Catholic Schoolhouse
TM
Rhetoric Level Religion Guide
Year 2
by Rose Wright
Copyright 2015 Catholic Schoolhouse
All rights reserved
Permission is granted to make copies as necessary for in home and in class use.
Introduction
To the parents...
Parents should have a copy of the Catholic Schoolhouse Y ear 2 Tour Guide to seize opportunities to tie in memory work
topics that will interest their class. While memory work will not be officially covered in the dialectic level, the information
contained should already be mastered by this age students. Study at home will be necessary for students who are new to
the program to assure mastery. All ages studying and quizzing the memory work serves as an important unifying factor for
families--students are never too old for memory!
In Christ,
The Catholic Schoolhouse Upper Level Team
Quarter 1
Background Information
Religion: Overview of Objectives
We are on a quest for Truth using Reason and Divine Revelation. This journey will help us to uncover all
areas of the Faith so that by the end of
your Rhetoric teaching you will not
only apply all the memory work you
have learned throughout the years but
you will also uncover the mysteries
studied now for over two thousand
years! Some mysteries will be
completely answered, others will leave
you seeking for more. We can help you
begin to FIND those answers to the
mysteries by showing you important
Scripture passages, Church Documents and how to use them, but ultimately it is the virtue of perseverance,
grace and wisdom that will truly lead you to the answers.
Existence of God
This first quarter of Year 2 will begin with Creation, and so, leads us to ask, “Who is the Creator?” Knowing
God’s attributes, His qualities, will be the first step uncovering some of the mystery. After discussing God’s
attributes, we will examine the Proofs for God’s Existence as discussed by St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa
Theologica. This quarter will be a bit more intense than most because we must remember, we cannot know all
of God. Please refer to Peter Kreeft’s breakdown of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Proofs if you find them to be a bit
challenging and you needing some guidance.
St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica:
Nearly every week you will be given a reference to St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. St. Thomas
Aquinas wrote the Summa during the 13th century, the height of what is known as Scholasticism.
Scholasticism refers to a movement in history that resulted from the re-discovery of Aristotle’s works. Please
see Appendix 1 on How to Read the Summa Theologica so that you will have a better understanding
throughout the year when the book is referenced. St. Thomas Aquinas had a vision of Heaven, while working
on the Summa and took his masterpiece and tried to throw it in the fire but his fellow monks held him back.
He explained that his work was so incomplete to what the true glory of Heaven, he felt it did not do the Truth
justice. The reality is the multiple volumes of the Summa Theologica includes approximately 3,500 words.
His work is truly outstanding and can be a great benefit and reference in learning the Faith on a deeper level.
Apologetics Notebook
The Apologetics Notebook (you may use a spiral notebook or a three-ring binder filled with lined paper;
whatever you prefer) is for you to keep over your three years of Rhetoric. The objective is for you by the end
of your three years in the Catholic Schoolhouse program to have a notebook (or several depending upon how
detailed you become with your notebooks) that you can reference in discussions with others on the Faith.
The formatting of the notebook will be very similar to that of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. Be
sure to examine the Appendix 1 of how to read the Summa so that you are familiar with the structure and
purpose. You will be responsible for entering the arguments (called Articles) either from what is given in the
weekly assignments or on your own. These arguments will become the cornerstone of your reference guide
when you are speaking to others about the Catholic Faith. This is YOUR reference and is not to be a copy
like the Summa.
Advanced Reading
You will be given advanced reading weekly. While this reading is up to the decision of your parents as to
whether or not you should read it, it is highly recommended. If you are ever not understanding the material,
go to the advanced reading which might give you some answers you were looking for regarding your work.
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina
Each week you will be given a prayer meditation to help show you the many ways to pray. Of course in
Catholic Schoolhouse you are learning Latin Chant. Singing, according to St. Augustine, is praying twice.
The Grammar learners are discussing the Mass (which you should be familiar with) which is also prayer,
known as Liturgical Prayer. Throughout the year you will learn other forms of prayer. This quarter you will
work on Lectio Divina (Divine Prayer) mediation based upon an ancient form of Benedictine prayer. The
four typical steps to the Lectio Divina is to read, meditate, pray and contemplate. You will make a prayer
journal to keep for the Rhetoric years to show you how much you have learned and grown in your prayer
life. See Appendix 3 and 4 about Lection Divina and the formatting for the Prayer Journal. Be sure to find a
quiet place to do this part of your at-home religion.
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 1
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Attributes of God
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm, The
Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Augustine’s Confessions Book XI on Time
and Eternity
Prayer: Lectio Divina Jeremiah 1:4-9
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: Salvation History, Covenant with Adam
Introduction
Supplies
This week you will need to get your Apologetics Notebook started according to the
template provided in Appendix 2. Please realize that you are studying the attributes
of God, because it is important for us to know about our Creator. The attributes you
are learning are about Him and Him alone, not who He is in relation to us. Often
times we tend to know God from who He is to us, but God has His own important
characteristics that we should know if we are to move forward and understand His
existence.
History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
St Augustine’s Confessions (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
………………………………………………………………………………………….










Scholar Prep



Note: The Scholar Prep is to review what has been taught in the Grammar
and Dialectic Levels of Religion already. If you are not familiar with the
below information, please brush up with parental guidance.
Scholar should be familiar with the Mass
Scholar should be familiar with the two Creation stories of Genesis
Scholar should be familiar with the Covenant of Adam
Week 1 - Scholar Background
Background Information
God has a multitude of attributes. In the story of Creation, we come to know God immediately in relation to Adam and Eve and the world as a Creator. We also notice for the first
time in Genesis a mention of the Blessed Trinity. (Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our image.”) indicating according to St. Augustine, Doctor of Grace, that yet another attribute of
God is that He is social. His very nature, not in any way dependent on His creation, is to
be united as a family as is witnessed in The Blessed Trinity. In knowing one another, we
come to know more about God and His love for His creation. In knowing God, we come
to realize His existence can be discovered with the light of reason. Some of the truths
about God can be ascertained by human reason while other truths can be known only
through Divine Revelation.
St. Augustine was truly the leading authority for the first 1300s years until St. Thomas
Aquinas came with the re-discover of Aristotle’s works (they had been lost but were rediscovered and brought about the time period known as Scholasticism and the great Summa
Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas). St. Augustine talks about God attribute of being eternal. He explains, if God is eternal, then He is outside of time. St. Augustine also explained
that if God ceased to think of you for only a moment you would no longer exist—you
would vanish! (found in his Literal Interpretation of Genesis) How often do you think of
God? And yet how often is He thinking of you? Always.
Reference
Gen 1:26
The Summa
Theologica by St.
Thomas Aquinas
- Week 1
Week 1 Religion
Defining the Terms

See the handout for the Attributes of God. Define vocabulary terms (from your reading) into the
Apologetics Notebook: Idealism, Materialism, Monism
Apologetics Notebook

Keep a notebook of definitions and arguments to use for apologetics. (See Appendix 2 for template.)

Attach the handout (either glue, paperclip or 3-hole punch if you use a 3-ring binder) for the Attributes of
God into your spiral notebook as a quick reference for how we define God. The attributes are helpful
when speaking with atheists.

Argument: God had to cr eate man because He was lonely. (Answer ed in example in Appendix)

Argument: The Atheist says: “If God existed and we know God has to be good and a good God would
not allow innocent children to suffer and yet we find in the world innocent children who are suffering.
Therefore, God does not exist.” (NOTE: Leave space to add to this argument as you learn more
throughout the year.)
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm Vol. 1 Par t III sections V.-XI called: “God is
Everywhere; God Knows and Sees All Things; God is Eternal; God is Infinitely Beautiful; God is
Infinitely Merciful and Good to Us; God is Infinitely Just and Holy” Located on pages 89 to 110 of
https://archive.org/details/catechismexample01chisuoft . his reading assignment will give some examples
of God as omnipresent (everywhere), immutable (unchangeable), the Summum Bonum. (greatest Good)

Read: T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J ., Chapter s 1 and 2. The fr ee book is
located at the following address: https://archive.org/details/TheQuestionOfQuestions
Answer the Following (from The Question of Questions)
Chapter 1: Prologue
What is the mood of the time period this book was written in? (1918) and what is the goal of this book
in light of that mood? Research briefly the Flu of 1918 (which coincided with WWI). How does this
event along with WWI influence man’s thought?
Chapter 2: Our Quest: Man’s Permanent Home
How do idealism, materialism and monism miss the full picture, the Truth?
Thinking back over your timeline from past years at CSH, and knowing this book is written in 1918,
how do the incorrect philosophies of idealism and materialism affect the outcome of the 1940s and
WWII?
What is the quest?
Week 1 - At-Home
Advanced Reading

Read St. Augustine’s Confessions Book XI on Time and Eternity (Note: Before St. Thomas Aquinas, St.
Augustine was considered one of the greatest authorities on Church Teaching and referenced by everyone
for the first thousand years of the Church. All his writings would have been well known by Churchmen.
The book Confessions is St. Augustine’s autobiography for his conversion story and his love for God.)
The Five Canons of Rhetoric: Inventio

This week began our study of the Five Canons of Rhetoric. In Inventio, one prepares the argument, gathers
the research, and creates the thesis. Rhetoric looks at the particular make-up of the person you’re trying to
persuade and figures out what will move them to your side of the argument. Use what you learned in CSH
while working on your proof.

Once you have entered your argument from the Atheist into your Apologetics Notebook, now persuade the
atheist by writing a creative, moving response based upon your research as to what you would say to the
Atheist.
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

(See an Explanation in Appendix 3 &4 to help you understand the process.) Bible Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-9
(Answered in Appendix 2) and the Argument of
the Atheist.
Checklist:
 Assignment: Names r eveal who we ar e.
Find twenty names for God in the Bible and
explain how these names reveal who He is and
His attributes.
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pg 89-
110 and Chapters 1 & 2 from The Questions
of Questions
 Reading Assignment & Vocabulary: Add
vocabulary terms to your apologetics notebook and answer the questions on separate
paper.
 Apologetics Notebook: Pr epar e your intr o-
duction pages to
the notebook.
(See Appendix
2).
 Apologetics
Arguments: Add
the following
arguments to
your notebook with cited answers: God had
to create man, because He was lonely
 Proof: “The fool
says in his heart
there is no
God.” (Psalm 14).
Therefore, Scripture
tells us God’s existence can be known from reason alone. Write a
proof demonstrating this. First provide an objective proof for God’s existence using reason and
logic and then try to formulate a rhetorical argument based upon trying to move someone to
your point of view taking into account where
they’re coming from.
 Rhetoric: Wr ite a moving r esponse to an
atheist who objects to God’s existence. The
atheist says if God existed and we know God
has to be good and a good God would not allow
innocent children to suffer and yet we find in the
world innocent children who are suffering.
Therefore, God does not exist.18. See take home
handout.
 Prayer Journal: Jer 1:4-9
- Week 1
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 2
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Proof of God’s Existence
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm, The
Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Prayer: Lectio Divina:
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: Salvation History, Covenant with Noah
Introduction
Supplies
Be sure to thoroughly examine Peter Kreeft’s summary of St. Thomas Aquinas’
Proof for God’s Existence at: http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments
-gods-existence.htm#1 to help you understand St. Thomas Aquinas. These proofs are
very challenging so do not get discouraged if you are overwhelmed. Even college
students struggle with them! The readings will help you understand the purpose as to
why we study the existence of God.








History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
…………………………………………………………………………………………

Scholar Prep


Scholars should familiarize themselves with the story of Noah in Genesis
5:32-10:1 and the Covenant with Noah.
Scholars should be familiar with the Mass
Scholars should be studying the Five Canons of Rhetoric to help with the art
of persuasion.
Background Information
“I love you, Lord, my strength, Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, My God my
rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!” (Psalm 18:1-3). This week we
will begin looking at Creation, at the world around us and using the signs God has left, the
bread crumbs if you will, to determine if we can come to know Him by His Creation. For
example, the Wasp, as discussed in your reading The Question of Questions, shows they
are better observers even than man, and they are aware of a certain order in nature.
Psalm 18:1-3
The Question of
Questions by
D.J. Kavanagh
Certainly those involved in the Tower of Babel knew of His existence; unfortunately, they
did not understand God and tried to reach Him by climbing to the Heavens. We cannot
take short cuts to reach God. We can, however, begin with Reason to see His existence.
Using logic, there are many ways to prove God’s existence (much more than the five famous ones St. Thomas Aquinas is known for in the Summa Theologica.)
As you work on writing your own proof for God’s existence, remember to think of the
proof like a set of stairs, or a ladder, where you must not miss the steps to reach its conclusion.
- Week 2
Week 2 Religion
Defining the Terms

Define: Sentimentalism, reason, intelligence, observation, allegory, Principle of Displacement
Apologetics Notebook

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Summa your own pr oof using the template
given for the notebook. This Argument can be used in class for this week’s CSH proof homework.
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm vol. 3 The XXVI: Vir tue of Religion
(introduction only) and VI. On Atheism (found on the following pages: 38-40 and 63-65 at the website:
https://archive.org/details/catechismexample03chisuoft)

Read: Chapter s 3 and 4 fr om T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J . The fr ee book is
located at the following address: https://archive.org/details/TheQuestionOfQuestions
Answer the Following (from The Question of Questions)
Chapter 3: Our Guide: Reason
How has modern science “blown out the light of Reason” (abandoned Reason)? What’s the serious error?
Why do “ifs” have no part in Faith?
What does the Hunting Wasp show us about nature?
Refute the statement modern scientists often make that reason is observation.
Explain how using reason indicates animals are not as intelligent as humans.
What makes this statement a betrayal of reason: “Fortunately for the world…there is Faith that gives an answer of hope and comfort”?
Chapter 4: What is Reason?
What were the two distinct and opposing systems of thought of the cavern men? How were they similar?
The Allegory is really about what?
Why won’t Thomas Edison’s “latest” invention work?
What is certain regardless of Edison’s meaning in building this new invention?
What are the two processes of reasoning?
Research who Archimedes is and what he added to the understanding of Reason
and reasoning.
Week 1 - At-Home
Advanced Reading

Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Question 2 (The existence of God), Article 1, cited (ST I,
Q. 2, Art. 1.) Add any notes to the Apologetic Notebook from your reading.
The Five Canons of Rhetoric: Inventio

Continuing with Inventio, or the Canon of Invention, recall the difference between Invention and
Discovery. A discovery is that which we find, because it already exists; an invention is that which we
create, not previously in existence.

Remember: In Inventio, one prepares the argument, gathers the research, and creates the thesis. Rhetoric
looks at the particular make-up of the person you’re trying to persuade and figures out what will move
them to your side of the argument. Use what you learned in CSH while working on your proof.
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

Scripture Passage: Psalm 18 (While Dialectic students ar e studying this Psalm, you will get to use it
in prayer this week. Use the Prayer Journal template (found in the Appendix) for help.
Checklist:
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pg. 38-
40 and 63-65 and Chapters 3 & 4 from The
Questions of Questions
 Vocabulary: Add vocabular y ter ms to your
apologetics notebook.
 Reading Assignment: Answer the questions
about your reading on separate paper (not to
be in Apologetics Notebook
 Advanced Reading: Sum m a T heologica
your own words on your family to see if they
find any holes or
areas you might
have missed in your
proof for God’s
Existence.
 Rhetoric: Wor k on
the CSH homework
to write your own Proof. Be persuasive in your
language. Use your emotion (passion for the
topic) to be persuasive.
 Prayer Journal: Psalm 18 (Follow the Appen-
dix 3 & 4Guidelines.)
 Apologetics Arguments: Add the following
arguments to your notebook with cited answers: Include
your own proof
for God’s Existence into your
Apologetics
Notebook as a
reference to use
later.
 Proof: Pr actice the Pr oof you cr eated in
- Week 2
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 3
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Proof of God’s Existence
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm,
The Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Prayer: Lectio Divina
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: Salvation History, Covenant with Abraham
Introduction
Supplies
Scholar Prep
When we look at the historical timeline we see for the first time we have China’s
history, from the Shang Dynasty. They worked greatly with bones, bronze jade and
other artifacts. The Shang Dynasty is the first known civilization in China and
brought about the Bronze Age. While the Shang Dynasty flourished as nomads, the
Chosen People grow from the line of Shem (one of the three sons of Noah (Gen 5, 6
and 10). The term Semite in referencing Hebrews comes from the name Shem.
Abraham comes from this line as does the Savior, Jesus. Another theme this week
during your Prayer Journal will be the theme of friendship found in the Book of
Sirach. Often times our family can be our closest friends. Do we treat our family as
we should?
History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
…………………………………………………………………………………………











Scholars should familiarize themselves with the Covenant with Abraham
Scholars should be familiar with the Mass.
Scholars should be studying the Five Canons of Rhetoric to help with the art
of persuasion.
Background Information
For this week, let’s discuss the book you reach each week called The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm. This five-volume series was written many, many years ago so the
language may appear quite different than what we are used to today; however, the message is still very applicable to our lives. The idea behind you reading some stories each
week is to show you in example what you are learning in your other readings, Proofs, etc.
The stories are usually heart-warming, or perhaps eye-opening and while no homework is
assigned to them, that does not make them less important. Consider the short stories a time
for a “cozy read”, something less stressful than that of the Advanced Reading of St.
Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica.
The Catechism
in Examples by
Rev. Chisholm
In Dialectic Religion, the scholars are also reading stories, or rather one large story of Salvation History. As you may recall when you studied the Old Testament, a multiple stories
within the main message of the coming of a Messiah, are of a variety of styles, speaking to
a multitude of people. When working on the Canons of Rhetoric and learning the art of
persuasion, recall that many different ways can be used to persuade others to your cause.
These techniques will come in handy when you are in a discussion with others about the
Faith, as will you Apologetics Notebook you are creating.
If you are not familiar with the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or have forgotten
some of the details, be sure to revisit them in Genesis where Salvation History continues
through the Covenants God made with Him people.
Book of
Genesis
Week 3 Religion
Defining the Terms

Define: Syllogism, Syllogizing, Monera, Immutable
Apologetics Notebook

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Sum ma for this ar gument: wr ite the
following: If God is immutable, He cannot change nature.
Chapter 6: The Skepticism of Science
How is skepticism fatal to the truth-seeker?
What does this Arabian proverb mean: “He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Avoid him. He
who knows not, and know that he knows not, is simple. Teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is
asleep. Wake him. But he who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man. Follow him.” Which of these is the
modern “wise man” of today according to the standards of most people at this time? Where do you find him?
A skeptic often uses false intellectual humility to mask something else. What is it?
What happens to a skeptic who cannot find God with a telescope?
An astronomer can have all the astronomical instruments in the world but if he does not do this he knows nothing.
This missing component also applies to Reason. What is it?
What is Aristotelian’s system of reasoning according to the author?
What process is the author’s intention to follow in this book and what does it mean?
How is the following a syllogism? “The Heavens declare the glory of God”
Why, according to Locke’s way of thinking would no one know how to boil liqueor prior to chemists’ discoveries?
Chapter 7: Why the Angels Weep!
Why are the angels weeping?
What is the most wonderful of all powers man has?
What rises in protest again experimental science applied to the soul (like the spiritists who use machines to talk to
spirits) and the powers of the soul (that skepticism tries to deny)?
What must happen before progress can be made towards the truth?
Who according to materialistic thinkers is grander and nobler than the superhuman deity?
The idea of man has been degraded. What is the cause of his degradation?
nate?” What is a true
What are the modern errors regarding the answers to “what is life” and “how did it origiunderstanding of life?
What is materialism when applied to man?
What is the end result of the Hindu legend that the earth rests on the back of an
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm Vol. 1 Par t III. Sections: The Existence of God
and Who is God? pgs. 73-79 at the website: https://archive.org/stream/catechismexample01chisuoft#page/
n15/mode/2up

Read: Chapter s 6 and 7 fr om T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J . (Chpt. 5 Extr a )
Advanced Reading

Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Question 2 (The existence of God), Article 2. (ST I, Q. 2,
Art. 2). Add any notes to the Apologetic Notebook from your reading.
The Five Canons of Rhetoric:

This week in Rhetoric you are learning more about the Canon of Arrangement: Putting together the
structure of the coherent argument - utilizing an introduction, statement of facts, division, proof, refutation
and conclusion. The arrangement of your presentation or paper remains important to the success of your
delivery. Create a short speech on a favorite “How To” project (like cooking a favorite meal). Present the
speech to your family with GUSTO remembering arrangement is crucial!
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

Scripture Passage: Sir ach 6 (While Dialectic students ar e studying this Psalm, you will get to use it in
prayer this week. Use the Prayer Journal template (found in the Appendix) for help.
Checklist:
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pgs. 73-
79 and Chapters 6 & 7 from The Questions of
Questions
 Vocabulary: Add vocabular y ter ms to your
apologetics notebook.
 Reading Assignment: Answer the questions
about your reading on separate paper (not to
be in your Apologetics Notebook).
 Advanced Reading: Sum m a T heologica
 Apologetics Arguments: Add the following
arguments to your
notebook with cited answers: If God
is immutable, He
cannot change nature.
 Proof: Using any
one of the history cards this week (The Call of
Abraham, the Sacrifice of Isaac, or Jacob), use
one event/Bible passage to write down as support for God’s Existence using Reason.
(Example Gen. and story of Adam, God is allgood, because Genesis 3:16, the Protoevangelum or First Gospel, promises to protect His
creatures. Write answer in your Apologetics
Notebook.
 Rhetoric: Cr eate a shor t speech on a favor ite
“How to” project (like cooking, building, etc.).
Present to family.
 Prayer Journal: Sirach 6 (Follow the Appen-
dix 3 & 4Guidelines.)
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 4
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Proof of God’s Existence
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm,
The Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Prayer: Lectio Divina
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: The Angels
Introduction
Supplies
This week be sure you are organizing your Apologetics Notebook correctly. Look
back over the last three weeks you have completed and see if you can add any holes
that you had before. Leave plenty of space between each question you are discussing
so that you can add to it in the future. Make sure to include your sources so that
when you need to have further proof for someone, you will have the correct sources
right there in the margins.
History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
…………………………………………………………………………………………









Scholar Prep


Scholars should familiarize herself with the teachings on angels from the
CCC or Catholic Encyclopedia. (as is discussed in Dialectic this week)
Scholars should be familiar with the Mass.
Scholars should be studying the Five Canons of Rhetoric to help with the art
of persuasion.
Background Information
This week, part of your assignment will be to discuss Natural Law in your Proof for the
Apologetics Notebook. This discussion ties in nicely with The Code of Hammurabi, which
is a form of natural law. The code of Hammurabi from around 1750 B.C. indicates the desire to uphold the natural order of things. Even back before Christ has arrived and Christianity has taken root in the world, people are desiring to follow some sort of law. This code
of justice shows humanity has an innate desire to follow a natural law, whether they claim
to believe in God or not. According to St. Thomas, the natural law is "nothing else than
the rational creature's participation in the eternal law" (I-II.94).
The natural law (and our ability to reason) gives us a guideline, that we should not kill,
that we should help our neighbors, etc. in a certain way proves an ultimate Judge, God,
who orchestrated the ability for us to reason. This ability to reason is how we have such
philosophers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle to which the modern world still acknowledges over 3000 years ago as having valid points.
The Ten Commandments, which historically fall next week during Moses on the historical
timeline, are all part of the natural law (with the exception of Commandment 3).
Summa (I-II.
94)
Week 4 Religion
Defining the Terms

Define: Positivism, Agnostic, Atheist, Theo-centric, Homo-centric
Apologetics Notebook

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Sum ma for this ar gument: : Must ther e be
an uncaused cause?
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm vol. 1 Par t III. Sections “God is the Creator of
All Things” and “God is Almighty” (found on the following pages: 79-89 at the website: https://
archive.org/stream/catechismexample03chisuoft#page/n83/mode/2up)

Read: Chapter s 8 and 9 fr om T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J . The fr ee book is
located at the following address: https://archive.org/details/TheQuestionOfQuestions
Answer the Following (from The Question of Questions)
Chapter 8: From Confucius to Confusion
Can science harm religion? Why or why not?
Summarize the description the author gives of 1918 with the Flu epidemic.
Why are there no “ifs” in the religion of a monk?
How does a rationalist explain Heaven?
What is the cause of the shift from a theo-centric world to a homo-centric world? And is this a modern notion? Explain.
What are the laws of gravitation in the moral? What’s the impossibility with regard to gravity?
Who were the homo-centric minded people?
Chapter 9: I Don’t Believe!
What was the argument (summarized) made between the atheist, J. Scott and the Catholic Charles Selsby?
How does Selsby help Scott to realize he cannot prove what he believes?
How has the world today “closed their eyes” to seeing the Truth?
Advanced Reading

Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Question 2 (The existence of God), Article 3) (ST I, Q. 2,
Art. 3). Add any notes to the Apologetic Notebook from your reading.
The Five Canons of Rhetoric: Canon of Style

The next Canon of Rhetoric is the Canon of Style: This canon refers to presenting the argument to stir the
emotions; there are five encompassing concerns of style which relate style to grammar, audience, effective
and affective appeals, the guiding principle of decorum, and the importance of ornamenting language
through figurative speech.

Find a favorite Psalm in the Bible and read it aloud with fierce emotion to convince your audience of what
you are trying to say. Present to your family after practicing a bit.
Proof: Connecting to History Timeline


This week’s proof to be added to the Apologetics Notebook will tie you back to the Historical Timeline.
Recall this week we are discussing the Code of Hammurabi, which is a form of natural law. Using your
own words, explain what St. Thomas Aquinas says in proof form (like the Summa) in your Apologetics
Notebook (which ties to God’s existence): the natural law is “nothing else than the rational creature’s
participation in the eternal law” (I-II.94).
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

Scripture Passage: J ohn 6 (The Br ead of Life Discour se)
Checklist:
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pgs. 79-
89 and Chapters 8 & 9 from The Questions of
Questions
 Vocabulary: Add vocabular y ter ms to your
apologetics notebook.
 Reading Assignment: Answer the questions
about your reading on separate paper (not to
be in your Apologetics Notebook).
 Advanced Reading: Sum m a T heologica
swers: Must ther e
be an uncaused
cause?
 Proof: Recall this
week we discussing
the Code of Hammurabi which is a
form of natural law.
Using your own words, explain what St. Thomas Aquinas says in proof form in your Apologetics Notebook (ties to God’s existence):
the natural law is "nothing else than
the rational creature's participation in
the eternal law" (I-II.94).
 Rhetoric: Find a favor ite Psalm in the Bible
and read it aloud with fierce emotion to convince your audience of what you are trying to
say. Present to family.
 Prayer Journal: John 6 (The Br ead of Life
 Apologetics Arguments: Add the following
arguments to your notebook with cited an-
Discourse) (Follow the Appendix 3 & 4Guidelines.)
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 5
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Proof of God’s Existence
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm, The
Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Prayer: Lectio Divina
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: Salvation History, Covenant with Moses
Introduction
Supplies
Scholar Prep
Remembering what you learned in the Dialectic Level, this week is covering the time
of Moses and again in Salvation History we see God showing the way and giving
hope for His promise of the Savior. The manna in the desert is now the Eucharist we
receive at Mass. The Bread of Life discourse from this week for the Grammar
Students reminds us: “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven that a man may eat of it and not
die.” Also, the Trojan War began during this time and as told in Greek Mythology
started over the kidnapping of a woman. The Trojan War occurred approximately
100 years after Moses in Scripture. Clearly the history in Greece is much different
than the history of the Hebrews yet both are still using oral tradition to understand
their world and nature around them. They will use the voice of Reason to uncover
truths about what they know of nature.
History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
…………………………………………………………………………………………











Scholars should familiarize themselves with the story of Moses in Exodus.
Scholars should be familiar with the Mass.
Scholars should be studying the Five Canons of Rhetoric to help with the art
of persuasion.
Background Information
As Rhetoric Level scholars, you have been learning about the Five Canons of Rhetoric to
help you with the art of persuasion. Certainly in a time before the printing press, BEFORE
PAPER even, if the history of the ancient people was to be remembered, they would have to
memorize the stories, using different techniques to then bring back to them their heritage,
their story. Ritual became an important way to remember that heritage, like the Passover, to
recall what happened to the people Moses helped deliver from Egypt. The ritual then is important and can be seen today in the Mass, something passed down to us well over 2000
years!
“All developed religions except pure Buddhism, Muslim and Protestantism have offered sacrifice. Unfortunately, even human sacrifices were offered by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians,
and other pagan nations. Abel slaughtered and burned the firstlings of his flock in sacrifice to
God; Cain offered the fruits of the earth; Noah sacrificed animals from the artk. Among the
Hebrews we find numerous sacrifices established at God’s direction or with His approval,
especially the holocaust, or whole-burnt offering, in which the victim after being slain was
entirely consumed by fire. As the Jewish sacrifices were only types or figures of the unspotted Sacrifice of the New Law, they were to cease the passing of the Old Law, and it is a historical fact that they were never offered after the destruction of the Jewish Temple by Titus.
St. Paul said “It is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken
away” (Heb 10:4). Christ’s death on the cross was a true sacrifice in which He offered Himself to His Heavenly Father to expiate the sins of the world. As St. Paul expresses it: “Christ
was offered once to exhaust the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28). The Mass is the same sacrifice
that was offered on Calvary. The Mass is a memorial and representation of Christ’s death on
the cross and a continuation of Christ’s sacrifice, but in such a way as to be a real sacrifice in
itself. In the Sacrifice of the Mass and in that of the cross we have the same High Priest who
offers the sacrifice, and the same Victim who is immolated; that is Christ Jesus our Lord. The
priest who says the Mass is only the minister and representative of Christ, the High Priest.”
From Religion:
Doctrine and
Practice by
Francis Cassilly, S.J
Week 5 Religion
Defining the Terms

Define: Materialistic, Evolutionist, Antagonistic, Evangelicalism, Sabbatarianism
Apologetics Notebook

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Sum m a for this ar gument: Why is it
impossible that the universe still happens to exist, even though it was possible for it to go out of
existence?

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Sum ma for this ar gument: If God does not
have a Body, and He is all-good, then aren’t all material things/created things bad?
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm vol. 1 Par t II sections “By Faith We Believe
What God Has Revealed” and “How God Bestows on Us the Gift of Faith” (found on pages: 40-46 at the
website: https://archive.org/stream/catechismexample03chisuoft#page/n83/mode/2up)

Read: Chapter 10 fr om T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J .
Answer the Following (from The Question of Questions)
Chapter 10: God Known By Reason
What must you understand to truly understand the sciences?
What can Science do without God and what can it NOT do without acknowledging God?
If the answer discovered in the above question is true even in the physical sciences, then where else is it true?
The question of man’s Permanent Home is identical with the question of ____________?
Summarize the author’s explanation of why God must exist.
Why are their atheists or agnostics according to the author?
Answer the question: “Which existed first, the acorn or the oak-tree?”
When do the experimentalists contradict themselves? Why?
Why is the existence of God important to man?
Summarize briefly the story of the atheist and the astronomer.
What do genuine philosophers demand?
What did Sir Isaac Newton say about God?
What two misunderstandings of Who God is have led to so many scientists sug-
Advanced Reading

Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Question 3 (The essence of God), Article 1) (ST I, Q. 3,
Art. 1.) Add any notes to the Apologetic Notebook from your reading.
The Five Canons of Rhetoric: Memory

This week the Canon of Rhetoric is the Canon of Memory: Speaking without having to prepare or
memorize a speech. Memory is the "treasury of things invented," thus linking Memory with the first canon
of rhetoric, Invention. This alludes to the practice of storing up common places or other material arrived at
through the topics of invention, for use as called for in a given occasion. Recall your CSH
discussion: What are mnemonics? How does one employ them to recall and present a body of
knowledge? Example: when preparing to speak, consider the venue and audience. Divide the room into
visual sections. Each section represents part of your speech. When presenting that speech, as your eyes fall
upon a section, you will recall that portion of your speech. This is a mnemonic device.

Prepare a story about your family’s history/genealogy or childhood story. Present to family with emotion.
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

Scripture Passage: Psalm 95 (Note Mer ibah and Massah ar e r efer ences to Moses’ lack of faith in God
when he struck the rock twice for water. As a result, God said he and Aaron would not enter the Promised
Land.)
Checklist:
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pgs. 40-
46 and Chapter 10 from The Questions of
Questions
 Vocabulary: Add vocabular y ter ms to your
apologetics notebook.
 Reading Assignment: Answer the questions
about your reading on separate paper (not to
be in your Apologetics Notebook).
 Advanced Reading: Sum m a T heologica
 Apologetics Arguments: Add the following
verse still happens to exist, even though it was
possible for it to go
out of existence?
AND If God does
not have a Body,
and He is all-good,
then aren’t all material things/created
things bad?
 Proof: Recall (I-II.94).
 Rhetoric: Pr epar e a favor ite stor y about your
family’s history/genealogy or childhood story.
Present to the family with emotion from
memory.
 Prayer Journal: Psalm 95
arguments to your notebook with cited answers: Why is it impossible that the uni-
Rhetoric Level
Religion Week 6
Religion Rhetoric Topic: Proof of God’s Existence
Focus Book: The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm, The
Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Advanced Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Prayer: Lectio Divina
Grammar Religion: The Mass
Dialectic Religion: Salvation History, Covenant with
Introduction
The theme of friendship continues again for the scholars in the friendship between
David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, who saves David’s life by warning him of a plot to
kill David. (Found in 1 Samuel). Do you have friends that you protect their
reputations? Remember David was not the King we might imagine. In 1 Samuel 16
we see Samuel is surprised God would choose a leader from this group of people. Do
we have preconceived ideas of people before we really know them? Do we judge to
quickly? Do we have friends that look out for us? How important is loyalty?
Supplies








History Timeline Cards
Old Testament
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summa Theologica (found online)
The Catechism in Examples by Rev. Chisholm
The Question of Questions by D. J. Kavanagh, S.J.
Apologetics Notebook
Prayer Journal
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Scholar Prep


Scholars should be familiar with the Mass.
Scholars should be studying the Five Canons of Rhetoric to help with the art
of persuasion.
Background Information
This week your readings from The Question of Questions will bring together all sorts of
knowledge we have learned from Reason and science and apply it to an understanding of
God and our pursuit of our permanent home. Botany, other sciences, even philosophers
such as Cicero, a pagan, can reach the conclusion there must be God! We should be thankful for our intellect as man to reason, but even more so we should be thankful for the grace
we have received in Baptism which as given us our Faith. We can now use Reason to determine much, but we can also learn about Divine Revelation, which gives us a fuller understanding of the Salvation History that God is telling us through history. This story of
Salvation History is NOT just the story of the Jews; it is our story and therefore is very
important to recall.
According to the historical timeline this week, we see the hints of a family legacy developing. In order to find the anointed new king, Samuel must travel to Bethlehem to find
him. He brings a heifer with him to offer sacrifice (as God instructed to do). This temporary sacrifice again is an important flag waved by God to show the significance of this
place, Bethlehem, the home of David, and the birth of the Savior who will come from the
line of David. Throughout their history in the Promised Land, the children of Israel struggled with conflict among the tribes. The disunity went back all the way to the patriarch
Jacob, who presided over a house divided. The sons of Leah and the sons of Rachel had
their share of contention even in Jacob’s lifetime.
The enmity among the half-brothers continued in the time of the judges. Benjamin (one of
Rachel’s tribes) took up arms against the other tribes (Judges 20). Israel’s first king, Saul,
was of the tribe of Benjamin. When David was crowned king—David was from the tribe
of Judah (one of Leah’s tribes)—the Benjamites rebelled (2 Samuel 2–3). After a long war
(2 Samuel 3:1), David succeeded in uniting all twelve tribes (2 Samuel 5:1-5). The frailty
of the union was exposed, however, when David’s son Absalom promoted himself as the
new king and drew many Israelites away from their allegiance to David (2 Samuel 15).
“A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” (Mk 3:25) These divisions will forever
weaken the Hebrew people.
Gen 37: 1-11
2 Samuel
Mk 3:25
Week 6 Religion
Defining the Terms

Define: Anthropomorphic, Pantheism, Christian Scientist, Betelgeuse, sentient, microcosm, cynic,
circumambient
Apologetics Notebook

Argument: In your own words, wr ite in the style of the Summa for this ar gument: Couldn ’t all the
order in the universe be caused by chance?
Reading

Read: T he Catechism of Examples by Rev. Chisholm vol. 1 Par t I sections “God Made You” and
“God Made You to Know Him” (found on pages: 1-4 at the website: https://archive.org/stream/
catechismexample03chisuoft#page/n83/mode/2up)

Read: Chapter s 11 and 12 fr om T he Question of Questions by D.J . Kavanagh, S.J . addr ess:
https://archive.org/details/TheQuestionOfQuestions
Answer the Following (from The Question of Questions)
Chapter 11: What is God?
What can we understand about God?
What is denied in an Anthropomorphic idea of God?
What is even more degrading than an anthropomorphic idea of God?
What religion has been revived in modern times but comes to us clear back from the days of Grecian philosophy?
Reason combats these two extreme ideas of God through recognizing an important attribute of God. What is
it?
What does the pagan Cicero even realize?
Do imperfections contradict the existence of God? Why or why not?
Chapter 12: The Insignificance of Man
What erroneous assumptions are made about God not being interested in man?
How does botany, as studied during this quarter, prove God and also prove man’s significance?
If man does not stop at observation, where does he go next?
What is the greatness of man given to us by God?
What is there in common between the Infinite Creator and the finite creature?
Advanced Reading

Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Question 3 (The essence of God), Article 2) (ST I, Q. 3,
Art. 2). Add any notes to the Apologetic Notebook from your reading.
The Five Canons of Rhetoric: Delivery

The Final Canon of Rhetoric is the Canon of Delivery: Making effective use of voice, gesture,
etc. Delivery takes place in the context of public presentation.

Delivery also has much to do with how one establishes ethos (credibility) and appeals through pathos
(emotion), and in this sense is complementary to Invention, which is more strictly concerned with logos
(logic).

Find a fun topic that your parents have a different opinion about than you and see if your delivery (using
all Five Canons of Rhetoric now) can convince them to change their minds. Keep this fun! Write up their
reaction to your presentation.
Prayer Journal: Lectio Divina

Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 3 Use the Pr ayer J our nal template (found in the Appendix) for help.
Checklist:
 Read: T he Catechism of Exam ples pgs. 1-4
and Chapters 11 & 12 from The Questions of
Questions
 Advanced Reading: Sum m a T heologica
 Reading Assignment & Vocabulary: An-
swer questions and add vocabulary terms to
your apologetics notebook.
 Apologetics Notebook: Pr epar e your intr o-
duction pages to the notebook. (See Appendix
2).
 Apologetics Arguments: Add the following
arguments to
your notebook
with cited answers: Couldn’t
all the order in
the universe by
caused by changes?
 Proof: Wr ite down the ar guments you
made in your presentation to your parents and
write down their
responses. (Call this
“Proof Practice: in
your Apologetics
Notebook, taking
the arguments from
both sides and now
organizing it in the format of the Summa.)
 Rhetoric: Find a fun topic that your par ents
have a different opinion about than you and see
if your delivery (using all Five Canons of Rhetoric now) can convince them to change their
minds. Keep this fun! Write up their reaction to
your presentation.
 Prayer Journal: 1 Samuel 3 (Follow the Ap-
pendix 3 & 4Guidelines.)
Appendix 1
How to Read St. Thomas Aquinas’
Summa Theologica
Question

The Summa Theologica is broken into three parts, and of those parts, St. Thomas Aquinas uses a general
heading as a question, with a more specific question regarding the heading given in the articles.
Article

Each Article is a question (sometimes even called a question rather than article)
When you see an Article, you know it is the question St. Thomas is trying to answer.
Objection

Each Objection is an opposite position from the truth
An objection is giving a different answer than the one St. Thomas Aquinas is trying to propose as truth.
On the Contrary (Sed Contra)

Each sed contra or “on the contrary” gives the answer from Divine Revelation
When you see “on the contrary” (in Latin means sed contra) you are seeing an argument from authority, usually Ecclesiastical authority, either what Scripture says, or Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium
have said, giving support that the objection MUST be wrong because Scripture says otherwise! The sed
contra may also include Philosophical Authority like Aristotle.
I Answer That (Respondeo)

Each “I answer that” is Reason’s answer (via St. Thomas Aquinas’ thought using the Aristotelian
method)
“I answer that” is St. Thomas Aquinas now providing the responses necessary for understanding the
fullness of the answer given by authority. St. Thomas Aquinas’ whole point is not to leave the answer
at Scripture but to also use logic, Theology and philosophy to arrive scientifically to the answer and
demonstrate its truth of the answer.
Reply to the Objection

Each Reply to the Objection is targeting the objections
Each reply to the objection is targeting the objections and why they are wrong to have a fuller, more
broad knowledge of the question. When you can answer objections to the opposite position you have a
lot stronger certitude about your truth and if you could only argue the truth directly. For example, if you
say God exists because you see there is order and intelligence in the world and someone answered
“yeah but if God exists there should be no evil in the world”. You need the reply to such an objection to
show why it’s wrong. This structure in St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa gives you the answer to the most
common or thoughtful objections.
Appendix 1-1 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 1
How to Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Citing the Summa Theologica

The Summa is made of 3 parts, with articles in each part, objections, sed contras, respondeos, etc.

Do not use page numbers to cite the Summa (or other Church Document)

When citing Church encyclicals, use the paragraph number.

When citing the Summa Theologica use the following as a guideline (taken from http://
douglasbeaumont.com/2010/09/21/citing-thomas-aquinass-summa-theologiae/ )









Part number
First Part: “I” or “Ia”
First Part of Second Part: “I-II” or “Ia-IIæ”
Second Part of the Second Part: “II-II” or “IIa-IIæ”
Third Part: “III” or “IIIa”
**Supplement: “Suppl.” or “Suppl. IIIae”
Question number
Article number
If it is a Reply to an objection, abbreviate adversus as “ad” followed by its number
Examples:








Sum I-II, 2, ii, ad. 1.
ST I-II, Q. 3, Art. 2, ad. 1.
ST I-II, Q 3, A 2, ad. 1.
S.T. I-II, 2, ii, a.1.
Ia.22.2
Ia.I: 19, 34, 193(53)
Ia. 3, 2 ad 3.
2a2ae. 180, 10. 3a 35, 8.
Example to understand the Summa Theologica

Still having a hard time understanding how to read it?
Here’s an example using a made-up question to then understand how to read the Summa Theologica. Visit:
http://thomistica.net/news/2012/6/5/how-to-read-an-article-in-aquinass-summa-theologiae.html
Appendix 1-2 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 2
Apologetics Notebook
Title of the
Page goes here
While the Quarter
Topic Goes here
Apologetics
Year 2
Notebook
Quarter 1
By Me!
Existence of God
Yes, that is in fact
YOU! Yippee!
The Apologetics Notebook Checklist:
 Title Page: The Fir st Page Should be your Title Page.
 Subtitle Page: The Second Page Should be your Heading for the par ticular topic.
 Following Pages: The r est of the pages should include definitions along with suppor t for tr usted author ities
(which could be Ecclesiastical. Like Scripture, the Magisterium or the Doctors of the Church or Philosophical
which could be Aristotle)
 Include any and all information that will be helpful to you in discussing the Catholic Faith with others.
Appendix 2-1 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 2
Repeat Topic Here
so you can find it
easily
Existence
of God
Article is the specific question you
are addressing
Article: Why God Created Man
God created man because He was
Sed Contra:

God is Social (According
to St. Augustine in On the
Trinity)
Genesis
1:26

fore happy with Himself. God is perfect; therefore, He cannot lack.
lonely.
Use St. T.A.’s
formatting but
your own words
God said “let us make man in our
image” (Gen 1:26)
Reply to Objections: (put
here)
I Answer That: God
St. Thomas
Aquinas
Summa
Theologica
Define Vocab
from readings
Vocabulary: Idealism, Materialism,
Monism
References: The Bible, Summa Theo-
logica,
Put sources in
the margin to
find easily
Existence
of God
in One God He is social, and there-
Objection(s):

isn’t lonely because as Three Persons
Notes:
LEAVE space
for notes!!!!
List References
here when more
details are needed
but ALWAYS include them in the
margins.
The Apologetics Notebook Checklist Continued...
 References: ALWAYS INCLUDE REFERENCES so that you ar e leaving your self clues to find this
information later when you need it. (For example, Scripture reference like Gen 3:15, CCC for the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, Summa articles to reference St. Thomas Aquinas, etc. )
 Vocabulary & Notes: Always define your ter ms in the notebook for easy r efer ence. Leave a blank page
between articles so that you can add notes at a later date!
 Note: This pr oject does not have to be per fect. Its pur pose is to get you thinking cr itically and to help you
prepare a document to use when you are discussing your faith with others.
Appendix 2-2 - At-Home- Appendix
Religion 1
Appendix 3
Lectio Divina
Prayer: Lectio Divina




This year we will work on a form of prayer called Lectio Divina which is a traditional Benedictine
form of prayer, using the Sacred Scriptures as a Living Word, not as a text, and meditating on the
Word of God. For the at-home section you will find part of your assignment will be to participate in
Lectio Divina or meditation on a reading from the Church Fathers. Below you will see an example
of Week 1’s assignment so that you can read the Sacred Scripture and use this guide to help you understand what the assignment is.
Meditation is a personal and intimate conversation with God. It is meant to enlighten and strengthen,
in your heart and soul, your decision to identify with the purpose of your life: God’s holy will. It is a
renewal from God that should encompass your principles, emotions, motivations and decisions.
As you begin your meditation, call on the Holy Spirit in faith. Remember that he is “the soul’s
delightful guest,” and that however much you strive to become holy and be an apostle, you will
achieve nothing solid or lasting without Him.
Put your whole self (your intelligence, will, emotions, imagination, feelings, problems, weaknesses,
interests and longings…) into your prayer so that these moments of personal contact with God will
bear fruit in your daily life and lead to a continuous renewal of your principles, motivations and decisions.
Forms of Meditation




One form of meditation is known as “discursive-affective” prayer. In it you reflect on an idea or
fundamental principle so as to understand it more deeply and make it your own. It is not simply a
mental exercise, but rather a reflection from the heart on the mystery of your own life, done in the
light of faith and from God’s perspective. The deeper understanding this gives you has to lead you to
want to become one with God, express your love for Him, thank Him for His gifts, ask for His help,
recognize that you are a sinful creature, and give yourself trustingly to Him. This culminates the
conversion of heart, that is, the decision to live from now on in accordance with the truth you have
considered in God’s light.
Another form of mental prayer is “contemplation.” In it you take a mystery or an event in the life
of Christ or the Blessed Virgin, or in salvation history; you contemplate (look at) it (observe the people, listen to their words, consider their actions) and its implications for your own life, allowing the
movement of grace to stir your heart and move your will towards giving yourself and imitating what
you have contemplated.
Or finally, prayer may involve all three of the above elements: discursive, affective and contemplative. Your choice of one or other of these forms of prayer will depend on the inspirations of the
Holy Spirit and the needs of your soul, always under the guidance of your parents and perhaps even
a spiritual director.
It is not enough to reflect or contemplate. Meditation is above all an attentive, loving conversation with God. Accordingly, it is necessary to learn to listen to God in the silence of your soul, and
to open your heart to him in a conversation full of faith and love that will lead to the personal contact with God that will make you holy. At this point is where, under the light and power of the Holy
Spirit, your will is conformed to God’s and the decisions that ought to direct your life emerge.
Example for how to participate in Lectio Divina
Appendix 3-1 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 3 Lectio Divina

The Form for Lectio Divina is usually something as follows:

Sacred Scripture reading chosen. (Should be short, something readable in a few minutes)
Sacred Scripture Chosen
“Come, Holy Spirit” prayer

Call upon the Holy Spirit by praying to Him. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. R. And Thou shalt
renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light
of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the selected Scripture

Take time to quietly and slowly read the text. See what jumps out at you. You can imagine yourself there
in the moment, or try to see what one of the people in the text is seeing and thinking, or focus on a saying
or phrase that really speaks to you.
Find Three Points that speak to you

Example: Week 1 you will read Jeremiah 1:4-9. Practice with this reading.

Point 1: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”
Resolution

Write down a resolution, something you would like to work on for the week. This resolution does not
have to be difficult or extremely personal.

The idea is to get you thinking about how to apply your prayer to your life.
Closing Prayer
Write down a personal prayer.
Appendix 3 –2 At-Home Religion
Appendix 4
Prayer Journal
Objectives:

The objectives for creating a prayer journal are two-fold.

First, writing down your prayer will help you to improve your prayer life and learn some new techniques.

Secondly, after the three years of various prayers written down in your journal, you will be able to look
back and see how much your prayer life has grown and perhaps use the prayers again and discover new
points of light from the Holy Spirit.
Supplies:

Buy a nice journal at a book store, hobby store, online or a big box store OR make your own prayer
journal using a spiral notebook and decorating the front cover with your own design.

A good Catholic Bible
Template for writing in your Journal:

Write the date and Scripture verse citation so that you can refer to it in the future.

Provide your three points, including the Scripture verses. (see journal example)

Point 1: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”: While this text is written to Jeremiah, recall the Bible is not an ordinary text. Sacred Scripture is Divine Revelation; therefore, God speaks of
you as well Recall what we learned this week about what St. Augustine said. If God forgot to think of
us, we would cease to exist. He has known us, inside and out, before we even know ourselves

Point 2: “Ah, Lord God” I said, “I do not know how to speak, I am too young!” But the Lord answered me, “Do not say, “I am too young.” God sees who we are. He knows us. Even as a teenager,
especially as a teenager, we have a lot to offer the world. Everyone presumes we are “punks”. Shock
them by extending charity, particularly to the old who long for the youth to see them. What mission are
you meant to do NOW as a teenager?

Point 3: “Then the Lord extended His hand and touched my mouth, saying to me, ‘See, I place my
words in your mouth!’” As Catholic teens, we represent the Church. Are we a good example for the
Church? How can we improve? How is our prayer life? What makes me special? In that special gift, am
I giving it back to God and His Church?

Write your simple resolution for the week.

Write a prayer and then be sure to pray it before you finish your journal.
Appendix 4-1 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 4-2 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5
Answer Key to The Question of Questions by D.J. Kavanagh, S.J.
https://archive.org/details/TheQuestionOfQuestions
Chapter 1: Prologue
What is the mood of the time period this book was written in? (1918) and what is the goal of this book in
light of that mood? Research briefly the Flu of 1918 (which coincided with WWI). How does this event
along with WWI influence man’s thought? (Answer. The mood is grim for Americans. They are watching
many around them die to war and to illness; therefore, they are asking the questions about God, Heaven, and
what is man’s purpose and Permanent Home?)
Chapter 2: Our Quest: Man’s Permanent Home
How do idealism, materialism and monism miss the full picture, the Truth? (Answer p. Idealism avoids the
Truth by suggesting we should all just ignore the facts we are facing and accept whatever comes or way.
Idealism makes us very blind to reality which can be very dangerous and lacks wisdom. Materialism would
suggest since we are all matter, there is no value in our lives and therefore death (suicide, euthanasia, etc.) is
perfectly acceptable. Monism denies more than one thing exists… all is a matter of energy, “Hence, in spite
of appearances, nothing is destroyed in war and there is no just cause for grief.” (p 23)
Thinking back over your timeline from past years at CSH, and knowing this book is written in 1918, how
do the incorrect philosophies of idealism and materialism affect the outcome of the 1940s and WWII?
(Answer: Idealism ignores reality and certainly many ignored what was happening with Germany and Hitler. Materialism led people like Hilter, Stalin, etc. to find no value in human life, euthanizing whole groups
of people for very material reasons.)
What is the quest? (Answer Our permanent home)
Vocabulary: Idealism; Materialism; Monism
Chapter 3: Our Guide: Reason
How has modern science “blown out the light of Reason” (abandoned Reason)? What’s the serious error?
(answer: p. 28 “They imply…that Reason does not answer the all-important question”)
Why do “ifs” have no part in Faith? (Answer: p. 29 “Because if Faith is genuine the Faith is knowledge
founded on the testimony of God.”)
What does the Hunting Wasp show us about nature? (Answer p. 31-33 They are great at observation, better
than man, and each creature, insect, etc, has a purpose and mission.)
Refute the statement modern scientists often make that reason is observation.
(Answer: p. 33 Science and Reason: In reason, observation takes it’s natural place but observation is not
reason; however observation cannot give all answers out of context with the whole. St. Thomas Aquinas
insists on the necessity of observation. St Thomas Aquinas says : “Nihil est in intellectu, quod non prius
fuerit in sensibus”: an axiom of Thomistic philosophy—“There is nothing in the intellect that has not been
first in the senses.” Reason begins when observation ends.)
Appendix 5-1 - At-Home Religion
Explain how using reason indicates animals are not as intelligent as humans. (Answer p 33-34 “While thus giving observation its due, we must emphasize the fact that it is not Reason. Reason begins where observation
ends. What then are we to think of such objections as that ‘Doctors do not see the soul when they perform a surgical operation’? What are we to think of the mental attitude of those that believe nothing but what they can see
or touch or taste or hear, or subject to some other experimental test? In both cases there is an apostasy from
Reason.)
What makes this statement a betrayal of reason: “Fortunately for the world…there is Faith that gives an answer
of hope and comfort”? (Answer Faith isn’t sentiments, it can be discovered in the light of Reason.
Vocabulary: sentimentalism, reason, intelligence, observation
Chapter 4: What is Reason
What were the two distinct and opposing systems of thought of the cavern men? How were they similar?
(Answer p. 39: “The two systems were not opposed in purpose; both aimed at the solution of the same
problem. They were opposed in method. Some insisted on observing only what was observable and of excluding every endeavor to know anything about what might be outside the sphere of their observation. They found
great pleasure and recreation in studying the shadows on the wall and they maintained that it would be folly to
try to know anything else, because they could see nothing but the shadows. Others, impelled by the same desire
to solve the riddle, insisted, with equal earnestness, on observing what was observable, but they held strongly to
the principle, that from what they observed they could draw legitimate inferences concerning that which was
not observed. “Those flitting phantoms on the wall of our dwelling place,” they used to say, “are obviously
shadows and there must be realities somewhere! This light is but a reflection; there must be a source whence it
comes!”
“These latter reasoners were not satisfied with claiming that corresponding to the shadows there were realities;
they formed some very important conclusions about themselves. In spite of their gloomy surroundings they discovered unmistakable traces of order and especially of purpose in their own make-up. They did not know just
why they were in that darkness, but their unsatisfied senses led them to conclude that they did not belong there.
Darkness was not the proper abode for men with eyes, they reasons; silent gloom was not the proper abode for
men with ears. Therefore, they belonged to another sphere where there would be many more objects to see and
much more copious light in which to see them.”)
The Allegory is really about what?
(Answer: p. 40 On the admission of all parties, we are in intellectual darkness, is certain. That there are two
schools of thought composed of those that insist on observing only what is observable and on those that go beyond what they observe to what they cannot observe, is sufficiently well known to permit us to be content with
the mere mention of the fact. The important thing, since we are endeavoring to determine in what Reason consists, is to analyze these two methods and to ask in which of the two Reason is exercised, and which is to be
adopted by those that are really anxious to solve, by Reason, the problems of our existence and of our future
destiny.
The cave dwellers who just observed the shadows may be experts in the field of art or science but then are in
danger of falling into serious difficulties and of committing serious intellectual faults.)
Why won’t Thomas Edison’s “latest” invention work? (Answer p. 41-42: Because a mechanical instrument is
serviceable in measuring material things, but can be of no value in getting in touch with the spirit-world, unless
indeed it be assumed, without reason, that the so-called spirit-world is inhabited by weak-voiced material beAppendix 5-2 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5 continues
ings.
What is certain regardless of Edison’s meaning in building this new invention? (Answer: p.43 We cannot
learn anything about the soul of man, whether it be embodied or disembodied, by experimentation/
observation. It can only tell us so much.)
What are the two processes of reasoning? (Answer p. 46 The Ascending process (which is also called the
synthetic method or induction) and the descending process (the analytical method or deduction).
Research who Archimedes is and what he added to the understanding of Reason and reasoning. (Answer p.
45-46 and research; answer varies.)
Explain the analogy of the contaminated compound in regards to a misuse of Reason. (Answer: p. 47 It consists of an ingenious mixture of truth and error, so intimately blended that the error is held in solution. One
drop of sound logic disunites them and makes the foreign substance visible or precipitates it to the bottom”
What’s the most interesting thing in the world? (Answer: Logic)
Vocabulary: Allegory; Principle of Displacement;
NOTE: (EXTRA CREDIT! NOT ASSIGNED!!) Chapter 5: The Credulity of Spiritism
Questions:
Research Scylla and Charybdis. (Scylla represented as a monstrosity with six heads, 12 feet and voice like
the yelp of a puppy. Snatched seamen from their ships. (Sometimes a rock) Charybdis represented a dwelling under a cliff and in the habit of sucking in and spouting out sea-water thrice a day. (Sometimes a whirlpool))
How is the saying “Trying to avoid Scylla one falls into Charybdis” applicable to Reason? (Answer: To
reach the truth we must keep to the middle of the way, avoiding credulity on the one side and skepticism on
the other. These are the two extremes; truth lies in between.)
What makes “these times” (the early 20th century) the most superstitious times? (Answer we are ready to
believe anything and everything that is novel and exciting.)
Novel ideas can be devoid of common sense. See how those involved in spiritism are lacking common sense
(or logic). (Answer. A mother who has preach all her days not to use Ouija boards is not going to come
speak to her relatives through a medium she taught was never to be visited. She would find a way to visit
without them. Likewise, every medium has been discovered as fraud. We lose common sense when we are
desperate for answers (credulity…extremism)
Vocabulary: Credulity; skepticism; spiritism
Chapter 6: The Skepticism of Science
Appendix 5-3 - At-Home Religion
How is skepticism fatal to the truth-seeker? (Answer. Leads to the bottom of the sea of ignorance. The skeptics, or agnostics, are, to all appearances, mentally sounder than the credulous. The cultivate what seems to
be admirable form of intellectual humility but it is false
What does this Arabian proverb mean: “He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool.
Avoid him. He who knows not, and know that he knows not, is simple. Teach him. He who knows, and
knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him. But he who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man.
Follow him.” Which of these is the modern “wise man” of today according to the standards of most people
at this time? Where do you find him? (Answer: The man “who does not know and who knows that he does
not know!”; Scientists)
A skeptic often uses false intellectual humility to mask something else. What is it? (Answer. It is pride masquerading as a virtue, cynicism in the garb of sincerity, error baited with some shreds of truth and capable of
deceiving the unwary and leading them to mental disaster. P. 70).
What happens to a skeptic who cannot find God with a telescope? (Answer: Because they cannot find God
with a telescope or the human soul with a microscope, their search for the ultimate causes of things ends in
abysmal ignorance and intellectual darkness. They are led to skepticism or agnosticism and intellectual despair because they cannot move past was it observed. 70).
An astronomer can have all the astronomical instruments in the world but if he does not do this he knows
nothing. This missing component also applies to Reason. What is it? (Answer: To acquire knowledge he
must calculate, and to calculate he must draw conclusions from what he observes to what cannot be observed. Until he is willing to do this he will remain in the depths of ignorance and of doubt, and there will be
much truth in his sad and saddening exclamation: Behold, I know not anything! P. 73)
What is Aristotelian’s system of reasoning according to the author? (Answer: Aristotelian system of reasoning consists in establishing general principles by observation and in drawing conclusions from the general
principles once they have been established. Both of these processes,--the ascending one, from observation to
thought and the descending one from thought to particular truths,--are given verbal expression in what is
known in logic as the syllogism. P. 74; All that Aristotle did was to discover and systemize the laws of accurate thinking. P. 75)
What process is the author’s intention to follow in this book and what does it mean? (Answer: Syllogizing; it
means drawing conclusions from facts or principles, from causes or effects, When we say “this soil” is rich
because the trees are flourishing” or “the trees are flourishing, therefore the soil is rich,” we are syllogizing.
P. 75)
How is the following a syllogism? “The Heavens declare the glory of God” (Answer: He was saying in a
few words what every rational creature is forced to say when he observes the beauty of a star-lit sky, ‘The
Maker of the Universe must be wonderful, because the universe is so wonderful,’ or ‘The universe is wonderful, therefore the Maker is wonderful!” This is syllogizing or giving expression to our reasoning. P. 75)
Why, according to Locke’s way of thinking would no one know how to boil liqueor prior to chemists’ discoveries? (Answer: If one, on being told of the discoveries of modern chemists respecting caloric, and on
hearing described the process by which it is conducted through a boiler into the water, which it converts into
gas of sufficient elasticity to overcome the pressure of the atmosphere, etc., should reply, ‘If all this were so,
it would follow that before the time of these chemists no one ever did or could make any liquor boil.”
Vocabulary: syllogism; syllogizing
Chapter 7: Why the Angels Weep!
Appendix 5-4 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5 continues
Why are the angels weeping? (Answer due to intellectual dishonesty that one minute the man says he
knows nothing only to turn around and say he knows practically everything! P. 79 And later in the text: Puny man professes ignorance when it pleases him or when it suits his purpose and then, at his pleasure, endeavors to explain everything—man, God, love the nature and the origin of life,--and in his attempted explanation gives evidence that his ignorance is real. If the angels do not weep, men of Reason should. P 90).
What is the most wonderful of all powers man has? (Answer: The ability to love p. 79)
What rises in protest again experimental science applied to the soul (like the spiritists who use machines to
talk to spirits) and the powers of the soul (that skepticism tries to deny)? (Answer: Reason p 81).
What must happen before progress can be made towards the truth? (Answer: No progress can be made towards the truth until we rid our minds of the prejudices of modern arrogance and pride and until we learn to
discredit their methods on account of the obvious errors into which they have lead. P 81)
Who according to materialistic thinkers is grander and nobler than the superhuman deity (Answer: Man 82).
The idea of man has been degraded. What is the cause of his degradation? (Answer: Modern man’s persistent efforts to stifle the voice of Reason and trust the appearances which he observes on the surface of
things.
What are the modern errors regarding the answers to “what is life” and “how did it originate?” What is a
true understanding of life? (Answer: True understanding: Life is unity. If one organ stops functioning they
all stop functioning properly. The experimentalists, with microscope in hand and scalpel in the other they
report that “life is nothing but the sum total of a multitude of little lives which are distributed throughout the
whole system” or “every part of the body lives a personal life, and by every part we mean not only every
organ, but each of those anatomical elements out of which all organs and limbs and the body itself are built
up” or “a living being is an aggregate of cells which are also alive” and finally “that the cell has a real individuality, a distinct existence cannot be gainsaid.” (These quotes all come from French naturalists P 86)
What is materialism when applied to man? (Answer: Man is a machine only p. 87)
What is the end result of the Hindu legend that the earth rests on the back of an elephane and the elephant
on a turtle and the turtle on nothing? (Answer: Man rests ultimately on the Monera and the Monera on—
nothing!”
What misinformation has been communicated to the young? (Answer: that a green thing with water and the
sun came together and was able to create matter out of itself like no scientist has ever been able to do before! 89-90).
Vocabulary: Monera;
Chapter 8: From Confucius to Confusion
Can science harm religion? Why or why not? (Answer No. p 91) “Warefare is no more possible between
Science and Religion than it is between the Lion and the Whale. Their spheres are different.” (p 91)
Summarize the description the author gives of 1918 with the Flu epidemic. (p. 96-98)
Why are there no “ifs” in the religion of a monk? (Answer: p 97-98 Because he knows God exists and that
Appendix 5-5 - At-Home Religion
there is life after death whereas others become quickly confused. Even other religions add confusion because they incorrectly define it)
How does a rationalist explain Heaven? (Answer: p 99-100 “One fact stands out clean and strong in the dissertations which the ministry have given on their conceptions of Heaven. That fact is that modern notions,
even orthodox notions, of Heaven are, with rare exception, far away from the old ideas that prevailed for
centuries throughout Christendom. It is gratifying, for it shows the world of thought is moving, and the center of gravity has changed from what I might call the theo-centric to the homo-centric” …Summarized the
rationalist believes Heaven is a self-expression, where man is the center. “This, in its last analysis, is what
is generally known as German Metaphysics, though it is very far from being exclusively German. It has
found expression in New Thought and in Christian Science; it is the foundation of Positivism which advocates the worship of humanity”
What is the cause of the shift from a theo-centric world to a homo-centric world? And is this a modern notion? Explain. (Answer: p 103 Pride “Pride too has inspired the claim that this departure from God and the
accompanying homo-centric gravitation is a modern notion. That the present-day gravity is homo-centric, in
certain quarters, cannot be denied. It is equally certain that this self-centeredness—for it means the same
thing—is the basis of Nietzche’s superman. Homo-centric was ‘the man of sin,’ who, as St. Paul tells us, ‘is
lifted up above all that is called God.. so that he sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself as if he were
God.”
What are the laws of gravitation in the moral? What’s the impossibility with regard to gravity? (Answer:
Where we are pulled to ourselves rather than to God.. they work just like the laws of gravitation in the
physical order. P. 104 “In fact, it is impossible to go away from God, or to do away with the theo-centric
tendency, without at the same time turning to self, and yielding to homo-centric gravity” p 104)
Who were the homo-centric minded people? Nietzsche's superman, St. Paul’s man who sat in the Temple of
God as if above himself, the Israelites
Vocabulary: Positivism, Agnostic, Theo-centric, Homo-centric
Chapter 9: I Don’t Believe!
What was the argument (summarized) made between the atheist, J. Scott and the Catholic Charles Selsby?
(Answer: p 110-114 Scott says he believes in nothing; Selsby asks questions, ones which lead Selsby to
show that he DOES believe some things, believing for example in the ordered world, J.Scott says man is
just material and motion. Selsby shows J. Scott that he does believe in something (like not killing others)
which proves he does believe in something (as opposed to nothing as he originally said).
How does Selsby help Scott to realize he cannot prove what he believes? (Answer p 112-113 Selsby the
Catholic asks Scott to prove his theory that man is nothing but motion and material but Scott cannot)
How has the world today “closed their eyes” to seeing the Truth? (Answer varies. But the conclusion
should show that today people also have their own beliefs and just because they cannot see the Truth does
not mean the Truth does not exist.)
Vocabulary: Atheist,
Appendix 5-6 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5 continues
Chapter 10: God Known By Reason
What must you understand to truly understand the sciences? (Answer p. 117 the Cause of causes is known,
is God)
What can Science do without God and what can it NOT do without acknowledging God? (Answer. 118 Science, without God, may do much to explain what is, but it cannot reach the causes of things, for experiment
only shows phenomena or surface facts. Carbon and oxygen combine in definite proportions and emit heat.
Fire is that, but is not caused by that.)
If the answer discovered in the above question is true even in the physical sciences, then where else is it
true? (Answer 118 In the Science of the Hereafter. All knowledge is ruled by the idea of finality.)
The question of man’s Permanent Home is identical with the question of ____________? (Answer p. 118
His destiny)
Summarize the author’s explanation of why God must exist. (Answer p. 119-120 We have a series of cause
and effect and the only reasonable thing to do, if we are looking for an ultimate Cause, is to seek one that is
extra-serial. Each cause is dependent on another in this world. There must be a cause that is not dependent
on anything.)
Why are their atheists or agnostics according to the author? (Answer p. 121 “If there are atheists or agnostics, it is not because Reason is silent about God; it is because they do not understand the language of Reason.”
Answer the question: “Which existed first, the acorn or the oak-tree?” (Answer p. 121 Not the acorn, because every acorn depends upon or is caused by an oak-tree. Not the oak-tree, because every oak-tree is
caused by an acorn. Therefore, we must go beyond the cause and effect that neither can exist without the
other. Must be an outside Cause.)
When do the experimentalists contradict themselves? Why? (Answer p. 122 “Any time they draw a conclusion about anything they contradict themselves.” This is happening because they say nothing can be known
beyond experience and yet any conclusion they come up with is inference beyond what they truly know by
their eyes.)
Why is the existence of God important to man? (Answer p 123 Because it is interwoven with man’s eternal
destiny)
Summarize briefly the story of the atheist and the astronomer. (Answer p. 125 “The astronomer arose, took
his friend by the hand, looked into his eyes and, with great earnestness, said: ‘My friend, if I am either joking or out of my mind when I say that this little mechanism had no maker, what judgment must I pass on
you, you say that the real sun and the real planets that roll through boundless space, have had no Maker?’
The point of the story is obvious. One cannot be an atheist without either stifling Reason or indulging in pitiable self-deception.)
What do genuine philosophers demand? (Answer. P. 127 That there is a God.)
What did Sir Isaac Newton say about God? (Answer p. 129 “That to treat of God, from the phenomena of
the world we live in, is a part of Natural Philosophy, and that the whole system of celestial mechanics could
have no other origin than the design and the power of the wise and mighty Being.”)
Appendix 5-7 - At-Home Religion
What two misunderstandings of Who God is have led to so many scientists suggesting He doesn’t exist?
(Answer p. 130 Evangelicalism and/or exaggerated Sabbatarianism but on the other side a God who is impersonal. “No sensible man can believe in a God who is a ‘super-policeman waiting around the corner to
pounce on evil-doers and apparently pleased at the opportunity of catching them.’ On the other hand, and
perhaps more prevalent, is the modern notion that God is an impersonal principle and that man, as a manifestation of that principle, cannot sin.”
Vocabulary atheist, agnostic, materialistic evolutionist, antagonistic, Evangelicalism, Sabbatarianism
Chapter 11: What is God?
What can we understand about God? (Answer p. 133. “(1) we may understand what God is not and (2) we
may understand, in a general way, what God is.”)
What is denied in an Anthropomorphic idea of God? (Answer p. 134 “It is a denial of God’s infinite attributes, of His unlimited perfections, because a human being is very imperfect and essentially finite.”)
What is even more degrading than an anthropomorphic idea of God? (Answer p. 134 “The other extreme,
that of regarding God as a sleepless, active energy, which ‘yesterday and today and forever actuates all
things, as the human spirit actuates the body,’ is not less erroneous and, when properly understood, even
more degrading than anthropomorphism.)
What religion has been revived in modern times but comes to us clear back from the days of Grecian philosophy? (Answer p. 135 Pantheism; “that there is no God distinct from the world.”)
Reason combats these two extreme ideas of God through recognizing an important attribute of God. What is
it? (Answer p. 136 “the first characteristic or attribute of the Supreme Being is distinctness from the world.
God is in the universe, intimately present everywhere, and at all times, but God cannot be said to be the universe. Neither can He be said to be in the world, precisely as the soul is in the body, because the soul is so
intimately united to the body as to form one individual being.”)
What does the pagan Cicero even realize? (Answer p. 138 “…even the pagan philosopher, Cicero, could
write: ‘The matter does not appear to need discussion, for what can be so plain and obvious, when we look
up to Heaven and behold the star-lit sky, as that there exists a Deity of surpassing intelligence by Whom all
is ordered? If anyone doubts this, I, for my part, cannot understand why he does not also doubt that the sun
exists. For how is the one more evident than the other?’”)
Do imperfections contradict the existence of God? Why or why not? (Answer p. 139 We must admit that, as
far as the proximate or immediate end of created things is considered, apparent failures no doubt exist, but
this is quite different from saying that there is failure with regard to some higher and nobler end. We may
not understand the purposes of the Intelligence that has designed the world, but that God is intelligent is
plain from the perfections of the world, even apart from our other argument—that whatever He has given to
His creatures, He contains in Himself He has given intelligence to man. Therefore He is himself intelligent.”)
Vocabulary: Anthropomorphic, Pantheism, Christian Scientist
Chapter XII: The Insignificance of Man
What erroneous assumptions are made about God not being interested in man? (Answer p. 144-145 “It assumes, first of all, that there are limitations in God, that He is not capable of the effort which interest in His
creatures is erroneously supposed to require. Secondly, it assumes a proportion between the Creator and the
creature; man, it is implied, is not worthy of the loving attention of God. Of course he is not worthy; no
Appendix 5-8 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5 continues
creature, however perfect, could have intrinsic worth in the eyes of an infinite Creator. Finally, it assumes,
on the part of the objector, the power to pass judgment on the significance of things. The least of God’s creatures is important as an effect of creative power and infinite goodness.”)
How does botany, as studied during this quarter, prove God and also prove man’s significance? (Answer. P.
145-146 Botany, or the studying of plants, proves God because of the order and design found in plants must
mean there was a Designer, God. For man’s significance, “Consider a lily of the field or a rose, and compare
it, in its delicacy, its beauty, its power to grow and to reproduce itself, with a lofty mountain that stands motionless and mute from age to age! Compare the flower, or, as we are looking for bulk, compare a giant redwood with, for instance, the bird that builds its nest in the tree. The little bird that sings God’s praises has the
sentient life which the redwood has not. The bird, therefore, is far more valuable intrinsically. And now
compare man first, in his material make-up, I will not say to the mountain or to the monarch-like redwood,
nor to the sun, but to the entire solar system! Materially considered, he possess all that there is of beauty,
power, order in the whole material world, and if he is lacking in bulk, he surpasses all else in delicacy of tissue, in beauty of form, in motion, in growth, in power. Man is a ‘microcosm,’ a little world, all the more
wonderful because little! Nor is this all, If man, even from a material standpoint is more valuable than the
whole material universe, he has that which lifts him far beyond the reach of comparison. Man is intelligent.”
If man does not stop at observation, where does he go next? (Answer p. 148 “By observation he has gone
very far, but by calculation he has gone farther.)
What is the greatness of man given to us by God? (Answer p. 148-149 His intelligence and his freedom (or
being free)
What is there in common between the Infinite Creator and the finite creature? (Answer p. 150 “The question
supplies the answer; there is just this relationship of the Creator and the creature. The Creator is necessarily
the end as well as the beginning,--the Alpha and Omega,--and He is the way that leads from the beginning to
the end.)
What else is man that God has created and will be discussed in later chapters of this book? How should we
respond as man? (Answer p. 150 immortal, that God created him to be eternally happy; we should have even
greater humility)
Vocabulary: Betelgeuse, sentient, microcosm, cynic, circumambient
Appendix 5-9 - At-Home Religion
Appendix 5-10 - At-Home Religion