ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

LOYOLA SCHOOLS
COURSE SYLLABUS

Theology 141: A Theology of the Catholic Social Vision (3 unit course)

Theology Department, School of Humanities
Academic Year 2019-2020

Ferdinand D. Dagmang, Ph.D.

Theology 141: A Theology of the Catholic Social Vision is a systematic study of social
commitment from a theological perspective. The course begins with an exposition of
the Church as the Church of the poor and the pastoral cycle as a method of theologizing.
It then focuses on a social and cultural analysis of the Philippine situation in the light
of PCP II. The main content of the course is the theology of the Catholic social vision
in its doctrinal basis, sacramental celebration, and biblical foundations, declared in the
papal social teachings and the pastoral letters of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines
(CBCP).

In view of the various emphases in treating the Catholic social vision, responses to
Philippine problems are related to business, science and technology, ecology and
gender, politics and governance—in accordance with the students’ areas of concern and
interest. The whole course is envisioned to deepen a “spirituality of social
transformation” founded on a faith committed to social justice and liberation in the
Philippines today.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course the students should be able to:

1. summarize central social themes and interpret the social dimension of the
Christian faith sources, especially the Prophets, Luke’s Gospel, and the
Church’s Social Teachings (useful when students are dealing with social
issues, like poverty, injustice, unbridled profit-making, and environmental
degradation);
2. explain integral evangelization, a “faith that does justice” and a
“spirituality of social transformation” (and be able to understand why
Christians have different ways, even opposing ways, of living the faith);
3. appraise some key contemporary Philippine social, economic, political, and
cultural problems using the Christian faith as an analytical lens (this
assumes a better way of understanding the words and deeds of Jesus);
4. use the resources of the Christian faith in formulating a plan for their
personal and professional social involvement that articulates their
commitment to social transformation (more important perhaps is that this
takes into account a broader background or foundation for our pursuits in
life); and,
5. evaluate their own lifestyles and identify ways to live in greater solidarity
with the marginalized (something like a vision that is larger than our own
ambitions).

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Teaching Methods and Strategies

1. Integrate theology with practical life, connect doctrine with everyday life,
the sacred with the profane, the Church with the world.
2. Conduct lectures to explain Church’s teachings on topics to be covered.
3. Conduct group discussions to allow students to express their opinions,
beliefs, and critical analysis.
4. Give weekly individual and/or group assignments and projects related to
the topic being discussed in order to deepen students’ knowledge of the
subject.
5. Encourage regular submission of personal reflection papers in order to
develop students’ prayers life and heighten the students’ inner and outer
consciousness, awareness and sensitivity.
6. Give regular seatwork exercises and quizzes to check on students’
comprehension and understanding on the topic being discussed.
7. Use multimedia (e.g. film, music, publication) for critical reflection.
8. Use case studies/anecdotes in class analysis and guide for practical
application.

Week 1: Introduction & Course Overview; Overview of immersion areas

- Presentation of Syllabus and Requirements; Seating Plan, Formation of
Immersion Groups (Six in a Group)

Week 2: The Catholic Social Vision: Complex notions

- Catholicism or Catholicity
- The Socius and the neighbor – Paul Ricoeur’s essay
- Visions: social--prophetic, capitalistic, non-profit; personal
- Call to Holiness in Today’s World—Pope Francis’ Gaudete et Exsultate

Week 3: The Reign of God Narrative / The Values of Reign of God and human values
- Albert Nolan’s book, Jesus Before Christianity (chapters 1-12) covers the
discussion on the Reign of God;
- the Good News as anti-imperial message in Edward Pillar, Resurrection
as Anti-Imperial Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 1:9b–10 in Context (Fortress
Press, 2013).

Week 4: The Good Samaritan and the Jericho Experiment

- a discussion of the parable using more recent scholarships; the article
“From Jerusalem to Jericho” provides a study of modern-day helping
behavior.
- “The Good Samaritan Parable” unpublished manuscript—recent
scholarship on the parable’s interpretation

Week 5: The Traditions of the Elders, The Money Changers, and Sinners
- a continuation of the discussion of the critical and prophetic character of
Jesus’s ministry as he questioned and confronted the traditions of the Elders
of his time and how this prophetic stance revealed his preferential treatment
of the poor and the enthronement of the values of the Reign of God.

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Week 6: The Poor and the Oppressed; Compassion and Capitalism
- a continuation of the discussion of Jesus’s care for the poor and its
significance to the present-day capitalist setting and its problems; relevant
to this discussion is the article: “Christian Compassion and Solidarity
within Capitalist Contexts”.

Week 7-8: The Social Teachings of the Church

This study will provide a closer look at the problems resulting from
capitalist profit-making and how the Papacy and other Church leaders and
communities have dealt with them.
-- Rerum novarum (1891)
-- Quadragesimo anno (1931)
-- Pacem in terris (1963)
-- Gaudium et spes (1965),
-- Popolorum progressio (1967),
-- the Medellin (1968) and Puebla (1979) Documents
-- Sollicitudo rei socialis (1987),
-- Laborem exercens (1981),
-- Laudato Si (2015)
* the film Daens (1992) will provide a dramatic theatrical experience of the
Industrial Revolution’s time; the study of the Catholic Social Teachings
includes a careful analysis of the birth and development of capitalism and
the 17th century Industrial Revolution.
* the film Romero (1989) will aid in the better understanding of the
meaning of social commitment in a setting of conflict or violence and the
struggle for peace and justice

Week 9: The Documents of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (1991)
- a focus on the following: social, political, economic, and cultural
issues/problems; ecclesial dimension of social commitment; integral
evangelization; a “faith that does justice”; spirituality of social
transformation

Week 10: The Church of the Poor and the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs)
- a study of the more localized responses to concretize the values of the
Reign of God among the poor.

Week 11: Mindanao BECs

- a closer look at the BECs of Marbel, South Cotabato and Pagadian,
Zamboanga del Sur

Week 12: Boac, Marinduque BECs

- a study of the successful BEC program of the Diocese of Boac

Week 13-15: Immersion Reports

Week 16: Review classes for final exams

Week 17: Final Exams

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References

Pope Francis, Gaudete et exsultate.

Nolan, Albert. Jesus Before Christianity: The Gospel of Liberation, revised edition.
New York: Orbis Books, 1992.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. Basic Ecclesial Communities: An Evaluation of the
Implementation of the Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines in Ten Parishes in the Philippines (Manila: missio-Munich,
2016).
Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines. Manila: Catholic
Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines, 1992.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. “Mga Kuwento at Salaysay ng Pag-asa: Buháy na Mensahe ng
mga Propeta at Makabayang Awit-Protesta,” MST Review 20 no. 1 (2018): 93-
120.
Dagmang, Ferdinand and Mary Elaine Casama. “Caring through Mothering
and Working: Grounding and Verifying Amoris Laetitia’s Concern for
Families,” MST Review 20 no. 1 (2018), 1-42.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. “The Praxis and Theory of Environmental Marxism,” Journal of
Dharma 39, 4 (October-December 2014), 319-334.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. “Impingements in Capitalism: Decoding an Obscure Factor in
Ethical Analysis,” Journal of Dharma 38, 2 (April-June 2013), 325-338.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. “Christian Compassion and Solidarity within Capitalist
Contexts,” Asia Pacific Social Science Review 6/2 (December 2006): 53-72.
Dagmang, Ferdinand. “Liberation and Instant Gratification” in Concilium International
Theological Review (4/1999):49-58.
Darley, John and Daniel Batson, C. “From Jerusalem to Jericho: A Study of Situational
and Dispositional Variables in Helping Behavior,” Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology 27/1 (1973): 100-108.
Fullenback, John. The Kingdom of God. Manila: Divine Word Publication, 1987.
Pillar, Edward. Resurrection as Anti-Imperial Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 1:9b–10 in
Context. Fortress Press, 2013.

Websites: http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/principles/documents/
https://dlsu.academia.edu/FDagmang

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Classroom Requirements / Policies

Students are expected to behave as responsible young Christians once inside the
classroom.

Attendance: 9 cuts are allowed for MWF classes. Two lates are equivalent to one
absence. Attendance and Participation in class always go together. One cannot give
points for attendance and participation if a student is not physically present in class.
Presence, however, must be one that is desirable.

Formation of groups of six members for OSCI immersion: If your parents will not give
the required permission to join an overnight immersion (OSCI orientation will be
conducted either on Jan. 28th or 30th), there are other options/alternatives available:
1. An urban live-out immersion (that is, with no overnight stays); or
2. Research paper based on personal field work (for example, interview of contractual
workers or ice cream vendor, or tricycle driver); and a corresponding library
research (making sense of the gathered field data against the background of
Philippine economic/political realities and seen in the light of the Catholic Social
Vision). Length: at least 10 pages, double-spaced or 2,500-3,000 words.

Cellular phones and other electronic communication devices should be turned off or
placed in silent mode during class hours. Anyone caught using his or her cellular phone
for the first time will be marked absent in class. Second offense means a grade-level
deduction from your final grade (that is, from A to B+ or from B+ to B; or from C+ to
C).

The use of laptop during class is not allowed, except when necessary (e.g., for a group
work or project).

Once the class has started, going out of the classroom is highly discouraged.

Reaction Papers must be typewritten, double-spaced, size 11 font, Times New Roman
and with the maximum of 2 pages. Use A4 bond paper. (Always place the date of
submission. Always write your complete name: Family Name, First Name, and
your class section)

Film showing on issues related to the course. Inability to watch the film with the class
(as scheduled) disqualifies the student from the reaction paper required for it.

Always submit assignments and reflection papers on the designated time and place.
Late assignments will not be accepted and will be given a failing mark.

No special quiz or special seat work will be given to a student who misses the
quiz/seat work administered.

Re recollection:

This is considered as a session on vocation discernment, rather than a processing of

the immersion which is just a starting point for the students’ reflection about their

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life’s direction. Recollection will be required if the students agree that attendance in
the recollection will be part of the evaluation of their performance in class; in that
case, 15% of the pre-final goes to recollection participation (confirmed by the OSC as
completed, with an endorsement of the student’s commendable presence); see,
Grading System, below.

Coming Home Retreat Dates for Seniors:

March 7- March 8 | Sacred Heart Retreat House, Novaliches
March 21- March 22 | Manresa Retreat House, Banawe, QC
*Two other dates are open for Freshies. If there are Seniors who would like
to join one of these dates because of conflict of schedule, we will be happy to
accommodate them on a first come first serve basis. They may visit the LS
Office of Campus MInistry at MVP-CSL Rm. 109 for schedule concerns.

Description/More Info (Google Slides)

Coming Home Retreat and Recollection Details: http://bit.ly/details_SIP
Coming Home Retreat FAQs (with Application
Procedure): http://bit.ly/chrFAQs

Sign up links:
Coming Home RETREAT Sign up: bit.ly/cominghomeretreat
Retreat Sign up begins on Jan 22 till Feb 7.

Seniors Integration Program RECOLLECTION Sign up: bit.ly/seniorsreco

Reco Sign up begins on Feb 1 till Feb 15.

Grading System

Mid-term Pre-Final
1. 35% Quizzes, seat works, & group 1. 20% Quizzes, seat works, reflection
work papers
2. 15% Class Participation 2. 15% Class Participation
3. 45% Midterm exam 3. 25% Group Presentation or
4. 5% Attendance Research Work
4. 5% Attendance
5. 35% Final Exam

Final Grade = 50 % Midterm grade + 50% Pre-Final grade

No extra work to pull up your grade.

Grade consultations will be entertained once the pre-final grade has been finalized and before
the final posting of final grades.

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Consultation Hours

Monday, Wednesday & Friday 1100-1200

Other days & time: by appointment

Consultations will be held at the Department of Theology, 3/F De La Costa Hall.

You may contact me through my email: dagmangf@gmail.com