INITIUM FIDEI : INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

CRE

• VISION/MISSION

“To transform students to become mature Christians/disciples through Information –

Formation – Transformation to Share and Live Jesus in our life”

❑ Information: - students with the necessary knowledge and understanding

of Catholic teachings, beliefs, and practices.

❑ Formation: developing students' character and spiritual growth - sense of

purpose and meaning in life

❑ Transformation: the process of students becoming mature

Christians/disciples who actively live out their faith. It includes sharing the Gospel

message with others, serving the community, and participating in the life of the

Church.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AS THE CORE OF THE CURRICULUM

Religious Education is the "core of the core curriculum" in a Catholic school

(Pope St John Paul II). Placing RE at the core of the curriculum in Catholic schools

helps the school to fulfill its mission to educate the whole person in discerning the

meaning of their existence, since "Religious Education is concerned not only with

intellectual knowledge but also includes emotional and affective learning. It is in

the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of what it is to be human

truly becomes clear. Without religious education, pupils would be deprived of an

essential element of their formation and personal development, which helps them
attain a vital harmony between faith and culture." (Religious Education

Curriculum Directory p4). Furthermore, religiously literate children and young

people can engage in a fully informed critique of all knowledge, "leading, for

example, to an understanding of the relationship between science and religion

or history, and between theology, sport and the human body." (Religious

Education Curriculum Directory p4).

It is Christo-centric, kerygmatic, and experiential in its approach, meaning

it selects and organizes the essentials of the Catholic Faith, emphasizing the

centrality of the mystery of Christ. The scope and sequence of each course

endeavors to go beyond intellectual assent to the truths of our Faith, and hopes

to form Christians who are committed to the Person of Jesus Christ.

The course recognizes the tripartite dimensions of our Catholic Faith

(Doctrine, Morals, and Worship) and presents them interactively.

In addition, the Religious Education curriculum encourages skills such as

reading the Scriptures, critical thinking and reflection, and moral decision-making

and valuing. These skills are necessary for educating the Josenian students.

Classroom experience is not enough. The students have to be initiated into

community involvement, liturgical celebrations, prayer, and other religious

activities. Integrated into each Religious Education subject is the Community

Extension Services Exposure Program which is developmental and so tailored as

to accompany the subject matter in the classroom with community involvement.

LESSON 1 THEOLOGY AND THE SEARCH FOR MEANING

This lesson aims to introduce students to the task of doing theology in the context
of the world today.

The world is surrounded by skepticism and indifferences. This has been worsened

by trends in this so-called “POST-TRUTH ERA”

As a response, theology presents a way to search for the meaning and purpose

that is grounded on the certainty of God. The theological enterprise is an

opportunity for people, especially the youth, to understand life, faith, and reality.

Theology can provide a powerful framework for students seeking meaning and

purpose in their lives. By grounding their search in the belief of a higher power,

students can find:

A sense of direction: Theology often offers a clear understanding of life's purpose

and direction. This can be particularly helpful for students navigating the

uncertainties of higher education and career choices.

A sense of belonging: Religious communities can provide a strong sense of

belonging and support, helping students feel connected to something larger than

themselves.

A source of hope: In times of difficulty or uncertainty, faith in a higher power can

provide a sense of hope and resilience.

A moral compass: Theological principles can offer guidance on ethical decisionmaking, helping
students to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

A framework for understanding life's challenges: Theology can provide a way to

make sense of life's challenges and suffering, offering comfort and perspective

The Context of Our Search

The world is immersed in the mystery of God, every search for meaning, truth,
clarity, and depth today is in its way a part of the human being’s quest to engage

that very mystery.

The post-truth era is a term that has gained prominence in recent years to

describe a time when objective facts are less influential in shaping public

opinion than appeals to emotions and personal beliefs. In other words, it's a

situation where truth is less important than what people want to believe.

1. Misinformation and disinformation: The spread of false or misleading

information, often through social media and other digital platforms.

2. Polarization: The increasing division of society into opposing groups with

strongly held beliefs.

The rise of the “post-truth” era is just one of the many signs of the current

brokenness pervading the world and the Philippines of today… the growing trend

of INDIVIDUALISM and EXCLUSIVISM that has poisoned our society.

Both individualism and exclusivism are signs of the trend for more privatistic

tendencies that can become hindrances to an authentic search for meaning

and purpose in the world.

Interiority

Introspection and self-understanding will be an avenue to witness the presence

of the Divine in our lives

THEOLOGY as an Endeavor for ALL People

1. For believers, theology acts as faith seeking understanding (Latin: Fides

quaerens intellectum).
“For I do not seek to understand in order to believe; I believe in order to

understand, For I also believe that ‘Unless I believe, I shall not understand.’”

The International Theological Commission describes theology as scientia Dei (Science of

Faith):

Theology is therefore scientia Dei as much as it is a rational participation in the knowledge

that God has of himself and all things. As scientia Dei, theology aims to understand in a

rational and systematic manner the saving truth of God.

2. For nonbelievers, theology is a form of appreciation of the capacity of

human beings to acquire faith. It is by no means a form of indoctrination,

and in no way is it an attempt to convert people to Christianity or

Catholicism.

YOUTH as Essential Audience of Theology

Direction, commitment, call — these are all within the vision of the Christian faith

As Saint Augustine explained: “The first step in the search for truth is humility.

Theology is a quest of humble understanding

Conclusion

Faith-seeking understanding includes three topics (Theology and The Search for

Meaning, A Conversation between Spirituality and Theology and The Sources of

the Faith).

This provides an introduction to the human quest for meaning and purpose in light

of God’s grace and our faith. It consists in an effort in an effort at sustained,

directed and personal thinking out of Christian Spirituality to foster the ongoing
growth of students toward full maturity in the faith, as active members of the

Catholic Church, able to respond as true disciples of Christ to the urgent

challenges of Filipino life today.

Lesson 2 A Conversation between Spirituality and Theology

Christian Spirituality is the LIVED EXPERIENCE of Christian Faith

Spirituality is “the experience of conscious involvement in the project of life integration through
self-transcendence toward the ultimate value one

perceives.” - Sandra M. Schneiders

Religion is an organized ground of worshippers who share beliefs, practices and

a moral code.

Theology is the study of God

The Three Principles of Augustinian Spirituality

1. Veritas (Truth)

2. Unitas (Unity)

3. Caritas (Love)

Veritas (Truth)

Within Augustinian spirituality, one important aspiration is the understanding of the

truth of oneself, and in that, the truth of God: “O God, let me know myself, so I

may know you.”

Unitas (Unity)

There must be openness and willingness for collaboration amongst members of

the community, as well as with those engaged by the community (Augustinian

Caritas (Love)

For Augustine, love is the why and how of our knowledge. “Use knowledge as a

kind of scaffolding to help build the structure of love and understanding, which

will last forever even after knowledge destroys itself. Knowledge is useful when it

is used to promote love. But it becomes useless, even harmful in itself, if separated

from such an end.”

Conclusion

Let us end with a reminder: “to be spiritual you need the roots of religious tradition

and community, while to be religious in a Christian way you need the wings of

committed spiritual practices.