THE 316 Theology of Social Justice
Local and global conditions of economic, racial, class, and gender inequality have always been a part of human society. In the modern world, however, increasing attention has been given to societal structures as they bear on these and related issues, both as causes of inequality and as means of rectifying inequalities. While many Christians are concerned to relieve the plight of the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed, often the church has not equipped its members to think about the larger issues of justice, rights, and the role of government from a distinctively Christian worldview. This class is designed to surface, define, and examine the key issues in current discussions of social justice from a biblical and theological perspective, and seeks to guide students in formulating their own theological understanding of how the church and Christians should understand and address inequalities in society. (3 credits)