In an effort to address the lack of almost any fundamental knowledge or understanding of the Catholic faith in young people in Senior Cycle Second Level Education in Ireland, I wish to examine how a very short course in Fundamental Christology, suitable for this age group, can be developed.
Abstract
The core questions which need to be addressed by such a program will need careful preparation. The contingent nature of our existence, the question of belief in God – any God, the human experience of God, the graced search for meaning and the reality and real relevance of the Incarnation in human history all need to be explored.
At the forefront of all aspects of the preparation of such a condensed program must be the focus on meaning. Without relating the truths of the Catholic Faith to the real world of experience that these young people are living in, and carefully highlighting the potential personal relevance of such truths, it is to be expected that they will show little interest in the subject. The typical young person’s response of ‘So what?’ cannot be ignored. Clear, precise, meaningful argument delivered in a manner that the young people understand and recognise as their own, is likely to be the only way the message of the Catholic Faith will be heard. Complex theological argument, reference to ideas and sources of which the young people have no knowledge or understanding is pointless. The language, style of presentation, arguments and ideas about the Catholic Faith must be presented in a way that captures the imagination and inspires the young people to enquire further and learn to experience God, through Jesus Christ.
The challenge, therefore, is to design a program that is very short, concise and meaningful for an audience who, it must be considered and accepted, have zero background knowledge of the subject.
In an effort to address the lack of almost any fundamental knowledge or understanding of the Catholic faith in young people in Senior Cycle Second Level Education in Ireland, I wish to examine how a very short course in Fundamental Christology, suitable for this age group, can be developed.
The core questions which need to be addressed by such a program will need careful preparation. The contingent nature of our existence, the question of belief in God – any God, the human experience of God, the graced search for meaning and the reality and real relevance of the Incarnation in human history all need to be explored.
At the forefront of all aspects of the preparation of such a condensed program must be the focus on meaning. Without relating the truths of the Catholic Faith to the real world of experience that these young people are living in, and carefully highlighting the potential personal relevance of such truths, it is to be expected that they will show little interest in the subject. The typical young person’s response of ‘So what?’ cannot be ignored. Clear, precise, meaningful argument delivered in a manner that the young people understand and recognise as their own, is likely to be the only way the message of the Catholic Faith will be heard. Complex theological argument, reference to ideas and sources of which the young people have no knowledge or understanding is pointless. The language, style of presentation, arguments and ideas about the Catholic Faith must be presented in a way that captures the imagination and inspires the young people to enquire further and learn to experience God, through Jesus Christ.
The challenge, therefore, is to design a program that is very short, concise and meaningful for an audience who, it must be considered and accepted, have zero background knowledge of the subject.