The Creed

Created by Reverend Joseph Weiss, SJ, a former Notre Dame Theology Professor, the purpose of this course is to explore the basic teachings of Christianity as presented in the Church's two classic confessional statements: the Ecumenical Creed promulgated by the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D., known as the Nicene Creed, and the Apostles' Creed whose roots can be traced back to ancient Rome. The Creed provides a structure for investigating the foundational beliefs of the Catholic Church and the areas of theology that correspond to those beliefs. Participants in the course will gain knowledge of the history and development of the Church's beliefs. They will also obtain a deeper understanding of what we are professing and how the faith stated in the Creed both informs and challenges living the Christian life today.

*Note: Participants in this course must have their own copy of Berard Marthaler's The Creed (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications). Any edition of this text is acceptable.

Course Content

Unit 1: Introduction to the Creed

• Why study the Creed?
• Origin and development of the creed
• The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity

Unit 2: Article One

• Belief
• God the Father
• One God the Almighty
• God the Creator

Unit 3: Article Two (part one)

• Names and Titles of Jesus
• The Christological Debates
• Marianology
• The Passion and Death of Jesus

Unit 4: Article Two (part two)

• He descended into hell
• The Resurrection
• Exalted in Glory
• The Second Coming

Unit 5: Article Three

• I Believe in the Holy Spirit
• One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
• I believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Course Format

• Created by Notre Dame Theology Professor.
• Six weeks in duration, with one week for orientation.
• Typically 15-20 students in each course.
• In addition to assigned readings from The Creed, additional lecture material provided online as text and by streaming video.
• Supplemental readings are provided to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links provided for all readings.
• Written assignments (200-250 words) required.
• Facilitator moderated Zoom sessions with students in course.

Required Texts

• Participants in this course must have their own copy of Berard Marthaler's The Creed (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications). Any edition of this text is acceptable.

Participation Requirements

• View or read the lecture for each unit.
• Read assigned texts; keep notes, questions, and comments for class discussion.
• Participate in the class discussion using the Forums area: post at least 2 comments, questions, or responses per unit.
• Respond to the assignment in each unit.
• Participate in at least 3 scheduled Zoom sessions throughout the course.
• Complete the course evaluation.

Time Expectations

4 to 6 hours per week, depending on your learning style and schedule.

Course Certificate

A certificate of completion awarding 30 contact hours will be sent upon completion of all course requirements.