Posted by Jim Carrico, UST Graduate Student, Master of Arts in Catholic Studies

Last Thursday (10/22/09) the CSMA students hosted the second annual Fall Disputation. A disputation is a formal discussion upon some philosophic question, always phrased in a yes / no form. At this latest discussion the question posed was, "Is execution a legitimate form of punishment?" Most would agree that as a form of defense, execution could be resorted to in some instances. However the question was crafted so as to exclude this consideration and rather focus on the point of whether it is justifiable purely as a form of punishment. This question was elucidated by Dr. Kennedy and then taken up by, Dr. Wojda and Dr. Lu. What followed was a riveting examination of the nature of punishment in general and its aims. The fruit of the evening was that everyone went away with a more lucid sense of what issues were involved in the question. The CSMA students intend to host many more disputations in the future. So keep your eyes peeled and be sure to reply to emails and postings with any intriguing questions you may have. We are always looking for topics!

Posted by Catholic Studies at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Matthew, UST Senior, Chemistry and Catholic Studies

I could not really picture what my college experience would be like if I had not chosen to be a Catholic Studies major. The courses, by design, target the person as a whole seeking to advance the intellect and increase a person’s capacity for learning in a way that, in my opinion, no other department at St. Thomas can replicate. One would think that that my mind would be in two parallel worlds if I was studying Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics at the same time as the Life and Thought of Cardinal Newman and Pathways and Practices of Christian Spirituality; however, it is quite the contrary. Catholic Studies combines faith and reason together, without compromising either, to create a fulfilling and deeply humanizing atmosphere. The philosophical, historical, and theological aspects of Catholic Studies courses have improved my analytical skills by teaching me to examine a subject logically, from a historical context, and with prudence. Chemistry has given me a sense of how little we actually understand about the natural world and, as a result, manifests how important it is to study our, as Chesterton says, “little sister earth” with a rational, ethical, and an imaginative procedure.

Posted by Catholic Studies at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Emily, UST Senior, Elementary Education and Catholic Studies

Friendly "good mornings" from my classmates on those early Tuesday and Thursday mornings set the stage for the next 100 minutes when you will find students ranging from freshman to adult in JRC exploring the “Paths and Practices of Catholic Spirituality”. More commonly known as Catholic Studies 201, it is a closer look at a few different applications of Catholic spirituality and how these ideas apply to our lives. Our class begins each day with a prayer asking Our Lady and the Saints to be with us as we delve into lecture and discussion on our readings – Church documents, works of the Saints, C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, and other Catholic perspectives on aspects of spirituality.

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Posted by Catholic Studies at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Kelsey, UST sophomore, Psychology, Catholic Studies, Renaissance Program minor

We are all of us searching for happiness. The happiness we seek, though, is not a temporal fulfillment, but rather an eternal joy. Through an understanding of the Gospel message, we realize that it is impossible to find happiness in this time-restricted world. There is only one true source of happiness, and that is God. How, though, do we find God and thus attain happiness? From the Bible to the great works of G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis to thinkers like Romano Guardini, John Henry Newman, and the popes, this course not only explained what happiness is, but how to attain it. It prompted students to think analytically about the texts while at the same time inspiring in them a desire to examine the great work of their own lives.

The “Search for Happiness” class is more than just an informational lecture series; it is truly a journey of faith. As we examined happiness in light of the mystery of the Church, the four cardinal virtues, sin, self-gift, vocation, and the Eucharist, I found myself falling ever more in love with God. Never in my life have I had a class like it, and never in my life have I liked a class as much as this one. If you think you might take this class, enter into it with your heart wide open. I think that you, too, will find it to be deeply rewarding, and you may even find yourself experiencing a bit of the happiness that God is longing to give you.

Posted by Catholic Studies at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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