Catholic Theology (Ratzinger and Lohfink)

 Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2004), originally published as Einführung in das Christentum (Munich: Kösel-Verlag, 1968). Paperback edition: ISBN 978-1-58617-029-5; this text is also available on Kindle.

Gerhard Lohfink, Jesus of Nazareth: What He Wanted, Who He Was (Collegeville, MN: A Michael Glazier Book, 2012), originally published as Jesus von Nazaret. Was er wollte, wer er war (Freiburg i.B.: Herder, 2011). Hardback edition: ISBN 978-0-8146-8058-2; this text is also available on Kindle.

Your essays will be evaluated on your appropriation of (A) class material, (B) the texts of Ratzinger and Lohfink that you were assigned to read, as well as (C) related texts from scripture. I am interested in hearing your synthesis of this material and to hear your voice in this process.

Part I — An Essay on Faith and Human Experience:

1.) In an essay, define faith and offer an analysis of this definition. What does this definition of faith say: (A) about our experience of existence, (B) about human knowing (epistemology), and (C) about humanity’s disposition before ultimate mystery (God). (D) Based on this definition of faith, how might a crisis of faith manifest itself within an individual?
St. Anselm of Canterbury defined the task of theology as (A) fides quaerens intellectum. Moreover, in a Catholic university, “faith’s quest” is also realized as (B) fides quaerens iustitiam socialem and (C) fides quaerens adorationem. Translate these expressions and explore how this understanding of faith might transform teaching and learning at Jesuit University (Loyola Marymount University, Boston College, Santa Clara University)?