PROMPT:
The reflection will offer an informed, personal response to the moral dilemma posed in the book. It should make reference to ideas from the symposium in the book and from other course readings as they relate to your thinking. It will probably run 3-5, double-spaced pages. The purpose is to practice taking a moral stance based on thoughtful consideration. Evaluation is based on the sophistication of the reasoning behind the position taken, appropriate references to readings from the class, logical organization, and clarity of prose.
Course Description:
This course engages students in a critical consideration of the moral, religious, and theological implications of the Nazi regime, exploring the behavior and teachings of the Christian churches, their leaders, and lay adherents, as well as Jewish responses to the challenges posed by the Nazi regime to Jewish traditions and values. Questions of ultimate concern include: what is our responsibility to the other, and under what conditions are resistance to authority not only permissible but a moral imperative? How does one preserve internal meaning when confronted with impossible conditions, and what moral values are essential for preserving the self?
