Rachel Evans
Studies in Catholic Thought is a NESA-endorsed course developed by the Catholic dioceses of NSW. It is a non-ATAR course, meaning it will not count towards a student's unit or ATAR. The course explores the theology, scripture, and philosophy that underpin the understanding of the human person within the Catholic tradition and the Christian life of virtue that follows. It involves new ways of thinking based on philosophy, the arts, history, scripture, and Catholic beliefs, examining the 'big questions' that human beings ask and exploring how the Catholic religion answers them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of course | Non-ATAR |
| Number of units | 1 unit |
| Student interest | Students should have a keen interest in studying Catholicism |
| Student ability | Students will develop the ability to use inquiry skills and reason through engagement with Catholic teachings and literature |
| Student knowledge | Students will learn about the theology, scripture, and philosophy that underpin the understanding of the human person within the Catholic tradition |
| Student skills | Students will construct balanced arguments around the 'big questions' of human existence and the Catholic religion's answers to them |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding humanity's place in creation
Catholicism holds that humans are unique among all of God's creations. According to the Book of Genesis, God created humans in His image, a concept known as "imago dei" in Latin. This belief is central to the Catholic understanding of human nature, implying that humans are inherently good and have a special status in creation.
The idea that humans are made in the image of God gives them a distinct role and purpose. Catholics believe that their purpose is to live forever with God in heaven, serving and loving Him and each other. This service can take many forms, such as teaching, helping the poor, caring for the sick, praying for others, and performing penance. By serving others, humans serve God, reflecting the divine life and fulfilling their original purpose.
An important aspect of humanity's place in creation is the concept of free will. Catholics believe that God granted humans free will, enabling them to make their own decisions and choices. This free will is essential for moral behaviour, as it allows humans to consciously choose to act morally and differentiate right from wrong. The Bible emphasizes that with free will comes responsibility, and humans are accountable for their actions.
Another key element of Catholic thought is the concept of the soul. The Catholic Church teaches that the soul is immortal and unique to humans. It is the spiritual element of humans, uniting with the body to form a single being. The soul exists before birth and returns to God after death, either directly or through Purgatory, where it is cleansed of sin. The soul's immortality underscores the belief in an afterlife, where it is reunited with God at the final resurrection.
While Catholics believe in the inherent goodness of humans as creations in God's image, the concept of original sin also shapes their understanding of human nature. Original sin is viewed as a tendency to choose a lesser good over obedience to God, marking the human soul with corruption. However, through God's grace and healing, humans can strive toward goodness and repair their broken relationship with God.
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Catholic beliefs and philosophy
Catholicism is a Christian denomination with distinct beliefs and practices. Catholic theology is based on the interpretation of creeds, which are doctrinal statements or confessions of religious beliefs. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are central to Catholic doctrine, with the latter being ratified as the universal creed of Christendom. The Trinity, God the Creator, and the nature of Christ are key tenets of these creeds.
The Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches differ from Catholic beliefs in several ways. For instance, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, while Protestants generally disagree with Catholics on the authority of the Pope, the role of Mary and the saints, and the role of the priesthood.
Catholic liturgy, or Divine Liturgy in Eastern Catholic Churches, is seen as transcending time and uniting participants with the heavenly kingdom. The liturgy is filled with symbols and rituals that evolved from early Christian traditions. The belief in the real presence of Christ in the Communion bread and wine is central to Catholic liturgy.
Catholic philosophy has a rich history, including Scholastic philosophy in the 14th century and the revival of ancient systems during the Renaissance. Philosophy, meaning "the love of wisdom," is seen as a tool to defend and explain the Catholic faith. Basic theistic philosophy, for instance, can help clarify the concept of God and distinguish Christianity from other religions.
Additionally, Catholic philosophy emphasises the compatibility between faith and reason. By engaging in philosophical dialogue with unbelievers and atheists, the Church defends the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and objective morality as objectively true and accessible to human reason. This approach helps to strengthen the belief that faith and reason are coherent.
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Catholic theology and scripture
Catholic theology is the understanding of Catholic doctrine or teachings and results from the studies of theologians. It is based on canonical scripture and sacred tradition, as interpreted by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Bible includes all the books of the Jewish scriptures, the Tanakh, and is organised into the Old Testament and the New Testament. Catholic theology distinguishes two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. The literal sense of understanding scripture refers to the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation. The spiritual sense, on the other hand, is where believers compare the words in their hearts and through their understanding of spiritual realities.
The death and resurrection of Jesus are the most important events in Christian Theology as they demonstrate Jesus' power over life and death and his ability to give people eternal life. The Catholic Church teaches that through the passion of Jesus and his crucifixion, all people can be forgiven and freed from sin, and thus reconciled to God.
Catholic theology has developed since the Second Vatican Council of Catholic Bishops ("Vatican II", 1962-1965). Vatican II's Dei verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), promulgated in 1965, opened the door to acceptance within the Church of much of the scholarly study of the Hebrew and Christian Bible that had taken place since the 19th century. Developments within the Catholic Church can be traced through documents of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which oversees scriptural interpretation as it pertains to Catholic teaching. After Vatican II, the Church embraced an ecumenical spirit of openness to modern studies, and there was a shift towards openness to the development of doctrine (teaching).
Catholics recognise that the "rule of faith" is Scripture plus apostolic tradition, as manifested in the living teaching authority of the Catholic Church. They believe that the Bible does not endorse the view that it is the only rule of faith. Catholics remain free to interpret scripture in any way that does not contradict Catholic dogma.
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Catholic social doctrine
CST addresses a range of issues, including oppression, the role of the state, subsidiarity, social organization, social justice, and wealth distribution. According to Pope John Paul II, social justice rests on three fundamental principles: human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity. This belief in the inherent dignity of all human beings is a cornerstone of Catholic social doctrine and is reflected in the Church's stance on a range of issues, including abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the death penalty, all of which are considered attacks on the value of human life.
The development of CST can be traced back to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical, Rerum novarum, which dealt with persons, systems, and structures in the context of promoting justice and peace. This was followed by several other encyclicals and messages on social issues, including Pope Pius XI's Quadragesimo anno, which marked the 40th anniversary of Rerum novarum and critiqued international imperialism. During the post-Second World War period, the Church turned its attention to issues of social and economic development and international relations, with Pope John XXIII's Mater et magistra examining the obligation of rich countries to assist poorer nations while respecting their cultures.
CST has continued to evolve, with Pope John Paul II making significant contributions through his encyclicals Laborem exercens (1981) and Centesimus annus (1991). These encyclicals emphasized the value of every individual, regardless of race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or social class. More recently, Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 encyclical Caritas in veritate added new perspectives to CST, including the relationship between charity and truth, and the need for a "world political authority" to address global challenges.
Overall, Catholic social doctrine provides a framework for understanding and engaging with the world, emphasizing the inherent dignity of all human beings and the importance of working towards the common good in society. It offers guidance on a range of social, economic, and political issues, and continues to evolve in response to the challenges of modern society.
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Catholic tradition and history
Catholicism is a Christian religion and the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with 1.3 billion followers worldwide. It is led by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who is the chief pastor of the Church. The Catholic Church is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation.
According to Catholic tradition, the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and is a continuation of the early Christian community established by the Disciples of Jesus. The Church considers its bishops to be the successors to Jesus's apostles and the Church's leader, the Pope, to be the sole successor to St Peter, who was appointed by Jesus as the head of the Church. The Catholic Church maintains that it practises the original Christian faith taught by the apostles, preserving the faith infallibly through scripture and sacred tradition.
The history of the Catholic Church is the formation, events, and historical development of the Catholic Church over time. In the first thousand years of Catholic history, different varieties of Christianity developed in the Western and Eastern Christian areas of Europe, Asia and Africa. The organisation of the Church began to mimic that of the Empire, with bishops in politically important cities exerting greater authority. The churches in Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome held the highest positions. Beginning in the 2nd century, bishops often congregated in regional synods to resolve doctrinal and policy issues. Catholic historian Eamon Duffy claims that by the 3rd century, the bishop of Rome began to act as a court of appeals for problems that other bishops could not resolve.
In the 11th century, already strained relations between the primarily Greek Church in the East and the Latin Church in the West developed into the East-West Schism, partially due to conflicts over papal supremacy. The Fourth Crusade and the sacking of Constantinople by renegade crusaders proved to be the final breach. Prior to and during the 16th century, the Church engaged in a process of reform and renewal, known as the Counter-Reformation. In subsequent centuries, Catholicism spread widely across the world, despite experiencing a reduction in its hold on European populations due to the growth of Protestantism and religious skepticism during and after the Enlightenment.
The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s introduced the most significant changes to Catholic practices since the Council of Trent four centuries earlier. The council generated significant controversy, with some Traditionalist Catholic groups believing that the reforms had gone too far, while others felt they had not gone far enough.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Studies in Catholic Thought is a non-ATAR course and will not count towards your unit and ATAR.
Studies in Catholic Thought is a NESA-endorsed course developed by the Catholic dioceses of NSW. It involves new ways of thinking based on philosophy, the arts, history, scripture, and Catholic beliefs. It invites students to explore theology, scripture, and philosophy to understand the Catholic tradition and the Christian life of virtue.
The main rule is that 10 units will count towards your ATAR, including 2 units of English and your 8 best-performing units.
Examples of ATAR courses include English Standard, Mathematics Standard, Business Studies, Hospitality, and a language course.
