WEBSITE: www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/buckleyf or www.usfca.edu/GOODNEWS
Includes syllabus, bibliography. For useful notes on doing term papers, see:
http://webdev.menlo.edu:8080/~jhiggins/academic/classes/writing.html
Jan. 23 Orientation. Syllabus, strategies of learning. Dialogue of God and Us: Revelation as a
Process of Communication. Read Docs. of Vat. II, Rev., £1-13, 21-26. (Abbott, pg. 111
ff.); Coventry, Ch. 1-2. Carmody, Ch. 2-3. Reflection paper on Rev. in your own life.
30 Rev. as Process of Discovery and Interpretation. Bible as Rev., Canon. Discuss Rev.,
£1-13, 21-26; Cov., 1-2; Carmody, 2-3. Read Rev., £14-20; Buckley, Dialogue, Ch. 1, 3.
Feb. 6 PAPER: "God's Revelation and Faith Today". Biblical Interpretation.
13 TEST ON REVELATION. Discussion. Read Zanzig, Ch. 1-8 . Yahweh. Gender &
cultural diversity. Reflection paper on religious experience in the light of Christ.
20 Discuss Zanzig, 1-8; Kingdom. Incarnation & Redemption. Read Coventry, Ch. 1-7;
Carmody, Ch. 7; Zanzig, Ch. 9-11. Reflection paper on religious experience in the
light of Christ.
27 Discuss Zanzig, 1-11, Coventry. Resurrection. Himes videos. Origins of gospels.
Read MARK Chapters 1-16. Reflection paper: Analyze structure of Mark.
March 6 Discuss Mark, Ch. 1-16; Reflection paper: Analyze structure of Mark.
13 PAPER : "How is Jesus Christ God's Revelation to me?" Discuss Mark, Zanzig,
Coventry. How to write a gospel. Zeffirelli TEST ON CHRIST AS REVELATION.
20 Review of Zeffirelli. Discuss Christology. Read Carmody, Ch. 5; Docs. of Vat. II,
Dogmatic Const. on Church, [Lumen Gentium] £1-38. (Abbott, pg. 14). Analyze
structure of Chapters 1-4, ##1-38. Reflection paper: Religious experience & Church
27 Spring Break
April 3 Discuss Church, 1-29: Models, Kingdom, Mission, Marks, Salvation; Triple Mission,
Infallibility; read £39-68; Buckley, Dialogue, Ch. 6-11. Paper on Ecumenism.
10 Discuss 30-68: Laity, Triple Mission, Holiness, Eschatology; Mary; Gender and
Cultural Diversity issues; read Carmody, Ch. 4 and 6; Docs. of Vat. II, Pastoral
Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, £1-45.(Abbott, pg. 199) Paper:
Analyze structure of ##1-45.
17 Discuss Church in Modern World, ##1-45: World, Person, Christ; Society, Activity,
Church, Christ. Vatican II Vision 2000 Video #4: Authority & Am. Catholicism.
Read: Declaration on the Relationship of Church to non-Christian Religions.
(Abbott, pg. 660) ; Declaration on Religious Freedom £ 1-15; (Abbott, pg. 675);
Buckley, Dialogue, Ch. 20-23; Growing, Ch. 11.
24 PAPER : "How are Documents of Vatican II being applied at USF or my Parish?";
Discuss non-Christian Religions, Religious Freedom; Show video Long Search:
Rome, Leeds, Desert. Read Constitution on Liturgy £1-58, (Abbott, pg. 137 ff.) May 1 Discuss Constitution on Liturgy £1-58. Paper: Religious experience & Church.
8 Last Class. Summary and Review.
15 FINAL EXAMINATION: —7 PM due at Loyola house..
TERM PAPERS : Follow the standard form for social sciences or Turabian or Higgins. Include a bibliography. (Footnotes may be put at the end.) References to the Bible should be by version, book, chapter, verse. Papers must be bold face, 12. pt., and checked for spelling and grammar, and at least ten pages long. Write for publication: indicate two possible journals which might print it... For term papers include a site visit to a church.
How to write a term paper:
a) Select a topic of interest to you (a problem of self or others, experience)
b) Jot down your own ideas, questions, possible outlines.
c) Research: Encyclopedias; Catholic Periodical Index; databases of books, articles
d) Summarize your notes.
e) Rearrange according to your own outline; rewrite in your own words.
Weekly reflection papers may be sent by e-mail: buckleyf@usfca.edu
The library RESERVE ROOM has copies of some required reading books.
The library PERIODICAL ROOM has bibliographical tools and periodicals.
Become familiar with the University Learning and Writing and Computer Centers.
Campus Ministry and St. Ignatius Church provide opportunities to express in prayer and action deepening appreciation of the example and teaching of Jesus and the Church. The presence in San Francisco of a variety of liturgical traditions (African American, Hispanic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Greek, Russian, Armenian, Roman) can provide source material for student reflection papers and term papers. Students can also visit many different churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples for background experiences when treating the Decl. on Relationship of Church to other Religions and Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1. THE BIBLE (Buy just one. The New Jerusalem Bible, hardcover, is the most useful; some copies are in the reserve room and in the reference room. Next best is the Catholic Study Bible, Oxford U. Press. The Oxford Annotated with Apocrypha and New American are good. A bible with good footnotes, cross-references, introductions will be valuable for life.)
2. Documents of Vatican II, edited by Abbott, (Library Reserve and Internet)
3. John Coventry: Faith in Jesus Christ, Winston Press. (Library Reserve)
4. Thomas Zanzig: Jesus Is Lord: A Basic Christology for Adults, 1982
5. Denise Carmody: Christian Feminist Theology, Blackwell, 1995
6. F. J. Buckley, S.J., Growing in the Church, University Press of America, 2000
7. F. J. Buckley, S.J., The Church in Dialogue, University Press of America, 2000
OPTIONAL RECOMMENDED READING:
Dennis Doyle: The Church Emerging from Vatican II, 23rd, 1995
Avery Dulles, S.J.: Models of the Church, expanded edition, Doubleday, 1987
Joseph Eagan. S.J.: Restoration and Renewal, Sheed & Ward, 1995
Andrew M. Greeley, American Catholic, Basic Books, 1977
, The Catholic Myth, Scribner, 1990
, The Jesus Myth
William O’Malley, S.J., God: The Oldest Question, Loyola, 2001
Karl Rahner, S.J., Shape of the Church to Come, Seabury, 1974
GRADING will be based on required regular attendance and quality of participation in class; on the extent and quality of research, imagination, critical judgment shown in the term papers and the reflection papers and on the quizzes and examinations.
A= Outstanding (Beyond a thorough grasp of required texts and lectures, shows ability to
relate material to life and to other subject areas and to form personal synthesis; shows
good critical judgment in area and choice of bibliography; very good oral and written
expression; excellent candidate to do graduate work in the field.)
B= Superior/Good (Accurate grasp of required texts and lectures; shows critical judgment,
good speaking and writing skills; possible candidate to do graduate work in the field.)
C= Satisfactory (Adequate grasp of required texts and lectures in essentials.)
D= Unsatisfactory/Poor
F= Failure (Course not counted toward degree requirements.)
Attend all classes. Absence at 20% of classes is grounds for failure.
Course Description:
Jesus is God's Word made flesh, incarnate revelation. God still speaks to us through Christ and his Body, the Church. Essentials of Tradition, including gender and cultural diversity.
GOALS:
1) To help students explore systematically and critically human experiences to discover God's revelatory presence and action embodied in history.
2) To demonstrate how the Christian traditions illuminate and interpret these experiences of God, not only in classic Christian texts, but also in later developments. This inquiry is best done through dialogue between scholarly disciplines. At USF this dialogue will be particularly rich because of the cultural diversity of students. It will involve the formation of skills of critical analysis and synthesis.
3) To encourage students to respond personally and as a community to God's revelation in Christ, drawing conclusions from it about human dignity and rights, about human freedom and responsibility, about the need for both prayer and action to cooperate effectively with God's plans for the good of the entire human family and the cosmos in which we live.
COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES:
. Knowledge of the basic themes and trends in Christology and Ecclesiology.
. Awareness of the relevance of cultural diversity to theological expression
. Awareness of the major areas and trends of interdisciplinary theological dialogue and
critical reflection on significant issues connecting Christology and Ecclesiology with
other intellectual disciplines.
. Awareness of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue
. Awareness of major issues confronting the Church today
. Familiarity with essential theological resources and tools
. Familiarity with methods and content of theological schools and traditions
AFFECTIVE OBJECTIVES:
. sensitivity to religious values
. appreciation of one's own and other religious traditions
. appreciation of the beauty and limits of theological syntheses
. enthusiasm about theology
. appreciation for what belief in God means for human dignity
and responsibility to others and for the environment
. appreciation of self and others as God's children, for whom Jesus died.
BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES:
. ability to apply historical-critical and literary principles of interpretation to
scripture, church documents, and other theological texts
. ability to do research with critical analysis and judgment
. ability to use creative imagination in forming personal theological syntheses,
integrating life experience with theological interpretation
and integrating theological principles with action
. ability to write and speak clearly and effectively on theological topics
. ability to engage fruitfully in theological interdisciplinary dialogue
(Rev.) Francis J. Buckley, S.J.
How well were the learning objectives achieved, i.e.:
What did you learn through this course:
-knowledge about Revelation, God, Christ, Church, yourself, others?
-appreciation of Revelation, God, Christ, Church, yourself, others?
-theological skills?
How did you change? What brought about the change?
What ideas did you put into practice? With what success?
What were your criteria for measuring success?
How will this course affect your future?
Spend no more than 150 minutes in writing this examination on a computer.
You may prepare for it as long as you wish. Indeed, the whole semester has been preparing you for it. Since you will have it on your computer, you may keep it as a summary of what you have learned.
When you have finished it. leave it for me at the switchboard at Loyola House
no later than: May 15, 7 PM.
HOW TO READ A BOOK
A. General Orientation:
Date (Bibliography)
Preface
B. Structure:
Table of Contents
First & last paragraphs of chapter...headings
Topic sentences of paragraphs
C. Mark it:
Underline key themes
Marginal notes & questions
Circle matters to be explained
D. Critique it:
1) What are the major issues discussed?
2) Is the approach sound, plausible, acceptable? Why?
3) What assumptions are made? How are they justified?
4) How does this fit in with your experience?
5) How does this fit in with other authors?
6) Do you agree or disagree? Why?
7) What conclusions follow--for you, for others?
8) How will you act on this?
HOW TO STUDY
1. Organize time
2. Start with hardest material
3. Race the clock
4. Analyze & synthesize: find main points & interrelations
5. Test yourself: ask & answer questions
NAME STUDENT ID #_______________________
ADDRESS
E-mail TELEPHONE
ETHNIC BACKGROUND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
ADVISOR MAJOR YEAR IN COLLEGE
Any learning problems I should know of?
Groups which significantly affect your attitudes, values, behaviors:
Books you read last month:
What parts of the newspaper do you read? How often?
Magazines you read last month:
Movies you saw last month:
TV programs you saw last month:
Favorite type of music: Favorite color:
How many hours a day do you spend on average:
. studying?
. talking with friends?
. working?
. in sports?
. in email?
. on the internet?
. playing computer games?
. in other forms of recreation?
What are your favorite sports?
What are your other favorite forms of recreation?
What human problems are you most interested in?
What religious issues are you most interested in?
What values do you see in this particular course?
What can you bring to the community of this class? (What are you good at?)
What do you want from this community? (What are you looking for?)
QUESTIONS TO BE EXPLORED IN SPRING, 2002
Does God exist? xx
What is the Trinity?
How is God the Father? Could God be female?
Revelation: what, when, where, how?
How recognize genuine revelation? Do I need faith to have a revelation?
Does God only speak through the Bible? How interpret the Bible? xxx
Does God love all people equally?
What of other religions?
Salvation—relation to revelation, Jesus?
Heaven, hell, reincarnation? xxxxx
Why is God so judgmental, forgiving? xxxxxxx
Is God fair in sending so many people to hell if they never heard of Christ?
How can I strengthen my relationship with God?
Did Jesus really exist? Did he really perform miracles? Did he have faith?
What did he do between age 12 and 30?
How does Christ affect people? xx
How can I be more like Christ day by day?
How can I grow spiritually? xxxx
Does the Church really meet people’s needs?
How does the Church apply Christ’s teachings to a constantly changing world?
Is the Church infallible?
Does the Church accept evolution?
Why does the Church urge simplicity, while having so many luxuries?
How does the Church change? xx
Is the Church losing influence?
How can the Church attract young people?
How choose a Church?
Why go to Church? xxxxxxxx
Must one drink the wine at Mass?
Does the Church condemn tattoos and body piercing? Abortion? Stem cell research?
Homosexuality?
How is the Pope chosen?
Will there be married priests? Women priests?
Why do children suffer? Why is there war? AIDS? Divorce? Teenage pregnancy? Social
injustice? Apathy? Discrimination? Disease? Death?
Will the world come to an end? When?