Description and Objectives

Senior Philosophy presents the students with the reasonableness of believing in God and an ethical system to help them make right moral judgments. Class discussions in general, and some of the topics in particular, will hopefully illumine their minds and stir their hearts

Either PHIL 408-9 God, Ethics and Culture or THEO 410-11 Apologetics is required for all seniors.

 

Textbooks

Each student receives a binder containing the main content of the class and C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters.

Course Requirements

The quarter grades are a combination of two tests, prayers, and class participation. The semester and final exam are both cumulative. On the first day of each quarter, I give the students the dates of the exams and the dates by which they should memorize the list of prayers assigned for that quarter. The students get credit for this assignment by orally reciting the prayers to me. The grade they will receive depends on how prompt they are in memorizing and reciting them.

As the students approach college their knowledge of the Faith is important, but their faithful practice of it is essential. I am available to them anytime they may have a question or they may want to chat about any of the issues we discuss in class – or even the ones we may not have discussed. I look forward to having them in class.

Outline of Topics Covered

Part I. INTRODUCTION Page 1

1. What this class is about
2. Quickest possible review of Moral Theology Page 2
   1. Moral act
   2. Do good and avoid evil
   3. End does not justify the means
   4. Double Effect
   5. Participation in Evil

Part II. FAITH AND REASON Page 3

3. Religion
4. What is Faith? Page 4
   1. Natural Faith
   2. Supernatural Faith
5. What is Reason? Page 5
   1. Types of Knowledge: How do we acquire each?
   2. Objective and Subjective Knowledge
6. What is the relationship between Faith and Reason? Page 7
   1. Methodology of Faith and Methodology of Reason:
   2. Relationship between Object of Faith and Reason:
   3. Why faith and reason can never truly contradict each other
7. Natural means to know God’s existence Page 23
   1. The two natural means:
   2. Proofs of the existence of God:
   3. Reason and Reasonableness
8. Divine Revelation Page 69
   1. Why do we need it?
   2. Content
   3. Stages
9. Sacred Scripture Page 72
   1. Books:
   2. Interpretation:
   3. Criteria:
   4. Senses:
   5. The Bible: Myth or History
10. Overview of the Old Testament Page 97
11. Overview of the New Testament Page 101
    1. Stages:
    2. Historicity of the Gospels:
12. Sacred Tradition Page 122
13. Why does man turn away from God? Page 127
    1. Why does man sin
    2. Original Sin:
    3. Actual Sin:
14. Forgiveness of Sin Page 131
    1. Introduction
    2. Through Baptism
    3. Through sacrament of Penance
    4. Reconciliatio et Penitentia
15. Why is there evil in the world? Creation Page 138
    1. What type if Universe did God create?
    2. God created the best world of its kind.
16. Why is there evil in the world? Angels Page 140
    1. What is their Nature?
    2. Their Test:
    3. Guardian Angels:
    4. The devil:
17. Why is there evil in the world? The Problem of Evil Page 142

PART III. MAJOR THEMES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE Page 169

18. The Dignity of Human Life: Introduction
    1. Man composed of body and soul:
19. The Dignity of Human Life: Thou Shall Not Kill Page 170
    1. Respect of the body:
    2. How alcohol and drugs disrespect our body
    3. Self-defense
    4. Punishment
    5. Medical Procedures
    6. Euthanasia
    7. Medical Experimentation
    8. Transplant of Organ Donation
    9. Just War
20. The Dignity of the Human Person: Contraception Page 174
    1. Life begins at conception:
    2. Humanae Vitae Page 177
    3. In Summary
21. The Dignity of the Human Person: Abortion Page 194
22. The Dignity of the Human Person: Fertilization Techniques and Embryonic Testing Page 226
    1. Fertilization techniques
    2. Embryonic testing:
23. Family Page 227
    1. What is a Family?
    2. Divine Institution of the Family
    3. Social impact of the Family
24. Same-Sex marriage Page 241
    1. Why does the Church care?
    2. Why should the State care?
    3. Obergefell v Hodges Page 267
    4. Final Thoughts:
25. Stewardship of God’s creation Page 319
    1. Care for Animals:
    2. Laudato Si
    3. Universal destination of the goods of the earth
    4. See Christ in homeless, outcast, unpopular
    5. Concern for the spiritually poor

PART IV: MY MISSION IN LIFE Page 350

26. Universal call to Holiness
    1. God wants every person to know, love, and serve Him. Longing for God inherent to the human person
    2. Salvation outside the Church
27. The Personal Call Page 354
    1. Moses’ Vocation and John Paul II’s interpretation
    2. Personal Attitude:
28. Prayer Page 357
    1. What is prayer?
    2. Why do we pray?
    3. Characteristics of prayer
    4. How do we pray?
    5. Spiritual Direction
29. Types of vocation Page 372
    1. Lay members
    2. Ordained priest, bishop
    3. Consecrated life
30. Marriage: Theology of the body Page 389
    1. Theology of the body
    2. God is the author of marriage
    3. Lifelong commitment in marriage
31. Marriage: Celebration of the sacrament Page 392
    1. Public act that requires a liturgical celebration
    2. Setting for Valid marriage
    3. A Catholic is encouraged to marry another Catholic
32. Marriage: Preparation for the sacrament: Introduction Page 394
    1. Remote
    2. Proximate
33. Marriage: Preparation for the sacrament: The 6th commandment Page 395
34. Marriage: Preparation for the sacrament: Pornography Page 397
35. Marriage: Preparation for the sacrament: Homosexuality Page 440
36. Marriage: Preparation for the sacrament: Healthy dating habits for high school and college Page 452
    1. Dating
    2. Courtship
    3. Engagement
    4. Necessary components to successful relationship
    5. Dating in high school or college: how to make it work?
    6. Develop skills for lifelong commitment
37. Immediate preparation for Marriage Page 454
    1. The Church has a responsibility to prepare couples
    2. Couples’ promises
    3. Knowledge of each other
    4. Practical skill to live commitment
38. Effect of the sacrament Page 455
    1. Grace to live unselfishly
    2. Grace to strengthen permanent nature of their union
    3. Grace to pursue eternal life
    4. Grace to educate children
    5. Example to and strengthening of society
    6. Challenges
39. Divorce Page 459
    1. Civil divorce
    2. Consequences for divorced Catholics who attempt marriage:
40. Annulment Page 461
41. Some Final Thoughts on Vocation Page 463

PART V. FINAL MOMENTS: PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE

42. Death Page 464
43. Particular Judgement Page 465
44. End of the World Page 466
45. Final Judgement Page 467
    1. How do the dead resurrect?
    2. Final Judgement:
46. Purgatory Page 470
47. Hell Page 475
48. Heaven Page 476
49. Conclusion Page 477

 

Successful Students

Students are expected to come prepared to each class, having carefully read the appropriate material from the binder and Screwtape Letters. Students who are thus prepared will be better able to contribute to class discussion.