PJCS 345:
Office: Wyse 308
Office Phone: 7728
Home Phone:
260.471.7830 (no calls after
Email: deanjj
Office Hours:
Mon-Friday
We live in a time when redemptive violence is a common occurrence and in a place which has declared an open-ended War on Terror.
Cycles of violence are never ending. It has been assumed by many that might makes rights and violence can be a successful endeavor which leads to the resolution of crisis.
This course will explore alternatives to violence through
readings in philosophical and pragmatic nonviolence. Given the brevity of this
course, the primary purpose is to give student exposure to the primary ideas
and thinkers of nonviolence. The class
will look at the religious and philosophical origins of nonviolence, with
special emphasis on the teachings of Christianity and the
College Outcomes
The
1. Faith that is active and reflective
2. Intercultural openness with the ability to function effectively with people of other world views
3. The ability to think actively and strategically
4. Personal integrity that fosters ability to resolve conflict and to promote justice
5. A healthy understanding of self and of others that is reflected in social relationships of interdependence and mutual accountability
Students will:
1. Investigate the primary ideas of nonviolence through readings and discussion of basic texts.
2. Explore and understand Biblical and philosophical perspectives on nonviolence.
3. Demonstrate the connection between spirituality and the practice of nonviolence.
4. Examine their own assumptions, values and commitments in relation to violence and nonviolence and to examine ways in which nonviolence can be a practical lifestyle choice.
5. Be given the necessary tools to be conversant in theories of nonviolence.
The syllabus, class note outlines and additional assigned reading materials for this class will be available through the campus Blackboard system. You can access this material by going to <http://courses.goshen.edu/>. Type in your GC user name ("deanjj" you do not need to include "@goshen.edu") and password as prompted. Once you have logged in you should find a link to " "
· The course syllabus can be found under the "Course Information" folder.
· In addition to being found on the syllabus the y reading can be found in the "Assignments" folder.
· The "Books" folder will contain the names of required class texts.
· In addition you will be able to view your progress throughout the semester by using the "My Grades" feature in Blackboard.
Holmes, R. (1990). Nonviolence in Theory and Practice.
Wink, W. (2003). Jesus and Nonviolence:
Wink, W. (Ed.) (2001).
Peace is the Way: Writings on Nonviolence from the Fellowship of
Reconciliation.
Books.
Additional
Confession of Faith in the Mennonite Perspective. Herald Press, 1996.
Coles, R., ed. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Maryknoll: Orbis Press, 1998.
Brown, D. Biblical Pacifism: A
Lakey, G. “My Approach to Nonviolent Action: Ten Principles.”
National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objection (NISBCO). “What Do I Believe About War?”
Schrock-Shenk, C., ed. Mediation
and Facilitation Training Manual: Foundations for Constructive Conflict
Transformation.
Stassen, Glen H. and Michael L. Westmoreland-White. “Defining Violence and Nonviolence.” In J. Denny Weaver and Gerald Biesecker-Mast, eds., Teaching Peace: Nonviolence and the Liberal Arts. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2003.
Yoder, J. What Would You Do? Scottdale: Herald Press, 1983.
Videos (available from instructor)
Attenborough, Richard. Gandhi. 190 minutes, Columbia Pictures (1982).
Johnson, Clark. Boycott. 112 minutes, HBO Films (2001).
Till, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace. 90 minutes, Gateway Films (1999).
1) Attend and actively participate in all class sessions.
2) Read all assigned readings. Specific readings have been designated.
3) Keep a class journal as assigned.
Class Format and Assignments
The course is designed as a seminar or discussion course. Students are expected to come prepared to engage in class discussion about the assigned readings/videos.
Each week there will be a selection of readings and/or videos. To help ensure engagement in discussion students are required to bring to class a one page typed summary based on the weeks reading/video assignments. The one page summary should include the following:
1) Main points
2) What was most helpful?
3) What was most disturbing?
1) Evaluation and final course grade will be based on the accumulation of points earned through the following:
a. Class attendance and participation 80%
b. Journal 20%
2) Grading scale:
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
65-69% D
64% and below F
3) All work is due at the beginning of the class period for which it is assigned. 5% will be deducted for the first 24 hours of lateness and 10% for 24-120 hours (1-5 days). No work will be accepted later than five days.
4) Because much of the learning in this class is the interactive process in the classroom, you will only be allowed one unexcused absence. After that, each unexcused absence will reduce your final grade by 10%. (For an absence to be excused, please contact me by phone or email before class.) Missed in class work cannot be made up without my explicit permission . Part of your 80% will also be based on your actual participation in class. This does not necessarily mean the number of times you speak up in class (though I will expect you to do so), but also on the thoughtfulness of your contributions, your participation in small group work, your body language and general attentiveness, etc.
5) This is a class that will discuss issues of responding to violence. One way violence is perpetuated is through language. One way of addressing issues of inequality is by changing the type of language we use. Therefore, it will be a policy of this class to use inclusive language when writing or speaking, unless specifically talking about one sex or the other. Instead of using the classic masculine pronouns, alternatives should be used. For example, people or humanity should be used instead of man or mankind. Another example would be writing something like this, "When approaching a violent situation one should take into consideration the amount of personal danger in which one is placing himself or herself," instead of something like this, "When approaching a violent situation one should take into consideration the amount of personal danger in which he is placing himself." The use of inclusive language is expected in all assignments and will affect one's grade adversely if not put to use.
(NT&P = Nonviolence in Theory and Practice; J&N = Jesus and Nonviolence; PW = Peace is the Way)
Introduction
1)
Introduction
a.
Stassen
and Westmoreland-White. “Defining Violence and Nonviolence.” (Handout)
b. In-class Video Clip from A Force More Powerful
Origins
2) Origins
a. NT&P – pg 1-40
b. PW – pg 118-123, 153-158, 159-163
Christianity/Historic Peace Churches/Pacifism
3) Christianity
(Continued) & the Historic
a. NT&P – pg 45-50
b. PW – pg 41-45
c. Yoder. What Would You Do? – pg 45-49 (Handout)
d. Brown. Biblical Pacifism – pg ix-39, Appendix I (Handout)
e. Schrock-Shenk. Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual: Foundations for Constructive Conflict Transformation – pg 27-30
f. Confession of Faith – pg 81-84
4) The
Historic
a. NT&P – pg 113-140
b. PW – pg 4-7, 30-36, 93-98, 124-152
c. National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objection (NISBCO). “What Do I Believe About War?” (Handout)
Mohandas Gandhi
5) The Movie
a. Attenborough, Richard. Gandhi. 190 minutes, Columbia Pictures (1982).
b. No readings.
6) Gandhi’s writings and writings about Gandhi
a. NT&P – pg 51-62
b. PW – pg 2-3, 112-116, 159-162
c. Look through passages on Nonviolence and Satyagraha at <http://www.mkgandhi.org/momgbook/index.htm>.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
7) The Movie
a. Read biographical sketch “Bonhoeffer’s Life” at http://www.thesumners.com/bonhoeffer/life1.html.
b. Till, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace. 90 minutes, Gateway Films (1999).
8) Bonhoeffer’s
writings, writings about Bonhoeffer, and the
a. The Barmen Declaration at < http://www.ucc.org/faith/barmen.htm>.
b. Coles. Dietrich Bonhoeffer – pg 77-81, 90-91, 92-107, 108-114, 115-127 (Handout)
c. NT&P – pg 185 – 187
d. PW – 60-63
Martin Luther King, Jr.
9) The Movie
a. Johnson, Clark. Boycott. 112 minutes, HBO Films (2001).
b. No readings.
10) King’s writings, writings about King, and the Civil Rights Movement
a. NT&P – pg 63-77
b. PW – pg 64-71, 170-186, 193-203
Women and Nonviolence
11) Women, Feminism and Nonviolence
a. NT&P – pg 79-112
b. PW – 104-108, 109-111, 129-134, 265-268
Walter Wink
12)
a. J&N – Chapters 1-3
13)
a. J&N – Chapters 4-6
Pragmatic Nonviolence and Recent Examples
14) Pragmatic Nonviolence
a. NT&P – pg 142-143, 147-177
b. Lakey, G. “My Approach to Nonviolent Action: Ten Principles.” (Handout)
c. PW – pg 54-59, 231-235
15) Recent Examples
a. NT&P – pg 191-206
b. PW – pg 227-230, 269-279, 283-295
c. In-class Video Clip A Force More Powerful