1. And, while we’re at it, what is it?
Why Theology?
And, while we’re at it, what is it?

2. Fr. Hesburgh

3. Come, Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

4. “Meditation in a Toolshed” (C.S.Lewis)
On a sheet of loose-leaf paper, answer each of the following questions with 3-4 meaningful and complete sentences for full points:
What distinction is C.S. Lewis trying to make in this essay? (Basically, what is the difference between looking at something and looking along something?)
Which form of knowledge is more true? Why?

5. Looking At VS. Looking Along
All knowledge is fiduciary
Factual Knowledge
Cuba by Mr. K
Experiential (or Personal) Knowledge
Cuba by a Cuban
Both types of knowledge are necessary!
So what does this imply for theology?

6. “Faith Seeking Understanding”
Theology transcends factual knowledge of God…. Looking at faith is the job of religious studies. Looking at God is the job of natural theology/philosophy. Looking through faith and and “along” the experience of God is the job of theology.
Faith = encounter with the person of Jesus Christ; revelation - God revealing himself to us (through Word of God [JC, Scripture, Ecclesia] - EXAMPLE: Bring your grandma to school day. I can know facts about Grandma, but there as some things she can only reveal about herself. And then I use my reason to figure out which revelations are reasonable!
Seeking = desire to know more
Understanding = using REASON to analyze what has been revealed, with the goal of deepening a RELATIONSHIP with God (personal knowledge vs. factual knowledge) - Grandma couldn’t ride a t-rex to school because dinosaurs have been extinct for millenia. ANd we listen to grandma’s stories so that we can come to know her more deeply, personal knowledge of Grandma (not factual).

7. Check-In: (put this under your daily warm-up)
In light of our discussion of factual and experiential knowledge, is one type of knowledge more important or true than another? (Defend your position either way!)
What is the relationship between theology and both factual and experiential knowledge?

8. My Faith Journey
On a piece of loose-leaf paper, please answer the following questions honestly and meaningfully. Don’t put what you think I want to hear - put what you actually believe.
What faith tradition were you raised in? What is your faith background?
Name 3-5 of your central beliefs, and why they are so important to you. What spiritual perspective or set of beliefs do you bring to this class?
Describe God! Who or what is God to you?
Did this at end of class on 8/24 - last minutes

9. The Church as “Experiential”
All knowledge is fiduciary and relies on authority
For theology, this place of authority is community:
Old Testament -
New Testament -
Apostolic Tradition -
But we are right to ask: what is the reliability (or authority) of this knowledge?
Start here Friday, 8/26

10. “Science of Revelation”
Science is founded on asking, again and again, ‘is this information reliable?’ using experimental data
Theology is founded on asking, again and again, ‘is this information reliable?’ using the data of revelation
Even better: ‘How is this true in light of everything else I know to be true about the world?’
Theology makes a claim about what is true, about the structure of reality. Therefore, theologians must incorporate all other fields or forms of knowledge.
Faith and reason cannot be at odds - if they are, then we have failed

11. Why Study Theology?
Gives us a framework or a lens through which we derive meaning from the rest of what we do
NOT “I’m going to believe this even though I know it’s not true because I’m afraid to face the cold and endless void of my meaningless existence”
Rather, if this is true, it must shape the way we understand everything else
Theology (and religion, for that matter) always makes a claim about what the human person is for (aka what the good is)

12. Short Essay #2: The Good
In one well-written and deeply thought-out page of writing, please answer the following prompt: (due Monday)
Since theology addresses questions of meaning, we must acknowledge that each of us already comes in with a view of the world and meaning within it. In this assignment, defend the good that you plan to do with your life (or at least with your time at Judge Memorial). Go beyond playing a sport well, learning an instrument, or taking as many AP classes as you can so you can get into a good college. When you ponder what your main goal/plan is, ask yourself, “Why do this? What is the good involved here?” For example, if you answer: Be a good friend to those who have no friends. Okay - that’s great - but go further. If that is your plan and aim to live by, defend what is good about it.
[HINT: Keep asking yourself “Why?” over and over again to get to the core of the good.]

13. The Good

14. What is the good?
Please form groups of FOUR. Discuss the following questions, and take notes on your group’s answers to the questions in your notes.
What ideas about the good did you find in common in your essays?
What ideas about the good did your group disagree about or differ on?
As a group, identify five things that are most necessary for human good or flourishing (social contact, success, etc.)?
As a group, if you had to isolate just one thing that defines the absolute human good, what would that one thing be?

17. What isn’t the good?

18. How do we become good?
Virtue -
Grace -
Sacraments -