1 COURSE SYLLABUS Course Number: TH 151 Title: Christian Commitment of Todays Filipino Department/Program: Department of Theology School: School

of Humanities Semester: I School Year: 2013-2014 Instructor: Raymond B. Aguas, Ph. D.

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Let us begin with the Church. At least at first glance, it seems as though quite a lot of people (including particularly intelligent ones, and among those the ones who are more inclined to think critically instead of following blindly) have serious problems with the Church. It seems irrelevant and disconnected from the concerns that people have. Is it simply an outdated relic, a fossilized remnant from a bygone time when people were as yet unenlightened and incapable of independent thought? So we begin with a descriptive view of the Church, taking seriously what you the students have to say about it. Once we have the lay of the land, we can proceed with a more prescriptive view, what the Church should be. Why begin with the Church? Lets face it thats all we have. You cant really talk to God (oh fine, you can, we call this prayer). You cant really hear God (oh fine, maybe you think you can, but most people would consider you insane). Whats left then but the Church its officials, pronouncements, and all other accoutrements (I just wanted to use that word because it sounds nice)? This is a course on Christian commitment, and the entity that is asking for this commitment as well as the venue wherein which this commitment is to take place is the Church. So there. Now, since this Church claims to be Christian, it seems like a reasonable place to begin our investigation is the entity from which this institution claims to proceed. So we take a good, long, hard, intelligent, and critical look at Jesus of Nazareth. Who was he? What were his hopes, dreams, and ambitions? Is the Church that is claiming to spread his Gospel being faithful to him? Why do people still press the up button on elevators even when the button is already lit? Will doing this actually fool the elevator into going faster, since more people are waiting? These and other important critical questions are to guide our study. Since our main source for our study of Jesus will be the Gospels, we first have to make sure we know how to read Scripture (Teacher! I know how! Left to right, top to bottom!) I have a great article for this. I wrote it. It truly is spectacular. Guide questions: Who is your favorite author? If not Ray Aguas, what is wrong with you? Brief recap. Church descriptively. Scripture how to read it. Jesus which enables us to judge the current situation by comparing it with the prescription. Now, we judge Jesus (since even he we will not accept uncritically). So we trace the history from the beginning of the Jewish people all the way up to the time of Jesus (or, in simpler terms, how we got to the New Testament from the Old). In so doing, we will encounter what the scriptural testimony has to say about things like Creation, Original Sin, conscience, freedom, and other such topics. And we can once again judge

2 for ourselves whether what we have heard in the past (from previous teachers, priests, parents, SpongeBob) holds water or is just so much baloney. Assuming we survived all that, we wrap things up by tracing how we got from Jesus to where and what we are today. Well be tracing how a very small, Jewish movement eventually got to be the world-spanning religious institution it is today (brief stopover at the 4th and 5th centuries CE, and a final immigration checkpoint with our Pope emeritus). (OMGWTF!!!!BBQ!!!1111!oneoneone!!11!one! My teacher is so cute!) Yes, I am single. Yes, I do accept applicants.
B. COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course is designed to enable the students to: a) understand the Christian faith such that they can b) explain the basic concepts detailed above (revelation, faith, scripture, Jesus, articles of the Creed) intelligently and with critical nuance c) through an integrated and intelligent use of the sources of the faith (scripture, Church teaching, human experience) C. COURSE OUTLINE AND TIMEFRAME (This detailed schedule is subject to some modification in the case of things like typhoons, etc.) June 10 17 19 21 24 26 Introduction, part 1 of 3 Introduction, part 2 of 3 (form groups) (no reading) Flatland (Revelation and Faith) (no reading) Introduction, part 3 of 3 (read excerpt from Catechism of the Catholic Church) Church 1 (no reading) Church 2 (no reading)

28 Sacred Scripture R1 (read A Guide to Scriptures. Look up Wikipedia entry on Picassos Guernica) July 1 3 5 Nolan 1 (read Nolan, pp. 1-23) Nolan 2 R2 (read Nolan, pp. 27-51) Nolan 3 R3 (read Nolan, pp. 55-88)

3 8 10 12 15 17 19 22 24 26 29 August 2 5 7 12 14 16 Free-for-all/Review Special Research 1 Special Research 2 Midterm Special Research 3 Council of Nicea R5 (read conciliar text, read also Wikipedia entry) Mark R4 (read the entire Gospel of Mark) Matthew and Luke R5 (read the Gospels of Matthew and Luke) Free-for-all (discuss Gospel exercise) Exodus and Leviticus R6 (read Exodus chapters 3, 11, 12, 14, and 20 and Lev. 25) Creation R7 (read Gen. 1 2:4a) Original Sin and Baptism R8 (read Gen. 2:4b 3; also CFC nos. 376-395) Conscience R1 (read Gen. 15; Gen. 21:1-8; Gen. 22:1-18; Conscience Handout) Amos R2 (read Amos 1-9) Job 1 R3 (read the entire book of Job. Read also Gutierrez, pp. 67-103) Job 2 R4 (read the entire book of Job. Read also Gutierrez, pp. 67-103)

23 Chalcedon R6 (read conciliar text. Read Gaudium et Spes #22. Read Wikipedia entry on Council of Chalcedon) 28 30 Sobrino 1 R7 (read Sobrino, pp. 221-238) Sobrino 2 R8 (read Sobrino, pp. 239-255)

September 2 4 6 9 11 13 16 18 20 23 Pope (read Benedict XVI speech, Apostolic Journey) Free-for-all GR 1 GR 2 GR 3 GR 4 GR 5 GR 6 GR 7 GR 8

4 25 27 30 Special Topic 1 Special Topic 2 Special Topic 3

October 2 4 Review week Review week

D. REQUIRED READINGS

Nolan, Albert. Jesus Before Christianity (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1997). Sobrino, Jon. Christ the Liberator (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2001). Gutierrez, Gustavo. On Job (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1987). Bible (other selected readings which are to be made available)
E. SUGGESTED READINGS

Gutierrez, Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation, rev. ed. with a new introduction by the author, ed. and trans. Sister Caridad Inda and John Eagleson (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1988). Haight, Roger. Dynamics of Theology (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1990). Rahner, Karl. Foundations of Christian Faith (New York: Crossroad, 1978). Sobrino, Jon. Central Position of the Reign of God in Liberation Theology, in Mysterium liberationis: fundamental concepts of liberation theology, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1993). McBrien, Richard. Catholicism (San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1994).

F. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

5 Midterm oral exam Oral exams are to be held in my office on a date and time for which you shall sign up. You are to make your own thesis statements, which are to be graded and which you shall defend. Further instructions on this later. Final exam This is also oral, to be held in my office at a date and time for which you shall sign up. Again, you are to make your own thesis statements which are to be graded. To be explained in greater detail later
Group Report Explained in greater detail later. Gospel Exercise Explained later. Group Qs and Rs Explained later. G. GRADING SYSTEM

Midterms (including grade for theses) Final Exam (including grade for theses) Group Report Qs and Rs Gospel

25% 25% 20% 15% 15%

Grade conversion: 3.76-4.0 3.5-3.75 3.0-3.49 2.5-2.99 A B+ B C+ 2.0-2.49 1.0-1.99 below 1 C D F

Do not expect rounding up. A 2.49 is NOT equal to a 2.5.

H. CLASS POLICIES

ATTENDANCE: You are allowed a maximum of 9 cuts (absences). Late is half a cut. You are absent if you are not at your seat as I check attendance. If you arrive late, it is your duty to inform me after class so that I can change my record from cut to late. Leaving any time prior to my dismissing the class, for whatever reason (even if I send you out for disciplinary reasons or your going to the restroom), means you are absent. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. You are in charge of keeping track of your own attendance record. CLASS DISRUPTIONS: I demand more than physical presence. You must also be mentally present as well. Failing to do the assigned reading, not having the required reading for the day, sleeping, etc. are grounds for my sending you out and marking you

6 absent for that day. Texting, using cell phones in any way, and unrelated discussions that disturb the class are also prohibited. Engaging in any of the above (or similar disruptive activities) will result in you being asked to leave the class and/or being marked absent for that day. Repeat violations will result in disciplinary sanctions, including possibly no longer being allowed to attend class. LAPTOPS: I allow the use of laptops in class for class-related activities (note-taking, you have soft copies of the readings, bible, etc.) Unrelated use (facebook, games, etc.) are not allowed, and I consider any of these to be a GRAVE offense. PLAGIARISM/CHEATING: These are obviously not allowed. Disciplinary action will be taken against perpetrators. An automatic grade of F may be given, depending on severity of offense. BEADLE: The Beadle will assist with the administration of the class, especially with board erasure, powerpoint presentations, and other duties as assigned. STUDY TIME: For every hour of class, I expect two hours of independent study/thinking. You are thus expected to spend at least 6 hours per week outside of class studying/thinking of theology.
I. CONSULTATION HOURS

MWF: 12:30 - 1:30 PM TTH: 12:00 1:30 PM Other times by appointment just ask! Office Location & Contact Information: Theology Department, 3/F De La Costa Hall Office: 4266001, loc. 5370 (my office has my name outside the door ) Email: raytheoclass@gmail.com

Very important! Any email correspondence should have your name and section in the subject line of the email. This includes submission of things like a paper or an assignment. Without name and/or section in the subject line, expect that I will not even read said email. When submitting something like a paper, make sure the filename is your nickname and last name. Severe grade penalties are to be given otherwise. This syllabus and other pertinent materials such as the powerpoint presentations I use in class are available online. Go to raytheoclass.blogspot.com (the URL should be easy to remember, right?) Also, any announcements I make (such as changes in our schedule) are to be posted on the website.