TO BRING the study of Christian beliefs closer to the faithful, a theology crash course is now being offered at the UST Graduate School every fourth Sunday of the month.
Conducted by Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, O.P., regent of the UST Graduate School, the theology course is considered an extension course of the Faculty of Sacred Theology. The first session was held at the Graduate School last July 26.
Topics include Synthesis of Fundamental Theology, Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization.
According to Louie Hermosa, one of the organizers, the three-unit course is open to all college graduates who wish to study theology “in a deeper sense.”
"This course is unlike the formal course in the school that has daily meetings, grading system and exams. It is mainly composed of lectures,” Hermosa said in an interview.
Compared with the theology course taught in seminaries, the crash course is “more relatable” from the laity’s point of view, Aureada said.
“This course is more of updating one’s faith. We use a classroom setting,” Aureada said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “I use Tagalog so they would understand most of the parts.”
Aureada began giving theology crash courses three years ago upon the request of the Company of St. Dominic, a Dominican secular institute. The sessions were held at Siena College in Quezon City.
To have a definite place for the crash course, Aureada asked permission to use the facilities of the Graduate School.
Aureada described the attendees of the first session as “hybrid.”
“I was surprised because there were high school students and married couples,” he said.
In the course, eight sessions are devoted to the Synthesis of Fundamental Theology, and 10 sessions to Biblical Theology. The number of sessions for the New Evangelization has yet to be announced.
Interested participants are asked to pay a minimal fee of P100 per session. Handouts costing P200 per topic are also available. Admission is free if participants do not wish to get the three-unit credit.
