Theology

Summary of Disciplines

Course descriptions

The courses presented below constitute part of the present undergraduate curriculum at PUC-Rio. They are identified by three letters that represent the Department that offers them, followed by a four-digit number, the first of which indicates the level of the course. The number one indicates the undergraduate level.
The weekly hours of each course are indicated by three numbers, in parenthesis and separated by hyphens, which represent respectively: the number of theoretical classes, exercise classes and laboratory classes per week. In this way, (4-0-3) represents 4 hours of theoretical classes, an absence of exercise classes and 3 hours of laboratory per week.

TEO 1232 Sacraments I - (4-0-0) 4
This course approaches sacramentality - under the anthropological, christological, and ecclesiological aspects - as a specific language for experiencing the Mystery revealed in Jesus and for speaking about Him. It also presents the sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) under a perspective of communal and ecclesiastical experience of the mystery revealed in Jesus, with the intent of asserting Christian identity in a pluralistic environment.

TEO 1233 Sacraments II - (4-0-0) 4
This course systemizes the Christian experience in Matrimony, in the Holy Orders, in Penance, and in the Anointing of the Sick.

TEO 1241 Fundamental Theology - (4-0-0) 4
This course is intended to introduce the student into the area of Systematic Theology reflecting about its fundaments: Revelation and Faith. To do so, the course dwells upon the following themes: the anthropocentric element of Fundamental Theology; Sacred Scriptures as the source of Revelation; Tradition and Magisterium as the sources of Revelation: faith, the act of faith, its conditionings, elements, and implications.

TEO 1242 Theological Anthropology I - Creation and Sin - (4-0-0) 4
The main biblical and theological statements on faith and God, the Creator, on the human being created in God's image, and on the "original sin" are studied according with an integrated view of the human being. On approaching these themes, the course also focuses their unfolding in the ecclesiastic tradition and in today's theological reflection. In developing these themes, the course intends to meet the challenges that modernism and post modernism pose for Christian anthropology.

TEO 1230 Christology - (4-0-0) 4
After presenting the state of question on the historicity of the Gospels, the course focuses on Jesus of Nazareth's itinerary in the terrestrial phase of His life. Then, the theological meaning of His death and resurrection are studied, and, afterwards, the main Christological titles, that express the faith in Jesus Christ professed by the community of the New Testament, are analyzed. The final part of the course studies the great Christian councils and further reflections on systematic Christology.

TEO 1231 God of the Revelation - (4-0-0) 4
This course explores the doctrine of the Church on the Unity and Trinity of God, examining, reflecting, and analyzing the biblical source and the history of the Trinity dogmas. Initially, therefore, the course introduces the problem of God in the face of atheism, theism, and contemporary polytheism, seeking to outline the features of the God of the Christian revelation as a summon for today's pluralistic culture. The course then follows the indications of the revelation of God in the Old and New Testaments. Finally, the course studies the history of the formation and formulation of the Trinity dogma, especially during the first four centuries of the history of the Church, with special attention to the studies of the apostolic symbols as well as the Nicean- Constantinoplian symbols.

TEO 1234 Monograph - (4-0-0) 4
Presentation of a scientific paper on a theological theme under the orientation of a professor.

TEO 1245 Ecclesiology - (4-0-0) 4
This course reflects about the Identity and Mission of the Church. The first part studies the New Testament and the Patristics: we begin by researching the different ways of comprehending ecclesiastical experience according to the Gospels and Paul's Letters, with its pluralities of ecclesiologies and emphasis on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We shall then see the light that the Fathers (Patristics) cast over the comprehension of the ecclesiastical Tradition, understanding it in its dimension of mystery. In the second part, the course introduces the theological elaboration of the Church by means of the images of People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit, community of redemption / liberation, elaborated by such theologians as Rahner, Küng, and Congar. In the third part, the course focuses the dimensions of sacrament and community of Christian existence, the Church as sacrament of salvation, with an emphasis on the lay perspective.

TEO 1246 Theological Anthropology II - The Life of Grace - (4-0-0) 4
The central theme of this course is the Christian salvation. God's salvific initiative (offer of grace) is first studied. Then, the course focuses on the human being's free acceptance, that implicates in a fundamental orientation of one's whole life towards love and the strive for justice. The dimensions of the accepted salvation are also considered: dimensions of martyrdom and Trinity, and the universal and social-cultural dimensions.

TEO 1252 Eschatology - (2-0-0) 2
Eschatology answers the most challenging and decisive of human questions: Where are we heading? What is our destiny? For what have we finally come? Faith on the resurrection of Christ constitutes the axis of the course. The experience of resurrection in our personal and communal lives pervades all the theological treatises. The life that was lived and the work that was left by Jesus Christ reveal our destiny and the meaning of our lives.

TEO 1257 Maryology - (2-0-0) 2
The course of Maryology is an interdisciplinary one and proposes a positive study of the theological reflections and sources. Mary is the woman of faith because she believed. The antinomies of the biblical movement of the pre-council period shall be studied superficially due to the extension of the program. The doors that were opened by the Vatican II and its repercussion in the theological and pastoral reflections shall be approached according to Maryology. Christian spirituality and the Latin American and Caribbean popular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary should flourish from our experience of faith and from the systematization encountered in the documents of the Vatican II, the Magisterium, and from those encountered in our Latin-American documents, specially Puebla and Santo Domingo. In the light of the theological focus adopted, we shall reflect about some of the pastoral questions that emerge and constitute popular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brazil.

TEO 1321 General Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures - (4-0-0) 4
Biblical history. The constitution of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. Literary genre. Inspiration and canon. The hermeneutic question.

TEO 1322 Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles - (4-0-0) 4
1. Synoptic Gospels: Meaning and importance of the Gospel in the Christian tradition; History of the interpretation of the Gospels; Specific introduction to each one of the Gospels; Analysis of texts.
2. Acts of the Apostles: General introduction and reading of texts.

TEO 1323 Johannine Writings - (4-0-0) 4
Considering the scientific principles of Catholic exegesis, this course studies the biblical and theological doctrine of Johannine Literature - Gospel, Letters, and Apocalypse - through the bibliography available in this area.

TEO 1325 Introduction to the Pentateuch - (4-0-0) 4
Comprehending the composition process of the Pentateuch in the history of exegesis. The pre-critical period. The critical period. J. Wellhausen and the source analyses. Evolution of the Wellhausen system: Gunkel and the Formgeschichte. The contributions of A. Alt, M. Noth, and G. von Rad in the interpretation of the composition process of the Pentateuch. Tetrateuch and the Deuteronomic History. Recent contributions of the Heidelberg school (E. Blum) and of the Münster school (E. Zenger). Exegesis of selected texts from the Pentateuch.

TEO 1326 Prophetic Literature - (4-0-0) 4
The prophetic phenomena of the Ancient Orient. Prophecy and divination. Divination amongst the Egyptians and the Hittites. The prophetic phenomena in the texts of Mari. The Babylonian testimonies. Prophecy amongst the Canaanites. Prophecy in Israel: common elements and specific elements of biblical prophecy. The nabi and the individual prophets in biblical prophecy. Exegesis of selected texts from prophets of the 8th century.

TEO 1327 Wisdom Literature - (4-0-0) 4
Wisdom in the Ancient Orient. Nature and structure. The importance of the "cause and effect" principle in wisdom. Wisdom teachings of Ancient Egypt. Wisdom in ancient Babylon: Summaries and Semites. The crisis of wisdom and "Job" type writings amongst the Babylonians. Wisdom in Israel. Wisdom crisis (Job and Qoheleth). The book of Wisdom, Ben Sira and theological wisdom. Exegesis of selected texts from the wisdom literature of the Bible.

TEO 1328 Pauline Writings and the Letter to the Hebrews - (4-0-0) 4
Historical, cultural, and religious position of the apostle Paul. Introduction to each one of Paul's letters. Exegesis of selected texts. Study of the main themes of Pauline theology. Introduction to the Letter to the Hebrews.

TEO 1411 Fundamental Morality - (4-0-0) 4
Moral Theology and new paradigms: References for the study and research in Moral Theology today; Ethical-moral crisis in our society; Recovering of the great references and of its respective epistemological status; The sources of morality; The Christian source and its historical development; Anthropological foundation; Natural law and human nature. Moral norms; Virtues; The call of God and the answer of man.

TEO 1410 Sexual Ethics and Bioethics - (4-0-0) 4
Part I: Human sexuality in the present context; Sexual stereotypes; In search of a solid foundation; Christians and sexuality; Love; Considering specific realities (body, pre-marital relationships, matrimony, masturbation, homosexuality, etc.).
Part II: The bioethical paradigm; Centrality of life; Manipulation and the necessary discernment; The present technological progress and ethical posture; Assaults against life (euthanasia, suicide, abortion, drugs, etc.).

TEO 1413 Social-Economical and Political Morality - (4-0-0) 4
Today's ethical and moral crisis; The need of recovering what is vital for the human being and each of its epistemology; How to situate the social dimension; Social mission of the Church; Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church: presuppositions, systematic presentation of the documents, principles, values, and judgement criteria; The awakening of the Church in Brazil towards the social, economical and political dimensions; The relationship between the Church and the world after the Vatican Council II; Different sorts of elucidation; Current themes.

TEO 1512 Patrology - (2-0-0) 2
Introduction to Christian literature (specific characteristics of Latin and eastern writers). Overview of the periods of Patrology. Study of the context and of the cultural, political, and religious challenges. The answers given by Christian writers (Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, Jurists, etc.). Critical study of the sources (analyses of some of the most significant documents: Didache, The Shepherd, Letter of Saint Clement, etc.). Some of the main authors from the first to the fifth centuries (Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyon, Tertullian, Cyprian of Carthage, Origen, Augustine, Jerome, Isidore of Seville) and their most important contributions to the Tradition of the Church (to Christian mysticism, to the theology of baptism and Trinity, to Ecclesiology, to Christian anthropology, to the social consciousness of the Church, etc.).

TEO 1517 History of the Church I - (4-0-0) 4
"Methodological matters of historical research" (origins, document sources, chronology, etc.). Judaic context of the origin of the Church; Its encounter with the classic cultural tradition (Greco-Roman). The everyday life of the first Roman Christians from the anti-Christian reactions until Constantine. The development of faith (heresies, councils and Tradition). The barbarian invasions and the evangelization of these peoples. The "Reform of Charlemagne" (8th century); Medieval monarchism and the "Cluny reform"; Gregory VII; The schism of the Orient (1054); Islamism (crusades and military-religious orders); Medieval heresies and Inquisition; Mendicant orders; The quarrel between Philip and Boniface (1294-1303); Precedents of Renascence, and finally, the fall of the Byzantine Empire (1453).

TEO 1518 History of the Church II - (4-0-0) 4
The beginning of the Church in the American Continent; Reformation (Lutheran, Calvinist and Anglican; Catholic Reformation; Council of Trent; Regional councils in Latin-America; Church and Enlightenment in the 18th century; The impact of the Liberal Revolution on the life of the Church; Roman centralization of the 19th century; Theological Renewal, Catholic biblical exegesis, the Church's social teachings; The modernist crisis; "New Christendom"; Vatican Council II; The Latin-American Church after the Council.

TEO 1637 Theological Synthesis: Final Exam - (12-0-0) 12
Oral exam on the basic content of the Theology course.

TEO 1640 Seminar - Sacred Scriptures - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1641 Seminar - Sacred Scriptures - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1642 Seminar - Sacred Scriptures - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1650 Systematic and Pastoral Seminar - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1651 Systematic and Pastoral Seminar - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1652 Systematic and Pastoral Seminar - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1711 Ecclesiastical Law - (4-0-0) 4
The Roman pontiff's function and the college of Bishops. The organization of the Universal Church: Roman Curia, Synod of the Bishops, College of Cardinals and the legates. The function of the Diocesan Bishop in the particular Church. The organization of the particular Churches: Diocesan Synod, Diocesan Curia, Council of Priests, college of consultors, pastoral council, and other councils. Some of the special organizations: CNBB (National Conference of the Bishops of Brazil), CELAM (Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council), CRB (Confederation of the Religious of Brazil). The parochial structure. The function of the parish priest. Some of the parochial structures: pastoral and parochial council, economic council. Sacramental Law: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders.

TEO 1712 Matrimonial Law - (2-0-0) 2
The outlook of the Vatican II on matrimony. Nature and properties of matrimony. Pastoral preparation for matrimony. Matrimonial impediments. The vices of compliance. The canonical form. Cases concerning the declaration of nullity of marriage.

TEO 1713 Fundamental Law - (2-0-0) 2
Nature of Ecclesiastical Law. The several meanings of the word "Law". The concept of Ecclesiastical Law and its relationship with secular Law. Several general dimensions of Law. The sociological functions of Law. A few philosophical notions of Law. Ecclesiastical Law as a science. Ecclesiastical Law and other theological disciplines. Theological aspects of Ecclesiastical Law. History of the sources. Orientation for reading the present Code of Canon Law. Elements of canonic legislation (cc. 1-22). Organization of the People of God: theological-juridical aspect (cc. 204-207). The duties and rights of the faithful (cc. 208-223). The duties and rights of the lay members (cc. 224-231).

TEO 1801 Liturgy - (4-0-0) 4
Introduction; Introduction to the Church's documents on Liturgy; History of the Liturgy; Several Rites (Liturgical Families); The Liturgical Year; Liturgy of the Hours; Dominical Celebrations; "Sacrament" of the art space; "Sacrament" of sound and music; Liturgy: school of Faith; Pastoral.

TEO 1811 Pastoral Theology - (2-0-0) 2
Study of the main theological and pedagogical elements of the relationship between the following of Jesus and apostolic life.

TEO 1812 Spirituality - (2-0-0) 2
The course on Spirituality aspires to enable the student to distinguish Christian spirituality from and relate it with the theological reflection. It presents the biblical and theological foundation of spirituality, the content of the main spirituality schools, the relationship between mystics and ascension, as well as the one between action and contemplation, and common points of contemporary spirituality. The texts that orient this course are chosen from the founders of schools and from important theologians on the subject.

TEO 1813 Ecumenism - (2-0-0) 2
Unit I - Divided Christians; Main concepts of Ecumenism and interreligious dialogues; History and present state of affairs of the divisions of Christianity; Religious panorama of Brazil today; The reflection in Brazil of historical and present divisions amongst Christians; New religious movements in Brazil; Indigenous and African influences. Unit II - Why seek for the unity amongst Christians? Theology of unity in the New Testament and in the theological reflection. Unit III - The Ecumenical task; History of the Ecumenical movement; The Christian testimony in the world and the ecumenical collaboration in different fields of action.

TEO 1814 Methods of Research in Theology - (2-0-0) 2
Introductory course offered in the first semester of the Theology course. Presents Theology as a science that, having its own object of research and methodology, considers the experience of faith in Jesus. Such faith is lived in the ecclesiastic community, following the historical processes of peoples and cultures, in continuous dialogue not only with other sciences, but also with everyday situations that the multiform evangelization action comes into contact with.

TEO 1902 Biblical Greek Language - (2-0-0) 2
The course Greek I introduces the student to the Greek language of the New Testament. Grammatical elements of morphology and syntax are studied with the help of reading and exercises. An interactive study of a Greek text from the Gospel of Marc serves as support. According to the student's needs, the professor will help overcome eventual difficulties in the reading of texts in other languages due to the relatively brief bibliography available in Portuguese.

TEO 1988 - TEO 1991 Philosophical Studies I to IV - (2-0-0) 2
Variable content.

TEO 1992 - TEO 1999 Philosophical Studies V to XII - (4-0-0) 4
Variable content.

Last updated June 05, 2001