THE 202 Christian Political Engagement
Since Jesus’ proclamation that "the Kingdom of God is at hand," Christians have had to consider their relation as citizens of that kingdom to the kingdoms of this world. The American experiment in representative democracy makes this issue particularly pertinent to American Christians. In recent decades, disagreements over the relationship between American politics and Christianity have inspired various groups, Christian and secular alike, to rethink the traditional models. This class will read relevant texts related to ancient and contemporary thinking about theological and practical aspects of the issue and travel to Washington, DC, to participate in the National Association of Evangelical’s Christian Student Leadership Conference. Students will listen to social and political leaders discuss key issues and policies that relate to Christian thought and culture, and will engage in seminar-style discussions of the various perspectives they encounter in their reading and conference sessions. 3 credits.