Aims

a) To inform students of the content of current social teaching by the universal church and by local churches.
b) To set out the principles that this teaching uses a basis for formation and development.
c) To show that this teaching only makes sense when it is linked to practice.

Main themes

1) Which is the best concept: doctrine, teaching, or the Church's social commitment?
2) The basis of the interest that the Christian faith takes in issues of society.
3) The Christian faith as questioner, and not as legitimiser.
4) A brief presentation of texts produced by various bodies in the Church. An analysis of
some of them.
5) Liberation theologies.
6) Reflections on the action of Christians in a pluralist society.
The course may encourage some linkage between different subjects in the programme.
The teacher will take part in the advice sessions and reflection meetings on matters such
as the programme and teaching methodology.

Content and teaching methods

On the basis that the Church and the Gospel are represented in the 'market of the senses', the course believes that the heritage of Christian communities has things to offer to contemporary society.
The word 'teaching' has been preferred to 'doctrine' as the latter word suggests something
Closed and monolithic. By contrast, this course is sensitive to the creativity of Christians who are involved in the human adventure.
The word 'Church' does not only refer to the hierarchy of the Roman Church.
The course is also interested in the actions of, and the positions adopted by, Christian
Communities located in different places. Doing and saying nurture one another.
The course is based on basic texts (the Bible, the Gospel and Utopia of Jesus of Nazareth), and on the practice and word of various Christian communities in time and space.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

This is not a course in religion, and does not require membership of the Christian Church.
However, it does insist that certain texts are read.
This course forms part of a study programme given in the evening and/or on Saturdays.