Study Guide Part One

Sorry for the delay in posting - There will be a second part tomorrow, so get started on this...



1. Complete this sentence: “Human Beings are different from other existents in that they are able to…”
2. What is required for the human to live an integrated and authentic existence?
3. List the six periods of Church History and provide their dates.
4. What event is considered the birth of the church?
5. In the Early Church Period, Peter and Paul met in Jerusalem to decide on an important issue that would shape the future of the Christian Church. Paul argued very strongly and persuasively for position. What was the issue, and how was the matter resolved?
6. Where did Peter and Paul end their lives? How did they end their lives of service to the Church?
7. St. Paul worked hard to spread the good news of Christ. He traveled on _____ missionary trips and _____ of his letter are recorded in the New Testament.
8. How many books are contained in the Canon of the New Testament? Explain the term “canon.”
9. List the three struggles or challenges of the Persecuted Church Period.
10. Provide one example of a misunderstanding that led to the persecution of Christians.
11. In a short essay, explain the events surrounding Constantine’s decision to make Christianity legal in the Roman Empire.
12. Constantine shifts the capital of the Empire to ________________ in the year ________. What impact did this have on Rome?
13. What groups, desiring the more ordered and happy life of the empire, were creeping across the Rhine and beginning to disrupt the empire? Provide two examples of these groups.
14. When did the Roman Empire collapse in the West?
15. What important monastic rule was written in the Roman period?
16. Gregory the Great became the Bishop of Rome in _________. Explain the condition of Rome when Gregory begins his service.
17. Gregory wrote a very important document about Christian leadership. What is the document, and what does it stress about Christian leadership.
18. In the medieval period, what three institutions emerge from the rubble of the Roman Empire.
19. Charles Martel was named the “King of the Franks” by the Pope in the year _________. What forged document emerged from this arrangement?
20. Charlemagne becomes the King of the Franks in ________. He is crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in ________. His empire is centered in the city _____________.
21. Charlemagne wants to improve learning and the arts in the empire. This rebirth of education has been called the ____________________ _______________________.
22. Throughout the Medieval period there is a struggle between two institutions. Who is struggling? Give an historical example of this struggle.
23. What is the basic problem that is the source of the conflict through the Medieval period?
24. What is a mendicant order and provide two examples of these orders that began in the medieval period?
25. Thomas Aquinas has been called the author of a concept titled the “Great Synthesis.” What is this synthesis? How does it impact us today in our own study of religion?

Section II
1. Provide a definition of Sacrament.
2. List the Seven Sacraments celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church. Which of the seven are the Sacraments of Initiation?
3. Sacraments are rituals. Define ritual. Isn’t “ritual” a pre-modern, pre-enlightenment activity? As we are very rational people, shouldn’t we get rid of ritual in the Church?

Sample Immigration Reform Letter

This is the sample letter proposed by the United States Catholic Bishops:

I write to urge you to support the enactment of comprehensive immigration reform in 2007.

It is vital that Congress address the issue of immigration as soon as possible. Our current immigration system is seriously flawed and must be repaired. Migrants continue to be subject to exploitation, abuse, and death in the desert. States and local communities are beginning to fill the void left by federal inaction.

It is important, however, that any legislation that is passed contains the elements necessary to solve our immigration crisis. In this regard, any just and humane legislation should include the following components endorsed by the U.S. Catholic bishops:
• An earned legalization program for the undocumented population is workable and that includes a path to citizenship which is fair and achievable;
• A future worker program that permits migrant workers to enter safely and legally and that includes worker protections and the option for participants to pursue a path of citizenship;
• Family-based immigration reform that reduces backlogs and waiting times for family reunification
• The restoration of due process protections for immigrants taken away by the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA); and
• Policies which address the root causes of migration, including economic development in sending countries.

Legislation which encompasses these elements will help address the problem of illegal immigration to our nation by replacing illegality with legality. It also would enhance national security by bringing the large undocumented population “out of the shadows” to identify themselves to the government.

I firmly believe that the rule of law is necessary for a just civil society. However, it is clear that our government’s inability to enact reform has contributed greatly to the current unsafe and dangerous situation, and to the needless mistreatment of undocumented families that can only be described as un-American

I ask that you support a comprehensive immigration reform bill, consistent with these elements, and work toward its enactment in the near future.

Thank you for your consideration of my views.

Potential Popping...

One never knows, but one should know the following:

Apostolic Tradition - What the Apostles 'handed over' about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

Two means by which they 'traditio-ed' - Living Tradition and Sacred Scripture

The Sacred Scripture - 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament

The Living Tradition - Preaching, Liturgy, Institutions, Saints

Three stages in the production of the Gospels - Life and Teachings of Jesus, Oral Tradition, Written Gospels

The Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke

Reading Assignment for Tonight

Read St. Mark's Gospel Chapters 5 through 8 and answer the following questions:

1) What happens to the herd of swine?
2) What does 'Talitha koum' mean?
3) What was Jesus' experience in his hometown synagogue?
4) How does John the Baptist die? Who was responsible for his death?
5) What do the Pharisees ask for in chapter 8?
6) What are the conditions for following Jesus found in verse 34-35 of chapter 8?



BONUS: What famous building is this, which is dedicated to St. Mark?
BONUS FOR FOR THE DARING: Where did the four horses over the main door come from?

Sapere aude!

The blog is about to reawaken...

After a brief hiatus, the class blog is about to reawaken. Watch the blog for more information about the coming week and our study of the New Testament. Also watch for plans about our early Utah Catholic History walking tour. Remember, especially in these final weeks of school, Sapere aude!