CULTURE & THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE

CULTURE & THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE Religious Studies One – Unit 4 “Catholic Culture and Values”

TRADITIONAL Virtue Education Work Authority Reputation Common Good Delayed Sacrifice MODERN Value Education Leisure Negotiation Celebrity Individual success Instant Egoism CULTURAL SHIFTS

GROUP ASSIGNMENT Which of these “cultural shifts” is most significant in our culture today?

READING ASSIGNMENT Understanding Catholic Christianity Pages 269-279

SPIRITUALITY • God-Consciousness • Transcendent • Ontological (depths of being) • Wholesome • Relationship with God, self, others, creation • Communal (ecclesial) • Way of Life

SPIRITUALITY AT WORK • Modern society does not endorse or promote a spiritual life, however, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our communities to foster a sense of spirituality • There is mystery to the inner workings of God • Where, when, and how God chooses to have a relationship with us is a mystery to us • Like all relationships there is give and take, highs and lows

SPIRITUAL ACTIONS Prayer, reflection, contemplation Study, investigation, questioning Awareness and mindfulness Openness and invitation

SPIRITUAL THEMES Commitment Community Conversation Compassion Celebration (lifelong journey into holiness)

Patience Simplicity Self-Discipline Selflessness Justice Integrity Faith Courage Perseverance Wisdom Love Hope SPIRITUAL HOLINESS

READING ASSIGNMENT “Christian Myth” William O’Malley

TYPES OF EVIL • Natural evil – beyond the control of humanity such as natural disasters, certain types of diseases, and random acts of randomness • Preferential (moral) evil – when evil is chosen such as immorality, unhealthy living, blatant meanness and disrespect

THEODICY • A vindication of the justice of God ordaining or permitting natural and moral evil • That department of philosophy that treats the being, perfections, and government of God, and the immortality of the soul

CLASSICAL THEODICY • Incomprehensibility of God – which argues that God’s will is unknown to us, therefore we cannot explain why there is evil; we must have faith that God does have a plan and that whatever happens has a greater purpose of goodness (evidence by Story of Job) • Divine Chastisement – we suffer because we are bad; seriously called into question by Jesus (evidence by teachings of Calvin) • Divine Pedagogy – suffering is God’s way of getting us to have a relationship with God; suffering is a teaching technique God uses to bring us closer to himself (evidenced by writings of Paul)

MODERN THEODICY • Protest Theodicy – calls into question the goodness of God to begin with; no easy answers, but a clear demonstration of the frustration that the problem of evil presents • Process Theodicy – God is good, but divine power is severely limited in scope metaphysically; precisely because God created such a complex world with free will and naturally occurring structures, God cannot get involved for fear of undermining the order of creation • Person-making Theodicy – whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; this is probably the most influential theodicy in modern theology • Liberation Theodicy – you cannot work with the poor, oppressed, and suffering without calling into question God’s love; this teaches that we must participate (with God) in the struggle against suffering; God triumphs over evil but we are God’s agents in that fight

ASSIGNMENT Which Theodicy works best for you and why?

CHRISTIAN MYTH • Christianity = only myth of human meaning where God endures doubt • Gospels seem to be more scrutinized than other religious texts, because the claims are so outrageous; • Certainty is elusive because of the problem of historicity • Furthermore, Jesus is not portrayed as victorious • The Bible is a human book written by humans for humans representing a Divine message • The myth of Jesus is also problematic – art/tradition portray “feminine” side

METANOIA • Metanoia = reversal of thinking • The old way of looking at the universe is no longer correct (conversion) • Proper reflection upon the Christian myth can bring you to a metamorphosis in your thinking • “Metanoia is an insight, beyond the surfaces of reality, to a level beneath”

RESPONSE PAPER 4A Describe your relationship with God. Is the Christian myth unrealistic? What do you think is the best explanation for why there is evil?

PRAYER &COUNTER-CULTURALISM Religious Studies One – Unit 4 “Catholic Culture and Values”

PRAYER • Act of religion • Asking gifts and graces • Application of the mind towards divine objects • Not merely to acquire, but to use • Union with God is the goal • Necessary for salvation (according to the Church) • Obligation to pray is present always

CONDITIONS FOR PRAYER • Object of prayer must be worthy of God • Faith • Humility • Sincerity - meaning • Earnestness – seriousness and commitment • Attention – prayer ends when attention ends

FORMS OF PRAYER Vocal Mental Private Public

TYPES OF PRAYER Prayers of conversation Prayers of petition Prayers of thanks and praise Prayers of meditation Formal prayers

ASSIGNMENT How is prayer related to spirituality? How does private prayer unite us with others? What is gained from public prayer practiced in community?

RESPONSE PAPER 4B What role does prayer play in your life? Is this role too little or too much?

COUNTER-CULTURALISM • Catholic teachings derive primarily from Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) • These teachings run completely counter to modern American culture • To be a rebel means to be Catholic

ASSIGNMENT Which of Jesus’ teachings would the hardest for our culture to embrace? Which of Jesus’ teachings would the hardest for you to embrace?

THE EMPEROR’S CLUB • In what ways has Sedgewick failed, how has Martin become a success? • What do the following quotes mean to you? • “The end depends on the beginning” • “Deeds without contribution are insignificant” • Describe Sedgewick’s father’s influence on him • What is your reaction to the following events from the movie? • Teacher’s decision to include Sedgewick instead of Martin • Tripping him up (both times) • Not calling him out (both times) • Sedgewick’s son’s reaction to finding out his father cheated

RESPONSE PAPER 4C In what ways are the teachings of the Church contrary to the tenets of modern culture? Use examples from The Emperor’s Club.

CATHOLIC MORALITY & SOCIAL TEACHING Religious Studies One - Unit 4 “Catholic Culture and Values”

FREE WILL • Capacity for self-determination • Three kinds of action • Spontaneous acts – proceed from an internal principle (impulse, growth) • General voluntary acts – proceed from an internal principle (desire) • Strict voluntary acts – proceed form deliberation and choice • Most theologians accept that the “rational” being is always attracted by what is apprehended to be good • Sane humans will not be drawn towards evil

CONSCIENCE • Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act • Well-formed consciences formulate judgments in accordance with reason and in conformity with the Divine good • Therefore, human will operates in conjunction with Divine will • Conscience leaves open the choice between a right judgment and a contrary or erroneous judgment, but whatever the judgment, conscience must be obeyed • Conscience can remain in ignorance or in error, but that does not impute culpability • No matter what the decision of conscience, one must never do evil in order to promote good • One must follow the Golden Rule • Interfering with another’s conscience in unconscionable

SIN • Sin – an offense against reason • Reason is… • Determining what is right and wrong • Understanding the necessary cause and effect relationship that our actions have consequences • Sin is a personal act involving personal choices about personal situations • Sin damages our relationship with God in two ways • Mortal sin – separates us from God’s grace when the following three conditions are met • Grave matter • Full knowledge in wrongness of the action and in its consequences • Complete consent • Venial sin – only wounds our relationship with God, because it fails to meet at least one of the above criteria • Furthermore, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them in the following ways • Participating directly and voluntarily in a sinful action • Ordering, advising, praising, or approving a sinful action • By not disclosing or not hindering someone in the process of committing a sin or about to commit a sin • By protecting a person or persons who have committed a wrong

GRACE • Grace is… • Our weapon against sin • God’s transforming love • Favor – the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call • Participation in the life of God • First and foremost a gift of the spirit • More powerful than sin • Catholicism stresses that God’s grace and love can transform sin • Free will comes into play here as it is up to us to accept grace and make choices that maintain our relationship with God

RESPONSE PAPER 4D Is sin easy or hard to commit?

CATHOLIC MORALITY & SOCIAL TEACHING Religious Studies One - Unit 4 “Catholic Culture and Values”

PERSONAL MORALITY • Personal Morality • We have a responsibility to act in accordance with general principles that support humanity, progress, and order • One of the most ancient codes of morality that has been handed down to us is from the Hebrew tradition • Ten Commandments • Rules from Exodus 20 form the basis of the Judeo-Christian moral standard • Being that the laws are God’s laws, breaking the law is an offense to God • Meant to bring order to a nomadic tribal society • Original letter vs. modern spirit • Individual student assignment • Each student should rate themselves according to the questions found on pages 302-303 of UCC

SOCIAL MORALITY • We must understand that our actions have bearing beyond our immediate lives, and we have a responsibility to act in a way that promotes justice • As students and practitioners of faith, we must progress beyond the conceptual boxes of right and wrong • Instead, we must embrace the dichotomy between that which is just and that which is unacceptable • Justice • The institutional, social, and personal scenario where the prevailing attitude of peace, love, civility, tolerance, and self-actualization is articulated, embraced, and maintained as an evidenced, practical, and universal reality • Justice in action • Justice approach to morality is often referred to as faith-based morality as well • We must act in such a way that the opportunity for all people’s self-actualization is maximized

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS God of Justice Creation Covenant Exodus The Poor The Prophets Example of Jesus

FROM CHARITY TO JUSTICE • Strata of Justice • Charity – providing for the needs of the oppressed • Volunteerism – working with the oppressed • Social action – educating about and working for the oppressed on their behalf • Praxis – Alteration of social structures and institutions (actually making a change on the levels where it matters) • Influences on Justice • Relationships • Politics • Gender • Background • Economics • Personal vs. Institutional

CATHOLIC ANTHROPOLOGY • Imago Dei • We are intrinsically valuable as individuals, therefore we have a responsibility to others • Solidarity – We can’t thrive unless all people are thriving • As human beings we are created “good” but we have the “choice” to do otherwise

PERSONHOOD • Intelligence • Free will • Emotions • Capacity to be active/creative • Endowed with rights/duties • Capable of interpersonal relationships • Called to specific mission in the world • Self-Actualization • Drawn towards God • Graced

CULTURE & THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE