CASE courses in 2004 A description and outline of each course

CASE courses in 2004
A description and outline of each course
Thanks for considering a CASE course this year. We are offering eight courses in
2004, the first year of this new project in Christian tertiary education.
To enrol in any of these courses, fill out the form below and mail, email or fax to:
CASE course enrolments
New College
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
case@newcollege.unsw.edu.au.
Fax: (02) 9381 1909.
Download more copies of the course brochure from www.case.edu.au.
Details of each course can be found below. Please note that some course details may
vary during development, particularly those in the second half of the year. Please
revisit the website to stay up to date.
Each unit includes optional assessment and reading tasks. Reading lists will be
provided on enrolment.

The Lord of the Rings: Magic, Science and Religion
Presenter: Dr Kirsten Birkett.
Kirsten holds a doctorate in history and philosophy of science
from the University of New South Wales. She is the author of a
number of books on science and religion, including Unnatural
Enemies (Matthias Media).
Week 1 Magic as religion
In the ancient world magic and religion were intertwined. This seminar explores the
difficulties of definition when religion is essentially magical. Anthropological and
medieval definitions of magic and religion will be examined.
Week 2 Magic as science
During the Middle Ages in particular, ‘learned’ magic fulfilled the place of science, an
attempt to understand the mechanisms of the world based on neo-Platonic cosmology.
Week 3 Protestants and Catholics
Crucial differences between Reformation and Medieval theology separated Protestant
religion from the magical past.
Week 4 Magic of technology v. magic of nature
The Scientific Revolution saw science and technology as the noble and wondrous
servants of civilization, a view of science that continues today in the idealism of
communication bringing democracy and peace, medicine curing all ills and technology
feeding the masses. On the other hand, The Lord of the Rings reflects an increasingly
popular yearning for the magic of nature; technology is not only used for evil, it is
inherently despoiling and corrupting.

The Challenge of Colonial Christianity
Presenter: Mr Stuart Johnson
Stuart Johnson is completing a doctorate in Australian history at the University of New
South Wales. He holds a Masters in Theology and is a board member of the Macquarie
Christian Studies Institute.
This course examines the nature and impact of mid-nineteenth century Christianity in
colonial N.S.W. It focuses on Evangelical Christianity, which was the dominant
expression of the Christian faith at this time. It looks at sermons and strategies,
newspapers and conference reports as well as the home, work and church lives of
prominent Christians such as John Fairfax of the Sydney Morning Herald. Set amidst the
wider story of the discovery of gold and burgeoning migration from Britain and Ireland,
the story of colonial Christianity does more than bring to light a lost heritage. It
challenges today’s Christians, who walk the same streets, to consider (as one colonial
pastor put it) their own ‘personal service to their generation’.
Week 1: Exploding the Myth of Religious Unbelief in Australia
One powerful and erroneous myth within Australian culture is the claim that religious
belief has always been of marginal importance. The study of colonial society explodes
this myth. Christian belief gained major expression within colonial popular culture.
Governments were committed to the promotion of the Christian faith and Christians
worked energetically to promote the gospel and to improve society. This lecture explores
the notable presence of Christian belief and activity within colonial society and the
general features of Evangelicalism at this time.

Week 2: Proclaiming the gospel
This lecture explores the efforts and self-sacrificing zeal of colonial Christians in
proclaiming the gospel. Urban mission such as the Sydney City Mission and Mariner’s
Church, societies dedicated to evangelism and Christian instruction (such as the
Y.M.C.A), and the diverse and energetic ministries of local churches and their great
commitment to planting new churches are highlighted. Case studies include the letters of
church planters in newly settled districts which reveal the enormous hardship and many
anxieties they endured living out their passion to see people turn to Christ.
Week 3: Reforming Society
A remarkable expression of Christian belief in colonial society was its commitment to the
reformation of society. It was the age of voluntary societies, through which Christians
(and others) provided relief to the impoverished, unemployment services, and promoted
literacy and self-improvement. Great efforts were made to influence public policy
regarding matters as diverse as the consumption of alcohol (an even bigger problem then
than now), Sabbath observance, state support of churches, and education. Evangelicals
differed as to the best way forward, at times bitterly so. But all were animated with the
belief that it was their duty to be engaged in prominent social issues.
Week 4: The Challenge of Colonial Christianity
The zeal of colonial evangelical Christians is considered in the light of contemporary
Christian experience. Areas of similarity and difference in cultural context and Christian
practice are explored. The optimistic view of the future of human society of the midnineteenth
century is discussed in relation to theology (eschatology) and the likely
stimulus this gave colonial Christians. Participants will be encouraged to consider what
has challenged and interested them most in this course.

How will the world end Stories of the apocalypse
Presenter: Dr Greg Clarke
Greg Clarke is Director of CASE. His doctorate examined
eschatology in twentieth century literature and he has published
an interactive study on the Book of Revelation (The Vision
Statement, Matthias Media, 2003).
Week 1: Key texts for understanding the end.
An overview of the main texts in the Western tradition from which our understanding of
eschatology is taken. Focuses specifically on the Book of Revelation. Outlines Christian
views of the end and some literary reactions to them, including D. H. Lawrence, T.S.
Eliot and James Joyce.
Week 2: Romancing the end.
An overview of the significance of the apocalypse for the Romantics. Includes a detailed
look at the influence of William Blake’s poetry and drawings.
Week 3: Apocalypse down under.
Examining some Australian depictions of the end of the world, including Dr Wooreddy’s
Prescription for Enduring the End of the World and a selection of modern Australian
poetry.
Week 4: Apocalypse stories in science and science fiction.
Looks at what science knows about the future and how it is presented in narrative form in
both novels and film.

Edges of life: Christian approaches to bioethical issues
Presenter: Dr Megan Best
Megan Best is a medical doctor with a background in
palliative medicine. She is a federal advisor on human
cloning and a member of the Archbishop of Sydney’s
Social Issues Executive. She lectures in Health Law and
Medical Ethics at the University of New South Wales.
Week 1: Biotechnology in our society
Why is biotech so popular We look at the underlying assumptions in our community
dialogue, how our perceptions are shaped by the media, and examine the de-powering of
the voice of caution.
Week 2: Personhood: who has moral standing
We examine philosophical arguments for when life begins and the implications which
arise from them. We will also examine current biotechnology strategies to find what
implications for moral standing will arise for members of our society who are already
among us.
Week 3: Issues at the beginning of life: who will live
We will cover the arguments for and against embryo experimentation.
Week 4: Issues at the end of life: who will die
We look at terminal illness, living wills and the arguments for and against euthanasia and
physician-assisted suicide.

Epistemology and Alvin Plantinga: challenges for Christian philosophy
Presenter: Rev Dr Keith Mascord
Keith Mascord’s doctorate considered the philosophy of
Alvin Plantinga. Keith lectures at Moore Theological
College and pastors Green Square Christian Church in
Sydney.
Wk 1: Reformed Epistemology: a new and fairly old approach to religiious
Knowledge
An introduction to the developments in analytical philosophy over the past thirty years,
with a special focus on how Christians have contributed.
Wk 2: Theistic and Christian belief that doesn't need evidence
Examines Alvin Plantinga’s controversial attempt to solve some of the questions
surrounding the nature of beliefs. Introduces the idea of beliefs that are ‘properly basic’.
Wk 3: Is there really no need for evidence
Further examination of Plantinga’s argument about the relationship between belief and
evidence. Includes discussion on how to talk about beliefs and evidence when debating
the claims of Christianity.
Wk 4: The strengths and weaknesses of Reformed Epistemology
An assessment of Plantinga and others in the light of biblical theology and the Scriptures
. How successful is their philosophy, and how does it affect theology Is Reformed
epistemology the best way to think about divine knowledge

Christianity and the History of Feminism
Presenter: Dr Kirsten Birkett
Kirsten holds a doctorate in history and philosophy of science
from the University of New South Wales. She is the author of
a number of books, including The Essence of Feminism
(Matthias Media).
Week 1:Nineteenth-century evangelicals
The nineteenth century in England saw any number of reforming social movements.
Evangelicals were leading activists in a number of fields, from emancipation of slaves to
protection of prostitutes.
Week 2 Women and careers: Jane Austen, George Eliot and Dorothy Sayers
Jane Austen wrote her brilliant novels from what is usually seen as a repressive Christian
home. George Eliot left her evangelical belief to live with a married man, and was an
anti-Christian activist and novelist. Dorothy Sayers was one of the first women to
graduate from Oxford, and a great fiction writer and defender of Christianity. What do
the lives of these three talented English women say about feminism, Christianity and
women’s work
Week 3 The industrial revolution and the working class
The entry of women into the workforce was a middle-class phenomenon; working-class
women had always worked for money, both inside and outside the home, before and after
the industrial revolution.
Week 4 Christianity and a few myths of feminism
Who were the feminists Why has the church such an anti-woman reputation Why has
feminism such a pro-woman reputation What do women actually want today

Christianity and postmodernism
Presenter: Dr Greg Clarke
Greg Clarke (Ph.D., Sydney) is director of CASE. He also lectures
on postmodernism at Moore Theological College.
Week 1: Where did postmodernism come from
An introduction to the period of change that took the West from modernity to
postmodernity. What causes can be identified for this change, and what symptoms of the
change are evident Includes a brief overview of postmodernism in literature, philosophy,
architecture and the arts, and an examination of theological issues arising from the move
beyond modernism.
Week 2: Derrida, Foucault, Rorty
An introduction to three very different postmodern philosophers, and a Christian
engagement with their work. No prior knowledge of their work is assumed.
Week 3: Spirit, body and machine: the postmodern self in the technological age
An examination of postmodern challenges to Christian views of the self. Includes
discussion of how the postmodern self is explored in recent films.
Week 4: Postmodernism among the theologians
How is postmodernism affecting theology and the church, and what kinds of responses to
it have theologians given This seminar examines a range of reactions, from embrace to
caution to rejection.

Relationism: an approach to business and beyond
Presenters: Dr Bill Hurditch and Mr John Campbell
Bill Hurditch (Ph.D., UNE) is a principal
and director of The Fifth Estate
Consultancy Pty Ltd. John Campbell is
principal consultant at Focalpoint
Organisation Development Pty Ltd.
This short course will examine the nature and significance of personal relationships as a
focus for business and life, public and private. Relationism is an ideology applicable to
private as well as societal life. According to relationism, the central importance of
personal relationships, such as is attested, for example, in the aphorism 'you are a person
only because of other people', ought to dramatically change the way we view our
workplace, our clients, our family, our social club—in fact, all our private and public
affairs.
The course takes much of its material from the pioneering work of Michael Schluter,
whose 1993 book The R Factor 1 set out the seeds of a new approach to shaping public
policy with relational thinking at its core.
Based on the moral and ethical principles of Judeo-Christian teaching, relationism has
much to say about the way we ought to conduct our business affairs. For example, a
relational approach to business will replace money with personal relationships as the hub
in the wheel of one’s business enterprise, viz:
In the biblical view of the world, relationships, rather than money,
should be the measure of all things. Any move to effect such a
transformation must begin with conceptual changes: we need to be

able to think, speak and evaluate relationally rather than simply
financially… 2
The course presenters, Bill Hurditch and John Campbell, have both explored and applied
relational principles in their businesses. Bill is a principal of The Fifth Estate
Consultancy, a firm specialising in corporate advocacy for major resource projects. John’
s company, Focalpoint Organisation Development specialises in leadership and team
coaching and training.
The course will include both theoretical and practical material to provide participants
with an appreciation of how they can better encourage and manage their business and
personal life along relational lines. These include an explanation of the concept of
relational proximity, mapping of an individual’s relational base, and conducting
relational audits of vocational and private situations. In addition we will be examining
several aspects of organizational and business life from a relational perspective.
………………….
1
Schluter, M. and Lee, D. 1993. The R Factor. Hodder & Stoughton, London. A second book by Schluter
and Lee was published in 2003. Entitled The R Option: Building relationships as a better way of life, this
book puts some real-life flesh on the bones of the relational principles established in The R Factor.
1
Spencer, N. 2003. The Measure of All Things – A biblical perspective on money and value Britain today.
Jubilee Centre, Cambridge.