Christian initiation through baptism and confirmation is an insertion into Christ’s death and resurrection as well as an entry into the Church. With the help of Christian anthropological insights, this unit will look at the scriptural, patristic foundations of these sacraments and their historical development. The contemporary theological reflection and the significance of baptism and confirmation in daily faith living will be discussed as a translation of rituals into daily life of the believers. Besides examining Baptism and Confirmation, the unit investigates the way how the Church deals with sins committed by those who have already imitated Christ’s death in baptism through the Sacrament of Penance. The historical and pastoral approach will be employed in order to arrive at a comprehensive knowledge how the Church administers the forgiveness won by Christ. The unit concludes by addressing the pastoral questions posed by the revised rites and contemporary situations of the three sacraments.
Unit code: CT9131C
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Elective
Unit discipline: Systematic Theology
Proposing College: Catholic Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Demonstrate an advanced capacity to understand and explain the terminologies and concepts of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Penance in contemporary reflection. |
| 2. | Demonstrate a critical understanding of the scriptural foundations of Baptism, Confirmation and Penance and an appreciation of their significance within the theological framework of these sacraments. |
| 3. | Identify and express a nuanced understanding of the various aspects of the rituals, practices and theological frameworks of Baptism, Confirmation, and Penance within an historical and cultural context. |
| 4. | Demonstrate a critical understanding of how the theology of Baptism, Confirmation, and Penance can be enriched by "reading the sign of the time." |
| 5. | Articulate a theologically informed and critical understanding of the relationship of Baptism, Confirmation, and Penance to the mystery of Christ, the Church, and Christian life. |
| 6. | Undertake a specific topic of research in the theology and practice of the sacrament of Baptism or Confirmation or Penance in a critically rigorous, sustained and self-directed manner. |
Prerequisite: CT8010C.
Learning consists of lectures/instructions with visual PowerPoint presentations, video clips, occasional group discussions and seminars.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Argument | 1000 word Skeleton Argument for major essay |
1000 | 15.0 |
| Essay | 6,000 word Essay |
6000 | 85.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 13 Jun, 2023
Unit record last updated: 2023-06-13 16:51:37 +1000