Faith in Action

Life of Faith

Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendiLaw of prayer, law of beliefs, law of lifeThree Leg Stool of faithPraxis – “reflective action”

◦Connecting beliefs, worship, and life

Pastoral Circle

Pastoral Circle (Circle of Faith-in-Action)Awareness – Seeing with God’s eyes.Analysis – Asking why/what can be done?Action – be compassion to create justice.New Awareness – begins process again on

a deeper level.

Read 76-79 in textbook.  Apply to faith-in-action circle to one of

your service experiences (handout).◦What did your service sites make you aware of?

How were your eyes opened? What surprised you?

◦What questions came up from your service experience?

◦What other actions did it lead to? What else could it lead to?

Awareness (Seeing with God’s eyes)Worldview – basic beliefs and

understandings that shapes how a person relates to the world.

Worldview answers questions such as:◦What is important in life? ◦Is the world and the people in in basically good

or bad? ◦How does God interact with the world? ◦What are my responsibilities in the world?

Worldview is shaped by:Experience (interaction w/ world)

◦How did your prior experience (or lack of experience) with the population you served affect your view of them?

Culture (shared values, beliefs, & experiences)◦What examples from culture affect the view of

the population you served either in a negative or positive way?

Blind Spots◦What injustices were you made aware of through

your service?

Reflection/Discussion

What expectations/assumptions did you have going into your service? How did they change or how were they confirmed?

How was your worldview challenged or changed by those you served?

Reflection/Discussion

Jesus’ WorldviewSeeing, hearing, & knowing with respect

◦Who did you meet and get to know and how did they have an impact on you?

Vision of abundant life (full dignity)◦What signs of abundant life did you see? What

signs of abundant life were lacking?Compassion (sharing of joys & sorrows)

◦What acts of compassion did you witness or perform?

Social AnalysisUnderstanding how lives are affected by

society.Questioning attempts to look at a problem

at a deeper levelAcknowledging the complexity of an issue

InterdependenceRelationships are at the heart of human

lifeHumans do not and cannot live in

complete independence.◦Clothing, food, housing – where does it come

from? Our life is affected by our own decisions

and the decisions of others.

Social Structures *Patterns of relationships that shape

societyShaped by the daily decisions of

individualsCan be both good and bad

Structures of sin (Structural sin)Social Structures that block justice *

◦Rooted in personal sin of individuals◦Result from interrelated actions of many people◦Based on a desire for profit & power over

people.

Awareness, Analysis, ACTIONAction – change the situation in a way that

allows all people to experience the good life that God planned.

Two feet of social justice-◦Direct Action (charity)– level of relationships &

immediate needs.◦Social Action (advocacy) – attempt to change

society and its institutions to promote justice.

Acting in Solidarity◦Project 52

Read pages 42-49 in textbook.Answer questions 1-3 on page 49.

Media Fast

How much time do you spend a day with media?

The United States spent 121 billion minutes on social media sites in July 2012 alone, according to Nielsen's annual Social Media report. That's 388 minutes — or 6-1/2 hours — per person (if every person in the U.S. used social media). http://www.cnbc.com/id/100275798

Growing impact of social media - Infografic http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2012/11/21/time-americans-spend-per-month-on-social-media-sites/

Media Fast!

Media FastFast from one or all media usage for one

week (twitter, facebook, internet, radio, tv, etc).

Challenge yourself! Use the time for prayer, reflection, and face to face interaction.

Quotes to consider

“Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.” -Brene Brown 

“The question confronting the Church today is not any longer whether the man in the street can grasp a religious message, but how to employ the communications media so as to let him have the full impact of the Gospel message.” - Pope John Paul II 

One more quote

“The means of social communication (especially the mass media) can give rise to a certain passivity among users, making them less than vigilant consumers of what is said or shown. Users should practice moderation and discipline in their approach to the mass media. They will want to form enlightened and correct consciences the more easily to resist unwholesome influences” CCC 2496