Course Number: MTH/PHE/PAS 680
Course Title: Marriage and Theology of the Body
Instructor
Professor: Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson Email: ctoolin@holyapostles.edu
Course Description
For MTH/PAS 680: This course covers the biblical foundations for the Theology of the Body as expressed in the works of St. John Paul II, and seeks to relate the Theology of the Body in the practical encounters of life, love and Marriage.
For PHE 680: This course introduces Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II, and examines the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Love and Responsibility and Theology of the Body.
2. Envisioned Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate the ability to locate and define major concepts in, and recall overarching themes of, Catholic sexual ethics in order to construct and present the information in a formal and informal manner.
- Students will demonstrate a working knowledge (defined as the ability to recall, paraphrase, and interpret) of Church doctrine as opposed to the teaching of secularism by applying it in given scenarios.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate answers to common questions to prepare him or her to explain authentic Church teaching as presented in magisterial documents as opposed to the teaching of secular society.
3. Course Schedule
The following schedule is constructed to partially fulfill the Holy Apostles College and Seminary mission statement “to cultivate lay, consecrated and ordained Catholic leaders for the purpose of evangelization.”
To be able to evangelize, a future leader must have a working knowledge of Church doctrine. This course exposes the student to Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II. We examine the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Book, Love and Responsibility. And we examine his mature theological thought, as pope, concerning the theology of the body as found in his general Wednesday audiences.
We also read some earlier magisterial works: On Christian Marriage (Leo XIII); On Christian Marriage (Pius XI); On the Regulation of Birth (Paul VI); On the Church in the Modern World, Part II: Chapter 1 (Vatican Council II).
But to be able to evangelize, knowing basic doctrine is not enough. The evangelizer must be able to recall the doctrine and interpret it in a manner applicable to the situation. Rarely will the leader be asked to present formal lessons on Catholic sexual ethics. More often the situation will be one where the leader needs to explain or support the Church’s articulated doctrine against error or heresy by formulating a correct answer to a question, or contrasting true Church authentic teaching with that of secular society.
Week 1
Topic
The important thing we will learn about this week is the teaching of Leo XIII on marriage in his encyclical, On Christian Marriage.
Readings
Read Leo XIII, On Christian Marriage.
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 2
Topic
The important thing we will learn about this week is the teaching of Pius XII on marriage in his encyclical, On Christian Marriage.
Readings
Read Pius XI, On Christian Marriage.
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 3
Topic
The important thing we will learn about this week is the teaching of Paul VI on artificial means of birth control, and related topics in his encyclical, On the Regulation of Birth.
Readings
Read Paul VI, On the Regulation of Birth.
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 4
Topic
The important thing we will learn about this week is the teaching of Vatican Council II in On the Church in the Modern World, Part II: Chapter I (“Fostering the Nobility of Marriage and the Family”).
Readings
Read Vatican Council II, On the Church in the Modern World, Part II: Chapter I (“Fostering the Nobility of Marriage and the Family”.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 5
Topic
Some of the important things we will learn about this week are the meanings of the verb "to use" and their relationship to love, as well as the personalistic norm. We will also start learning about John Paul's II's extensive theology of the body.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 1: Analysis of the Verb "to Use".
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences: Week 1 (Of the Unity and Indissolubility of Marriage) to Week 11 (The Meaning of Original Human Experiences.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 6
Topic
Some of the important things we will learn this week involve the issue of the sexual urge and several different ways of interpreting it. We also finish that part of John Paul II's theology of the body called Original Unity of Man and Woman.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 1: Interpretation of the Sexual Urge. Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 12 (The Fullness of Interpersonal Communication) to 23 (Marriage in the Integral Vision of Man.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 7
Topic
This week we will start to learn different ways of understanding love. We start by interpreting it in a metaphysical way as attract, desire and goodwill. (If you are interested, C.S. Lewis has a wonderful book called The Four Loves which examines different kinds of love.) We continue studying John Paul II's theology of the body.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 2: Metaphysical Analysis of Love.
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 24 (Christ Appeals to Man’s Heart) to 34 (The Sermon on the Mount to the Men of Our Day.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 8
Topic
This week we will continue to learn about different ways of examining love. The psychological analysis includes topics such as sentiment, sensuality and senses. We continue studying John Paul II's theology of the body.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 2: Psychological Analysis of Love.
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 35 (The Content of the Commandment: “You Shall Not Commit Adultery) to 50 (Purity of Heart.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 9
Topic
This is our third week looking at different ways of understanding love. We will now turn to the ethical analysis of love. This important section focuses on the person. We continue studying John Paul II's theology of the body.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 2: The Ethical Analysis of Love.
Theology Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 51 (Justification in Christ) to 68 (Christ’s Words on the Resurrection Complete the Revelation of the Body.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 10
Topic
This week we learn about the important topic of chastity and its centrality to living the good (right) life. This analysis includes an interesting look at the structure of sin. As we continue studying John Paul II's theology of the body, we finish the second part of his three-part sequence.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes Chapter 3: The Rehabilitation of Chastity.
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 69 (The New Threshold of the Complete Truth about Man) to 86 (The Mystery of the Body’s Redemption.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 11
Topic
This week we learn more about shame, in its positive sense. We also learn about the problem of shamelessness. This is a very important topic that is poorly understood in today's world. At the same time, we continue in our study of John Paul II's theology of the body.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 3: The Metaphysics of Shame.
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 87 (Marital Love Reflects God’s Love for His People) to 101 (The Indissolubility of the Sacrament of Marriage in the Mystery of the Redemption of the Body.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 12
Topic
This week we learn about continence and how important it is to a proper understanding of human sexuality. The emphasis of John Paul II's teaching on the theology of the body here focuses on the teachings of St. Paul.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 3: The Problems of Continence.
Theology and Pastoral Studies: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 102 (The Marriage Sacrament is an Effective Sign of God’s Saving Power) to 116 (The Importance of Harmonizing Human Love with Respect for Life.)
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 13
Topic
This week we learn about the true meaning of marriage. We learn particularly about monogamy, indissolubility, and procreation. At the same time, much of John Paul II's theology of the body here focuses on the human body and art.
Readings
Philosophy Students: Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 4: Marriage.
Theology and Pastoral Studies Students: Read John Paul II, General Audiences, Weeks 117 (Responsible Parenthood) to 129 (The Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage).
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 14
Topic
This week we turn to studying vocation, a topic poorly understood in today's culture. An important part of this topic is mystical and physical virginity.
Readings
Read Wojtyla, Notes on Chapter 4: Vocation and Chapter 5: A Supplementary Survey.
Posts
Respond to my prompt in no more than three paragraphs by Wednesday night, 11:59 p.m. Respond to the posts of only two other students by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m.
Week 15
Complete the final exam between Monday, at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time and Wednesday, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
4. Text Material and Resources:
- Leo XIII, On Christian Marriage
http://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_10021880_arcanum.html - William May Karol Wojtyla’s Love and Responsibility: A summary at http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/may/summaryofl&r.htm
- Pius XI On Christian Marriage
http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_31121930_casti-connubii.html - Paul VI, On the Regulation of Birth
http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html - Vatican Council II, On the Church in the Modern World Part II: Chapter 1
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html - John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan. Boston: Pauline Books, 1997. ISBN 0-1898-7394-2
All Philosophy degree-seeking students and/or Personal Interest students must purchase the book:
- Karol Wojtyla. Love and Responsibility. Translated by Grzegorz Ignatik. 2013 ISBN-13: 978-0819845580 (Kindle is acceptable.)
All Theology and Pastoral Studies degree-seeking students will be charged a $6 copyright fee at the time of registration and will be able to access the required readings by Wojtyla.
Other Suggested Sources
- Edith Stein, Essays on Woman
- Alice von Hildebrand, The Privilege of Being a Woman
5. Course Requirements
Complete all assignments.
- Complete each reading assignment.
- Answer the posting prompt and respond to two other posts each week.
- Complete the final exam between December 4, at 6:01 a.m. Eastern Time and December 6, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Readings and class discussion address Learning Objectives 1- 2.
Final exam addresses Learning Outcome 3.
6. GRADING
- Answer to posting prompt 25%
- Response to two other posts 25%
- Final Exam 50%
7. DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY
Holy Apostles College & Seminary is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities who qualify for admission to the College. Students enrolled in online courses who have documented disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact Robert Mish, the Disability Resource Center ADA Coordinator, at rmish@holyapostles.edu or 860-632-3015. In all cases, reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that all students with disabilities have access to course materials in a mode in which they can receive them. Students who have technological limitations (e.g., slow Internet connection speeds in convents) are asked to notify their instructors the first week of class for alternative means of delivery.
8. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary are expected to practice academic honesty.
Avoiding Plagiarism
In its broadest sense, plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas, presented or claimed as your own. At this stage in your academic career, you should be fully conscious of what it means to plagiarize. This is an inherently unethical activity because it entails the uncredited use of someone else's expression of ideas for another's personal advancement; that is, it entails the use of a person merely as a means to another person’s ends. Plagiarism includes: 1. Directly quoting without acknowledging the source. 2. Changing a few words of a text without indicating this was done and/or not acknowledging the source. 3. Not acknowledging that the structure of ideas or logic is from another author. 4. Not acknowledging a unique image (including analogies, similes, metaphors etc.) is from a particular document or author.
Students, where applicable:
· Should identify the title, author, page number/webpage address, and publication date of works when directly quoting small portions of texts, articles, interviews, or websites.
· Students should not copy more than two paragraphs from any source as a major component of papers or projects.
· Should appropriately identify the source of information when paraphrasing (restating) ideas from texts, interviews, articles, or websites.
· Should follow the Holy Apostles College & Seminary Stylesheet (available on the Online Writing Lab’s website at http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl/resources).
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty:
Because of the nature of this class, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously. Students caught plagiarizing will receive a zero for the assignment, and may be withdrawn from the class and/or expelled from Holy Apostles.
9. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Even though you are not required to be logged in at any precise time or day, you are expected to login several times during each week. Because this class is being taught entirely in a technology-mediated forum, it is important to actively participate each week in the course. In a traditional classroom setting for a 3-credit course, students would be required, per the federal standards, to be in class three 50-minute sessions (or 2.5 hours a week) and prepare for class discussions six 50-minute sessions (or 5 hours) a week. Expect to devote at least nine 50-minute sessions (or 7.5 quality hours) a week to this course. A failure on the student’s part to actively participate in the life of the course may result in a reduction of the final grade.
10. INCOMPLETE POLICY
An Incomplete is a temporary grade assigned at the discretion of the faculty member. It is typically allowed in situations in which the student has satisfactorily completed major components of the course and has the ability to finish the remaining work without re-enrolling, but has encountered extenuating circumstances, such as illness, that prevent his or her doing so prior to the last day of class.
To request an incomplete, distance-learning students must first download a copy of the Incomplete Request Form. This document is located within the Shared folder of the Files tab in Populi. Secondly, students must fill in any necessary information directly within the PDF document. Lastly, students must send their form to their professor via email for approval. “Approval” should be understood as the professor responding to the student’s email in favor of granting the “Incomplete” status of the student.
Students receiving an Incomplete must submit the missing course work by the end of the sixth week following the semester in which they were enrolled. An incomplete grade (I) automatically turns into the grade of “F” if the course work is not completed.
Students who have completed little or no work are ineligible for an incomplete and must receive the grade that they have earned. Students who feel they are in danger of failing the course due to an inability to complete course assignments should withdraw from the course.
A “W” (Withdrawal) will appear on the student’s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the first week of a semester to the end of the third week. A “WF” (Withdrawal/Fail) will appear on the student’s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the third week of a semester and on or before the Friday before the last week of the semester.
11. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR
Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson, Ph.D., S.T.L is a Professor of Dogmatic and Moral Theology. She holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and a licentiate from Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. She serves as the Registrar and Institutional Statistician, teaches graduate courses on campus and through distance learning, and is the author of numerous theology articles. A wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she divides her time between Connecticut and Vermont.
