Journal 1 Journal 2 Journal 3 Journal 4 Journal 5 Journal 6 Journal 7 Journal 7 Journal 8 Journal 9

JOURNAL ENTRIES:

Journals are either assigned or optional – so you will need to pay attention to my assignments.  When they are assigned, everyone will be required to write the journal and submit it on the due date.  When they are not assigned, they are optional.  This means that you may do them, but you do not have to.  If you choose to do them, you should be aware of the following:

• They are NOT extra credit in the sense that they are free points.
• They will be graded for completion, effort, and, where applicable, effectiveness is supporting one’s opinion.
• If you do the journal well, it can help your grade by adding 5 out of 5.  Or, if you are already doing well, it can solidify this high grade by adding to your total points.  However, if you do poorly, this OPTIONAL assignment CAN hurt your grade.   Do NOT do the assignment if you are not going to put in effort.
• If optional assignments are not turned in on the due date, they may not be turned in late.
• If you are in the habit of not doing other assigned homework, I reserve the right to prohibit a student from doing these optional assignments.

Topics:

Journal ONE [*OPTIONAL*]

Choose one of the following, and write a journal reflection on it:

1. Respond to a friend who argues for a literal interpretation of the Adam and Eve story found in Genesis 2 – 3.  Choose to agree or disagree with your friend, then support your position.
2. In Genesis 3, Eve is not portrayed as loving evil.  She eats the fruit because she sees that it is, “good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom.”  This is insightful with regards to all temptation.  We do not desire evil – we allow temptation to convince us that the good in our sin is worth it.  What is one of your bigger temptations?  When you resist it, how are you able?  When you are tempted to give in, what is the attractive piece of it?  Discuss how a rejection of temptation takes HONESTY.
3. Read this one page homily given by William O’Malley shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  Respond to his idea that it is single-minded and simple-minded people who commit sins – not people who love EVIL.
4. Cain asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – implying that he is not.  What would be God’s answer?  Give examples from the Old and New Testament of us being responsible for one another.  Give an example in your own life of the importance of looking out for one another (either how somebody did it for you or you for someone else and it was essential).
5. We are given ‘dominion’ of the world by God.  How do you think we are doing in caring for the planet?  Give examples to support your answer.  What do you think the idea of ‘stewardship’ means, and what are some ways we are called to be stewards of the earth.

JOURNAL 2 (Optional) - Due Monday, 9/29

1. Abraham is often described as a great example of faith.  He received God’s call and followed.  He believed he could have a son in his old age.  He was willing to sacrifice that son.  Time and time again, Abraham seems to understand God’s will, and follow it.  Discuss a time or two in your life when you feel that God has called you to do something.  What was it?  Did you do it?  Was it easy to recognize it as God’s call?  Was it easy to do?  How might believing that God is calling you to do something give you greater encouragement to do it?
2. Isaac’s name means laughter because his parents laughed at the idea that Sarah could become pregnant, given her age.  Yet, through God, amazing things have happened.  Discuss some ‘miracles’ that you have experienced, or at least some amazing things that seem to be God’s doing.  How do you think God was involved?  What makes the event amazing or miraculous?
3. Catholic Social Teaching - Discuss some of the points that we talked about in class related to CST.  Talk through some points that you agreed with or that you struggle with.  Be insightful and reflective as you choose what you talk about.
4. InMyName.com - What was your reaction to the YouTube clip on ending global poverty?  Go to www.inmyname.com and read about the efforts being made.  Read about the 8 Millennium Development Goals and discuss your reaction to them.

 Journal #3 (optional) due 10/10

1. Dreams - Write about a dream or two of yours (literally, a dream, not a goal or hope of yours) - and how that dream points to the mysterious of life.  Do you think dreams can be interpreted?  Has a dream ever predicted something in your life, or been eerily lived out after the you’ve had the dream?
2. Like Joseph’s story, we can see God bring good out of bad, triumph out of tragedy, in our lives.  Tell me about a time or two.
3. Forgiveness - What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to forgive someone for?  In Joseph’s case, it might have been easier for him to forgive his brothers because all turned out well.  Do you think that made it easier?  Have you ever forgiven someone before you knew “how it turned out”?  In other words, does forgiveness happen only after you know all went ok, or is true forgiveness not based on conditions?
4. The brothers stood up for Benjamin when they could have let him accept the blame and been innocent themselves.  Have you ever stood up to take the blame when you could have “gotten away with it”?  Describe the incident.

Journal #4 (optional) due Monday 10/20

1. The story of the exodus is a story of escape.  When have you escaped from a situation you felt trapped by?  Was God with you through that?
2. In explaining the plagues as somewhat ordinary events that were used in an extraordinary manner, we remove some of their mystique. Is it still God’s hand involved? By attempting to understand the plagues in this way, does it help us to see God’s activity in our lives? In other words, if God was magical in biblical times, and we don’t see that today, we might think God has changed, but maybe it’s us who have moved apart from recognition of God’s activity rather than God no longer acting.  Do you agree?
3. Read Psalm 119:  verses 1-8 and verses 99-104. Why did the Israelites so love the law?  Do we embrace the law in the same way today? Why or why not?
4. The Israelites depended on God when they were wandering in the desert.  But in times when things were going well for them, they began to forget God. Then they turned to him in times of need.  Do you think it is harder to depend on God when you have much, or when you have little?  Explain.
5. Apply the 3 Manna Regulations to life today.  Write about not hoarding, about trusting in God, or about keeping alive traditions that remind us of what’s been done for us in the past.  Talk about specific examples of these in YOUR life.

Journal #5 (optional) due Monday 11/3

1. The story of Balaam and his donkey is a story about greed (and other temptations) and how it blinds us.  Sometimes, we rationalize against our own conscience if we want something badly enough.  Tell me about a time when you wanted something badly enough that you convinced yourself that it was right, even if maybe it wasn’t.
2. There are some people who believe that those who do not regularly attend Sunday mass should be kicked out of the Church.  What do you think and why?  As you reflect on your answer, think about our discussion of rules and the formation of community.  Does the Church, like other groups, have the right to demand that its members obey certain rules?
3. Reflect on the theme of atonement. When you need to be forgiven, how do you atone for your sins?
4. In contemporary society, we often view rituals as either insignificant or meaningless.  Talk about some of the rituals that you partake in that DO have significance and why.