Macmom
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Joined: July 06 2007
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| Posted: Sept 28 2007 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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For anyone looking for a review:
Well, we are finishing our 8th week with Omnibus III. My eighth grade son has been challenged, and I have enjoyed the readings and the discussions. We have read selected parts of the Westminster Confession (and the same topics in the catechism), Pilgrim's Progress, Of Plymouth Plantation, and Frankenstein.
Obviously, we have had to tweak this. For example, I had ds write a comparison between the Westminster Confession's views of "Church" and "Sacraments" as opposed to the Catholic view.
Pilgrim's Progress was an excellent allegory, but with a definite Reformed slant. We found the most Catholic character to be "Ignorant," who did everything Pilgrim did, traveled where Pilgrim traveled, experienced the same temptations and hardships, etc. YET when he came to the heavenly city was refused entrance because he was "ignorant of his own total depravity." (I think it smacks of having to know the "secret word" to get in... your life and deeds don't matter, only your knowledge of reformed doctrine... so much for "faith alone!") But we had a good discussion about God REALLY expects of us. And Pilgrim wasn't just a sayer- he was a do-er in his Faith. That was correct. And his life's journey was hard and full of backtracking, at times!
Frankenstein was great! We could use not only Biblical sources, but Vatican documents on science and technology to explore the issues of what is science good for, what does a creature "owe" it's creator? , How does a creator take responsibility for what he has started? etc. (It helps that dh has a biology degree and works in a technology field! He added a lot to these discussions.)
Of Plymouth Plantation was a looonnnggg read. Lots of, frankly, boring details. BUT the personalities and deeds that emerged from the journal gave me an appreciation for the difficulties faced by those first settlers. I found 2 or 3 little anti-Catholic bits, but they were Protestants, after all! Son enjoyed the action more than the long disagreements and letters about who owed what and how much beaver pelts were going for. I was MUCH impressed with son's essay he had to write on "Is common ownership of property Biblical?" (We changed it to: "Is common ownership of property commanded by God?") You know the Pilgrims had a little experiment in communism. They thought the Bible required it and the ancients, like Plate, lauded it. So son and I looked up some sections from the Catholic book "Framework of a Christian State" (Roman Catholic Books, publisher) and he wrote an essay on why neither the Bible, history, or Church teachings demand we be communists. (I think he summarized Aquinas' ideas quite well in this essay!) We also looked at the Alcott's "Fruitlands" Utopia and why that communist experiment failed- one of the men involved even left to become a priest! If anyone wants, I'll post his essay.
I like the tests at the end of every chapter, grammar, logic, and rhetoric questions about the books. Even comparisons BETWEEN characters and ideas in different books.
Starting Monday, we tackle "The Social Contract" and "Gulliver's Travels." (We skipped "Pride and Prejudice" because I didn't think a 13 year old boy would like it.)
Some extra work involved in adding the Catholic perspective, but an enjoyable time with my son. He is enjoying it as well. Except for the boring parts. :-)
Peace,
Macmom
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Classical-Omnibus III for Catholics (!?!)
