Introduction to Christian Faith

Teacher(s)

De Brouwer Louis;

Language

French

Main themes

To achieve its objectives, the course will address the following themes:
- an explanation of the main affirmations of the Christian faith (Symbol of faith);
- a presentation of the main doctrinal differences between the various Christian churches;
- a reflection on the process of elaboration of the affirmations of the Christian faith.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of this course, the student will be able: - to explain the main affirmations of the Symbol (Creed) of Faith; - to show the main doctrinal differences between Christian churches; - to formulate a personal synthesis on the elaboration of the affirmations of the Christian faith.

Content

This course offers an introduction to Christian faith with the aim of

• explaining the main symbols of the Christian faith (especially the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) as well as some major conciliar texts
  
• within their historical and biblical context (biblical roots, development of dogmas, historical divisions among Christian denominations)
  
• and especially through their specific dogmatic articulation (definitions of "faith", explanation of the logic behind Trinitarian faith, the Incarnation, Revelation, Salvation, etc.),
  
• while also presenting the contemporary challenges of Christian faith in the context of Western academia (epistemology, faith landscapes in the 21st century, political implications).
  

How was the Christian faith shaped by the biblical events and texts? What needs and major debates led to the formulation of the Creeds and other dogmatic declarations? What meaning can we assign to the faith and to the different articles of the Creeds in today's context? What lived experience of faith can be found in contemporary Christian communities, in relation to these dogmatic questions?
These are the kinds of questions that will guide the journey offered in this course, which is dedicated to the core affirmations of the Christian faith.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 12 in-person sessions, each designed to be interactive:

• A topic will be announced one week in advance, allowing students to begin preparatory readings before the session.
  
• At the beginning of each session, a general question will be posed, and a text will be provided. Students will then have 20 minutes to prepare a response — in a format similar to the oral exam.
  
• The use of tools such as generative AI and reference materials (made available by the teacher) will be required during the course sessions but will be prohibited during the final exam.
  
• Depending on the number of enrolled students, each participant will then present their structured response to the question (maximum 5 minutes per student), followed by group discussion. If the group is too large, subgroups will be formed, and each will select a spokesperson.
  
• The instructor will then offer a structured presentation that incorporates insights from the student responses (30–45 minutes).
  
• A brief discussion will conclude each session.
  

Evaluation methods

Evaluation will be based on active participation during the course and a final oral exam. The final grade will be broken down as follows:

• Attendance = 15% (except in the case of justified absences)
  
• Participation = 15% (at least one well-argued contribution per session)
  
• Oral exam during the exam period = 70%
  

The oral exam will follow a format similar to the work done during the course:
A general question will be asked concerning an article of faith from the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, along with a short text to be commented on.
20 minutes will be given to prepare a response to the question and a commentary on the text.
This will be followed by 20 minutes of discussion with the teacher.
The response and commentary should reflect the key stages of the course (as outlined in the course plan), aiming both for factual accuracy and a personal capacity for reasoning and interpretation of the material covered at each stage.
A pre-structured answer sheet will be provided at the beginning of the exam to guide the student in their preparation.

Other information

Course Outline

• An Introduction to Christian Faith in the University Context – General Overview
  
• The Bible: Canon Formation, Theological Interpretation of the Texts, Theological Sources
  
• The Church Fathers and the First Ecumenical Councils
  
• The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (6 sessions)
  
• Historical Schisms and Divisions within Christianity
  
• The Second Vatican Council, Ecumenism, and Other Religions
  
• Contemporary Theological and Ecclesial Perspectives 
  

Online resources

A Moodle course page will soon be available for sharing key course resources.

Bibliography

Consultation approfondie demandée

• DENZINGER Heinrich, HÜNERMANN Peter, HOFFMANN Joseph (et al.), Symboles et définitions de la foi catholique, Paris, Cerf, 1996.
• Encyclopaedia Universalis, Dictionnaire de l'Histoire du christianisme, Paris, Encyclopaedia Universalis et Albin Michel, 2000.
• SESBOÜÉ Bernard, Croire : invitation à la foi catholique pour les femmes et les hommes du XXIe siècle, Paris, Mame-Droguet & Ardant, 1999.

Consultation suggérée

• BIRMELÉ André (dir.), Introduction à la théologie systématique, Genève, Labor et Fides, 2008.
• FÉDOU Michel (éd.), Le sens du Credo aujourd’hui, Paris, Editions jésuites – Fidélité, 2020.
• LACOSTE Jean-Yves (dir.), Histoire de la théologie, Paris, Seuil, 2009.
• RAHNER Karl, Traité fondamental de la foi : introduction au concept de christianisme, Paris, Le Centurion, 1983.
• SESBOÜÉ Bernard, Introduction à la théologie : histoire et intelligence du dogme, Paris, Salvator, 2017.
• SESBOÜÉ Bernard (dir.), Histoire des dogmes, T. 1-3, Paris, Desclée, 1994-1995.

Autres : émissions La Foi Prise au mot sur KTO.

Teaching materials

• SESBOÜÉ Bernard, Croire : invitation à la foi catholique pour les femmes et les hommes du XXIe siècle, Paris, Mame-Droguet & Ardant, 1999.

Faculty or entity

> TEBI