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CATH-111 Explorations in Catholic Culture
Spring only
The central theme considered in the course is this: how does Catholic faith (as a religion of "both/and," not "either/or") interact with various forms of human culture. The class will investigate Catholic tradition to see how it emerged from earlier, existing cultures and how it developed its own forms of cultural expression. We will in addition probe its relevance for contemporary society. We begin with narrative: the earliest stories about Jesus of Nazareth, the problems in reading them, and the central beliefs of Catholicism as they are derived from these accounts. After this overview, we look at four ways in which Catholicism has found expression within human cultural traditions. 1. Catholicism and society. What role do Catholics play in government and social organization and how does Catholicism relate its faith to public policy? We will read the American Bishops' Letter on the Economy of the USA. 2. Personal narratives. What meaning have people found in Catholicism in their own personal lives? Here we will read the autobiographies of St. Augustine [4th C.] and Dorothy Day [20th C.]. 3. The fine arts. How has Catholicism shaped aesthetic imagination? We will study the poetry, architecture, painting, and sculpture of Michelangelo. 4. The physical world. What can Catholicism say about nature, science, and present environmental concerns? We will consider authors such as Teilhard de Chardin and John Haught. There will be four concise student projects during the semester, one becoming a somewhat larger final essay.
NOTE: This course satisfies one semester of the College Theology requirement.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
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