Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Why do Jehovah witnesses refuse blood transfusions? In what does their Sabbath consist ? It is true that followers of Scientology believe in reincarnation? What are imams? Why do some Christians reject the primacy of the Pope? Are many young people attracted to witchcraft?
To answer these and other questions the theology faculty of the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical college in Rome, starting its third year of activity, has organised a Masters on "Church, Ecumenism and Religions".
Students may attend lectures at the College in Rome and via video-conference in other cities such as Bologna and Maddaloni, and in the province of Caserta.
The two year Masters course is for students interested in learning more about the different Christian confessions, non Christian religious and 'alternative religious movements'.
Society today marked by religious pluralism and relativism and the Catholic Church's commitment to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, challenges Catholics to know more about their own identity and more about the characteristics of other religious traditions.
The Masters has three main goals:
1) Make known the position of the Catholic Church with regard to other Christian confessions and the great world religions, presenting historical reports and studying Papal documents and teaching, and guidelines for these relations.
2) Give a clear exposition of the doctrine, traditions and history of the principal non Catholic Christian confessions and great religions from a Catholic point of view and offer fundamental arguments to understand the necessary references on what distinguishes Catholicism from other Confessions.
3) Present in a critical approach alternative movements of religious or pseudo religious spirituality, with studies on their characteristics and doctrine, and a clear exposition of criteria of discernment and pastoral action.
Courses start on 10 October but registration will continue until 15 November.
Info: Dott. Pierluigi Infurna - Facoltà di Teologia, Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum Tel: 06 66527800 - Fax: 06 66527814 - E-mail: pinfurna@upra.org
(AP) (9/10/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:35; Parole:397)
