Paper Topic

[Carrye]

I need a topic for my 15-20p Theological Anthropology paper, and I always like to choose topics that will be useful in the future ... often in apologetics. Just a few general themes are Grace, Justification, Original Sin, but it could really have anything to do with the Christian person, ie. Theology of the Body, faith v. works, etc.

What are some pressing issues that you wish someone would tackle?

 

[Brother Charlie]

predestination and free will

 

[Michelina]

Predestination and free will

That's nice, Charlie. Something simple.

How about the Nature and Functions of the Priesthood?

Or, the perception of the Nature of the sacraments in contemporary society? Does our materialist, mechanistic, utilitarian mode of thinking hamper our understanding of the sacred mysteries? How does a catechist address these issues?

 

[Brother Charlie]

That's nice, Charlie. Something simple.

Come on, Im trying as hard as I can to come up with something good

 

[Brother Charlie]

oooh maybe you could do a paper on exactly how much power the demons have in influencing us...and whether we really can be possesed against our will

 

[Carrye]

Thank you both. I welcome ANY and EVERY idea. I have a list of possible topics from the prof, but none are inspiring me (in the 15-20p way), so I figured you all would come up with some dandies. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[Brother Charlie]

although this topic may freak some peope out, Id love to do research on demonic possessions/exorcisms

 

[Paul S]

What exactly is Theological Anthropology?

 

[Carrye]

What exactly is Theological Anthropology?

Well, etymologically:

Theo = God
Anthro = Man
ologoy = Study of

So it's really the study of how God can interact with man. Practically, we use it to discuss some of the fundamental questions in theology.

I took Philosophical Anthropology last semester, and talked about similar topics from the philosophical side = the soul, ensoulment, matter and form, etc.

 

[Paul S]

Sounds interesting.

I think the suggestion of the Sacraments is good, since they're the way God chooses to most directly interact with us, and the way He chose to give us grace. It would be a good apologetics topic, too, since many Protestants wonder why we confess to a priest or why we see baptism as necessary.