JUNIOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R1300)
FALL/SPRING SEMESTERS 2006-2007
Mr. Mulreany, S.J.

FAITH, WORSHIP AND MORALITY

Course Description

How does one know about God?  How does one know God?  How does one respond to God’s activity in one’s life?  How should one’s religious convictions impact one’s moral decision-making?  This course will address these and other questions critical for the mature Catholic. The first quarter of the course is devoted to epistemology – the study of how one can know; specifically how one can know about God and know God.  In the second quarter, the course will address Catholics’ response to God through prayer and the sacraments.  The third quarter will focus on the foundations of Christian morality: living the virtues, developing the conscience, and moral decision-making.  Student presentations will drive the fourth quarter as the class considers specific ethical issues including sexuality, war, and beginning and end of life issues.  The purpose of this course is to clarify what it means to say, “I believe in Jesus the Christ.  I am a disciple.”

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

  • Lewis, C. S.  Mere Christianity.  New York: Harper Collins, 2001.
  • The New American Bible.  Fireside Study Edition. Wichita, KS: Fireside Bible Publishers, 1995.
  • O’Malley, S.J., William J.  Meeting the Living God.  3rd ed.  Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998.
  • Stoutzenberger, Joseph.  Morality: An Invitation to Christian Living.  Dubuque, IA: Harcourt Religion Publishers, 2001.

 

SEMESTER SCHEDULE

First Semester

 

I.  An Introduction to the Study of Knowledge

II. God’s Existence and Faith in the Christian God

An affirmative response the question, “Does God exist?” places a great demand upon believers.  If one confesses that God is fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and in the Kingdom of God, then one should live out these convictions.  This part of the course will examine God’s existence, the Trinity and the role of grace.

III. Our Response to God’s Offer of Grace Part I: Prayer and Worship

The first semester will end by considering the life of prayer (both personal and communal) and the Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick) and the Sacraments of Vocation (Marriage and Holy Orders). 

NOTE:  Each student will perform a Christian Service project during the second quarter, which will count for 10% of the quarter grade.  A reflection paper based upon this project will be due during the third quarter.  This will also count for 10% of your quarter grade. 

Second Semester

IV. Our Response to God’s Offer of Grace Part II: Morality

The second semester will be dedicated to the study of morality.  The third quarter will examine various approaches Christians take to moral and ethical issues.  The fourth quarter focuses on student group presentations on various ethical issues.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS

For this course the student needs pens, loose-leaf and small notebook used only for religion. 

 

COURSEWORK & ASSIGNMENTS

Expect the following assignments in this course:

  • nightly reading and homework assigned with the reading,
  • quizzes based on homework assignments,
  • tests two times per quarter,
  • in-class journaling assignments to be completed in one’s notebook,
  • in-class group assignments to be collected into a “group portfolio”
  • short, typed writing assignments.

 

Assignments will be posted on my website a few days in advance so check daily (http://faculty.xavierhs.org/mulreanyj/).

All homework assignments are due in class.  Late assignments will incur an automatic 20% point deduction as a late penalty.  Therefore, the maximum grade on a late ten-point homework assignment is eight points.  Any homework that was due while a student was absent must be handed in at the student’s first religion class back to school. 

 

While a student does not have to make up a quiz that he misses due to an absence, he must be prepared to take a quiz on the day he returns from an absence.  If the class has a test the day the student returns from a brief absence, he must take the test with the rest of the class.  If a student misses a test while he is absent, he must take the test within three days of his return.

 

Required Heading

The following heading is required for all written hand-in assignments. 

 

Name                                                                                                                                                                           Date

Religion 1300                                                                                                                                                               AMDG

 

Description of assignment (e.g. Questions 1-5 pg 145)

GRADING POLICY

 

In the first and third quarter, the student’s grade will be determined as follows:

Quizzes:                                                                  15%

Class participation & journal assignments:                20%

Group portfolio assignments:                                   20%

Writing assignments:                                                20%

Tests:                                                                     25%

 

In the second quarter, the above percentages will be reduced proportionally to accommodate the Christian Service requirements.  In the fourth quarter, students’ grades will be determined by group presentations and writing assignments.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

The best way to contact me is by e-mail.  I will check my e-mail account (mulreanyj@ xavierhs.org) every school night at approximately 8:00pm.  Please make sure that your name is obvious in your e-mail address or in the subject line, because I will delete e-mails with unrecognizable addresses.  In addition, parents may leave a message for me to contact them by calling the school at (212) 924-7900.  I will return calls within 24 hours.