Symbolics

The goal of this course is to familiarise students with the particular dogmas and practices of historical churches, denominations and small fellowships, whose adherents we encounter on a daily basis.

Competences

Specific competences

The students become familiar with the specific teachings and practices of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic and Unitarian Churches. Furthermore, we investigate the traditional Neo-Protestant denominations (Baptist, Adventist, Pentecostal) and the already rooted and expanding communities (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Faith's Church).

General competences

Extensive knowledge of the different denominations helps the students to dismantle certain prejudices, by measuring the weight and importance of shared Christian heritage, and at the same time developing their critical abilities, through which they can distinguish between truly important matters of faith and secondary or unimportant religious matters. In these courses and seminars, we strive for the authentic representation of a community by its own members. Thus, the courses serve to deepen ecumenical attitude and mutual respect of each other's values.

Course structure

  1. The Roman Catholic Church in Transylvania

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. In what way did the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council represent change?

    Reading:

    • Diós István: A II. Vatikáni Zsinat dokumentumai
  2. Disputed issues between Protestantism and Catholicism

    1. The concept of church
    2. The doctrine of man
    3. The doctrine of justification

    Reading:

    • Niesel, Wilhelm: Az evangélium és az egyházak, 39-74 (36)
    • Bernd Jochen, Hilberath',, Alois, Müller, Franz-Josef, Nocke: A dogmatika kézikönyve, 167-178 (12)
    • Bernd Jochen, Hilberath',, Alois, Müller, Franz-Josef, Nocke, Dorothea, Sattler: A dogmatika kézikönyve II., 3-158 (156)
  3. The difference between the doctrines of Mariology and the sacraments in Protestant and Catholic interpretation

    1. Mariology
    2. General doctrine of the sacraments
    3. Detailed doctrine of the sacraments

    Reading:

    • Bernd Jochen, Hilberath',, Alois, Müller, Franz-Josef, Nocke, Dorothea, Sattler: A dogmatika kézikönyve II., 161-233 (73) 235-396 (162)
    • Wilhelm, Niesel: Az evangélium és az egyházak, 78-126 (49)
  4. The Orthodox Church

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. Is the East/West Schism between the Eastern and Western churches determined historically, dogmatically or rather culturally?

    Reading:

    • Wilhelm, Niesel: Az evangélium és az egyházak, 127-133 (7)
    • Kallistos, Ware: Az ortodox út
  5. Doctrinal distinctives of Orthodoxy

    1. Doctrine of the Church
    2. Soteriology
    3. Doctrine of holiness
    4. The mystery of the icon
    5. Mariology, veneration of the saints
    6. Eschatology
    7. The function of the priesthood/monastic orders

    Reading:

    • Wilhelm, Niesel: Az evangélium és az egyházak, 127-163 (37)
    • Sándor Béla Visky : Dumitru Stăniloae: Mica Dogmatica vorbita - Dialoguri la Cernica
    • Stăniloaie, Dumitru: Teologia dogmatică ortodoxă
  6. Orthodox spirituality

    1. The spirituality of the teaching of the Philokalia
    2. Folk piety and superstition in Orthodoxy

    Reading:

    • Dumitru, Staniloae: Filocalia
  7. The Unitarian Church

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. Specific doctrine: Jesus and the interpretation of salvation

    Reading:

    • Elek Rezi: Hisszük és valljuk! Az Erdélyi Unitárius Egyház Kátéjának magyarázata
  8. The Greek Catholic Church

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. Historical overview
    3. Specific doctrines

    Reading:

    • Pirigyi István: A magyarországi görögkatolikusok története
  9. The Baptist Church

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. Historical background
    3. Specific doctrine and practice: the accusation of semi-Pelagianism and the issue of adult baptism

    Reading:

    • Baptista: A baptista hitvallás
  10. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church

    1. Overview from the sociology of religion standpoint
    2. Historical background
    3. Specific doctrine: sanctity of the Sabbath

    Reading:

    • Fekete Péter: Krisztus vagy szombatnap?
  11. The Pentecostal Church

    1. Pentecostalism’s popularity today
    2. Historical background
    3. Specific doctrine: the manifestations of the Spirit

    Reading:

    • Bütösi János: Tévtanítások pergőtűzében
  12. Jehovah's Witnesses

    1. Conceptual clarification of the sect
    2. Jehovah's Witnesses in the world and in Transylvania
    3. Specific doctrine and practice

    Reading:

    • Bütösi János: Tévtanítások pergőtűzében, 9-25 (17)
    • Fekete Péter: Az egyház és a szekta
  13. The Mormons

    1. Their history
    2. Their popularity today
    3. Specific doctrine, practice and mission

    Reading:

    • Bütösi János: Tévtanítások pergőtűzében, 25-37 (13)
  14. Faith's Church

    1. Their history
    2. Their popularity in Hungary and Transylvania
    3. Specific doctrine and practice

    Reading:

    • Bartus László: Fesz van
    • Németh Sándor: Új Exodus

Total estimated time

Classroom study

  • 2 hours/week (Course: 1 | Seminar: 1 | Practice: 0)
  • 28 hours/semester (Course: 14 | Seminar: 14 | Practice: 0)

Individual study

  • Time for studying course notes and bibliography: 20 hours/semester.
  • Time for further documentation in libraries, electronic platforms, or on the field: 20 hours/semester.
  • Time for preparing essays, papers, or documentation: 10 hours/semester.
  • Time for personal tutoring: 2 hours/semester.
  • Total individual study: 52 hours/semester.
  • Total estimated time: 80 hours/semester.

Examination

1. Oral exam based on the bibliography - 50%
2. Written paper on and presentation of one of the elected subjects - 50%