📝 THEOC 1301 — QUIZ 1 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
🟣 SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
slide 2 — overview: theology
theology = a reasoning process about god and all he has made known to us through divine revelation. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
in simpler words:
theology is using reason/thinking to understand what god has revealed.
MEMORIZE:
theology = reasoning about god + divine revelation
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slide 3 — overview: oikonomia
oikonomia = economy
it means:
* stewardship
* administration
it refers to:
the works by which god reveals himself and communicates his life. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
MEMORIZE:
oikonomia = stewardship/administration + god revealing himself and communicating his life
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slide 4 — the bible
the bible is:
* the primary source for studying theology
* the inspired and inerrant word of god
* god’s self-communication to us
* given for the sake of our salvation
the slide also says:
“the study of the sacred page should be the very soul of sacred theology” — dei verbum 24 THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
what you need to understand:
the bible is extremely important to theology because it is god communicating himself to us, and theology studies it to understand what god has revealed.
MEMORIZE:
bible = primary source + inspired/inerrant word of god + god’s self-communication + salvation
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slide 5 — the church fathers
the slide connects theology with:
“faith seeking understanding”
this is from st. anselm. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
fathers
the fathers are:
* orthodox
* holy
* pre-800 ad
doctors
doctors are people who made significant contributions through profound understanding of the faith. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
easiest way to remember:
fathers → orthodox + holy + before 800
doctors → significant contributors + profound understanding
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slide 6 — the magisterium
what is the magisterium?
the official teaching authority of the church.
the pope’s primary duties regarding christ’s teaching:
1. protect
2. interpret
3. pass down THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
MEMORIZE:
magisterium = official teaching authority
pope = protect, interpret, pass down
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⭐ slide 11 — the vocation of the theologian
🚨 ESSAY TOPIC
this is one of the most important sections.
the theologian’s vocation is:
to pursue an ever-deeper understanding of the word found in scripture, handed on by tradition, in communion with the magisterium. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
the theologian also:
* responds to the invitation of truth
* seeks to understand faith
* helps the people of god give an accounting for their hope
* seeks truth so people can become disciples
* communicates the faith
* serves love by giving people better knowledge of god THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
basically:
the theologian is supposed to understand the faith more deeply and help other people understand it too.
⭐ essay formula:
deeper understanding → scripture + tradition → communion with magisterium → help people understand faith → communicate faith → better knowledge of god
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slide 12 — vocation of the theologian, continued
the theologian should:
1. deepen their own faith
they unite:
research + prayer
2. use proper intellectual standards
they should be attentive to:
* epistemological requirements
* critical standards
* rational verification
3. grow spiritually
they should make a spiritual effort to grow in:
virtue + holiness THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
remember:
the theologian needs BOTH:
intellectual growth → research + critical thinking + rational verification
spiritual growth → prayer + virtue + holiness
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slide 13 — vocation of the theologian, continued
theologians understand revelation through:
* philosophical concepts
* historical disciplines
* human sciences
BUT:
the ultimate normative principle is revealed doctrine.
their teaching must in no way harm the doctrine of the faith. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
there is freedom within the church’s faith.
the theologian should also be open to:
* objective discussion
* fraternal dialogue
* modifying their own opinions THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
⭐ important idea:
theologians can think, research, and discuss, but their work remains within the church’s faith and revealed doctrine.
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⭐ slide 17 — magisterium & theology (collaborative)
🚨 ESSAY TOPIC
the magisterium and theology have the same goal:
preserving the people in truth.
but they have different roles:
magisterium → authentically teaches doctrine
theology → strives to clarify revelation with regard to reason
the theologian must present doctrine with full accuracy and integrity.
the magisterium’s infallible pronouncements call for assent of theological faith. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
memorize:
same goal, different roles.
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slide 18 — magisterium & theology (continued)
definitive truths
the magisterium’s definitive truths concerning:
faith + morals
must be:
firmly accepted and held.
non-definitive teaching
teaching meant to:
* aid understanding
* guard against error
calls for:
religious submission of will and intellect.
theologians
theologians are expected to loyally submit to the teaching of the magisterium, including when it intervenes authoritatively. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
memorize this distinction:
definitive → firmly accepted and held
non-definitive → religious submission of will + intellect
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slide 19 — magisterium & theology (continued)
the relationship isn’t necessarily perfect agreement all the time.
the slide says magisterial documents might not be free from all deficiencies.
there can also be:
non-hostile tensions
between theologians and the magisterium.
these tensions can become a dynamic factor stimulating both when they practice dialogue. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
basically:
disagreement/tension isn’t automatically bad.
non-hostile tension + dialogue → can stimulate both
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slide 20 — magisterium & theology (continued)
the theologian should not present personal opinions or divergences as if they were non-arguable conclusions.
also:
conscience is NOT an autonomous and exclusive authority for deciding doctrinal truth.
obedience of faith leads to loyal acceptance of the magisterium’s teaching.
if difficulties continue, the theologian should:
make the problems known to the magisterium — NOT the mass media.
they should also remain open to a deeper examination of the question. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
⭐ remember:
personal opinion ≠ unquestionable doctrine
problem → magisterium, not mass media
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slide 24 — dissent: following one’s conscience
the slide says:
“following one’s conscience” cannot legitimate dissent.
a right conscience is:
* illumined by faith
* based on objective moral law
* has an upright will
* pursues the true good
things that are NOT legitimate include:
* polling public opinion
* pressuring through public opinion
* claiming there is a consensus among theologians
* presenting theologians as a prophetic “base” THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
important:
the slide isn’t saying conscience doesn’t matter.
it’s saying following your conscience cannot simply be used as a justification for dissent.
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🟢 slide 27 — why study theology?
truth is food + truth is light
revealed truth = food
we need to be nourished by it.
the eucharist ensures we aren’t entirely unnourished.
doctrine = light
much of reality can only be known if god tells us.
the church helps communicate some truths even to people who aren’t very interested.
living undernourished or half in the dark is a pity. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
MEMORIZE:
truth = food
doctrine = light
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slide 28 — why study theology? ignorance is not a virtue
ignorance is not a virtue.
why?
knowledge serves love.
more knowledge of god:
→ helps us love him more
→ removes misunderstandings
→ gives us more reasons to love him. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
memorize:
knowledge of god → greater love
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slide 29 — ignorance is not a virtue continued
the slide says millions are spiritually “starved” because they lack truth and don’t have the eucharist.
the slide says spiritual starvation should largely be relieved by the laity, because they are in contact with those who need it.
the laity need to understand the great dogmas:
* for the sake of those who are hungry
* and for their own sake. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
key idea:
laity → understand the great dogmas → help relieve spiritual starvation
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slide 30 — ignorance is not a virtue continued
studying theology should be accompanied by:
reading scripture
because scripture has a wonderful power to make truths:
come alive in the soul. THEO2301 Session01 (1 per page)(1).pdf
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🔵 SESSION 2 — FAITH & REASON
slide 2 — faith & reason
main idea:
there can’t be a real discrepancy between faith and reason.
why?
because the light of both comes from god. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
memorize:
faith + reason don’t truly contradict because both come from god.
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slide 3 — faith defined
you have THREE definitions.
biblical:
“the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
dogmatic:
faith is:
* a gift of god
* a human act
* complete submission of intellect + will to god
common sense:
faith = complete trust and confidence in someone. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
MEMORIZE THIS:
biblical → assurance of things hoped for
dogmatic → gift of god + intellect/will submitted to god
common sense → trust/confidence
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slide 4 — knowledge revealed by god
knowledge directly revealed by god is:
more certain
than knowledge gained through mere human experience. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
that’s basically the entire slide.
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slide 5 — faith is absolute trust
faith = absolute trust in god.
and this is:
eminently reasonable. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
again, this reinforces the idea that faith isn’t opposed to reason.
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slide 9 — mysteries of christian faith
the mysteries of christian faith:
transcend human reason
BUT
never contradict reason. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
THIS DISTINCTION IS IMPORTANT:
transcend = go beyond
contradict = go against
so:
faith can go beyond what human reason can fully understand without contradicting reason.
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slide 10 — qualities of faith
faith is:
* personal + communal relationship
* seeks understanding
* friend of reason
* necessary for salvation
* gift of grace
* free human act
* believes with conviction in a message THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
memorize the list.
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slide 11 — challenges to faith
1. “wall” of separation
faith should have no impact on the state/society.
2. ideological secularism
the idea that:
we are self-sufficient + self-explanatory
therefore:
faith isn’t needed. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
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slide 16 — complementary forms of wisdom
there are two:
philosophical wisdom
the naturally limited capacity of the intellect to explore reality.
theological wisdom
explores the contents of faith based upon revelation. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
memorize:
philosophical → intellect → reality
theological → revelation → faith
they are complementary, meaning they’re meant to work together.
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slide 17 — faith + reason
this is another VERY important contrast:
without faith:
reason is in danger of losing sight of its final goal.
without reason:
faith has stressed feeling and experience. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
easiest way:
reason needs faith
faith needs reason
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slide 18 — st. bonaventure
this is basically a warning about separating intellectual study from spiritual life.
the slide says theologians should recognize the inadequacy of things like:
* reading without repentance
* knowledge without devotion
* research without wonder
* prudence without joy
* action divorced from religion
* learning separated from love
* intelligence without humility
* study without divine grace
* thought without wisdom inspired by god THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
don’t worry about memorizing every word.
remember the overall point:
studying and intelligence aren’t enough by themselves; they need devotion, humility, love, religion, and divine grace.
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slide 19 — final conclusion
1.
god can be known with certitude by reason from created things.
2.
revelation is necessary because we are ordained for a supernatural end that surpasses human understanding. THEO2301 Session02 (1 per page).pdf
easiest way:
reason → can know god
revelation → necessary because supernatural end surpasses human understanding
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