Good Angels, Bad Angels Course Home & Syllabus

GOOD ANGELS, BAD ANGELS - Course Home & Syllabus

Angels have become a popular topic in the media. But do you know what the Church really teaches about angels? In "Good Angels, Bad Angels" (ST 114), students will study the following topics: (1) the role of angels in salvation history – especially in the Bible; (2) the nature of angels; (3) devotions to angels; (4) Satan and the fallen angels; (5) the truth about exorcism and possession.

Required Texts

Kreeft, Peter. Angels (and Demons): What Do We Really Know about Them? San Francisco: Ignatius, 1995.
Parente, Pascal. The Angels: The Catholic Teaching on the Angels. Rockford IL: TAN, 1973.
All other required readings are posted on the Blackboard site and/or linked on the course calendar below.

COURSE CALENDAR^*



Week

Due Date

Topic

Readings

1

6/7

Introduction

1.       Course Syllabus

2.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 17-43, qq. 1-17

3.       Fulton J. Sheen, “Angels,” from Life is Worth Living, on YouTube: Part I, Part II, and Part III

2

6/14

Angelic Nature

(what angels are)

1.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 47-72, qq. 18-42

2.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 18-27

3

6/21

Angelic Operation

(what angels do)

1.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 88-102, qq. 56-75

2.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 28-42

4

6/28

Creation and Order

1.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 43-62

2.     Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 74-75, q. 45
3.       Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Homily 34, pp. 285-294, on Blackboard only

5

7/5

Angels in Salvation History

1.       Pope John Paul II, “Angels Participate in History of Salvation,” General Audience (6 August 1986)

2.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 83-102

3.       Kreeft, Appendix D, pp. 149-153; choose and read at least five biblical passages that mention angels

6

7/12

Fallen Angels or Demons

1.       Pope John Paul II, “The Fall of the Rebellious Angels,” General Audience (13 August 1986)

2.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 111-114, 116-120, qq. 84-86, 89-91

3.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 55-62

4.       Van Slyke, “Demonology,” on Blackboard only

7

7/19

Diabolic Activity

and Exorcism

1.       Pope Paul VI, “Confronting the Devil’s Power,” General Audience (15 November 1972)

2.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 114-116, 120-123, qq. 87-88, 92-95

5.       Kreeft, Appendix D, pp. 151-154; choose and read at least five biblical passages that mention demons, evil spirits, the devil, Satan, or Beelzebub

3.       Van Slyke, “Diabolical Possession,” on Blackboard only

4.       Van Slyke, “Exorcism,” on Blackboard only

8

7/26

Devotions to Angels

1.       “Devotions” page on professor’s web site

2.       Parente, The Angels, pp. 147-155

3.       Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 125-127, qq. 98-100

* The Professor reserves the right to make substitutions, deletions, or additions to the schedule of readings.

Week	Due Date	Topic	Readings
1	6/7	Introduction	1. Course Syllabus 2. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 17-43, qq. 1-17 3. Fulton J. Sheen, “Angels,” from Life is Worth Living, on YouTube: Part I, Part II, and Part III
2	6/14	Angelic Nature (what angels are)	1. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 47-72, qq. 18-42 2. Parente, The Angels, pp. 18-27
3	6/21	Angelic Operation (what angels do)	1. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 88-102, qq. 56-75 2. Parente, The Angels, pp. 28-42
4	6/28	Creation and Order	1. Parente, The Angels, pp. 43-62 2. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 74-75, q. 45 3. Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Homily 34, pp. 285-294, on Blackboard only
5	7/5	Angels in Salvation History	1. Pope John Paul II, “Angels Participate in History of Salvation,” General Audience (6 August 1986) 2. Parente, The Angels, pp. 83-102 3. Kreeft, Appendix D, pp. 149-153; choose and read at least five biblical passages that mention angels
6	7/12	Fallen Angels or Demons	1. Pope John Paul II, “The Fall of the Rebellious Angels,” General Audience (13 August 1986) 2. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 111-114, 116-120, qq. 84-86, 89-91 3. Parente, The Angels, pp. 55-62 4. Van Slyke, “Demonology,” on Blackboard only
7	7/19	Diabolic Activity and Exorcism	1. Pope Paul VI, “Confronting the Devil’s Power,” General Audience (15 November 1972) 2. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 114-116, 120-123, qq. 87-88, 92-95 5. Kreeft, Appendix D, pp. 151-154; choose and read at least five biblical passages that mention demons, evil spirits, the devil, Satan, or Beelzebub 3. Van Slyke, “Diabolical Possession,” on Blackboard only 4. Van Slyke, “Exorcism,” on Blackboard only
8	7/26	Devotions to Angels	1. “Devotions” page on professor’s web site 2. Parente, The Angels, pp. 147-155 3. Kreeft, Angels (and Demons), pp. 125-127, qq. 98-100