Exploring Religious Questions SeriesFebruary 17, 2014 at 7–9 p.m.

"Christian Faith and Economic Justice: Biblical Themes, Current Realities, and Ethical Choices e/strong>

Mondays 7:00"9:00 p.m.
February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17 (snow day March 24)

Both as individuals and as a nation, we face a range of economic challenges. As a way to think more deeply about relationships between Christian faith and current economic realities, the sessions in this series explore the following questions:

• What does the Bible specifically say about financial responsibility and economic justice? What are some of the central biblical texts that speak to contemporary questions about money, wealth, and justice to the poor? What wisdom does the Bible offer us in today's hard times?
• During the Reformation, when the economic landscape was rapidly changing and capitalism was emerging, what did Martin Luther and other reformers say about economic justice? How did they respond to the needs of the poor, unjust economic structures, and rising interest rates? How might their ideas and strategies help Christians today reflect on their personal finances and our country's economic policies?

By exploring these and other questions, and by mining resources from the Bible, Economics, and Theology, this series aims to help all participants reflect on ways they might best live out their faith in a complex global economy.

The five sessions will be led by scholars in the areas of Bible, Economics, and Christian Ethics.

Course Outline

February 17: "˜No One in Need Among You' (Deut. 15:4): Economic Justice in the Torah and Prophets e- J. Blake Couey (with series introduction by Marcia J. Bunge)

February 24: "In the Shadows of the Empire: Economic Justice and the Early Church e- Casey Elledge

March 3: "Wealth, Poverty, and Economic Justice: Wisdom from the Reformation e- Mary Gaebler

March 10: "Seeking Economic Justice in the Light of Local and Global Inequalities: Perspectives from the Fields of Business and Economics e- Kristian Braekkan

March 17: "Faith Active in Love: Theologically Informed Financial and Political Choices Today e- Mary Gaebler (with series conclusion by Marcia J. Bunge)