Principles and peace

Pretty much ready for the shelves now: our latest BD course on Ethical Principles. The idea being that it shouldn't stay on the shelves- it should fly off them, around the Pacific, so that good, solid degrees by distance learning can be available to anyone with the commitment to slog it out. 

The course author, Jack Hill, previously served as  Lecturer in Church and Society here at the Pacific Theological College  from 1989-1993. Then after teaching in a South African university for three years, was Head of the Department of Theology and Ethics here from 1998-1999. He helped develop PTC’s first Masters Programme in Practical Theology. Most recently he's been Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth in the USA. We're very grateful to Professor Hill and other former staff with experience of the Pacific when they find time to write for us. And we're looking forward to current staff coming up with the goods too, with lots of up to date Pacific material included. A gentle nudge to my lovely colleagues!

When's the last time you or I had a serious think about our Ethical Principles eh? Want a taster of the course for free? Well, here's how it starts.

Unit 1    Love Thyself

1.1        Outcomes.  

After successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:

• Articulate the central questions of ethics, and identify a few elements of your own Christian moral conscience;
• Describe tensions in ethics, especially between the individual and community;
• Explain how Jesus’ Great Commandments constitute starting points for thinking about ethical positions or options;
• Critique ethical egoism and hedonism;
• Conduct your own personal moral inventory.

1.2       Beginning with Oneself

It may seem strange to begin a textbook on ethical principles by asserting the need to ‘love thyself’ (ie, myself) as old-fashioned English puts it. To love oneself or have regard for oneself would appear to be selfish at best, and downright “narcissistic” (shamelessly preoccupied with one’s own interests) at worst. It sounds especially odd in cultures like many of the Pacific Islands, where there is a strong emphasis on “community ethics” (participation in community life) and self-identification in terms of a particular ethnic or national group. Furthermore, isn’t ethics about treating one another well? Doesn’t it require being kind and just toward others? In fact, to be truly ethical, is it not necessary — on occasion — to sacrifice one’s own interests for the common good of all?

The answer to all of these questions is, ‘yes’, and the “altruistic” (other-oriented) nature of ethics will become increasingly clear in the remaining units of this text. But, as with all subjects, it is useful to begin with where and with whom we are. Each of us approaches the ethical decisions of our lives from the standpoint of our own individual mind, however much we may conceive of our mind as interrelated to those of other persons. When we are born, we are each given a specific name and we are known to our friends and loved ones as persons who are also unique individuals. And it is as unique individuals, or distinct “subjectivities” (individuals who are subjects of a unique self-consciousness) that we think about ethics and strive to make decisions based on ethical principles. Thus, before embarking on ethical thinking in any depth, please complete the following activity about yourself.

1.2.1    FOCUSSED TASK                Who are you?

Write a paragraph about your own individual identity. Start by writing out your full given name. You may have been given more than one or two names. Describe how you received those names, including any special meanings which the names have or were intended to have when given to you. If, taken together, your name or names reflect more than one cultural identity, list the different identities that are reflected in your full given name. Then write a sentence about each of the following:

a)    Something that makes you different from your siblings or friends. It may have to do with something that happened to you when you were growing up, or with something you did that set you apart from the rest, or with an unusual personal trait (such as a way of laughing that always distinguishes you from everyone around you).

b)    A way you might describe yourself if you imagine yourself as something in nature (for example, a porpoise, wispy cloud or conch shell). What might you be like?

c)    And finally, what would the above image from nature suggest about you as a particular individual?

By the way, don't send the answers in thanks, not unless you're paying for the course. No money - no marking. We're not pushovers here at PTCEE! 

There's always something interesting going on in the life of the wider College. Currently the Department known at God's Pacific People is running a three-week intensive on Peacebuilding in conjunction with the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding (PCP) which has a Suva office but works throughout the region. The course has attracted a really ecumenical bunch of participants from across the Pacific and from diverse churches. Testimonies from participants who've completed PCP courses in the past are strong and positive. Joycelyn Manakako says the Peacebuilding and Leadership Programme which she attended is vital for her home, the Solomon Islands.

Peacebuilding is not all about just war, but it’s all about different types of conflicts so it can be personal, family or in the community in which we can experience different types of conflict in our lives

Joycelyn adds the training will help them to work with the Government, and other organizations to help stabilize peace in the country.

I believe that this course is very important because it will really help us to work with our government as well as other NGOs and CSOs who are working around peacebuilding to address peace and stability in Solomon Islands.

Tomorrow I'm the worship leader for morning devotions at the Peacebuilding course and am looking forward to that. I may well share the terrifying yet truly inspirational story of Rev Charles Mpunji Ilunga and family, originally from Democratic Republic of Congo and now minister at Wanstead Methodist Church in the UK. During our time as neighbours at the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham, I think Charles taught us a huge amount through sharing his life stories, and simply by 'being', about the realities and the costs of peacebuilding. If you happen to read the blog Charles, a big wave from Val in Fiji! When are you coming to teach us here?!

Rev Charles Ilunga and family enjoying time out during one of the British Methodist Conferences!

And the Bible reading we'll use? Oh, a bit of Romans 12 I reckon. 

That's about it for now I think. Ethics and Peace. 
May our coming days be truth-filled and conflict-deprived.