This is a three-part course on Catholic Apologetics, which consists of philosophical, scriptural and historical arguments in defense of Catholic doctrine and morals. The objective of this course is two-fold: first, to bolster students' faith and make them even more convinced of what they already believe, and second, to give students the intellectual and spiritual "ammunition" they need against Protestant and non-Christian objections to Catholic teachings. The topics covered are: Natural Apologetics, which consists of answering atheists and agnostics; Christian Apologetics, or answering God-believers who belong to non-Christian religions; Catholic Apologetics, or answering the objections of non-Catholic Christians; Historical Apologetics, or defending the Church against anti-Catholic historical narratives; Moral Apologetics, which consists of explaining and defending Catholic moral doctrine; and World Religions, so that students will have a basic understanding of what non-Christians and non-Catholic Christians believe.

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Course Overview

• Duration: 10 weeks per term

• Weekly Structure:

  • Assigned reading from Summa Apologetica

  • Lecture with Q&A

  • Weekly quiz (5-10 questions, mix of multiple-choice, short-answer, and critical thinking)

• Tests: One at the end of each term (covering material from the prior 10 weeks), comprehensive with multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay questions

• Objective: Equip students with a robust defense of Catholic doctrine using reason, scripture, and history.

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Date/Time:

● May 13 to July 22

● Every Tuesday (except June 24)

● 7:30-8:45 PM Central Daylight Time

● Recordings of each lesson will be posted the day after the live lesson.

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The main textbook for this course is Summa Apologetica, by Joseph Freymann. It should be purchased on Amazon: https://a.co/d/j6f9iWP. This course is divided into three 10-week terms, each culminating in a test. Weekly readings are assigned from the book’s units and chapters, with quizzes to assess comprehension and critical thinking. This course provides a structured, comprehensive exploration of Catholic apologetics, balancing foundational philosophy, doctrine, history, and ethics, with regular assessments to reinforce learning.

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Term 1: Foundations of Apologetics (Weeks 1-10)

Focus: Natural and Christian Apologetics (Units 1 and 2 of textbook)

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Weeks 1-2: Introduction to Apologetics and Philosophy

• Reading: Preface, Unit 1, Chapter 1.1 (Metaphysics, Epistemology and Logic)

• Quiz 1, Quiz 2​

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Week 3-4: Faith, Reason, and God’s Existence

• Reading: Unit 1, Chapter 1.2 (Faith, Reason, and the Existence of God)

• Quiz 3, Quiz 4​

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Weeks 5-6: Attributes of God and Objections

• Reading: Unit 1, Chapter 1.3 (The Attributes of God, and Objections)

• Quiz 5/6​

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Week 7-8: Jesus Christ in the New Testament

• Reading: Unit 2, Chapter 2.1 (Jesus Christ, the God of the New Testament)

• Quiz 7, Quiz 8​

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Week 9: Yahweh in the Old Testament

• Reading: Unit 2, Chapter 2.2 (Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament)

• Quiz 9​

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Week 10: Review and Test 1

• Coverage: Units 1-2 (pp. 2-64)

• Format:

  • 10 Multiple-choice (e.g., “Which of Aquinas’ Five Ways involves motion?”)

  • 5 Short-answer (e.g., “Explain the principle of non-contradiction.”)

  • 2 Essays (e.g., “Defend the existence of God using one of Aquinas’ Five Ways” and “How does the Old Testament prefigure Jesus Christ?”)

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Term 2 (Weeks 11-20) will cover Catholic Apologetics.

Term 3 (Weeks 21-30) will cover Historical and Moral Apologetics.

Each 10-week course has its own fee and enrollment period. Certificates of Completion will be sent to students who complete all three courses.

 

​Supplemental Reading

Here are four optional books for further reading to supplement the Summa Apologetica course. These selections align with the course’s focus on natural, Christian, Catholic, historical, and moral apologetics, offering accessible yet rigorous content. Each book enhances a specific aspect of the curriculum and is drawn from or inspired by the recommendations in the Summa Apologetica.

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1. Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed

• This book provides a clear and engaging exploration of Catholic theology, grounding students in the rational basis of faith. It complements Summa Apologetica's Unit 1 (Natural Apologetics) by reinforcing the harmony of faith and reason, and Units 3-4 (Catholic Apologetics) by explaining core doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation in an accessible way.​

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2. The Case for Catholicism by Trent Horn

• This book directly addresses Protestant objections to Catholic doctrine, making it an excellent companion for Units 3-4 (Catholic Apologetics) in the Summa Apologetica. It covers topics like the papacy, sola scriptura, Mary, and the sacraments, providing concise arguments rooted in Scripture, history, and reason.

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3. Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark

• This book tackles historical misconceptions about the Catholic Church, such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, and Church-science conflicts, making it a perfect fit for Unit 5 (Historical Apologetics) in the Summa Apologetica. It provides evidence-based counterarguments to anti-Catholic narratives.

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4. Persuasive Pro-Life: How to Talk About Our Culture’s Toughest Issue by Trent Horn

• Focused on the abortion debate, this book strengthens Unit 6 (Moral Apologetics) in the Summa Apologetica, particularly Week 26 (Abortion). It offers practical strategies for defending the sanctity of life using reason, science, and compassion.

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These books enhance the Summa Apologetica curriculum by providing additional depth, modern perspectives, and practical applications, preparing students to defend their faith comprehensively.

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