The
goal of this course is to introduce students to the range of
methodologies and topics that the study of Catholicism includes. It
will equip students with the tools they will need to understand
Catholic history, culture, and theological disciplines. The main
areas of study will be scripture, history of Christianity, systematic
theology, art and literature, and contemporary topics and issues. The
methodologies will be biblical, historical, philosophical, and
comparative.
Required texts:
a modern, annotated version of the Bible
the documents of Vatican II
the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Martha Rasmussen, The Catholic Church: The First 2000 Years
other writings according to the topic treated: e.g. recent encyclicals on social and economic matters, documents from interfaith and ecumenical dialogue commissions, articles on Church art, architecture, and music.
Papers and projects:
five two-page reaction papers (graded pass/fail), one for each of the segments of the course: bible, history, systematics, culture, contemporary topics. The papers will exercise the methodologies of each of the areas.
a mid-term examination to test the acquisition of information.
three two-page formal papers on selected topics to exercise the methodology appropriate to the chosen topic.
a final examination to test the acquisition of information.