Theological Foundations I
Taking a historical approach up to the Reformation, we will explore how the early and medieval Church explained and passed down the Deposit of Faith, alongside the development of theological disciplines. The focus will be on key issues in systematic theology, early liturgical development, the nature of the Church, its roles, and initial approaches to morality.
Select Wednesday Evenings
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Required Texts:
- The Catholic Church Through the Ages: A History, second edition
- Theology for Beginners
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition
- The Documents of Vatican II, Vatican Translation
- A Modern, Catholic Bible on Hand at Home (New American; Revised Standard Version)
Recommended Text:
Course Outline:
10/29/25: Foundational Concepts
Introductions; review of syllabus; the necessity of appreciating the historical context in which the Church emerged and continues to grow
11/05/25: Liturgy I
Humanity’s Response to the Presence of God in Space and Time; defining liturgy; significance of ritual actions
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 1-9, 39-40, 76-79; Sheed, chapter 18; CCC, articles 1077-1109, 1135-1144
11/12/25: Liturgy II
Jewish roots; New Testament fulfillment; Hellenistic influence; development from immediately after Pentecost to the 14th century
11/19/25: Divine Revelation & Response of Faith
Natural & supernatural revelation; Tradition & tradition; Scripture; magisterium; gift of faith & seeking understanding
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 9-27, 38-39; CCC, articles 50-67, 74-95, 101-133, 142-175; Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, articles 1-13
12/03/25: Development of Scriptural Canon
Why the Scriptures were written; Development of the Old & New Testaments; New Testament dates of composition; affirmation of the canon; Patristic approach to Scripture
12/10/25: Controversies & Councils I
Arianism & Nicea I; Constantinople I; Nestorianism & Ephesus; Monophysitism & Chalcedon; Constantinople II
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 27-38, 58-66; Sheed, chapter 11; CCC, articles 422-451, 456-478
12/17/25: Controversies & Councils II
Monothelitism & Constantinople III; Iconoclasm & Nicea II; implications of the first seven ecumenical councils; Lateran IV; The Great Schism, Conciliarism & Constance
01/21/26: The Holy Trinity
In preparation for this class, read: Sheed, chapters 4, 5, 6; CCC, articles 198-227, 232-260
01/28/26: Islam I
Origins; Quran; Hadith; Jihad; Sharia Law
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 94-100, 123-136; Vatican II’s Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, articles 2 & 3
02/04/26: Islam II and the Crusades
Five Pillars; Elements of Commonality; Dialogue; Dhimmitude; Crusades
02/11/26: The Eastern Christian Churches
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 100-108; Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism, articles 13-18; Vatican II’s Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
02/25/26: Apostolic Succession
Appointment; permanence; functions of ministry; power of ministry; at the service of the Father's plan; sacramental character; distinction & relationship between the baptismal & ministerial priesthood; reservation of ministerial priesthood to men alone; celibacy
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 41-44, 49-58, 115-120, 158-167; Sheed, chapters 13 & 14; CCC, articles 857-862, 871-896
03/04/26: Petrine Ministry
Three characteristics of the Petrine ministry; binding & loosing; historical development
03/11/26: The Rise of Monasticism
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 79-88, 136-143; Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, articles 43-47; Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, article 39
03/18/26: Missions
03/25/26: The Development of Moral Theology
The purpose of the Christian moral life; what happiness is; natural law; the old law; the new law; Beatitudes; our social condition; conscience; historical development from the Patristic era to Scholasticism
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 143-147; Sheed, chapter 10; CCC, articles 385-412, 1446-1448, 1749-1756, 1762-1770
04/01/26: Church/State Relations I
Remote origins: Gobekli Tepe; Mesopotamia; Egypt; Alexander the Great; Roman; Hebrew. Christian perspective on the position of the ruler in the religious and political framework
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 108-115, 148-158; CCC, article 2121; Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, article 25, 42, 73-76; Vatican II’s Declaration on Religious Liberty, articles 2-8
04/15/26: Church/State Relations II and the Inquisition
Role of the emperor in the Christian East & West; Holy Roman Empire; the Church & feudalism; heresy & inquisition
04/22/26: The Walls Speak
A survey of how architecture through the first fifteen centuries served as a medium through which the reality of the spiritual and Church teachings were (and continue to be) communicated
In preparation for this class, read: CCC, articles 1145-1186
10/29/25: Foundational Concepts
Introductions; review of syllabus; the necessity of appreciating the historical context in which the Church emerged and continues to grow
11/05/25: Liturgy I
Humanity’s Response to the Presence of God in Space and Time; defining liturgy; significance of ritual actions
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 1-9, 39-40, 76-79; Sheed, chapter 18; CCC, articles 1077-1109, 1135-1144
11/12/25: Liturgy II
Jewish roots; New Testament fulfillment; Hellenistic influence; development from immediately after Pentecost to the 14th century
11/19/25: Divine Revelation & Response of Faith
Natural & supernatural revelation; Tradition & tradition; Scripture; magisterium; gift of faith & seeking understanding
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 9-27, 38-39; CCC, articles 50-67, 74-95, 101-133, 142-175; Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, articles 1-13
12/03/25: Development of Scriptural Canon
Why the Scriptures were written; Development of the Old & New Testaments; New Testament dates of composition; affirmation of the canon; Patristic approach to Scripture
12/10/25: Controversies & Councils I
Arianism & Nicea I; Constantinople I; Nestorianism & Ephesus; Monophysitism & Chalcedon; Constantinople II
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 27-38, 58-66; Sheed, chapter 11; CCC, articles 422-451, 456-478
12/17/25: Controversies & Councils II
Monothelitism & Constantinople III; Iconoclasm & Nicea II; implications of the first seven ecumenical councils; Lateran IV; The Great Schism, Conciliarism & Constance
01/21/26: The Holy Trinity
In preparation for this class, read: Sheed, chapters 4, 5, 6; CCC, articles 198-227, 232-260
01/28/26: Islam I
Origins; Quran; Hadith; Jihad; Sharia Law
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 94-100, 123-136; Vatican II’s Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, articles 2 & 3
02/04/26: Islam II and the Crusades
Five Pillars; Elements of Commonality; Dialogue; Dhimmitude; Crusades
02/11/26: The Eastern Christian Churches
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 100-108; Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism, articles 13-18; Vatican II’s Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
02/25/26: Apostolic Succession
Appointment; permanence; functions of ministry; power of ministry; at the service of the Father's plan; sacramental character; distinction & relationship between the baptismal & ministerial priesthood; reservation of ministerial priesthood to men alone; celibacy
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 41-44, 49-58, 115-120, 158-167; Sheed, chapters 13 & 14; CCC, articles 857-862, 871-896
03/04/26: Petrine Ministry
Three characteristics of the Petrine ministry; binding & loosing; historical development
03/11/26: The Rise of Monasticism
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 79-88, 136-143; Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, articles 43-47; Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, article 39
03/18/26: Missions
03/25/26: The Development of Moral Theology
The purpose of the Christian moral life; what happiness is; natural law; the old law; the new law; Beatitudes; our social condition; conscience; historical development from the Patristic era to Scholasticism
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 143-147; Sheed, chapter 10; CCC, articles 385-412, 1446-1448, 1749-1756, 1762-1770
04/01/26: Church/State Relations I
Remote origins: Gobekli Tepe; Mesopotamia; Egypt; Alexander the Great; Roman; Hebrew. Christian perspective on the position of the ruler in the religious and political framework
In preparation for this class, read: Vidmar 108-115, 148-158; CCC, article 2121; Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, article 25, 42, 73-76; Vatican II’s Declaration on Religious Liberty, articles 2-8
04/15/26: Church/State Relations II and the Inquisition
Role of the emperor in the Christian East & West; Holy Roman Empire; the Church & feudalism; heresy & inquisition
04/22/26: The Walls Speak
A survey of how architecture through the first fifteen centuries served as a medium through which the reality of the spiritual and Church teachings were (and continue to be) communicated
In preparation for this class, read: CCC, articles 1145-1186
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St. Fabian Catholic Church
32200 W. Twelve Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-553-4610 [email protected] Weekend Mass Times Saturday Vigil: 5pm Sunday: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 5:30pm |
