democracy: God and Politics in a Fallen World, Notre Dame, Indiana, University of Notre Dame Press, 2002.

Okullu, Henry, Church and Politics in East Africa, Kampala, Uganda, Centenary Publishing House, 1982.

Recommended Foundational Texts:

Aristotle, Politics (available at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.html )

Plato, The Republic (available at http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html )

COURSE SCHEDULE

Part One – Foundations of Christian Political Thought

Session 1 – Course Introduction and Survey of Political Doctrine in the New Testament
Reading Assignment: Matthew 5-7; Romans 13; I Peter; John 18:28-38; Revelation 21:9-12, 22-27
Proposed Journal Entry: None
Session Description: Review course syllabus and discuss lecturer’s expectations. Discuss Christ’s political career. Discuss Christ’s teachings to political issues. Review the Church’s role in politics since the time of Christ. Introduce current African political issues and discuss the relevance of Christian political thought those issues. Discuss the proper role, if any, of the Christian and the Church in the political life of modern nations.

Session 2 – Survey of Political Doctrine in the Old Testament and Survey of Political Doctrine in Other Religions
Reading Assignment: Genesis 1-2; Exodus 13:21; Exodus 20; 1 Samuel 8; 2 Samuel 9; Jeremiah 18:1-12; Daniel 1; Hosea 8:4; and Amos 5:18-24
Proposed Journal Entry: What role does God play in modern politics?
Session Description: Conduct a survey and discussion of key Old Testament passages. Discuss God’s intended and design for societal relations and the proper place and role of humans. Discuss the role of God in political matters and the life and interaction of nations. Conduct a short comparative survey of the political role of other religions.

Tutorial – Introduction to Plato’s Political Thought

Session 3 – Plato, Gnosticism and the Patristic Age.
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 1-7, 15-22 (Irenaeus of Lyons), and 137-140 (Augustine)
Proposed Journal Entry: Does God have dominion over this World?
Session Description: A brief lecture regarding gnosticism and Neo-Platonism. Discuss the role of empires in God’s economy according to Irenaeus. Discuss the influence of history on Irenaeus. Discuss Iranaeas’ understanding as to the source of power, authority and judgment on earth. Introduce Augustine and discuss the initial reading from Augustine.

Session 4 – The Birth of Christian Political Thought in Africa – St. Augustine of Hippo.
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 104-11, 142-163 (Augustine)
Proposed Journal Entry: Is the current relationship between Church and State in Uganda consistent with the ideas set forth by Augustine in “City of God?”
Session Description: Discuss the role of African thinkers in the development of early Christian doctrine. Discuss Augustine’s “City of God.” Discuss the relationship and interaction between the Church and State in modern politics. Review assigned readings.

Session 5 – The City of God Applied
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 195-200 (Gregory); 268-276 (Bernard of Clairvaux); and 505-510 (Wyclif) OR O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 743-756 (Hooker)
Proposed Journal Entries: Of Gregory, Bernard and Wyclif who would be best equipped to advise church and governmental leaders in Uganda today? Why? OR Is the political philosophy of Richard Hooker as set forth in his Law of Ecclesiastical Polity relevant in contemporary Uganda?
Session Description: Discuss, compare and contrast the political philosophies of Gregory, Bernard, Wyclif and Hooker concerning the roles and relations of Church and State.

Tutorial – Introduction to Aristotle’s Political Thought

Session 6 – Aristotle and Aquinas.
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 320-328, 330-354 (Aquinas).
Proposed Journal Entry: Do you agree with the use of Aristotelian Thought by Christian philosophers? Are there any advantages or pitfalls that you can discern based on your readings?
Session Description: Lecture on Aquinas and his political thought. Discuss the implications of Aquinas’ understanding, drawn from Aristotle, that man is a social and political animal whose nature demands the existence of a polity. Compare and contrast the political ideas of Aquinus and Augustine. Review assigned readings.

Session 7 – The Legacy of the Angelic Doctor.
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: Finnis 134-156 OR Kurt Greenawalt How Persuasive is Natural Law Theory?
Proposed Journal Entry: What are the differences between the a modern world view based on Aquinas versus a modern world view based primarily on Augustine? Which view is more prevalent in Uganda today?
Session Description: Track the progression of Aquinas’s thought to the present. Discuss the viability of natural law as a political philosophy in contemporary Africa? Discuss the viability and relevance of natural law in the post-modern west. A general discussion of writing composition using a comparison of the writing styles of Augustine and Aquinas. Review the readings.

Session 8 – The Reformation, Luther and the Resurgence of Augustinian Political Thought
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan 549-557, 581-602 (Luther)
Proposed Journal Entry: What are your thoughts on the political philosophy of Luther and his writing style? How do the writings of Luther challenge you as you consider a future career in law?
Session Description: Lecture on the Reformation and Church history after Aquinas. Discuss the political thought of Luther with a view towards tracking the influence of Augustine and noting the distinctions between Luther and Augustine. Compare Christianity at the time of the Reformation to contemporary Christianity. Review assigned readings.

Part Two – Topical Application and Analysis of Christian Political Thought

Oral Presentations Begin: After this point in the Semester Students should be prepared to give oral presentations as described in the syllabus above. Presentations will be scheduled through the lecturer

Session 9 – Overview of Religion and Politics in Modern Africa
Reading Assignment: Pew Report Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Journal Entry Assignment: What are the three most surprising things you learned from reading the report Tolerance and Tension. Provide an explanation as to why you found each of the three things surprising.
Session Description: Discuss the findings and implications of the report Tolerance and Tension.

Tutorial – Audio File Discussion Report on “Tolerance and Tension” from Pew Forum

Session 10 – Happy Leaders, Earthly Authority and the Problem of Tyranny
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 14 (Theophilus of Antioch); 140-142 (Augustine); 200-203 (Gregory); 328-330 (Aquinas); 647-649 (Gardiner); and 679-681 (Calvin).
Journal Entry Assignment: What are the key traits of a “happy leader” in contemporary Sub- Saharan Africa? Name any current leaders that you would characterize as “happy leaders.”
Session Description: Discus happy leaders, tyrants and the proper response of the governed to bad governance based on Biblical teachings and the writings set forth in the reading assignment. Review assigned readings.

Session 11 – Happy Leadership, Tyranny and Corruption and in Africa
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of three options: Okullu, 34-42 OR Robert Rotberg Strengthening Governance: Ranking Countries Would Help, OR John Mukum Mbaku Bureaucratic Corruption in Africa: The Futility of Cleanups
Journal Entry Assignment: Discuss three ways to improve leadership in Africa based on Christian principles and doctrine.
Session Description: Discuss possible strategies for responding to poor governance and tyrants in Sub-Saharan Africa. Discuss means of encouraging and fostering happy leaders. Evaluate available techniques through the use of case studies. Apply Biblical teaching and Christian Political Philosophy covered in the previous session to the proposed strategies and techniques. Review assigned readings.

Session 12 – Christianity and Democracy
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 92-95 (John Chrysostom) and Kraynak 9-44 OR O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 671-672 (Calvin) and Kraynak 45-71
Proposed Journal Entry: Why do you think many Christians today believe that democracy is the most moral form of governance? Do you agree?
Session Description: Explore the history of democracy and the effort to associate Christianity with democracy. Discuss whether Christianity is consistent with Christian guidance and discuss the argument the democracy relates to the essence of the Christian message.

Session 13 – Democracy in Africa.
Reading Assignment: Kwasi Wiredu Democracy and Consensus in African Traditional Politics: A Plea for a Non-party Polity
Proposed Journal Entry: What political model is the “most Christian” in sub-Saharan Africa?
Session Description: Discuss the state of representative government in Africa. Discuss specific attributes of the social, economic, religious and political climate in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on democratic political models. Review case studies of the 2010 election in Rwanda and the 2007 election in Nigeria.

Session 14 – Colonialism.
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 609-630 (De Vitoria) OR Kwazi Wiredu Decolonizing African Philosophy and Religion
Proposed Journal Entry: How can Christianity be de-colonialised in Africa?
Session Description: Discuss the ongoing legacy of colonialism in Africa. Consider the relationship between evangelism and colonialism.

Session 15 – Human Rights.
Reading Assignment: All students read The United Nations “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” plus a Split Reading Assignment, with students choosing one of four options between: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 792-797 (Grotius) OR Kraynak 55-64 OR Jurgen Moltmann Christianity and Universal Human Rights OR Diana Fox Women’s Human Rights in Africa: Beyond the Debate Over the Universality of Relativity of Human Rights
Session Description: Discuss the theological foundations of human rights, particularly as grounded in the doctrines of creation and redemption. Review assigned readings.

Session 16 – Tribalism and Religious Pluralism
Reading Assignment: Pew Report: Global Restrictions on Religion
Journal Entry Assignment: Does freedom of religion improve the political well-being of a country?
Session Description: Reading from Okullu in class (pp. 43-51)
Discuss tribalism, particularly in light of a theological understanding of humanity grounded in creation and in the shared adoption of all believers in Christ. Discuss the report on Global Restrictions on Religion. Case study discussion of the Hastings College of Law United States Supreme Court Decision.

Tutorial – Interview with Tariq Ramadan from the Pew Forum

Session 17 – Constitution Building in “Christian” Africa
Reading Assignment: The Kenyan Constitution, the South African Constitution and the Ugandan Constitution
Journal Entry Assignment: What role if any does Christianity play in the Constitutions of majority Christian African Nations?
Session Description: Discuss the report. Discuss challenges raised when attempting to accommodate earnestly held religious beliefs in pluralistic societies.

Session 18 – War, Terrorism and Humanitarian Intervention
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan, 44-45 (Origen); 117-118 (Augustine); 635 (The Schleitheim Articles); 736-742 (Suarez)
Proposed Journal Entry: What is the proper Christian response to terrorism?
Session Description: Discuss the treatment of war and armed conflict in Christian political thought. Discuss humanitarian law and humanitarian interventions in Africa. Discuss the problem of terrorism.

Session 19 – Crime and Punishment and the Death Penalty
Reading Assignment: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 119-130 (Augustine); 672-675 (Calvin) 801-815 (Grotius)
Proposed Journal Entry: Can a person who truly follows the teachings and example of Jesus be a proponent the use of the death penalty?
Session Description: Discuss and explore the positions of Augustine and Calvin on the role of the magistrate. Discuss the role of mercy in the State’s disposition of justice. Discuss and evaluate the death penalty from a Christian perspective.

Session 20 – Reconciliation
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of three options: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 570-580 (Erasmus) OR Dirk J. Louw, Ubunto: An African Assessment of Religious Other OR David A. Crocker Retribution and Reconciliation
Proposed Journal Entry: How can Christian principles regrading reconciliation be successfully integrated into an adversarial legal system?
Session Description: Discuss the scriptural foundation behind reconciliation. Explore differences between Christian reconciliation and humanistic reconciliation. Explore the relationship between justice and peace.

Session 21 – The Just Use of Property
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: Set 1 - O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 48-49 (Lactantius); 75-79 (Ambrose); 602-608 (Luther); 682-684 (Calvin) OR O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 355-361 (Aquinus); and Finnis, 165-173
Proposed Journal Entry: Provide a Christian blue-print for the proper use and management of the Ugandan Oil reserves.
Session Description: Discuss Biblical treatment of private property, investment and business. Discuss economic development in Africa. Discuss emerging theories, methods and recommendations regarding the use, maximization and proliferation of property in Africa.


Session 22 – Science, Bioethics, and the Environment
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options Godfrey Tangwa, Genetic Technology and Moral Values: An African Opinion OR TBA
Proposed Journal Entry: Is science anti-Christian?
Session Description: Discuss the role of natural law in the public debate on abortion, evolution, population control, and genetic engineering. Analyze and Discuss key scientific, bioethical and environmental issues from a Christian perspective.

Session 23 – Christianity, Justice, Equity and the Practice of Law
Reading Assignment: Split Reading Assignment, choose one of two options: O’Donovan and O’Donovan, 23-26 (Tertullian); (499) (Wyclif); 675-678 (Calvin); 771-777 (Perkins); OR Jonathan Edward Maire, The Possibility of a Christian Jurisprudence, from The American Journal of Jurisprudence, Vol. 40, Notre Dame Law School, 1995 (Available in the Library)
Proposed Journal Entry: Should a Christian judge’s beliefs play any role in his or her work as a judge? If not why not? If it should play a role please describe the role.
Session Description: Discuss the ethical implications for lawyers and judges who chooses to adopt the philosophies of Tertullian, Wyclif, Calvin and Perkins. Discuss the Maire Article

Session 24 – The Politics of Religion in the Post-Modern West and Implications for Africa
Reading Assignment: Required The Economist Magazine’s Obituary of God, December 23, 1999; Ecclesiastes 1
Proposed Journal Entry: What can Ugandans learn from the state of religion and relationship between politics and religion in the Post-Modern West?
Session Description: Discuss the implications of the culture war in the West for Christianity and religion in sub-Saharan Africa. Class Review. Class Evaluations. Opportunity for student feedback on class.