Politics and Christian Civilization

1. Politics and Christian Civilization POLITICS AND CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION: JEWISH LAW Professor: Dr. David Marzak Office Hours M/W/F by Appointment Class Time Tuesday & Fridays 7:00 – 8:15 E-mail: director@kolbefoundation.org Course Description: The overall goal is to educate students in the rudiments of Christian politics and social ethics with sufficient knowledge to make them conversant participants in the social restructuring of modern society based on the theory, derived norms, and practical examples supplied from Christian social teachings and its development in world civilization beginning with its foundation in Ancient Israel and then its subsequent development in Medieval Christendom in the following course.

2. Politics and Christian Civilization: IntroductionPolitics and Christian Civilization OUTLINE OF STUDIES: ANCIENT ISRAEL DEUTERONOMY & MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW • The section begins with a study of politics in the Garden of Eden followed by its subsequent history and written record in the Torah and a study of Ancient Israel including its socio-economic-political system based on scriptural principles albeit form the Old Law, which provides the only record of a revealed social system in world history. Students will study the judicial, ceremonial and moral precepts institutionalized in Ancient Israel including a comparative study of the Jewish idea of the best regime vis a vis the Greek Aristotelian idea to explore the relationship between faith and reason as well as between political structure and form to provide a much needed solution to the problem of the best regime and the importance of form over structure. • The Ten Commandments (moral, judicial and ceremonial precepts) • The Best Regime from the perspective of the Old Testament • Jewish legal structure, economic and political institutions at time of Judges • Institution of Kingship Readings: • Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Written summaries) • Josephus, History of the Jews EXAM

3. Politics and Christian Civilization: IntroductionPolitics and Christian Civilization TOPIC 2: MEDIEVAL CHRISTENDOM: FEUDALISM, CHRISTENDOMThis section includes a detailed analysis of the Medieval socio-economic/political system, which includes a balanced and objective study of feudalism, land distribution, common law and the arrangement of Catholic social, political, and economic institutions in the Middle Ages. It presents a thorough examination of the political thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Thomistic perspective regarding the best structure and form of government and an examination of the relationship between Church and State and among the Divine Law, Natural Law, and Positive Law. Readings: • Aquinas ‘ Treatise on Law

4. Politics and Christian Civilization: IntroductionPolitics and Christian Civilization TOPIC 3: MEDIEVAL CHRISTENDOM: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTENDOM (Usury, St. Thomas Aquinas: PlenitudoPotestatis, Guild Solidarity) Politics and Christian Civilization II reaches its high point with a study of the Medieval socio-political and economic system typified by the guild and prohibitions against usury, competition and speculation necessary to promote a Solidaristic and Personalist socio-economic system. A comparison and contrast is made between the life and socio-economic system on the feudal estate and a newly emerging towns and cities and more democratic guild system Major emphasis will be placed on:Marketing, Competition, Finance, Personalism.Readings: • Cahil, Msgr. The Framework of a Christian State (excerpts) • Pope Benedict XIV: VixPrevenit: on Usury

5. Politics and Christian Civilization: IntroductionPolitics and Christian Civilization TOPIC 4: DISSOLUTION OF THE MEDIEVAL SYNTHESIS Machiavelli, Protestant Reformation, English Pogrom, Economic Changes, Age of Discovery, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Absolutism in England and France Readings: • Machiavelli: The Prince • John Calvin: On Civil Government and Resistance • Martin Luther: Address to German Nobility, Freedom of a Christian, Jews and Their Lies • Hobbes: Leviathan • Rousseau: Social Contract • Locke: Second Treatise on Civil Government, A Letter Concerning Toleration • Bossuet: Treatise on Divine Right • King Henry VIII: The Act of Supremacy • English Parliament: Declaration of Right • Various other excerpts from Kolbe’s Greatest Book FINAL EXAM

6. Politics and Christian Civilization: IntroductionPolitics and Christian Civilization Final Grades Each faculty member has the right to either post or not post final course grades for each class. Final course grades provided to a student by a faculty member should not be considered official. Official grade reports can be obtained only through the College of St. Thomas More Registrar’s Office. All accounts must be paid in full before a student may receive official grade reports or apply for a transcript. Attendance Policy: A student who misses more than two (2) unexcused classes may be asked to withdraw by the instructor. Policy on Plagiarism Students are required to honor the norms of good scholarship and learning which includes never presenting as one’s own the work of others in essays or examinations. Procedure that are followed when this principle seems to be violated are published in Information for Students available at the College of St. Thomas More website. Disabilities Once admitted to this course, the student has the responsibility of informing the course instructor in writing of any disabling condition, which will require modification. Incomplete Policy An incomplete (I) will be given to undergraduates only upon written request from the student addressed to his professor for that class. The student must obtain a “Request for Incomplete Grade” from the office, fill it out and present it to the professor, who will decide whether to grant the request for an incomplete grade. If the request is granted, the professor will sign the form and turn it into the Registrar’s Office. This written request must be turned into the Registrar’s Office by the last day of actual classes (the Friday before finals’ week). This request must include a description of the uncompleted work, an agreed upon date of completion (no more than 60 days from the end of the semester), and the signatures of both the student and the professor.