Part One: Answer the following question based on our class discussion (referencing the Carol Delaney, Ph.D. article entitled, "Was Abraham Ethical? Should We Admire His Willingness to Sacrifice His Son?") concerning the Abrahamic religions of Judaism and Christianity being built on sacrifice.
Would the Catholic Church have responded differentlyto the sex abuse crisis (2002) if the Catholic Church was formed around protection and not sacrifice? If yes, how? If no, why not?
Part Two: Create a one-page case study on the topic of "Punishment and Due Process." The Strike and Soltis book is filled with case studies in each chapter so you should have read enough case studies to begin understanding their make-up and style.
Part Three: Evaluate and advise -
This final examination question amounts to answering a hypothetical question attempting to combine your knowledge of religious ethics with education. Often times with ethical decision-making, the point is not to get to any particular answer but to see howyou get there. Do you have the tools to think through ethical decisions with wisdom and discernment?
Basis of Thought: Two of the three Divine Abrahamic faiths i.e. Judaism and Christianity, revealed to the prophets of God, are divine religions that shape outlook of life, people's perception, culture and civilization and enhance the relationship between God-man-universe. In this process, people who adhere to a particular religion tend to explore the phenomena through the lens of religion. However, throughout the history of religions, it has been observed that these two faiths provoked people to live with peace, love, unity and co-existence but ideological divergence, religious extremism and political interest led people to involve with aggression, violence and destruction.
Below is this year's question. So here's this year's situation. How would you answer it?
You are one of the mostrespected Christian voices in the country. Your insight matters to Christians all over your town, and beyond to believers throughout the country. That's a heavy burden, especially today. Here is the case study for you to analyze:
Ed Rendell is in charge of his church's mission efforts in a developing nation. His church has assembled a large and expensive shipment of medical supplies for a Christian medical clinic in this developing country. But the shipment is stuck on the dock because a government official has insisted on a bribe before releasing the cargo. All attempts to pull strings in order to release the cargo have failed. Do you pay the bribe?What advice do you give Ed? What is the ethical thing to do? Why?
Ethical Decision Points: You must decide how to advise Ed:
• What is right and just in these situations? How do your personal ethics influence your decision?
• What is loving to neighbor?
• Walk through each step of ethical reflection, explaining how you arrive at your answers, grounding your answer in the texts wehave used, class slides, your experience, class discussions, and common sense.
• Think through the implications of your answer for unintended consequences, and show how you would resolve those. Finally, what does your decision/advice say about you?