De La Salle University-Manila

College of Liberal Arts

Theology and Religious Education Department

TREDONE COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Code : TREDONE

Course Title : Our Quest for the Fullness of Life
Credit Units : 3
Prerequisite : none
Prerequisite to : Tredtwo
Type of Course : Basic
Faculty : Dr. Luis C. Sembrano
Term/Time/Room :

Course Description:
Consumerism, poverty, violence, oppression and ecological
devastation are but manifestations of sin and the spiritual
emptiness we experience in our lives. The complex realities of good
and evil challenge us to make sense of our existence. Bound up by
our unique cultures, religious traditions and spiritualities, we have
our own stories about this search for the meaning of life. The course
aims to help students understand the role faith plays as they
grapple with the questions and concerns towards the fullness of
life. As the course looks at the distinctiveness of Christianity and
the different faith expressions, students are led to discover and
critically appreciate the life-giving roots exemplified in their own
beliefs, norms and rituals. They deepen their understanding for
others by recognizing the truth, goodness and beauty found in the
different religious traditions.
By developing the skills for religious respect and tolerance,
dialogue and unity, they open themselves to inter-religious and
ecumenical dialogue. This dialogue and sharing of spiritual gifts
from the great traditions in turn show the way to promoting justice,
peace and the integrity of creation.

Overall Course Objectives:

By the end of the trimester, the students are expected to be able to:
1. Understand and appreciate the dynamics of faith in their
search for the fullness of life as experienced in one’s
cultural-religious contexts;
2. Describe the key fundamental beliefs, practices and gifts
of the major faith traditions and their contributions towards
fullness of life (particular attention will be given to faith
traditions as lived in Asia and the Philippines);
 3. Draw out wisdom and inspiration from their own faith
traditions to live fully;
4. Display attitudes and skills towards dialogue,
cooperation and solidarity among various faith traditions;
5. Nurture and enhance a committed and passionate
religious faith.

Course Content:
Module 1 Our Search for the Meaning of life (Cultures,
Faith, and
Spiritualities: Dynamics)
3 hrs a. Dynamics of Worldviews, Faith and Culture
3 hrs b. Faith and Reason
3 hrs c. Divine Revelation and Faith
Module 2 The Wisdom and Inspiration in the great Faith
Traditions
Towards fullness of life (Spiritualities and
Religious
Movements in the Philippines)
1.5 hrs a. Indigenous Spiritualities
b. Folk Spiritualities
1.5 hrs c. Hinduism
d. Buddhism
1.5 hrs e. Judaism
f. Islam
1.5 hrs g. Catholicism
h. Protestantism
1.5 hrs i. Iglesia ni Kristo
j. El Shaddai
Module 3 The Christian Perspective on Fullness of
life (Christian
Paradigm and Spirituality)
3 hrs a. Jesus, The Word made Flesh
3 hrs b. Jesus and the Christian Community
3 hrs c. Celebrating the Presence of Jesus
Module 4 Witnessing as Faith Communities (Concrete
Lived
Spirituality)
3 hrs a. Looking into one’s Lived Cultural
Spirituality
3 hrs b. Understanding and appreciating one’s
Lived Spirituality
Module 5 Inter-Religious Dialogue in the Philippines
3 hrs a. The Catholic Church and Dialogue
3 hrs b. General Principles on Dialogue
Methodologies and Strategies
• Transformative learning approaches and strategies
• Lecture and Reporting
• Film and documentary viewing and analysis
• Individual and group Research
• Faith Community Involvement

Requirements:

1. Personal Integration Papers. This course requires a significant

amount of reading, writing and discussion. The purpose of
integration papers is to help you participate in class
discussions, to allow you articulate in your own words
significant concepts and ideas raised in your readings, class
discussions, activities and lectures, and to facilitate
connections between then and your own life experiences.
a. Coat of Arms
b. Life Line
c. Faith Life
d. My World View
e. Contexts of My Faith
f. Rediscovering My Spirituality
2. Individual/Group research and Presentation on the Different
faith Traditions focusing on their spiritualities.
a. brief history
b. views on Life, the World, God,
c. views on Happiness, Salvation ,
d. their great Teacher/s and His Teachings,
e. views on other Religions

3. Faith Community Involvement (10 hours)

4. Individual Research and Participation:
Questions Related to God, Church, Bible, Sacraments

Assessment and evaluation

• Rubrics for assessment provided in each module
• Personal Integration papers
• Parish/Faith Community Involvement=10%,
• Class Behavior/Attendance, Class Participation = 25%
• Quizzes/ Assignments/ Reflection-reaction papers/ Group
Activities/Presentations = 50%
• Finals (Video Presentation) =15%
• Final Grade is the average of your grade during midterms
and during finals
References:

Text Materials
Bevans, Stephen and Roger Schroeder. 2005. Constants in context:
a theology of mission for today. Quezon city: Claretian
Publications
Boff, L. 1979. Liberating Grace. New York: Orbis Books
Bradley, G. 2002. The Meaning of life. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel
Publishing
Burrel, David. 2004. Faith and freedom: an interfaith perspective.
Malden, MA.: Blackwell Publishing
Cacho, R. 2008. “Re-articulating soteriology, using ginhawa as
model of theology of salvation for Filipinos”, in The Bible in
the 21st century Philippine context.Philippine Bible Society.
Carmody, D. 1982. What are they saying about non-christian
faith? New Jersey: Paulist Press.
Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines.1992. Acts and
Decrees of PCPII.
De Mesa, J. 2003. Why theology is never far from home. Manila: De
La Salle Press.
Edwards, D. 1986. What are they saying about Salvation. New York:
Paulist Press.
Flanery, A.(ed.), 1975. Documents of Vatican II. Grand Rapids
Eerdmans Inc.
Gonzalez, A. 2002. Towards an adult faith. Manila: De LaSalle Press.
Green, Joel. 2003. Salvation. Missouri: Chalice Press.
Hand, Thomas. 2004. Always a Pilgrim: walking the zen christian
path. California: Mercy Center Meditation Program.
Knox, Ian. 1999. Theology for Teachers. Quezon City: Claretian
Publications.
Mallon, Elias D. 2006. Islam: what catholics need to know.
Washington, DC: National Catholic Educational Association.
Mullen, P. 1985. Being Saved. London: SCM Press Ltd.
O’Toole, L. 1998. John Baptist de la Salle, the teacher saint. Manila:
De LaSalle Press.
Ratzinger, Joseph. 2004. Truth and tolerance: Christian belief and
world religions. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.
Russel, L. 1982. Becoming Human. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press.
Saeed, Abdullah and Hassan Saeed. 2004. Freedom of religion,
apostacy and
islam. Burlington VT: Ashgate.
Wostin, L. (ed.), 2004. I believe. Quezon City: Claretian Publications.
Websites:
http://www.TREDONE-ED@yahoogroups.com
http://www.beliefnet.com
 http://www.vatican.va
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Ecclesiam Suam
Nostra Aetate
Dialogue and Proclamation
http://www.sedos.org/english.htm
http:// www.kamat.com/mmgandhi.htm
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Folk_Religion
http://www.unitedearth.com.au/buddha.html
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beliefs.html
http:/www. Peterkreeft.com/featured-writing.htm
http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jun/laotzu.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08444a.htm
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beliefs.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism#Beliefs