"Ethics" and the Bible Minor

Perhaps we should chat a bit about "ethics" as it relates to the Bible minor. While it tends to get used in a narrower sense, there is that older usage, which refers to a comprehensive theological understanding of the world and of the Christian role in it (e.g., Bonhoeffer's Ethik), it almost becomes a theology of culture. The advantage of this more comprehensive understanding is that it draws together both personal and public (social) ethics. I am reminded of McClendon's trilogy on theology: Ethics, Doctrine, Witness.

I wrote this in response to Ryan's email, which follows:

"We think of SpiFo and Integration as radically different subjects;Spifo: how to be Christian personally (privately); Integration (how to be Christian publically). What I'm saying by using the word "ethics" is that these are tightly related to one another. We need to see these two courses especially as integrated with one another!"