Claar-Klay - Economics in Christian Perspective (Course Outline)

8/12/2019 Claar-Klay - Economics in Christian Perspective (Course Outline)

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PEC 0421D ECONOM I CS FROM CHRI STI AN PERSPECTIVE

SELF LEARNI NG

4 hrs/week

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course the students will be able to

know the interaction between Economics and Christian Religion and the development of worldviews in

religious communities.

understand the teachings of Christianity on Economics and management of resources.

interpret the relevant biblical texts and understand the perspective of Economics.

formulate the principles of Christian Economics.

COURSE CONTENTUNIT I: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ECONOMICS AND RELIGIONS

1. Important concepts, theories and principles of economics from Capitlistic, Marxist, Socialistic and

Gandhian perspective

2. Religions with written Scriptures and unwritten oral traditions and links with economics and creatingworld views for their religious communities.

BOOKS/ARTICLES:J.Pathirappaly and TD Felix.

ASSIGNMENT (1500 WORDS) any one of the following:

1. Compare and Contrast the basic concepts and principles of economics of Capitalism, Marxism,

Socialism, Gandhism.

2. Explain how religions and economics interact and formulate worldviews with particular reference

to one of the religions in India. Discuss how these worldviews help or hinder the economic progress and development.

UNIT II: LAND: OWNERSHIP, DISTRIBUTION, AGRICULTURE AND PEASANTS1. Land in Capitalistic, Marxist, Gandhian and Socialist Economics

2. Land ownership, distribution, agriculture, debts, mortgage and Jubilee in the Bible.

READINGS:

Text: Gen. 1-2; Lev. 25:1-29; Num. 26:51-56; 27:1-11; 36:1-6; Dt. 26:1-11; 19:14; 1 Kings 21:1-

19; Prov. 22:28; Isa. 5:8-10; Micah 4L1-4; Matt. 6:25-34.

BOOKS / ARTICLES:

1. A.R. Desai, Agrarian Movements and Peasant Struggles in India,2. Chris Wright, Gods People and Gods Land

3. J.B. Jeyaraj, Siding with the Landless in Mission 2000, and Jubilee and Society in LDC

Golden Jubilee Souvenir, 1998.


1. Compare and contrast the basic ideas of Capitalism, Marxism, Socialism and Gandhism on land

ownership, distribution, agriculture and peasants struggle.

2. Explain the economics of land ownership, distribution, agriculture and peasant struggles in the

Christian Scripture.

LABOUR: DIVISION OF LABOUR, SLAVERY, WAGES, LAWS OF LABOUR1. Labour, Service, Wages, Relationship between the employer and employee in Economics

2. Division of Labour, Kinds of Labour, Wages, Labour Laws in the Bible.

READINGS:

Text: Gen. 2:15; Ex. 1-3; 21:1-20; Dt. 15:12-18; 21:10-14; Mt. 9:35-37; Prov. 22:29; Matt. 21:32-

41; 24:45-51; Romans 13:1-7; Philemon 1:8-16; 2Thes. 3:6; James 2:14-25; Eph. 6:5-9; Dt. 21:10-

14.

BOOKS / ARTICLES:


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1. Bryant Myers, Walking with the poor: Transformative Development . Orbit Books, New York,

1999.

2. Ken Gnanakkan, Kingdom Concerns , TBT Journal, Banglore

3. Bas Wielenga, Biblical Concept of Labour , TTS, Madurai.

4. Jayaraj J.B., Jubliee and Society , Lady Doak College, Golden Jubliee Souvenir.


1. Compare and Contrast the understanding of labour in Economics

2. Discuss the biblical understanding of labour and their rights.

CAPITAL: PROFIT, WEALTH, TAXES, DEBT 1. Capital, Business, wealth, poverty and debts in Economics

2. Money, wealth, poverty, debts and justice in Christian Scripture

READINGS:

Text: Ex. 22:7-8; Dt. 15:1-11; Prov. 22:22; 29:10-13; Matt. 17:24-27; 22:15-22; 25:14-30; 1.Tim.

6:17-19; James 1:9-11; 5:1-6; 2 Cor. 8.

BOOK/ARTICLES:

1. John Mohan Razu, Globalisation as victimization: A critique in the light of the Jubilee Motif

The case of India, Bible speaks Today (ed. D.J. Muthuanayagam), Bangalore, UTC, 2000.

2. James David, The Backlash against Globalisation , Dimensions of Globalisaion., pp. 35-38, (eds.

James David and John Desrochers), Bangalore :CSA, 1991.

3. Varghese George, The Politics of Globalisation , Dimensions of Globalisation, pp. 47-49.


1. Compare and contrast the understanding of capital in Economics.

2. Discuss the understanding of money, wealth and poverty in Christianity.

UNIT III: KINGDOM VALUES, SHARING OF RESOURCES AND WELFARE1. Values of welfare in the understanding of Capitalism, Marxism, Socialism and Gandhism.

2. Values of Welfare in Christian Scripture.

READINGS:

Text: Gen. 1:26-28; Isa. 11:1-9; Matt. 5:19-21; 13:1-53; 6:1-4.; 2 Cor. 8

BOOKS/ARTICLES:

1. Gandhi, M.K., Satyagraha in South Africa, Ahmedabad, NPH, 1995.

2. Gandhi, M.K., Hind Swaraj, Ahmedabad, NPH, 1995.

3. Thanzura, Thelogy of Development , ATC, Bangalore, 2001.


1. Explain the values of welfare in different economics

2. What is the Kingdom of God? What are the values of Kingdom of God? How these values will be

established in society?

UNIT IV: STEWARDSHIP, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT1. Resource Management Objectives, goals and results in different economics

2. Resource management as Stewardship and for Development in the Christian perspective.READINGS:

Text: Gen. 1:28; 2:15; 41:37-57; Ex. 23:10-13; 23:6-9; Dt. 19:14; Prov. 29:14-16; 31:10-31; Dan.

6:1-5; Amos. 2:6-8; 5:24; Micah 4 :1-5; Matt.5:40; 6:24; 12:1-8; Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 9:13; Heb.

13:16.

BOOKS/ ARTICLES:

1. Chris Wright, Family and Land, UK

2. Arputhamoorthy, J.E. M., Environmental Economics , TBT Journal , Bangalore.

3. Bryant Myers, Walking with the poor Transformative Development , Orbit Books, New

York, 1999.


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4. Abraham, K.C., Development: Theological and Ethical Reflections, BTF, UTC, Vol.30,

Sept- Dec. 1998. pp. 16-23.

ASSIGNMENT (1500 WORDS) - any one of the following:

1. Explain the understanding of resource management in different economics

2. Discuss the biblical understanding of resource management for economic development.

UNIT V: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ECONOMICS AND CHRISTIANITY1. Identifying the commonalities and differences between the teachings of Economics and Christianity.

2. Deriving and formulating Christian Economics out of the study.

ASSIGNMENT (1500 WORDS) - any one of the following:

1. Write briefly the principles and practices of Christian Economics out of your study of this courseand explain how this economics can contribute for egalitarian society and economic development.BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Sources:1. Writings of the Economists like Adam Smith, Freud, Karl Marx, Gandhi.2. Christian Scripture the Bible.

Secondary Source:Samuelson Principles of Economics REFERENCES:

1. Scholars writings on the Economists and their theories2. Dictionaries of Economics3. Biblical Commentaries4. Biblical Dictionaries

Documents

Claar-Klay - Economics in Christian Perspective (Course Outline)