Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Towards a Christian Sexual Ethics

Unit Code: 
DE260/360
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit considers sexuality from the perspective of Christian theological ethics. Issues to be considered include sex and marriage, homosexuality, responsible parenthood, sex and gender, new birth technologies and public moral argument. The unit will be based on a critical study of Gareth Moore’s text, The Body in Context. This will be considered in conjunction with relevant biblical material and the teachings of the Christian Churches.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. comprehend and make a critical assessment of traditional Christian sexual ethics
  2. apply Christian ethical principles and methods to contemporary issues surrounding sex and sexuality
  3. apply biblical exegesis and investigation of Christian tradition to contemporary issues surrounding sex and sexuality
Lecturer/s: 
Geoffrey King
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 2
Day: 
Tuesday
Time: 
10 - 1
Location: 
Centre for Theology and Ministry
Unit Frequency: 
Biennial
Years Offered: 
2010
Years Offered: 
2012
Years Offered: 
2014
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Bachelor of Theology
Field: 
Field D Theology: Mission and Ministry
Disciplines: 
Moral Theology
Department Name: 
Department of Moral and Practical Theology
Unit Level
Undergraduate Level: 
2
Undergraduate Level: 
3
Prerequisites: 

Level 2: DMR250 Contemporary Christian Ethics or equivalent

Level 3: DMR250 Contemporary Christian Ethics and at least one level 2 unit of Systematic Theology

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

3 hours of lectures and seminar discussion per week for 12 weeks

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
6
Total workload hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours for unit: 
108
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

Level 2: 1 x 2500 word essay

Level 3: 1 x 3000 word essay

Weighting: 
50%
Assessment Type: 

1 x 2 hour written examination

Weighting: 
50%
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

  • Cahill, Lisa. Between the Sexes. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.
  • Cahill, Lisa. Sex, Gender and Christian Ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
  • Curran, Charles E. and Richard A. McCormick. Readings in Moral Theology 8: Dialogue about Catholic Sexual Teaching. New York: Paulist, 1993.
  • Genovesi, Vincent. In Pursuit of Love. Wilmington: Glazier, 1987.
  • Grisez, Germaine. The Way of the Lord Jesus. Vols. 1-3. Quincy: Franciscan, 1983-1987.
  • *Moore, Gareth. The Body in Context: Sex and Catholicism. London: SCM, 1992.
  • Nelson, J. B. Embodiment: An Approach to Sexuality and Christian Theology. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1978.
  • Siker, Jeffrey. Homosexuality in the Church: Both Sides of the Debate. Louisville: Westminster, 1994.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.