TH02302: Exploring Catholicism I
Professor: David Turnbloom Stokes North, N430 C [email protected] Mon., 9:30 - 12:30 Wed., 9:30 - 12:30 Or by Appointment
Office Hours:
Course Description: This course is a two-semester exploration of the vision, beliefs, practices, and challenge of Catholicism. The first semester explores human existence as lived in the light of the Mystery of God and the gift of Jesus Christ. We will explore the vision, beliefs and some spiritual practices that characterize Roman Catholic Christianity. The second semester considers the Church as the people of God, gathered and sent forth in the Spirit; the sacraments as catalysts of ongoing transformation in Christ; and the challenge of the spiritual life today. This introductory course fulfills one semester of the Core Requirement in Theology* at Boston College. *A NOTE ON CORE: This course satisfies one semester of the two-semester core requirement in Theology. Please note that in order to complete this requirement, students must take the second semester of THIS core sequence, Exploring Catholicism II. One semester of two different theology sequences, e.g., Exploring Catholicism I and Biblical Heritage II, will NOT satisfy the theology core requirement (Academic Catalog, p. 217). Students who are unclear as to this regulation should consult their instructor or the Theology Department. Course Objectives: To develop a working familiarity with basic theological language. To develop a broad understanding of Catholicisms central beliefs and practices, its history, and contemporary challenges it faces. To develop an ability to ask theological questions and know how to find the answers. Required Texts: Catholic Study Bible. ed. Donald Senior and John J. Collins. Oxford Univ. Press, 2011. (Abbrev: CSB) Keys to the Council: Unlocking the Teaching of Vatican II. Richard R. Gaillardetz and Catherine E. Clifford. Liturgical Press, 2012. (Abbrev: KTC)
These are available in the bookstore and online. They will be used as required text for the second semester as well. All other required reading will be provided to you electronically. Course Requirements: Attendance: Students are required to attend class. Attendance will be taken. You are allowed two (2) unexcused absences. Each unexcused absence beyond two will result in a 15 point penalty to your final grade. An absence is excused if prior permission was granted due to an urgent and documentable reason. Be on time for class. Regular tardiness will result in a penalty to your final grade. It is your responsibility to make sure your name is on the attendance sign-up sheet. Participation: Students are required to participate regularly during class. This is done by preparing written questions for Fridays, participating in Friday discussions, as well as asking/answering questions during lectures. All students must sign up for a Friday on which they will be responsible for preparing a 100 word written question for discussion. The question must engage that weeks reading/lecture material. The questions must be e-mailed to the professor by midnight the evening before class. The purpose of these discussion questions is to foster critical engagement with the material. Questions should be more than clarifications. Quizzes: All assigned reading is required reading. There will be random, unannounced quizzes on the reading material. These quizzes cannot be made up for any reason. Your best 10 quiz scores will count towards your grade. Exams: There will be two exams. These exams will be in a short answer format. If you have an excused absence on an exam day, you may take the exam before the date of the exam. Final Project: The final project will take the place of a final exam. Extra Credit: You may attend a pre-approved lecture and submit an essay (min 1000 words) summarizing the talk and relating it to our course. The essay is due 72 hours after the lecture. This may only be done once for extra credit.
Grade Distribution and Scale: Participation Quizzes Exams Final Project Extra Credit Total A AB+ 94-100 90-93 87-89 = 50 points = 100 points = 200 points = 150 points = up to 15 points = 500 points
B BC+ C CD+ D DF
84-86 80-83 77-79 74-76 70-73 67-69 64-66 60-63 Below 60
Classroom and Communication Etiquette: No eating in class (beverages are allowed). Cell phones are to be silenced. Texting or emailing in class will result in a penalty to your final grade. You are welcome to use computers. However, be aware that I will regularly call on people using computers first, even if others have their hand raised. You have the right to turn in your assignments whenever you want. However, if they are turned in after the due time your grade for that assignment will go down 10% for every 24 hours past the due time that you do not turn in the assignment. Any request for an extension must be requested in person AND by e-mail. All requests must be made one month before the assignment is due. Think ahead. Look at what your other courses will be demanding, and plan accordingly. I try to make myself readily available to all students. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment to meet with me outside of my regular office hours. I do not have an office phone (or a real office for that matter). If you need to speak with me over the phone, send me an email with a phone number where I can reach you. I answer emails Mon. through Fri. from 9:00am to 5:00pm. It is possible that any email sent outside of those times will not be seen or answered until the following weekday.
Exploring Catholicism Schedule Fall 2013
Date Sept. 4 Sept. 6 Sept. 9 Topic Course Introduction: Nietzsches Metamorphoses Traditions of Meaning: What is Catholicism? Theology: How to Talk About God Sacramental Imagination Discussion Revelation and Tradition ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What is Revelation? cont. Discussion Sources of Tradition cont. Discussion Scripture and Tradition cont. Exam #1 The God of Jesus Christ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By What Authority Chpt. 3; Dei Verbum Chpt. 3 CSB 16-30 Johnson, The Creed, Chpt. 2 Gaillardetz, By What Authority? Chpt. 6 KTC 31-38; Dei Verbum Chpt. 1 KTC 39-46; Dei Verbum Chpt. 2 Himes, Tradition, (87-94) Himes, Finding God, 91-98; CSB 1 John Writing Exercise Due Himes, Finding God, 98-103 Assignment
Sept. 11 Sept. 13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sept. 16 Sept. 18 Sept. 20 Sept. 23 Sept. 25 Sept. 27 Sept. 30 Oct. 2 Oct. 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Oct. 11 Oct. 16 Oct. 18 Oct. 21 Oct. 23
Re-Imagining God Forming the Bible Discussion The Sacred History of Gods People Discussion Gods People Gods People
Gaillardetz, Life of Grace CSB 1-5; Dei Verbum Chpts. 4-5
Gen 1-3, 6-9:17, 12, 15, 17, 22, 37, 46
Ex 2-3, 12, 19-20; Jgs 13-16 1 Sam 8, 13:1-14, 15-16; Intro to Kings (p. 399-400); Amos (p. 1265-1276)
Oct. 25 Oct. 28 Oct. 30 Nov. 1 Nov. 4 Nov. 6 Nov. 8 Nov. 11 Nov. 13 Nov. 15 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nov. 18
Discussion Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Discussion Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Discussion Trinity: Persons and Relations Trinity: Ascending and Descending Exam #2 Catholicism as a Way of Life Spirituality ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rausch, Spirituality and Lash, Believing In God Lacugna, Living Trinitarian Faith Johnson, God and The Cross; Lk 22-23 Mt 28; Mk 16; Lk 24; Jn 20-21 Johnson, History of Jesus; Lk 1; Mt 3-7 Lk 10:25-37, 15, 19:28-48
Prayer Nov. 20 Nov. 22 Nov. 25 Dec. 2 Dec. 4 Dec. 6 Dec. 9 Dec. 11 Prayer Discussion Franciscans Jesuits Lay Movements Discussion Eschatology Eschatology Rausch, The Fullness of Christian Hope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi Fr. Dan Horan, OFM Fr. Michael Simone, SJ Ahern, Structures of Hope Excerpts from Catholic Spiritual Practices
Exploring Catholicism I Final Project
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to (1) develop a question of personal interest regarding Catholicism, (2) answer that question using traditional Catholic sources, and (3) critically evaluate that answer. For your final project you may choose one of the following assignments. You must meet with me during office hours before the first exam (October 4th) to officially choose which assignment you will complete. The topic question must be chosen during office hours in dialogue with the professor before the end of November 26.
Option #1: Term Paper Due Date: December 18, 4:00 pm Submitted electronically to [email protected] min = 3000 words max = 5000 words min of 2 Scripture passage min of 2 primary sources (not including Scripture) min of 2 peer reviewed secondary sources.
Length:
Sources:
Option #2: Oral Presentation and Defense Due Date: Length: During office hours (Dec. 16-18) min 10 minute presentation min 10 minutes defense min 1 page handout OR powerpoint presentation min of 2 Scripture passage min of 2 primary sources (not including Scripture) min of 2 peer reviewed secondary sources.
Sources:
