HIS 3444: Humanitarianism: Promises and Problems (2024-2025)

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While Jesus taught his followers the importance of compassion in his parable on the Good Samaritan, it was not until the “modern” era that public concern for others outside one’s local area emerged. This class explores modern humanitarianism from its inception with the British antislavery movement to the rise of the technocratic expert and the globalization of development. The course examines the roles of paternalism, politics, and power in past humanitarian schemes and responses to them, and the enduring value of Christian faith in extending aid. Typically offered: Alternate Years.