Teaching 4-week Apologetics class - suggestions welcome!

[DavidFilmer]

Thanks to everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut and suggestions. Some folks, it seems, thought maybe I was asking about reference materials or something (I’ve got plenty of books and websites)… I was only seeking suggestions for how to organize the course syllabus (but I appreciate your interest).

The eight-week syllabus that Fidelis posted was VERY helpful (thanks!), and his choice of content was in harmony with other suggestions (thanks!), so I think there’s some consensus about what material ought to be covered, and I based my syllabus heavily on Fidelis’.

Paring the eight-week course to four weeks was challenging (and, obviously, some hard choices had to be made).

I’ve come up with a four-week syllabus which I think is somewhat ambitious, but I believe I can cover the material. To accomplish this, I will rely heavily on visual aids and handouts. In most cases, I’ll hit the “high points” in the class, but the handouts will have more detailed information. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

WEEK 1
Introduction to Apologetics (what it is, why it’s important, why it’s easier for Catholics - heh, heh)

Sola Scriptura (including where the Bible came from, role of Bible in the Church, Sacred Tradition)

Sola Fide (“works salvation,” assurance of salvation) – this might have to move to Week2

WEEK 2
Sacraments – Eucharist (Real Presence), Baptism (necessity of & infant), Reconciliation

WEEK 3
Popes, Bishops, Magisterium (Papal infallibility (and the Office/authority of Peter), Ecumenical Councils, Church hiererarchy, what constitutes “Church Teaching,” scandals)

WEEK 4
St. Mary & the Communion of Saints

Final things (Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell)

(if time permits, Catholic practices – Rosary, Crucifix, statues, relics, paintings/icons, holy water, incense, candles)

Per SpaceGhost’s suggestion, I’ll revisit this thread when the class is complete and let you know how it went.

Thanks again for your interest - please say a prayer for the success of this endevour.

 

[Buzzard]

DavidFilmer:

Hello!

I’ve been asked to teach a four-week Adult Education class (one hour for four Sunday mornings during Advent). Praise God - this topic has been sorely neglected in Catholic Parishes.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions!!!

#1:

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
*a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, *
rightly dividing the word of truth.
*16 But shun profane and vain babblings: *
for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Teach them too
Defend Truth; not what someone else “Says is Truth”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

DavidFilmer:

Hello!

I’ve been asked to teach a four-week Adult Education class (one hour for four Sunday mornings during Advent). Praise God - this topic has been sorely neglected in Catholic Parishes.

I’ve been involved in apologetics for twenty years; I have an extensive library and consider myself very well informed. However, I have never attempted to present Apologetics in a classroom setting to a (presumably) receptive audience (my audience is generally hostile to my viewpoint).

I have a total of four hours of instruction time (probably three hours “quality” time), and my audience is not expected to be well informed even about general apologetic topics.

I’ve torn up at least ten prospective syllabi. I’m finding it very challenging deciding what topics to cover in such a short timeframe. I’ve come to realize that teaching the class will probably be far easier than deciding what to teach!

I would very much appreciate any suggestions!!!

Sacraments, Mass, Mary and Mary

 

[Matt16_18]

DavidFilmer:

I have a total of four hours of instruction time (probably three hours “quality” time), and my audience is not expected to be well informed even about general apologetic topics.

I would say that even your pared down syllabus is way to ambitious, and if you cover all that in three hours, the presentation will be superficial (simply because the time constraints will force it to be superficial).

You don’t want to talk at people for an hour - you need time for people to raise questions, and time for discussion. You should plan on speaking for no more than one-half hour per session.

I would cover only one topic- the infallibility of the Magisterium, and why it is logical that Jesus would found a church that has an infallible Magisterium. (The difference between Catholic apologetics and Protestant apologetics will always involve the Church’s doctrines involving infallibility).

The first session I would teach would involve moral relativism, and moral absolutes. What is moral relativism? How does our culture promote moral relativism? What are moral absolutes? What is the culture of death? Why is the Church absolutely opposed to moral relativism?

The next three sessions would cover the infallibility of the Magisterium and the formation of conscience. What is the natural law? What is divine revelation? What is subject matter for infallible statements? When does the Church receive infallible teaching through the ordinary universal Magisterium? (Give examples involving moral teachings). When does the church receive infallible teaching through the extraordinary Magisterium?

Does the church speak infallibly about morals? Can dogma evolve? What is the heresy of Modernism? Why does the Catechism speak about the “mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience”? (CCC 1792). Is it possible for a perfectly formed conscience to be in conflict with what the Church teaches about morality?

Discuss why the “mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience” is the foundational belief of Protestantism, and contrast that with what the Church teaches about the formation of conscience.

 

[Malachi4U]

Katholikos:

Please, I urge you – no, I beg you – devote the first class to the history of the Bible and the Church.

You can use this book from Catholic Answers:
Where We Got the Bible by Henry G. Graham

Make it required class reading.

If Catholics knew their history they’d never (or rarely) leave the Church! They should teach this history to their children.

Katholikos,

Once again you have proven to have a keen insight into our Faith. Why do Catholics often hate or fear sharring their Faith with apostates or non-Christians or even fellow Catholics? Because they do not know their own Bible and what it says? (Not to mention the Catechism.)

Catholics know how to live a wonderfull life in Christ. We all know Christ as our perssonal Lord and saviour. What Catholics lack is the usable apologetics of Scripture. What I mean is that Catholics ‘hear’ Scripture every week in mass and know how to live it- not just memorize verses from it. Since Catholics often don’t memorize Scripture it is hard to witness to a protestant who quotes it like a lawyer quoting law. If protestants use their Bible as a single book for all of Gods word then Catholics must have it ready, at hand and know how to use it to prove protestant opinions false and Scripturally unfounded - or agree with protestants when the theology is correct.

If a Catholic cannot use Scripture and know it like a protestant then the rest of the apologetics is somewhat a waste of time. You should read the NT 4 times and the OT at least once before even talking to a protestant. Perhaps a prerequesite for your class should be to read Sacred Scripture once and the NT once more before even attending class. Then read the NT one more time during the class. You can never read Scripture too much. I listen to it in my car on CD too. You can listen to the entire Scripture in just a few weeks of commuting to work.

My hat goes off to you once again Katholicos, GR8 point!:clapping:

 

[Malachi4U]

DavidFilmer,

PS, 4 hours would only be a teaser. Apologetics would take 2 hours every week for a year and you’d still have major topics not discussed. You’ll only be able to hit a few points and then give resources for futher reseach. Make sure you pass out web sites and book lists to follow on for more research for those who would like it.

Don’t forget to get examples of the attacks on the Church too with Chick tracts and propaganda printed and available at many Baptist Churches, etc. Let your students know the extent to which many non-Catholics will go to bend the truth, rewrite history and just flat out lie to “save” us poor unsaved Catholics before we go to hell. I have a folder full of lies, misstruths, missleading facts, rewritten history and hate tracts I picked up or was given will attending Baptist churches. I only wish I had recorded many of the sermons I heard about Catholics while in the Baptist church.

I might even FAX you or e-mail you copies of them if I get my PC back up and running. Let me know.

PPS, Many of the AWANA instructors and other Baptists at my old Baptist church advised my wife to leave me before she lost her salvation too when the Holy Spirit led me home to Rome and His body, His Catholic Church. That’s right, they wanted my wife to divorice me before she and my kids became Catholic. Boy, so much to say and no more time. I hope this helps.

 

[AndyF]

1/ Treat everyone like they’re possessed, and your the excorcist. This way everyone becomes a candidate for conversion, and you can “be invited for supper at Simon’s house”.

They can spit at you - and you expected it.
They can blaspheme - and you expected it.
They can insult you mother - and you expected it.
They can advance heretical information - and you expected it.
etc.

You then put on you imaginary garb, place the imaginary holy water on the table, sigh a little(your allowed), then get on with the activity of returning the individual/group to God, through words, between the slights and swearing and nasty faces, of course. If you become an exorcist, then you KNOW anything you say as a retort will fail the mission. Keeps you in check and remember to not lose focus.

2/ Remember true, obstinate, serious heretics among lay people is very rare. Even when they state it, the next near miss with a bus will convert some pronto.

3/ Forget about trying to tame debates into one corner, best that can be done is using tact for control, or offering alternatives. Some have taken the extreme of swapping threads on a “I don’t agree” statement ,lest that dreaded Debate monster rears it’s head.

4/ Allow free reasoned logical thought, and don’t be a die hard dogma-ist. I see these people on debate forums and they are the libarian of the group, never daring to advance a curious thought they wish addressed. They stifle free thought and spoilers of everyone’s fun. Our Faith is fun also. Any one can do that research, and the group doesn’t need a matron with whip in hand keeping everyone in check. A little flexibility and tolerance will go a long way. Ask how they formed an idea, and guide them from that spot to what the Church teaches, that’s the best way to win someone over.

Andy

 

[puzzleannie]

I think the 4-week course idea is great, leave them wanting more, so you get sign-ups for your next course, and interest will spread by word of mouth.

We are using the Beginning Apologetics book I from San Juan Seminars (ordered through CA) for our post-confirmation class, which has grown from 8 to 16, including some college students and adults. Using videos to intro each class, The Truth Exposed, Splendor of the Church, Peter by Steve Ray, tonite we did Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid, part 1. Also Walk Through the Mass with Bishop Wuerl. There is so much interest we are going to replay the course.

This group did Our Father’s Plan last year, and your students must be reminded that to successfully discuss these points with Protestants they must have this thorough grounding in scripture.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Malachi4U:

Don’t forget to get examples of the attacks on the Church too with Chick tracts and propaganda printed and available at many Baptist Churches, etc

I’ve got a paper grocery sack FULL of this garbage (books, tracts, comics, cassette tapes) that I’m gonna unceremonially dump out on the table on the first day. I’ll read a couple of pages (or just the titles!) of some random Chick comic. That ought to get their attention!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

DavidFilmer:

I’ve got a paper grocery sack FULL of this garbage (books, tracts, comics, cassette tapes) that I’m gonna unceremonially dump out on the table on the first day. I’ll read a couple of pages (or just the titles!) of some random Chick comic. That ought to get their attention!

I collect these and write responses to them I also have a nice collection. I’ve also written a line by line response to several anti-Catholic books. I’m not sure that setting this stuff out in front of regular Catholics is a good idea. Unless they are solid in their Catholic Faith. Someone could wind up taking one or two and it could have a negative effect on their faith. What if they take an anti-Catholic tape or two, listen to it and then never return to your class?

I think it’s great to do this after 10 or 12 weeks in Apologetics.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Br. Rich SFO:

Someone could wind up taking one or two and it could have a negative effect on their faith. What if they take an anti-Catholic tape or two, listen to it and then never return to your class?

It’s not a library - they don’t get to take this stuff home! I’ll put it back in the sack after I’ve made my point (ie, that we’re up against an organized and determined opposition who will say ANYTHING (ie, the tract titled “The Wafer God”) to attack the Church).

I would never place the work of professional anti-Cathoics into the hands of anyone that I didn’t think was firmly grounded in the Faith. Those who do not know their Faith are easy targets for people who lie about and misrepresent the teachings of the Church.