Big Book

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF AN INTELLIGENT CREATOR
I. The Big Bang
II. The Borde-Vilenkin-Guth-Proof
III. Evidence from Entropy
IV. Something, Nothing and Creation
V. Fine-Tuning
VI. Conclusion

PHILOSOPHICAL EVIDENCE OF GOD
I. A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysical Proof of God
II. A Lonerganian Proof of God

THE TRANSCENDENTAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD – PERFECT TRUTH, LOVE, GOODNESS, BEAUTY AND BEING
I. Absolute Simplicity is Perfect Inclusivity and Perfect Unity
II. There Can Be Only One Perfect Unity
III. Perfect Love is Perfect Unity
IV. Perfect Justice/Goodness is a Perfect Unity
V. Perfect Beauty is a Perfect Unity
VI. Conclusion

A CATHOLIC RESPONSE TO SIX CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
I. Can the Existence of God be Disproved?
II. If There is so Much Evidence for God, Why do We Need Faith?
III. If the Scientific and Philosophical Evidence is so Probative, Why are Some Scientists Atheists?
IV. The Bible and Science
V. Evolution and the Church – Is There a Conflict?
VI. The Possibility of Aliens

EVIDENCE OF THE SOUL AND HEAVEN FROM NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES
I. Definitions and Descriptions
II. Four Important Studies
III. Three Kinds of Verifiable Evidence
IV. Response to Physicalist Explanations
V. Near Death Experiences, Love, and Resurrection
VI. Complementary Evidence of a Soul from Terminal Lucidity

EVIDENCE OF THE SOUL FROM OUR TRANSCENDENTAL DESIRES
I. The Basic Argument from Plato to Lonergan
II. The Five Transcendental Desires – Considered Individually
III. Conclusion
IV. The Presence of the Transcendental Desires in Mentally Challenged Individuals

GOD’S PRESENCE TO OUR CONSCIOUSNESS: THE NUMINOUS EXPERIENCE, INTUITION OF THE SACRED, AND CONSCIENCE
I. The Numinous Experience – Rudolf Otto
II. The Intuition of the Sacred – Mircea Eliade
III. Kant and Newman on the Divine Origin of Conscience
IV. The Cosmic Struggle between Good and Evil – J.R.R. Tolkein and Carl Jung
V. Conclusion: An Initial Conclusion about “the Soul”

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE VERSUS ARTIFICIAL AND ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE
I. Human Intelligence versus Artificial Intelligence
II. Human Intelligence versus Animal Intelligence

SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS
I. The Hard Problem of Self-Consciousness
II. Sensate Consciousness and Self-Consciousness
III. Dualism and Trialism

METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ABOUT OUR TRANSPHYSICAL SOUL

FREE WILL AND ORIGINAL SIN
I. The Fall and Original Sin
II. The Consequences of Original Sin
III. Reconciling Contemporary Science and the Doctrine of Original Sin

SIX QUESTIONS FROM A CREATOR TO JESUS

CORROBORATION OF JESUS OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT

THE PREACHING OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH

THE EVIDENCE OF THE HEART

JESUS’ RESURRECTION IN GLORY
I. Gary Habermas’ Study of Recent Scholarship on the Resurrection
II. The Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ Risen Appearances to the Apostles
III. Paul’s Testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus
IV. N.T. Wright’s Two Arguments for the Historicity of Jesus’ Resurrection
V. The Empty Tomb
VI. Correlations Between the Resurrection of Jesus and Near Death Experiences
VII. Conclusion

MIRACLES BY HIS OWN AUTHORITY JESUS’ MIRACLES AND SPIRIT
I. The Purpose and Distinctiveness of Jesus’ Miracles
II. The Historicity of Jesus’ Exorcisms and Healings
III. The Historicity of Jesus Raising the Dead
IV. Conclusion

JESUS’ GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I. Jesus’ Gift of the Holy Spirit
II. The Interior Gifts of the Spirit According to St. Paul
III. Conclusion

SCIENCE AND THE SHROUD OF TURIN
I. The Blood Stains in Relation to the Image
II. Dating the Shroud
III. Four New Scientific Dating Methods
IV. Other Indications of the Shroud’s Age
V. The Image on the Shroud
VI. Conclusion

MIRACLES ASSOCIATED WITH MARY, SAINTS AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST
I. Three Marian Apparitions
II. Validated Miracles through the Intercession of Contemporary Saints
III. A Contemporary Eucharistic Miracle
IV. Conclusion

SEVEN COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL MAJOR RELIGIONS

HOW JESUS CHANGED THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS – FOUR UNIQUE ASPECTS OF HIS REVELATION

JESUS’ PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – ABBA AND THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON
I. Love as the Highest Commandment
II. Jesus’ Address of God as “Abba”
III. The Parable of the Prodigal Son
IV. Conclusion

JESUS’ LOVE OF THE POOR, THE SICK, AND SINNERS
I. Jesus’ Love of the Poor
II. Jesus’ Love of the Sick and Possessed
III. Jesus’ Acceptance and Love of Sinners

JESUS’ UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – THE PASSION AND THE EUCHARIST
I. The First Part of the Plan: The Last Supper
II. The Second Part of the Plan: Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

WHO DID JESUS SAY HE WAS?
I. Jesus as the Exclusive Preexistent Son of the Father in the Synoptic Gospels
II. How did Jesus know He was the Exclusive Son of the Father?
III. Jesus is Emmanuel

WHO GOD IS NOT

THE UNIVERSALITY OF JESUS’ SALVATION
I. New Testament Passages in Favor of God’s Universal Offer of Salvation
II. New Testament Passages That May Imply a Restricted Offer of Salvation
III. Christian Doctrines of God’s Universal Offer of Salvation
IV. Why Should Christians Evangelize?

THE EFFECT OF JESUS’ TEACHING ON WORLD CULTURE
I. The Social-Political Implications of Jesus’ Teaching on Love
II. The Christian Impact on Social Equality and Roman Slavery
III. Christian Impact on Social Welfare and Healthcare
IV. The Christian Impact on Education
V. Conclusion

DIVINE NATURE VERSUS DIVINE PERSON
I. One Divine Nature
II. “Person” and Self-Consciousness

THE HOLY TRINITY

THE INCARNATION OF JESUS

THE NEW TESTAMENT BACKGROUND ON THE INCARNATION

THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION OF JESUS

FURTHER REFLECTIONS ON JESUS’ CONCEPTION AND THE VIRGIN BIRTH

HEAVEN
I. The Messianic Banquet
II. The Kingdom of Love in John and Paul
III. A Reflection on the Kingdom of Heaven
IV. Correlation with Near Death Experiences

HELL

PURGATORY

WHY DO WE NEED A CHURCH?

WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
I. Jesus as the Universal Temple – the Unifying Body of the Christian Church
II. Did Jesus Think the Church Would Endure beyond the Apostles?
III. The Historicity of Matthew’s Commissioning Logion (Matthew 16:17-19)
IV. Did Jesus’ Commission of Peter Include His Successors?
V. Peter in the Acts of the Apostles and at the Council of Jerusalem
VI. Were Peter’s Successors accorded Primacy in the Post-Petrine Church?

THE PURPOSE AND BENEFIT OF THE CHURCH RELATIONSHIP, WORSHIP, LEARNING, AND SERVICE
I. Relationship with God
II. Worship, Eucharist, and Liturgy
III. Learning – Scripture, Doctrine, and Wisdom
IV. Service and Saints
V. Conclusion

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S STRUCTURE

THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
I. Extraordinary Magisterium
II. Ordinary Magisterium
III. Prudential Judgment and Catholic Social Teaching
IV. The Status of Regional Conferences of Bishops

THE STRUCTURE OF DIOCESES AND PARISHES

SUMMARY AND PLAN – WHERE HAVE WE COME FROM AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?
I. Where Have we Come From?
II. The Need for Faith
III. Where Do we go from Here? Life in Christ Through the Catholic Church
IV. Conclusion

JESUS’ INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER

THE EUCHARISTIC COMMEMORATION IN THE FIRST CENTURY

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

THE LATER DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASS OF THE ROMAN RITE
I. The 2nd Century through the 4th Century
II. Development of the Five Major Parts of the Mass after the 4th Century

THE MASS AS PRAYER AND UNION WITH THE LORD

THE FIVE GRACES OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

BAPTISM
I. Baptism of John and Jesus
II. Baptism in the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Letters
III. Baptism in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
IV. Conclusion

CONFIRMATION
I. The Origins of the Sacrament of Confirmation
II. The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Confirmation

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION OR PENANCE
I. The Origin of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Jesus and the New Testament
II. A Brief History of the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the Apostolic Age
III. Theology and Practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation Today

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK
I. Anointing and Sacrament of the Sick in the New Testament
II. A Brief History of the Sacrament of the Sick
III. Theology and Current Practice of the Sacrament of the Sick

HOLY ORDERS
I. The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the New Testament
II. Bishops, Presbyters, and Priests from the New Testament through the 2nd Century
III. Holy Orders and Ministerial Priesthood Today

MARRIAGE AS A SACRAMENT
I. Marriage in the Old and New Testament
II. Marriage from the New Testament to the Modern Age
III. The Sacrament of Marriage Today

A CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGY OF SEXUALITY, LOVE, AND MARRIAGE
I. The Exclusive & Indissoluble Commitment of Eros
II. Three Additional Intentions for a Good Marriage

DECISIONS, EXPECTATIONS, ATTITUDES, AND HABITS THAT FOSTER SOUND MARRIAGES
I. Decisions and Expectations before Marriage
II. Daily Attitudes and Habits that Foster Sound Marriages
III. Conclusion

THE PROBLEM OF DIVORCE AND THE PROCESS OF ANNULMENT

THE NEED FOR THE CHURCH
I. The Catholic Church as Jesus’ Guide to Theological Truth
II. The Mystical Body of Christ – the Inner Church and the Outer Church

THE GIFTS OF THE INNER CHURCH
I. The Sensus Fidei
II. The Sensus Fidelium
III. The Sense of Spiritual Community

THE OUTER CHURCH AND SPIRITUAL CONVERSION
I. Four Services of the Outer Church Leading to Spiritual Conversion
II. Contemplation and Personal Relationship with the Lord
III. Availing Ourselves of Complementary Inspiration
IV. Three Services of the Outer Church Leading to Moral Conversion

DEVOTION TO MARY, THE SAINTS, AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST
I. The Legitimacy of Praying to Mary, Angels, and the Saints
II. Corroboration by Miracles
III. Marian Devotion
IV. Intercessory Prayer to the Saints
V. Eucharistic Devotion

SACRAMENTALS, SYMBOLS, AND HOLY PLACES
I. Blessings
II. Exorcisms
III. Popular Devotions

FOUR KINDS OF HAPPINESS
I. A General Definition of Happiness
II. The First Kind of Desire: External-Pleasure-Material
III. The Second Kind of Desire: Ego-Comparative
IV. The Third Kind of Desire: Contributive-Empathetic

FOUR LEVELS OF HAPPINESS
I. The Four Levels of Happiness

THE COMPARISON GAME

GETTING OUT OF THE COMPARISON GAME – THE MOVE TO LEVEL 3
I. A Three-step Process for Transforming our Fundamental Attitudes
II. First Fundamental Attitude: What Kind of Purpose in Life Am I Looking For?
III. Second Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Others?
IV. Third Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Myself?
V. What Kind of Freedom Am I Seeking?
VI. The Benefits of Moving from Dominant Level One-Two to Dominant Level Three-Four
VII. The Level Three-Four Comparison Game

OVERCOMING COSMIC EMPTINESS, LONELINESS, AND ALIENATION – MOVE TO LEVEL 4
I. Is Level Three Enough?
II. The Exterior Call of the Transcendent
III. Conclusion

THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL GOOD AND ITS PRESENCE IN THE WORLD
II. Visions and Revelations – and their Distinction from Psychologically Induced Phenomena

THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL EVIL AND ITS DISTINCTION FROM MERELY PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA
II. The Signs of Demonic Possession
III. Two Documented Cases of Possession

HOW THE EVIL ONE WORKS – TEMPTATION, DECEPTION, AND DISCOURAGEMENT
II. Temptation

THE EIGHT DEADLY SINS
VIII. Pride (Superbia)
IX. A Personal Conclusion

MORAL CONVERSION: THREE STEPS TO RESISTING TEMPTATION
II. Resisting Temptation and Cultivating the Higher Self: A Practical Approach
IV. A Shortcut to Resisting Temptation

PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN PERSONAL ETHICS: BIBLICAL CONTEXT AND THE PROHIBITION OF ADULTERY
I. Do Not Commit Adultery or Sexual Impropriety
II. Spiritual Versus Mechanistic Views of Sexuality
III. The Power of Social Norming and the Breakdown of Sexual Mores
IV. Jesus’ Teaching on Extramarital Sex, Premarital Sex, and Homosexual Lifestyle

THREE THEOLOGICAL UNDERPINNINGS FOR THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SUFFERING
I. The Centrality of the Resurrection
II. Who God Is and Is Not
III. Four Theological Misinterpretations of God’s Action in Suffering

WHY WOULD AN ALL-LOVING GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?
I. Why Does God Allow Humans to Cause Suffering?
II. Why Does God Allow Nature to Cause Suffering?
III. Conclusion

WHAT TO DO WHEN SUFFERING COMES
I. First Tactic: Using Reason and Prudence to Confront Fear and Anxiety
II. Second Tactic: Seeking the Help of Other People
III. Third Tactic: Reshaping Our Expectations of Happiness
IV. Fourth Tactic: Avoid Negative Comparisons

THE OPPORTUNITIES OF SUFFERING
I. The Interior Opportunities of Suffering
II. The External Opportunities of Suffering
III. Conclusion

SELF OFFERING FOR THE KINGDOM IN IMITATION OF JESUS
I. Jesus’ Use of Suffering as Self-Sacrificial Redemptive Love
II. Imitating Jesus in the Mystical Purpose of Suffering
III. St. Térèse of Liseux as Exemplar of the Mystical Purpose of Suffering