How should we respond to manifestations of Hell on earth? The answer we give is a matter of prescription. In the preceding sections, we discussed the moral implications of particular views of Hell. In this section, I shall pose two questions: First, what does it mean to say that we have a duty to follow specific moral principles? Second, do we always have this duty? Third, can we speak about incontestable moral principles?
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COVID-19: “Sick as Hell”
21. Tuesday, April 2
What does the world’s recent bout with Hell–the Coronavirus pandemic–tell us about human beings? What does the pandemic–as well as the differing reactions to it–teach us about how we should live in the future? Or did we learn nothing at all from this human catastrophe?
We will approach these questions in two ways. First, we will look back at a potential pandemic–one that has been long forgotten– that hit northern California in 1900: the bubonic plague. As you read the following book, identify the similarities between the response to the plague 125 years ago and the pandemic we recently experienced:
David K. Randall, Black Death at the Golden Gate, pp. 1-207.
Second, we will consider our contemporary predicament and ask about the potential implications of the pandemic. I am providing a few possible scenarios (one can think of many more). As you read these articles, ask yourself why each is more, or less, persuasive, and why.
Discussion:
“The Pope sees the pandemic as a chance to ‘see’ the poor”: READ AND TAKE NOTES
Recommended, Shari Rudavsky, “Indiana bill proposal seeks ivermectin as COVID treatment. Why pharmacists are up in arms” HEAR
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GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: “The Fires of Hell”
22. Thursday, April 4
Discussion: Do we have the same moral obligation to care for our planet that we have to care for our fellow human beings? How might our reaction–positive or negative–to the COVID pandemic be related to our response–or lack of a response–to the ongoing dangers of climate change.
Shannon Hall, “Exxon Knew about Climate Change almost 40 years ago,” Scientific American PRINT AND READ
Pope Francis. Laudato Si’: Summaries : READ and PRINT Chapters II, IV, and VI.
Susan Brink, “Can’t Help Falling In Love With A Vaccine: How Polio Campaign Beat Vaccine Hesitancy” READ AND TAKE NOTES
Recommended, if you are curious about what I think.
A. James McAdams, “Post-Truth, Climate Change and the Idea of the Modern Catholic University” HERE
Recommended background reading: Fourth National Climate Assessment (2017): Official Report to the US Congress and President: See the Italicized summary points HERE
Compared to the handling of the San Francisco plague and our current war against COVID, what was different about the campaign against polio? Why was this the case?
What can the Coronavirus teach us about how to prepare for the looming existential danger of global climate change. I say “looming” in reference to the United States. Climate change has already resulted in the devastation of vast parts of the developing world, especially Africa. In fact, I shouldn’t even use “looming” for the US because the ravages of climate change are already upon us!
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THE PLIGHT OF THE MIGRANT: “HELL ON EARTH”
The goal of this section is to meditate on the plight of the migrant, not necessarily to get into the nitty-gritty political questions surrounding the global crisis over the migration of peoples. To this end, I would like you to be prepared to talk about the following issues:
What is it like to be a migrant?
When we consider the meaning of tragedies, such as the vast movement of peoples around the world, why do we, as human beings, struggle with the issue of empathy? If we should be empathetic with the plight of the downtrodden, how can we turn ourselves around?
Jesus was a refugee without a home: She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn (World English Bible)
23. Tuesday, April 9
Discussion:
Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway: A True Story. Read at least the first half of the book.
WWJD?: Jesus, the Homeless Refugee – Matthew 2:1-15 READ AND PRINT
24. Thursday, April 11
Discussion:
Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway: A True Story Finish the book.
Contrast with “The Forbidding Reputation and Hypnotic Scenery of the Devil’s Highway: HERE
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Terror in Ukraine: “Hell on the edge . . . and the call to resilience”
25. Tuesday, April 16
Sofia Dobko will be your teacher. She asks you to read the following pieces:
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- “God’s Truth Will Prevail: A Report on Ukrainian Catholic University’s Activities During the 2nd Year of the Full-Scale War”
- “Friends from Childhood. Brothers in War”
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“How Students Volunteer During Academic Year” (The link takes you to a Ukrainian version, but gives you the option to use Google translate to conver it to English).
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26. Thursday, April 18
From Sophia: This class continues the topic of resilience in regard to the full-scale russian (deliberately misspelled) invasion of Ukraine. Nazar Dudchak and Ilona Pekar, third-year law students at the Ukrainian Catholic University, will join you in a conversation. Nazar is from Rivne while Ilona is from Lutsk. Both cities, just like any other Ukrainian city, have witnessed and continue to witness bombings and air raids regularly.
In February of 2022, the war caught Nazar and Ilona in their dorms in Lviv, where the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) is located. They will share their experiences and talk about how the theme of resilience has continuously found its reflection in their lives for more than two years now.
This is a chance for you to converse WITH them, engage WITH them
Please think ahead about what you would like to learn from the UCU students. No new readings for this class. Now that you have real people in front of you, forget about books!
27. Tuesday, April 23
NO CLASS
28. Thursday, April 25.
Singer
Discussion: In this, our final class session, I would like to focus on the idea of Hope. In this seminar, we have looked at some pretty awful aspects of the human experience. And it’s easy to find people who think humanity is on the verge of extinction.
See the examples here: Tyler Austin Harper, “The Hundred-year Extinction” PRINT AND READ (bring to class)
Winston Churchill said as much in a 1925 essay, “Shall we all Commit Suicide” READ
Does this mean, however, that such predictions are destined to come true? I certainly hope not. I do not want you to come away from this class as hardened cynics. Indeed, I think we can–and should–approach our human future in a different way. For humans to survive in a troubled world–one which is largely of their own making–we have to cultivate the opposite of cynicism. We must cultivate Hope. Today, I ask you to reflect with me about the meaning of Hope in our lives. Where does Hope come from? Why is Hope important? How do we maintain it?
I would like to use our class visits and our readings on the war in Ukraine as the backdrop for our entire discussion. Thus, please bring these readings to class.
In addition, please read these articles about Hope. Identify their similarities and differences.
Kelly J. Baker, “Why I remain hopeful,” Chronicle of Higher Education PRINT AND READ (bring to class)
Roy Scranton, “Raising my child in a doomed world” PRINT AND READ (bring to class)
Isaac Bashevis Singer, “Nobel Lecture” PRINT AND READ (bring to class)
Samuel Scheffler, “The Importance of the Afterlife. Seriously. PRINT AND READ (bring to class)
Your final essay assignment IS HERE
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Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
No one ever asks me why I put this passage from the Bible at the end of my courses. Will you?