I.  Objectives:
     Throughout the centuries, Christians have been convinced of the central importance of the person of Jesus the Christ. This course surveys the history of reflection on the fundamental questions: Who is Jesus? What did He do? And what is its significance for our lives?

II.  Procedures and Requirements:
      Theology has often been characterized as “faith seeking understanding” (fides quaerens intellectum).  In keeping with this tradition, the goal of this course will be an increased understanding of the Christian faith. The means to our goal of an increased “understanding of faith” will involve both reading and reflection. Reading assignments will be announced by the instructor on a week-by-week basis and will be posted on the course web site.  You will also be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of the course material on three exams administered at regular intervals during the semester.  Please note that your final grade will be calculated based upon the following formula:

  First Two Exams = 25% each
  Final Exam = 25%
  Class Attendance, Preparation, and Participation
   (in both lecture and small group discussions) = 25%

III.  A Note on Class Participation:
      It is this instructor’s view that learning should be an active process on the part of the student.  The large class size, however, would seem to make substantial student involvement almost out of the question.  In the past, I always told my students that, because of the size of the class, I was going to have to lecture for the most part, but that I was always open to earnest and serious questions.  That remains true.  But I have decided this semester to try and go one better.
      Thus, in order to foster a deeper engagement with the course material, we will devote Mondays and Fridays to the usual lecture format, but instead of class on Wednesday, we will break up into smaller discussion groups (I am hoping no more than ten to a group).  Since I want no more than ten to a group, this will necessitate scheduling 4 groups of 10 students at times during the day on either Tuesday or Thursday.  (More on that in a minute).  Please note, therefore, that your class attendance, preparation, and participation score, will be based not only upon your performance in the lecture setting, but also upon your performance in the small-group discussion setting.  You should come to class having read the material and ready to discuss. We will talk more about the dynamics and guidelines of these small groups in due time.  For now, it is important for you to know that your participation in these small groups will make up some 25% of your final grade.

IV.  Texts Required for the Course:
      There are two books that we will be using in this course, both of which can be purchased at the University Bookstore.
 
* Roch Kereszty, Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology
 * C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

      In addition to these books, you will also be assigned readings for class from two spiral-bound readers that can be purchased at the Copy Shop in the basement of the LaFortune Student Center.  One reader contains texts to be read for the lecture-format classes; the other contains readings to be prepared fro the small-group discussion sections. You should purchase these at your earliest convenience.
      We may get to all the material in these books, we may not.  It will depend on how class discussion goes.  There is no way of knowing in advance what you’ll find interesting or important. That’s why I haven’t established a definite time-table for the class.  So let me be very clear about this:  I welcome your questions and comments; that’s why I’ve made the schedule open enough to allow for them.
      You will also need access to a good translation of the Bible.  Please do not use a biblical paraphrase, such as Good News for Modern Man.  If need be, please purchase a good, recent translation, such as The Revised Standard Version (now available through Ignatius Press), The New American Bible, The New English Bible, or The Jerusalem Bible.

V.  A Last Note:
      Please be assured I want you to do well in this course, and I will do whatever I can to see to it that you get the grade you aspire to.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at:  smith.11@nd.edu.  My office is in 252 Decio.  My office phone number is 1-7550.
      I am always available to talk;  indeed, the problem will be trying to get me to shut up once you've arrived.  Feel free, though.  I am also available to go to lunch or dinner with students almost any day.