Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”

Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”

(click on course title to register) 

Class dates: Tuesdays, Sept. 4 to Oct. 23, 2012

Total classes: 8

Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)

Duration: 1 hour

Fee: $90 on or before Aug. 1, 2012, $110 after Aug. 1 for entire 8-week course.

Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS; M Hum

Prerequisite: None.

Suggested grade level: 10^th to 12^th

High school credit: ½ semester credit

Course description: This overview of Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body will give a “bird’s eye” perspective of the whole of TOB. Far from relegating TOB to the area of sex and sexuality, TOB provides meaningful tools to see one’s life in the context of Jesus’ love for His Church and the life and love of the Blessed Trinity. A special emphasis will be made regarding the vocational call to the priesthood, religious life, and married life, and how both “celibacy for the Kingdom” (JPII’s words) and marriage mirror and inform each other. Caveat: Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructor’s assessment.

Course outline:

Class 1: Overview of Theology of the Body.

Class 2: The “language of the body”

Class 3: Original unity

Class 4: Fallen man

Class 5: Redeemed man

Class 6: Eschatological man

Class 7: Vocational discernment

Class 8: Recapitulation of everything

Course materials: For the first day’s class: please read the required reading from the Bible.

1. Genesis, Chapters 1 to 3

2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 355-682 (Read 47 paragraphs a week)

3. The Documents of Vatican II; Gaudium et Spes, paragraphs 47-62 (2 paragraphs a week)

4. “Letter to Families” (Pope John Paul) (This gives a good TOB outlook in abbreviated form)

5. The short essay “The Weight of Glory” in the longer collection with the same name: The Weight of Glory and short essay “Man or Rabbit”, both by CS Lewis.

Additional reading lists provided for students who desire to go deeper into the subject.

Homework: Weekly quizzes, a major project, & final exam: Answer keys provided for parental or self grading. A minimum of 30 minutes a day suggested for study, reading, quizzes, project, and final Note that the pressure is not great, as rarely is there discussion over the reading assignments. Rather, Miss Ashour gives the reading list to help the students find good resources and to learn more on their own since we don’t have much time in class.

Note: Please email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for a complete syllabus.