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1. Think back to the time in your life when your faith became more than just a label but was truly
meaningful to you for the first time. Please describe the incident/experience that seemed to precipitate this personal faith
transformation. Please identify those elements of the context of the situation that played a role in shaping the experience.
2. Of the various definitions for theology offered on page 1 and 2, which one do you find most
compatible with your own experience of faith? Explain why you find it so compatible.
3. Describe the relationship between theology and other intellectual disciplines.
4. Reflect on the following: the Holocaust, the dramatic developments in computer science and genetic
engineering, 9/11 and its aftermath, as well as the Indian Ocean Tsunami earlier this year. What challenges does each of these
aspects of our contemporary situation present theology? Select one of these aspects of our contemporary situation and suggest
how the various sources of Christian theology might be able to speak to the situation.
5. Summarize the important points from the Gaudium et Spes reading assignment for the
next class.
Extra credit (optional). Research
and write a one page summary of the major accomplishments and ideas of one of the theologians pictured in the handout.
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1. Identify a movie, short story, or book in which
a major character moves from primordial faith to religious faith. (a) Give the name and author of the work, (b) give an overview
of the story, (c) identify those characteristics of religious faith found in the story and describe how they emerged.
Or
Do the same as above but use your own life or that of a friend as the basis for the illustrative story.
2. Dermot Lane argues that the future of religious faith lies in its relationship to and differentiation from
primordial faith. Please respond to this argument for or against. Give examples from your own experience or that of people
you know to illustrate your response.
3. Given an example of the development of doctrine among Catholic teaching. Choose a specific doctrine. Explain
a common earlier understanding of the doctrine and the historical basis for that understanding. Give a contemporary understanding
of the doctrine and the historical basis for the change.
4. What is the relationship between grace and personal religious faith?
5. Describe theological, philosophical, social and political developments in the 19th and early 20th centuries
that exerted a significant influence on the Second Vatican Council. Show the influence of these developments on the Gaudium
et spes readings.
Extra credit: Read section IV "Authentic Human Development" in Pope John Paul II's encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. Discuss the influence of the concept of the "common good" found in Gaudium et spes on this encyclical. The encyclical is available at the links on this site.
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1. Throughout the units of this course it is repeated that faith is integral with our whole person. Please
describe several ways suggested by this unit in which this is true. Please use illustrations from your own life.
2. Different theologians focus on different ways in which humans are made in the image of God. Consider one way in which
humans are the image of God (either from the list at the beginning of the notes or from your own reflections). Explain how
this characteristic gives expression to our nature as the image of God. Consider the consequences of this way of being the
image of God on our faith life.
3. Consider the adequacy and appropriateness in contemporary society of the metaphor/symbol of God as “Trinity”.
4. The readings from the documents of Vatican II are selected because they have some relationship to the theme of the rest
of the material that month. Please explain the relationship between Dignitas Humanae and the rest of the readings.
Please show how the readings better illuminate Dignitas Humanae and how Dignitas Humanae better illuminates
the readings.
5. Consider the similarities and differences between Erickson’s life stages and Fowlers faith development stages.
Extra Credit: Does Fowler’s faith development model ring true based on your own life experience?
Please explain how it rings true or fails to do so.
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1. The revelation of God takes place in human experience. How does this statement apply to Christianity?
2. Consider three common theories about the nature of revelation. Suggest the strengths and weaknesses of each.
3. Select either the existentialist, process or socio-phenomenological idea of God. Describe what you find appealing about
this understanding of God. Describe what you find disturbing about this understanding of God. How is this approach different
from the other two?
4. Both James and Otto seem to stress the extraordinary religious experience as key to understanding our relationship with
the Holy/God. Drawing on your own experience, as well as your reading of theology, what are the benefits of this approach
and what are its drawbacks? Do you find this experiential approach to reflecting on God helpful or disturbing? Why?
5. Describe at least four ways in which Dei Verbum introduces innovation in the Church’s understanding and
practice with regard to revelation, Scripture and Tradition; as well as two ways in which Dei Verbum has changed the
practice of theology in the Catholic Church.
Extra credit (optional). Developments in science have broadened our understanding of the universe and
the emergence of humanity. Reflect on how a self-communicating God is possible in the face of our developing scientific understanding
of nature. —It may help to do some library or internet research on John F. Haught or David Bohm, as both have
contributed to this topic area.
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1. Provide two examples each of how form criticism and historical criticism helped
broaden and clarify our understanding of scripture.
2. Describe the different theories of inspiration—verbal and non- verbal—and illustrate how each
might deal with the issue of evolution..
3. Apply the steps for adequate exegesis listed in these notes to either the Matthew or Luke Christmas narrative
in the Gospels. You may use a commentary for help with some of the steps.
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1. Speculate on the American meta-narrative that will characterize the 21st century. To what extend does this
meta-narrative resonate with or conflict with the Christian meta- narrative. How might the Church best proclaim the Christian
meta-narrative to 21st century Americans shaped by this emerging meta-narrative.
2. Summarize what the Lumen Gentium readings
say about revelation, Scripture and tradition. How does this relate to the discussion of tradition encountered in the readings.
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1. What are some of the reasons why it seems that dialogue among world religions is
necessary today?
2. Within a mile of St. Mark’s Center are three Catholic parishes. One is Mount Carmel, another is St.
Luke, and the third is St. Peter & Paul. The first two are under the direct authority of Bishop Trautman but he has no
direct authority over the third. How can this be?
3. The Catholic Church recognizes the sacraments of the Orthodox Church as valid sacraments. If the Orthodox
are not part of the Catholic Church, how can their sacraments be valid?
4. In trying to explain how the uniqueness of Christ can be honored in a society with many different religions,
the authors of Faith, Religion & Theology offer three models for understanding the uniqueness of Christ. These models
are inclusive, exclusive and pluralistic. Describe each of these models. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each model.
5. Ecumenism and inculturation have common concerns, as each seeks to find common ground in which foundational
truth can be shared meaningfully. If you were assigned to a parish with a large ethnic community with a cultural background
significantly different from your own, how would you go about finding a way in which you and members of that community could
communicate meaningfully? Draw upon ideas covered in this unit.
Extra credit (optional). Consider the World Council of Churches website,
as well as the portion of the Vatican website dealing with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (links at
class website). What examples of the various types of inter-religious dialogue do you find discussed at each website. Can
you think of other examples available on the Web that are not included in these two sites? (Please include links or URL to these sites.)
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*These questions are meant to stir critical reflection on your part. The responses need not be multivolume tomes
but they should be long enough to respond to the question thoughtfully. Please type and use double spacing. Number the pages
and the question to which you are responding.
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