About Theology of the Body

Description:

The Theology of the Body course is designed to help students discover the goodness, beauty and purpose of their sexuality and see why it is so fundamental to our ability to love. By helping students come to a better understand what the Church teaches and believes about human sexuality they will be challenged to learn to express their sexuality properly, without repressing it and to see how God's purpose and meaning for their life is an invitation to love with a pure heart.

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Course Structure:

  • Theology of the Body at Paul VI Catholic H.S. serves as a crossover course between health and theology. We study topics such as fertility and the anatomy of the human body in the context of theological understanding of the meaning and purpose of the body.
  • Theology of the Body meets once a 'Panther Cycle' during the Health/PE class. 'H' days for girls' classes and 'P' days for boys' classes (taught by Mr. Brian Kissinger).
  • An assignment as well as posts on the turnitin.com discussion board will be given each class (students will have a 'Panther Cycle' to complete them. Quizzes and tests will be given intermittently.
  • The Theology of the Body grade is not a class grade in itself but instead makes up the semester exam grade for Health/PE. Grades are given at the end of each semester, not quarterly. No interim grade is assigned.

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Objectives:

1. Identify how and why God’s very purpose for our life is stamped into our body.

2. Distinguish authentic love (total self-donation) from lust (utilitarianism).

3. Articulate why sexual desire is good but also a struggle because of concupiscence.

4. Identify how sexual union between husband and wife is meant as a foreshadowing of Heaven.

5. Outline why the fundamental qualities of authentic love must be free, total, faithful, and fruitful.

6. Clarify the Church’s teachings on sexuality in light of an accurate understanding of true freedom (desiring and choosing the good).

7. Describe how the body speaks its own language, one designed to speak a language of love

8. Identify how acts such as fornication, masturbation, contraception, and pornography fall short of the very purpose and dignity of sex.

9. Encourage a healthy perspective on dating, one which is focused on purity and purpose.

10. Promote an understanding of the hope and healing that is found in Christ.

11. Provide basic overview of male and female reproduction, fertility, a woman’s cycle, birth control, natural family planning, abortion methods, and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Course Textbooks:

  • Theology of the Body for Teens and Parent Guide (Ascension Press)

  • Pure Manhood* (for the boys' classes)-Catholic Answers

  • Pure Womanhood*(for the girls' classes)-Catholic Answers

*Included in the TOB textbook fee. To be distrubeted in class.

Copies of any other materials and handouts that will be utilized will be posted in the 'handout' section of the class website include male and female anatomy diagrams from" The Art of Natural Family Planning" (Couple to Couple League)