Learning Theology is experiencing God. It is actually not a series of subjects that we learn, but rather a mystery which God graciously reveals to those who thirst to know him better and deeper. Foundation Level One includes basic opportunities to immerse oneself in Introductions to Catholic Theology, a general introduction to the Bible, to Divine Revelation, to One God, to Evangelization in the Bible and to a Theology of Social Communication.
This is the first module the student will follow in the SLeEV Roman Catholic Theology course. Without completing this module, it is imprudent to follow other modules of the course. This will furnish the student with ample knowledge and information about what a study of Catholic Theology would entail. It commences with some definitions and approaches and goes on to analyze topics such as Theological Anthropology and Theology as Hermeneutics. Moreover, the student will be exposed to issues such as Theology and Science and Sources of Theology. The module ends with four essays on topics related to the subject, namely, The Nature of Faith, Theology of Incarnation, Understanding Resurrection and Theology and Holiness.
The purpose of this module is to briefly introduce the student to a basic understanding of the Bible with a view to further study. Hence, this is a brief module with only six assignments. For further study by the student, a useful Bibliography is provided at the beginning of the module. The module covers topics such as The Nature of the Bible, The Background to the Bible, Authorship of the Bible, Inspiration in the Bible, The canon of Sacred Scripture, Literary Forms in the Bible etc. etc. Study of Sacred Scripture presumes a clearer comprehension of the topics dealt with in this module and the student is expected to complement the study with the recommended references.
The objective of this module is: To furnish the student with a clear and deep grasp of what is meant by the Word of God as the divine self-communication. Doctrine in Catholicism is almost totally dependent on divine revelation. It is not a religion which is begun at the grass root’s level. The initiative in everything is taken by God Himself. Hence, understanding divine revelation is vital. What is divine revelation? What does God reveal to us? How does He reveal to us? What are modes of revelation? Is revelation the basis of all Theology, and what is the relationship between revelation and Sacred Scripture? Is divine revelation already completed and closed, or is it still continuing? To know these and other related issues this module is truly a beacon.
Even in a world where AI is super trendy, and conventional systems of religion and ethics are jeered at, the notion of god still draws attention. In a world which is fast becoming a-religious, god still seems to be a topic hotly debated. But what god are we talking about here? The understanding of God in various religions is dissimilar. The major monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity cannot boast about the one and the same god. The plethora of gods in Hinduism and millions of gods who wish to attain enlightenment through the merits of human beings in Buddhism, can make the discussion even more obfuscating. This module will answer questions such as Who is god? What do we mean by the term God? The concept of God in other religions, God in philosophy, God in the Bible, Holy trinity, Pneumatology etc.
These lessons will help the student to see the Bible as a missionary document, written by people directly involved in evangelization. The student will be able to have a broader view of evangelization from the first books of the Bible to the Prophets and the Wisdom literature. From the Old Testament the student will go to the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of St Paul. This journey will deepen the knowledge and desire of the student for Evangelization. Moreover, these lessons will help students to obtain a good overview of Salvation History, which will become a valuable foundation to study the Bible. However, this Part covers only the Old Testament and the missionary journeys of St. Paul as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
The objective of this module: To guide the student to a deeper understanding about the profound meaning of Communication with its theological origin; and its Christological and Ecclesiological perspectives. Conglomeration of social communication means today baffles seekers who wish to know what communication really is. All the same, is there any theological foundation for communication? The student will have the opportunity to explore the Trinitarian, Christological and the Pneumatological foundations for a theology of communication as the lessons of this module unfold. It even takes the student as far as an overview of the Vatican II teachings on social communication, Ecclesia in Asia and the subject of social communication in the FABC Documents.
