Personal Ethics
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| Jesus perceived his followers as in-the-world, but not
of-the-world. This means that faith adds a layer of purpose to moral
existence. Sometimes it simplifies our choices; other times it makes
them more complex. If Christianity is true, our actions and
attitudes have profound relational implications. They form our
identities, improve or injure other people and alter our interaction
with God. There are few areas of public discourse and private
imagination that are more cluttered with vague concepts. This class
will offer a useful approach to the core concepts in our moral
self-understanding. It will also propose tools and skills for
navigating ethical dilemmas. Christians, theists and the devotees of
every credible religion want to be sufficiently "good" to
maintain their self-respect, earn the trust of others and to
experience their Maker's approval. Yet, they work and reside in the
company of many who under-value such aspirations. How, then, should
they think and act? |
About the Teacher
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Dr. Arvin Engelson No pastor has
served longer at Saratoga Federated Church than Arvin — 27 years
to date. He is gifted in his mastery of the scriptures and skilled
at guiding souls into a deeper understanding of God, themselves, and
those around them. His first career was as a counselor at public and
private colleges. He has also taught graduate courses for Fuller
Seminary. Trained in philosophy at Westmont College, and then in
pastoral counseling and history of religion at Gordon Conwell, he
went on to doctoral work at Princeton where he studied (in
particular) formative and transformative life experiences from an
interdisciplinary perspective. The integration of spiritual truths
with the nitty-gritty of life is his expertise. |
| "When I teach, my chief motivation is to offer
perspectives and tools that equip people to live hopeful and useful
lives. I am drawn to topics with practical, quality-of-life
application. Healthy faith begets healthy persons, who leave others
better off than they find them." |
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