The role God intends for humanity in developing community and society as part of His created order will be explored. Students examine the theological doctrines of Creation, Fall, and Redemption, and the cultural mandate as the basis for humanity’s involvement in the community. Students engage in analytical discussions, research, and presentations on the theology of Christian social engagement.

An evaluation of theological concepts and their economic meaning including Providence, eschatology, faith and trust, guilt and redemption, reconciliation and restoration, justification and salvation. It reviews ways in which economic concepts are anchored in theological concepts such as profit, money, debt and credit, free choice and consumer sovereignty, prosperity and owning, prosperity and wealth, poverty, corporation, and markets. It also deals with the theological underpinnings of how economics are managed in areas such as time, profession and work, organization and management, entrepreneurship, the influence of media on culture, branding and marketing, hedonism and asceticism, leadership, intellectual property and creativity, and accounting and accountability.

An outline of ethical issues arising from an understanding of economic theology and application to present-day social issues including equity and efficiency, production and consumption, economic and spiritual well-being, economic growth and social justice, free and fair trade, and profit maximization and sustainability. The course evaluates ethical perspectives based on a grounding in economic theology.

An overview of the development of economic theology from early Judaism and late antiquity to the middle ages and the reformation. The economic views of major theologians from the reformation to the present day are discussed including the writings of Martin Luther and John Calvin.

This course surveys hermeneutical methods in theological-economic reflection and reviews major economic theories and models that frame both contemporary economic discourse and major perspectives of economic theology. Students compare and contrast ways in which theologians utilize or presume major economic theories in their theological formulations and critique the impact of such assumptions on their theological reflections.

Practical ways for Christian persons and organizations to respond to the challenges of poverty in the 21st century will be explored. The student will engage both theology and social sciences to understand how Christians may act in a relevant and transforming way in situations of great economic disparity. Students will engage in analytical class discussions, research papers, and class presentations.