Please read the instructions carefully.

1.) There are three parts for this distanced learning module on IO RE 04 – Living the Christian
Vision in the Contemporary World.

2.) In each part, write your name, course and block, and teacher.

3.) Read all the instructions for each part.

4.) Use blue font color for all of your answers.

5.) Put/write your answers right before each questions.

6.) You may submit it via hard print copy or via email.

6.1) For hard print, you may submit via pick-up centers or personally at the ORA office.

6.2) For email, save your files via pdf format and name it as shown in the examples below:
(UPPERCASE - Block and Couse you belong in your RE subject <space> Surname
<space> First letter of first name/s) Use dash – not slash / in your block and course if
needed.

Examples:

2BSA-2BSTM2 ALBAO M
2MM-2HRM-2ENTREP ABABAT LM
2FM ABARQUEZ HL
2BSHM1 AINZA AM
2BSTM1 ABION LJ
2A ALMAZAN II

6.3) Submit using gmail. Please make a gmail acount.

6.4) Via gmail account access this URL:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E0SVxPOrEJWmGpO8SAZKgAgf7OMS40-l .
Choose your teacher’s name then click. Drop/Drag/Submit your pdf file to submit. Done.

6.5) Submit before the deadline.

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Name: BOLILAN, John Reylan
Course & Block: BSCE – 2A
Subject: IO RE 04 - Living the Christian Vision in the Contemporary World
Output: #1 Dialogue with Culture
Instructor/Professor: Mark John Palanca

DIALOGUE with CULTURE

RELIGION and POVERTY
Entering into dialogue with culture, religion, and poverty needs different contexts for the parties
involved. As Legazpi-Thomasians entering to this triple dialogue, these contexts must be
understood in the light of the documents and tradition of the Catholic Church.

Vocabulary:

Dialogue - Firstly, at the purely human level, it means reciprocal communication, leading to a
common goal or, at a deeper level, to interpersonal communion. Secondly, dialogue can be
taken as an attitude of respect and friendship, which permeates or should permeate all those
activities constituting the evangelizing mission of the Church. This can appropriately be called
"the spirit of dialogue". Thirdly, in the context of religious plurality, dialogue means "all positive
and constructive interreligious relations with individuals and communities of other faiths which
are directed at mutual understanding and enrichment"(6), in obedience to truth and respect for
freedom. It includes both witness and the exploration of respective religious convictions. It is in
this third sense that the present document uses the term dialogue for one of the integral
elements of the Church's evangelizing mission. (Dialogue and Proclamation 9)

Culture - in the general sense refers to all those things which go to the refining and developing
of man’s diverse mental and physical endowments. He strives to subdue the earth by his
knowledge and his labor; he humanizes social life both in the family and in the whole civic
community through the improvement of customs and institutions; he expresses through his
works the great spiritual experiences and aspirations of men throughout the ages; he
communicates and preserves them to be an inspiration for the progress of many, even all
mankind. (Gaudium et Spes 53)

- the whole collection of practices beliefs convictions and institutions by which of people
finds and expresses its collective identity. (Bishop Robert Barron on Evangelizing Culture)

Religion - The moral virtue by which a person is disposed to render to God the worship and
service he deserves. It is sometimes identified with the virtue of justice toward God, whose
rights are rooted in his complete dominion over all creation. Religion is also a composite of all
the virtues that arise from a human being's relationship to God as the author of his or her being,
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even as love is a cluster of all the virtues arising from human response to God as the destiny of
his or her being. Religion thus corresponds to the practice of piety toward God as Creator of the
universe. (Etym. probably Latin religare, to tie , fasten, bind, or relegere, to gather up, treat with
care.) (Catholic Dictionary)

Poverty - the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material
possessions. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

- based on Republic Act 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act
enactedon December 11, 1997, among those considered poor were individuals and families
who earn below the poverty threshold inability to meet basic needs or “minimum basic needs ”to
survive. (National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dialogue with Culture

I. STUDY (Questio)

Directions: Enlightened by the vocabulary section, share your own definition and experience of
dialogue and culture.

What is Dialogue?

a. Enumerate 3 experiences of dialogue in your life. Classify each according to the level of
dialogue as suggested by the document Dialogue and Proclamation.
1. Purely human level – Talking to my family daily in our household.
2. Spirit of dialogue – whenever I pray to God
3. Religious Plurality – I’m a catholic with a born-again girlfriend, so we sometimes
share our thoughts about our religions and try to understand the differences.

b. Why is dialogue important?

Dialogue is important for us because we get to express ourselves and also to understand
one another. It gives us opportunity to communicate with others from different cultures
and be able to understand our differences and similarities.

What is Culture?

a. Enumerate 4 cultural learnings which is influenced by family, church, friends, and locality.
1. family: the use of “po” and “opo” when talking to the elders
2. church: going to church and attending the mass every Sunday
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 3. friends: playing basketball every vacant time
4. locality: celebrating feasts of saints

b. Are all these cultures morally right and easily adaptable?

It is morally right to practice our culture since it doesn’t hurt or harm others and only
requires me to be a religious and respectful individual. It is easily adaptable for some, but
not for EVERYONE especially to others who grew up in an entirely different culture.

II. RESEARCH (Objectio)

Directions: Read and explore the notions concerning culture. Answer the questions at the end of
each discussion.

Globalization offers a great opportunity for people to meet across the globe. It makes the
products and services of other countries available in an international scale. This results to
migrations of people bringing alongside with them different cultures. These human migrations
are commonly caused by leisure and travel, work (such as Overseas Filipino Workers), and
refugee issues (such as Syrian Refugee Crisis). With these in mind, there is the inevitability to
have cultural interactions that paves way to learning or adapting other cultures, enculturation.

Enculturation is the process by which an individual learns the traditional content of a culture and
assimilates its practices and values. These enculturation can be subdivided into three levels:
acculturation, assimilation, and amalgamation. Although all three of these words refer to
changes due to contact between different cultures, there are notable differences between them.
(refer to table 1)

Table 1.0
Acculturation is often tied to
political conquest or
expansion, and is applied to
the process of change in
beliefs or traditional practices
that occurs when the cultural
system of one group
displaces that of another.
e.g. OFW does not eat pork
adobo anymore and Muslim
co-workers eating pork adobo
now.
Assimilation refers to the
process through which
individuals and groups of
differing heritages acquire the
basic habits, attitudes, and
mode of life of an embracing
culture.
e.g. OFW and Muslim co-
workers eating pork adobo
and shawarma happily.
Amalgamation refers to a
blending of cultures, rather
than one group eliminating
another (acculturation) or one
group mixing itself into
another (assimilation).
e.g.OFW and Muslim co-
workers eating adobo
shawarma happily.

With the influx of different cultures in one country, such as the USA, it becomes the melting pot
of cultures. Culture, therefore, easily becomes an object of change in order to survive. There are
two extreme attitudes that are born from this: culture-centrism and culture-relativism. Culture-
centrism is when one’s culture is seen as the center of the world, the norm for all cultures. All
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cultures are then judged by this norm and are expected to conform to it. And, Culture relativism
is when all cultures are seen as relative, without distinction. This leads to failure to see truly
either one’s own culture or others, and inability to discern possible essential differences
between them.

1. Give one experience of learning a different culture. Were you fully able to accept that culture?
Why?
- I haven’t experience learning a different culture but my girlfriend used to live in a Muslim
country. There, she experienced culture shock since she grew up in the Philippines, a Catholic
country. Meanwhile, in Saudi she needs to wear an Abaya whenever she goes outside and women
are not allowed to drive then so she needs her dad to drive her anywhere she’d want to go. If I
were her, I think it would take me a year before I can fully accept their culture.

2. What should be your attitude to people with different culture?

- I was taught to respect others even if their culture differs from mine. We should be open
to learning other cultures to be able to understand and know the similarities and differences we
have. Always remember that the world doesn’t revolve around you, there are also other people or
group of people who have different cultures or beliefs that differs from yours and we should
respect these as long as it is morally good.

III. ANALYSIS (Sed contra)

Directions: Study the Catholic Church teachings on Dialogue with Culture. Describe and explain
your understanding as thoroughly as you can by answering the questions below.

The Catholic Church is a universal Church. The task of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel to
the whole world Mark 16:15, Mat 28:19-20. Our Christian faith began in Jerusalem reaching
Samaria, even up to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Crossing boundaries, the Church
embraced even the non-Jews, the Gentiles. It is clear that every human person deserves to be
heard regardless of cultural or religious differences. Reciprocally, as Christians we also
deserves to be heard particularly in our proclamation of the story of Jesus Christ. How do we
proclaim the gospel then to people with different cultures? The Gospel, and therefore
evangelization, are certainly not identical with culture, and they are independent in regard to all
cultures. Nevertheless, the kingdom which the Gospel proclaims is lived by men who are
profoundly linked to a culture, and the building up of the kingdom cannot avoid borrowing the
elements of human culture or cultures. Though independent of cultures, the Gospel and
evangelization are not necessarily incompatible with them; rather they are capable of
permeating them all without becoming subject to any one of them. (Evangelii Nuntiandi 20)

In order to better understand the relationship of the gospel message and culture, one should
keep in mind the concept of borrowing the elements of human culture or cultures in a universal
sense. For example, imagine how the virtue of respect is translated into action in different
cultures. In the Philippines, showing respect is shown through the gesture of pagmamano and
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using the words, po at opo. In other cultures, respect is translated into action by bowing,
handshakes, and using of courteous words such as, sir and mam, etc. The same virtue of
respect but different cultural faces. This same thing applies in the relationship of the gospel
message and culture. The gospels message of salvation, love, charity, etc., must be seen into
different cultures independently from its translated action. As Christians this must be our attitude
to ensure that the gospel message is proclaimed and heard to people with different cultures.
This idea is what we call inculturation. The gospel must be inculturated in the people and that
Christ must find a home in the culture of the people. If culture is a way of life one has to be slow
in one’s judgment because culture mirrors the behaviour and belief system of a group of
peoples or community. The Gospel, then, has to purify a culture while culture has to enrich the
Gospel. There must be a mutual enrichment between the Gospel and culture, between faith and
culture. Again, the same gospel message but different manifestation.

However, in a strict sense, inculturation is the term that Catholic leaders and theologians have
used in recent decades to denote a process of engagement between the Christian Gospel and a
particular culture. The term is intended conceptually both to safeguard the integrity of the
Gospel and to encourage sensitivity to various cultural contexts. This applies especially to liturgy
(celebration of mass and sacraments). When the gospel already adapts a specific tradition in
the Catholic Church, inculturation of liturgy applies. It is the process whereby the texts and rites
used in worship by the local church are so inserted in the framework of culture, that they absorb
its thought, language, and ritual patterns — inculturation allows people to experience in liturgical
celebrations a ‘cultural event’ whose language and ritual forms they are able to identify as
elements of their culture”. You may understand this well by watching how the celebration of the
holy mass in other countries are so similar but not the same in matters of singing, dancing, etc.
Try to see how Africans sing and dance during the mass while maintaining the essential parts of
the mass. This is how the Church safeguard her own culture while crossing the boundaries of
other cultures—through the idea of inculturation.

Now it is fitting to ask this final question especially when we are to dialogue with other cultures.
As Christians what should be our attitude to culturally different people in a multicultural world?

One of the great stories in the Bible is the story of the Tower of Babel, Patten states that, “the
building of the Tower of Babel reflects humanity's pride and is subject to judgment; on the other
the scattering of the nations as a consequence represents the assertion of God that diversity is
within his purpose.” Here is an assurance that diversity is God’s gift to humanity.

God’s creation is good and with it comes man’s expression of his freedom in his constant search
for truth. Culture is a synthesis of each of the rays of truth that comes from God. As a Christian,
one must find the source of truth, who is God, in every culture. So he can grasp fully the true
image of the God; that is all that which is good, one, true, and beautiful. Therefore, Christians
must be able to see the light of truth, which that of Jesus Christ, in order to face the challenges
of multiculturality and multireligiousity.

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1. Identify a culture. Enumerate what is true, good, and beautiful belonging to that culture.
Filipino culture is one of the famous culture in the world. Filipinos are known to be hospitable and
happy. We always welcome our guests with kindness and also a LOT of food. We are also known
to be family-oriented, we stay with our parents even being an adult (over 18 years old). For me,
our culture is good since it shows a lot how respectful and loving Filipinos are.
What I also like about being a Filipino is that we love to pray. We pray almost every time: before
eating, before sleeping, before going on a long road trip, before taking an exam, and when passing
by a church we would sign cross. For me this is a beautiful culture of Filipinos, being prayerful.

2. Does this culture corresponds with the true, good, and beautiful that you believe as a human
person?
Yes it does, I am happy and proud with our own culture.

IV. Action (Respondeo)

Directions: Write a reflection journal answering the question, “As Christians what should be our
attitude to culturally different people in a multicultural world?” See the rubrics after the input.

According to Bishop Robert Barron, each culture is founded in these transcendental realities of
Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. And the unconditioned realities of truth, goodness, and beauty is
found always in God. And this God has a face, which that of Jesus Christ. Jn 14:6 Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.”

Jesus said "I am the Truth" who is God himself. He is not like of the prophets that speak about
God, but instead God himself. This is the pattern that informs humanity in the deepest level, the
end of the search of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Any institution must be ordered finally to
this "search" of truth.

In goodness, God is the Good itself. He invites Israel, the people of God, to a life of holiness.
Jesus as "the way, and the life" brought the law to fulfillment. Jesus fulfills the law not by
determining what is right from wrong but by exhibiting the spirit of the law, which is to have
goodness. Every culture therefore must promote goodness.

God is beauty itself. Beauty constitutes unity, harmony (consonance), and radiance all at once.
The beauty of humanity and the divine is seen and proven in the, Transfiguration of Jesus
Christ; Jesus as the reflection of the Father.

Jesus is the icon of the invisible of God. So Jesus can be the ground of Culture. Therefore as
Christians, we can find God in these cultures by looking for what are the unconditioned truth,
goodness and beauty through the spirit of dialogue.

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Evangelizing culture is done through the spirit of dialogue. By dialogue, one is able to see the
context and beauty of God’s truth manifested in diversity. This is an attitude of respect and
friendship, which permeates or should permeate all those activities constituting the evangelizing
mission of the Church.
With this, a Christian will not compromise his or her faith nor offend one’s culture if done always
in the spirit of dialogue which is to find and share always what is true, good, and beautiful in
one’s culture.
Detailed sharing of an experience
(Part I) – 40%
100
The sharing was very detailed.
Precise and clear words were used to
describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his or her feelings.
The content of the sharing was
EXCEPTIONAL and EXPRESSIVE.
95
The sharing of experience was very
clear. Precise and clear words were
used to describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. The content of
the sharing was EXPRESSIVE.
90
The sharing of experience was very
clear.
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. Minimal minor
details were missing. However, the
experience was still clear.
85
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or one major
detail is missing in the sharing. Some
details of the action could have been
RUBRICS for the REFLECTION JOURNAL
Reflection on the presence of God in
the experience (Part II) – 40%
100
The reflection clearly showed how the
student made sense of God’s presence
in their action.
The sharing showed a strong connection
of the experience to the understanding of
the value of faithfulness in the context of
Christian life.
Insight about the sharing was evident.
The reflection was EXCEPTIONAL.
95
The reflection clearly showed how the
students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding the
context of how to dialogue with culture.
90
The reflection clearly showed how the
students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding the
context of how to dialogue with culture.
Minor lapses or misunderstanding might
be present in the reflection, yet the
reflection is still CLEAR.
85
The reflection showed minor difficulties
or one-two major difficulties in making
sense of how God is present in the
action.
The student tries to draw a connection
but commits minor misunderstandings or
Helpful tips on what others can learn
from their sharing
(Part III) – 20 %
100
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
to learn how to dialogue with culture.
They were encouraging and convincing.
The student shared what others can
learn from his experience and reflection.
The student gave two specific and
concrete actions that others can learn
from their sharing. The tips can also be
easily understood by the reader.
95
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with culture.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described.
The student gave two things or actions
that others can learn from their sharing.
90
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with culture.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described. A few details
were missing.
The student gave two things or actions
that others can learn from their sharing.
85
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with culture.
Tips were specific and concrete.
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added to make the sharing more one-two major misunderstanding.
expressive.
Despite these, the reflection is still
ADEQUATELY CLEAR and
The sharing is ADEQUATELY
ACCEPTABLE
CLEAR AND ACCEPTABLE

80
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or few major
details were missing in the sharing.
Some details of the action could have
been added to make the sharing
more expressive.
80
There was a clear attempt to connect the
reflection to the experience. However, a
lot of minor or major misunderstandings
were committed.
Despite these, the reflection is still
ACCEPTABLE.
80
The tips were too general. However,
there was an attempt to properly connect
the tips to the reflection.
The student gave only one thing or
action that others can learn from their
sharing.

75
The sharing of experience was too
general. The description of the
experience was limited and lacks
major details.
75
A general reflection was shared but
there was a little or no attempt to make
sense of the action in relation to the
context of how to dialogue with culture.
75
The tips/s to the reader was/were too
general. The student tried to encourage
how to dialogue with culture.

65
No experience of doing an action
was shared. The lack of experience
is not given a good reason.
65
A general reflection was shared but
there was no attempt to make sense of
the action in relation to the context of
how to dialogue with culture.
65
The writer failed to share specific
things or actions that others can learn
from their sharing.

REFLECTION JOURNAL 1

As someone who was born and raised as a Catholic in a Catholic country, I wasn’t much
exposed to other religions and culture, as well, since I haven’t been in other places beside my
hometown. But this doesn’t stop me from being an open minded when it comes to other cultures.
I have met people coming from different places in the Philippines, some of them have a different
accent when speaking Bikol and others laughed at them. One thing that stopped me from laughing
is empathy, I know that if I would go to other places as well my accent would sound funny to them
and I wouldn’t like it if they would make fun of me.
Internet is also one of my way on viewing other cultures. Others are being laughed at
because of their skin color, how they look, how they talk, and other things that isn’t that big of a
deal but they have ways on making it one. As a Christian, I don’t find these things funny so I file
a report on these platforms like Facebook to take down such posts. I also encourage others to
stop humiliating others just because they have different culture.
I know that no matter how big our differences are, God said in Galatians 3:28: “There is
neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.” At the end of the day, we are God’s children and He loves us all equally.

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Name: BOLILAN, John Reylan
Course & Block: BSCE – 2A
Subject: IO RE 04 - Living the Christian Vision in the Contemporary World
Output: #2 Dialogue with Religion
Instructor/Professor: John Palanca

I. STUDY (Questio)

Directions: Enlightened by the vocabulary section, share your own definition and experience of
religion.

What is Religion?

a. What are your thoughts about your religion?

- I am kind of contented with me being a Catholic since it is not a very strict religion.
I also think it’s nice that Catholics don’t claim other religions as bad or wrong. We
respect other religion and welcome everyone in attending their Sunday mass. We
are also open in learning and knowing about others religion as well.

b. Enumerate challenges/experiences that you may be struggling to follow in your religion?

Why?
- I find it difficult to be consistent in attending the Sunday mass since I help with
our family business on weekends. I am also loaded with school works so I tend to
forget about going to church.

II. RESEARCH (Objectio)

Directions: Read and explore the notions concerning religion. Answer the questions at the end
of each discussion.

One can understand that man in his heart has deepest thirst to answer the questions about
God. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain
perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of
human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even
dayof a Father. (Nostra Aetate 2) Looking for answers, man organize and share this restless
search of the divine bringing birth to religion. In fact, all of us have longing in for these
questions, “Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human
condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man?
What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what is sin? Whence suffering and
what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment
and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which
encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?” (Nostra Aetate 1)

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In a broad sense religions in the world can be classify into two categories: monotheism and
polytheism. Today, major religions from the past still dominate the world population. These
religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Likewise, other religions
found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner,
by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. (Nostra Aetate 2)

Judaism - the commonality with Christianity is so great. In fact it is the root, as in the inter-
relatedness of the New Testament and Old Testament. Indeed, the Church believes that by His
cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself. All should
see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach
anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ. (Nostra Aetate
2)

Islam - is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God, and that
Muhammad is a messenger of God. Commonalities with Christianity are significant importance
of Mary and their way of peace.

Hinduism - men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible
abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the
anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a
flight to God with love and trust. (Nostra Aetate 2)

Buddhism - in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it
teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the
state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme
illumination. (Nostra Aetate 2)

This reality of living with different religions is a challenging issue not only for Christians but to all
people who search for God. This may result to conflicting truth-claims of the world’s different
religions. Joseph Runzo outlines six possible responses to the conflicting truth-claims of the
world’s religions:

1. Naturalism holds that all religions are mistaken.

2. Religious Exclusivism maintains that only one world religion is correct and all the
others are mistaken.

3. Religious Inclusivism contends that only one world religion is fully correct but others
contain some of the truth of the one correct religion.

4. Religious Subjectivism claims that each world religion is correct in the sense that it is
good for those who adhere to it.

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 5. Religious Pluralism asserts that ultimately all world religions are correct, each offering
a different salvific path and partial perspective on a single transcendent reality.

6. Religious Relativism argues that at least one, and probably more than one, world
religion is correct and that the correctness of a religion is relative to the world-view of its
community of adherents.

1. What is your attitude towards different religion? Explain.]

- We should always be respectful towards other people whether they believe or worship
different God. We should learn how our religions differ from each other and know how to respect
these differences. Hating or condemning other religions just shows that yours is not a good one.

2. Among the Joseph Runzo’s six possible responses to the conflicting truth-claims of the
world’s religions in which category does your religion belong? Why?
- I think that my religion belongs in Religious Inclusivism where we believe that other
religions are right with believing that there is only one true God, but in our religion we strongly
believe that our God is the truest among all these gods.

III. ANALYSIS (Sed contra)

Directions: Study the Catholic Church teachings on Dialogue with Religion. Describe and
explain your understanding as thoroughly as you can by answering the questions below.

What must we do as Christians? Do we stop preaching out of respect for other religions? How
do we evangelize? These questions are essentially answered by the proper understanding of
Dialogue and Proclamation. If by dialogue we mean, not only reciprocal communication and as
an act of friendship but means all positive and constructive interreligious relations with
individuals and communities of other faiths which are directed at mutual understanding and
enrichment", in obedience to truth and respect for freedom. (Dialogue and Proclamation 9)
Therefore, in interreligious dialogue, the focus is not the differences but the things that can be
agreed upon. For example, A Christian and a Muslim agrees with the idea of monotheism and
the importance of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. With this kind of dialogue, a Christian will
not deny his or her faith but even proclaim it with peoples of different religion without conflict.

As Christians, we share the mission of spreading the good news, the story of Jesus, to the
world, to other people of different culture and religion. This is what we called, Proclamation.
Proclamation is the communication of the Gospel message, the mystery of salvation realized by
God for all in Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit. It is an invitation to a commitment of faith in
Jesus Christ and to entry through baptism into the community of believers which is the Church.
This proclamation can be solemn and public, as for instance on the day of Pentecost (cf. Ac 2:5-
41), or a simple private conversation (cf. Ac 8:30-38). It leads naturally to catechesis which aims
at deepening this faith. Proclamation is the foundation, centre, and summit of evangelization.
(Dialogue and Proclamation 10). When we speak of the story of Jesus, either in dialogue or
page 11
proclamation, we fulfill our mission, the mission of the Church to preach the gospel to the world.
But in a strict sense, the idea of dialogue limits proclamation in order to avoid becoming
imposing to other people with different background than ours. Rather, in the spirit of dialogue,
we are able to proclaim the good news to the world by becoming welcoming and being
welcomed by other religions and cultures.

Interreligious dialogue and proclamation, though not on the same level, are both authentic
elements of the Church's evangelizing mission. Both are legitimate and necessary. They are
intimately related, but not interchangeable: true interreligious dialogue on the part of the
Christian supposes the desire to make Jesus Christ better known, recognized and loved;
proclaiming Jesus Christ is to be carried out in the Gospel spirit of dialogue. The two activities
remain distinct but, as experience shows, one and the same local Church, one and the same
person, can be diversely engaged in both. (Dialogue and Proclamation 77)

What is, therefore, teaching of the Church in regards to the conflicting truth-claims of different
religions? In the document Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,
Nostra Aetate, the Church is doing her duty to evangelize and dialogue focusing on what men
have in common and what draws them to fellowship. The document is living out the spirit of
dialogue in its fullest sense. Therefore, the Church stands is this, the Catholic Church rejects
nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways
of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects
from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which
enlightens all men. Indeed, she (the Church) proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way,
the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom
God has reconciled all things to Himself. (Nostra Aetate 2) It falls under the religious inclusivism
category of Joseph Runzo six possible responses to the conflicting truth-claims of the world’s
religions in a broad sense.

1. What is the Catholic Church stand on conflicting truth-claims among world religions? Explain.
Catholic Church believes that there is only one true God, and it is our God who gave his
only begotten son to save us from our sins. Though we also respect other religions with their
beliefs, as a Christian we should still proclaim that Jesus Christ is our saviour and that we
should “make disciple of all nations”

2. What is the relationship of Dialogue and Proclamation? Explain.

Dialogue and proclamation are both authentic elements of the Church's evangelizing
mission. As children of God, we should proclaim that he is the God who lives and that we should
spread his words using dialogue.

IV. Action (Respondeo)

Directions: Write a reflection journal answering the question, “As Christians, how should we
proclaim our faith towards people of other religion?” See the rubrics after the input.
page 12
There exist different forms of interreligious dialogue. It may be useful to recall those mentioned
by the 1984 document of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue(17). It spoke of four
forms, without claiming to establish among them any order of priority:

a) The dialogue of life, where people strive to live in an open and neighbourly spirit, sharing their
joys and sorrows, their human problems and preoccupations.

b) The dialogue of action, in which Christians and others collaborate for the integral
development and liberation of people.

c) The dialogue of theological exchange, where specialists seek to deepen their understanding
of their respective religious heritages, and to appreciate each other's spiritual values.

d) The dialogue of religious experience, where persons, rooted in their own religious traditions,
share their spiritual riches, for instance with regard to prayer and contemplation, faith and ways
of searching for God or the Absolute.

Dialogue, therefore, happens in all aspects of life. After all, we all have our human joys and
pains, progress and freedom, existential questions, and spiritual experiences to share with. With
these in common, there is always a room and chance for dialogue and proclamation of our
Christian faith.

Howevere, there also exists obstacles to interreligious dialogue that is found in both parties (the
Christian and the non Christian). This is according to the document Dialogue and Proclamation
51:

a) Insufficient grounding in one's own faith.

b) Insufficient knowledge and understanding of the belief and practices of other religions,
leading to a lack of appreciation for their significance and even at times to misrepresentation.

d) Socio-political factors or some burdens of the past.

e) Wrong understanding of the meaning of terms such as conversion, baptism, dialogue, etc.

f) Self-sufficiency, lack of openness leading to defensive or aggressive attitudes.

g) A lack of conviction with regard to the value of interreligious dialogue, which some may see
as a task reserved to specialists, and others as a sign of weakness or even a betrayal of the
faith.

h) Suspicion about the other's motives in dialogue.

page 13
i) A polemical spirit when expressing religious convictions.

j) Intolerance, which is often aggravated by association with political, economic, racial and
ethnic factors, a lack, of reciprocity in dialogue which can lead to frustration.

k) Certain features of the present religious climate, e.g., growing materialism, religious
indifference, and the multiplication of religious sects which creates confusion and raises new
problems.

Many of these obstacles arise from a lack of understanding of the true nature and goal of
interreligious dialogue. These need therefore to be constantly explained. Much patience is
required. It must be remembered that the Church's commitment to dialogue is not dependent on
success in achieving mutual understanding and enrichment; rather it flows from God's initiative
in entering into a dialogue with humankind and from the example of Jesus Christ whose life,
death and resurrection gave to that dialogue its ultimate expression. (Dialogue and
Proclamation 53)

RUBRICS for the REFLECTION JOURNAL

Detailed sharing of an experience Reflection on the presence of God in Helpful tips on what others can learn
(Part I) – 40% the experience (Part II) – 40% from their sharing
(Part III) – 20 %

100 100 100

The sharing was very detailed.
Precise and clear words were used to
describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his or her feelings.
The content of the sharing was
EXCEPTIONAL and EXPRESSIVE.
The reflection clearly showed how the
student made sense of God’s presence
in their action.
The sharing showed a strong connection
of the experience to the understanding of
the value of faithfulness in the context of
Christian life.
Insight about the sharing was evident.
The reflection was EXCEPTIONAL.
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
to learn how to dialogue with religion.
They were encouraging and convincing.
The student shared what others can
learn from his experience and reflection.
The student gave two specific and
concrete actions that others can learn
from their sharing. The tips can also be
easily understood by the reader.

95
The sharing of experience was very
clear. Precise and clear words were
used to describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. The content of
the sharing was EXPRESSIVE.
95
The reflection clearly showed how the
students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding of the
context of how to dialogue with religion.
95
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with religion.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described.
The student gave two things or actions
that others can learn from their sharing.

90 90
The sharing of experience was very The reflection clearly showed how the
clear. students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding of the
90
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with religion.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described. A few details
were missing.

page 14
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. Minimal minor
details were missing. However, the
experience was still clear.
context of how to dialogue with religion.
The student gave two things or actions
Minor lapses or misunderstanding might that others can learn from their sharing.
be present in the reflection, yet the
reflection is still CLEAR.

85
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or one major
detail is missing in the sharing. Some
details of the action could have been
added to make the sharing more
expressive.
The sharing is ADEQUATELY
CLEAR AND ACCEPTABLE
85 85
The reflection showed minor difficulties The tips gave a clear way for the reader
or one-two major difficulties in making how to dialogue with culture.
sense of how God is present in the
action. Tips were specific and concrete.
The student tries to draw a connection
but commits minor misunderstandings or
one-two major misunderstanding.
Despite these, the reflection is still
ADEQUATELY CLEAR and
ACCEPTABLE

80
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or few major
details were missing in the sharing.
Some details of the action could have
been added to make the sharing
more expressive.
80
There was a clear attempt to connect the
reflection to the experience. However, a
lot of minor or major misunderstandings
were committed.
Despite these, the reflection is still
ACCEPTABLE.
80
The tips were too general. However,
there was an attempt to properly connect
the tips to the reflection.
The student gave only one thing or
action that others can learn from their
sharing.

75
The sharing of experience was too
general. The description of the
experience was limited and lacks
major details.
75
A general reflection was shared but
there was a little or no attempt to make
sense of the action in relation to the
context of how to dialogue with religion.
75
The tips/s to the reader was/were too
general. The student tried to encourage
how to dialogue with culture.

65
No experience of doing an action
was shared. The lack of experience
is not given a good reason.
65
A general reflection was shared but
there was no attempt to make sense of
the action in relation to the context of
how to dialogue with religion.
65
The writer failed to share specific
things or actions that others can learn
from their sharing.

REFLECTION JOURNAL # 2

I was born and raised in a Catholic family living in a Catholic country and surrounded with
Catholics. I only have a little knowledge about other religions, but one thing’s for sure: that is
religion shouldn’t be the basis of one’s character. Aside from the general Christians (Catholics,
Born Again, Baptists, INCs, Jehovah’s Witness), I have only met Muslims from other religions.
Islam has a bad image in almost every non-Muslim country because of some reasons, but I found
in my heart that not all Muslims are bad. I have known some Muslim friends in my life and I can
say that they are great people. We might have different religions but that didn’t stop us from talking
to each other and becoming friends. I can do that because I try not to immediately stereotype and
judge people based on what they look like or what they believe in.
In the bible verse of John 15:12 God said that “This is my commandment, that you love
one another, as I have loved you.” God loves us despite of our mistakes and flaws, so who are
page 15
we to not love others just because of our differences? It is way better to accept our differences
rather than focusing on hating one another. I have done a lot of mistakes in my life, I have doubted
Him before but I can still feel that God always forgives me after I prayed and repent my sins. We
should also love others that way. If you cannot still find it in your heart to be open to others who
have different religions, prayer & devotion would be very helpful. Reading bible verses daily,
praying, and also fasting are effective to improve your spiritual and mental health.

page 16
Name: Bolilan, John Reylan
Course & Block: BSCE – 2A
Subject: IO RE 04 - Living the Christian Vision in the Contemporary World
Output: #3 Dialogue with Poverty
Instructor/Professor: John Palanca

I. STUDY (Questio)

Directions: Enlightened by the vocabulary section, share your own definition and experience of
poverty.

What is Poverty?

a. What are your experiences of poverty? Give three.

I was born and raised (and still live) in a rural area, I am what they call taga-bulod
in our language. I live 30 minutes away from the city, so my family experienced poverty
first hand:
1. Back when I was in grade school, my older sisters were in high school but
the nearest school for them is 6 kilometers away and there was no
transportation to take them there so they would walk to school every day.
My mom would wake up very early to prepare their breakfast and they
would start walking to school as early as 6 AM.
2. When our province got hit by typhoon Reming back in 2006, our area (the
upland areas) didn’t get electricity for almost 6 months. We were just using
candles as lights, others use batteries to light up their bulbs. We went to
school with unironed uniforms and struggle at doing our home works every
night.
3. In our area, it is hard to connect water source directly to our house. We
have this station where we collect water, and I would walk to 3 kilometers to
get water for me and my sisters to consume.

b. What are your plans to alleviate your experiences of poverty?

Despite these poverty I experienced, I will always be grateful of it. It makes me appreciate
small things in life. Instead of focusing on being rich for myself, I strive to be successful to
make my parents proud and make them realize that all those sacrifices they made for us
are worth it. I would study harder and give out my very best to pass the board exam and
get a decent job because I want to be an inspiration to other young dreamers.

II. RESEARCH (Objectio)

Directions: Read and explore the notions concerning poverty. Answer the questions at the end
of the discussion.

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Poverty is multifaceted. It pertains to something that one must essentially have in order to
function holistically as a human person. It may assume the common face of material poverty. Or
the rapid cases of spiritual poverty among teenagers resulting to suicide.

The most easily spotted face of poverty is the material or economical poverty. Based on
Republic Act 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act enacted on December 11,
1997, among those considered poor were individuals and families who earn below the poverty
threshold inability to meet basic needs or “minimum basic needs to survive.” In order to be
determined economically poor a poverty threshold is determined by the government.

How is poverty measured? The poverty threshold is the amount of income that can best meet
the minimum food and other needs of an individual or family. Included that includes clothing,
light, water, home or rent, transportation and communications, health and education costs, and
much more. It is not a prescribed budget, but it simply describes or describes this amount the
money can buy the minimum basic needs. The government also uses it to estimate the number
of the poor and to assess the effectiveness of anti-poverty measures. In the Philippines, the
National Poverty Threshold in the first half of the year 2018, or January to June2018, is
PHP12,577 per Filipino or PHP2,096.20 per person per month PHP69.87 per person per day.

How many therefore is the poor in the Philippines? The number of poor corresponds to the data
of poverty incidence which refers to the share of the total population or the total number of
families earning less than the poverty threshold. In the Philippines the National Poverty
Incidence is in 2018 was 16.1 percent or four millions of Filipino families. Poverty incidence of
the whole population is 21 percent or 23.1 million individual Filipinos.

But Poverty is more than these poverty threshold and incidence statistics. Here are the six faces
of poverty:

Social Poverty - includes people groups that are undervalued and have few rights. Oftentimes,
social poverty is easiest to spot when we look for people who have been silenced—they have
no say and their rights are minimized. They are often oppressed and thought of as insignificant.

Educational Poverty - Hundreds of millions of children lack education and that creates lack of
options. Education equals knowledge, skills, and training, so when education is not available,
families get trapped in the cycle of poverty for generations. Steady employment and income can
be difficult to find and a person’s basic needs can’t be met. Lack of education also makes
children more vulnerable to exploitation or abuse.

Health Poverty - may sound strange, but when a person is unhealthy it is difficult to hold down a
job and develop positive relationships. Physical and emotional health is the basis for our ability
to work, play and be in relationship with others.

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Spiritual Poverty - can be summed up by the word “hopelessness.” Oftentimes, people in
poverty struggle with feelings of worthlessness and despair. Children are especially vulnerable
to these emotions and the message of despair poverty sends.

Environmental Poverty - physical surroundings play a large role in a person’s wellbeing.

Environmental factors include climate, housing options, land availability, water supply, insects
that carry disease, water-born illnesses, weather, drought, and much more.

Economic Poverty - half the world lives with a household income of less than $2.50 a day. This
level of poverty is the equal of slavery. People need an income level which allows them to
purchase what they cannot make or grow.

1. Based from the six faces/types of poverty, rate your own experience of poverty by making a
graph ranging from 0-10. 0 as lowest poverty experienced and 10 as highest poverty
experienced.

2. Below your graph, answer the question, in what type of poverty you are most poor now?
Why? What should you do to rise from this poverty?
I am most poor in spiritually since I haven’t go to church for some months now. But I still pray
always before eating and sleeping. After this pandemic, I strive to be a better Christian and try to
attend more in church mass.

III. ANALYSIS (Sed contra)

Directions: Study the Catholic Church teachings on Dialogue with Poverty. Describe and explain
your understanding as thoroughly as you can by answering the question below.

page 19
In economics, poverty simply means not crossing the poverty threshold line. And people above
it are not poor. If this is the case being poor has only one face but we all know that poverty
being multi-faceted is a bigger reality than that.

Saint Pope John Paul II said, “No one is so poor that he cannot give. No one is so rich that he
cannot receive.” Rich or poor, both are human beings, therefore has dignity. Its [the Church’s]
desire is that the poor should rise above poverty and wretchedness, and should better their
condition in life; and for this it strives. (Rerum Novarum 23)

Catholic Social Teaching on poverty has its foundation laid on human dignity not on its
economic nor social sphere. In RE 01 & 03, human dignity is something that can’t be taken
away. Catholic Social Teaching states that each and every person has value, are worthy of
great respect and must be free from slavery, manipulation and exploitation. We are created in
the image and likeness of God, Imago Dei.

St. Ambrose said, “It is not from your own possessions that you are bestowing aims on the poor,
you are but restoring to them what is theirs by right. For what was given to everyone for the use
of all, you have taken for your exclusive use. The earth belongs not to the rich, but to everyone.
Thus, far from giving lavishly, you are but paying part of your debt.” This idea echoes the
Catholic Social Teaching Principle of Universal Destination of Goods.

The Church preaches for us to be poor in spirit. Does this mean that the Church supports
material poverty? Of course not. It means simplicity in one’s actions towards material
possessions in order to better share the goods of the earth; and to live in excess and living
outside one’s means. “The Church’s love for the poor … is a part of her constant tradition.”
(CCC2444) This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of
his concern for the poor. CCC 2444 “The Church’s love for the poor … is a part of her constant
tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of
his concern for the poor. In dialogue with poverty, material poverty is being addressed. On the
other hand, we aim to be poor spiritually (the beatitudes) in the sense that we should depend on
the providence of God, as he is the source of everything. And not act as if we do not need God
in our lives.

1. What is your understanding of the phrase, “It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong
is a style of life, which is presumed to be better when it is directed towards ‘having’ rather than
‘being’.” (Centissimus Annus 36 ?)
As a Christian, we should always focus on BEING a good person, BEING a good role model,
BEING a good friend, and most importantly BEING a servant of God rather than HAVING more
money, HAVING more friends, HAVING more clothes. At the end of the day it is what BEING
contented makes us happy, and not having lot of money. Happiness is found within.

IV. ACTION (Respondeo)

page 20
Directions: Write a reflection journal answering the question, “As a Christian, how must one
dialogue with the poor?” See the rubrics after the input.

The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who
are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the
followers of Christ. (Gaudium et Spes 1) This speaks of the mystical body of Church as
discussed in our discussion of the Spirituality of Communion. This means that these sufferings
(especially poverty) are also the pain of the Church. And by the virtue of the Principles of
Solidarity and Participation, we, the church, must walk together in alleviating our brothers and
sisters from poverty.

Living out the authentic mercy and compassion, the church must become, “a church bruised,
hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy
from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” (Evangeli Gaudium 49) This means
living out what Jesus Christ did. He does not only preach in his comfort zone but lived and
became one of us, in joys and hopes and in griefs and anxieties.

When doing outreach program to poor communities, do we feel like we are some kind of super
heroes that lifts them out of their sufferings? Is it all about me? Is it all about them? Remember
what Dialogue is all about. It does not only about one person, but the people who are engaging
in listening and speaking with each other. Therefore in your outreach programs as Legazpi-
Thomasians, go there and listen, care, talk, immerse, and learn? Dialogue with poverty is about
the “us”, the helper and the beneficiary; and the God who lets us remember that He is one with
the poor.

In engaging our dialogue with the poor, we must:

1. Our faith in Christ, who became poor and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the
basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members.
(Evangeli Gaudium 186)

We imitate his preferential option for the poor. But not only that there must be the elements of
immersion, mercy, compassion, and empowerment.

2. We are the image and likeness of God. We are able to see God with the poor and they can
see God in us. Mt 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
me.’

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me.’

page 21
3. We are to welcome them in our lives and let them welcome us. This shows friendship amidst
all the conditions of material poverty. Pope Francis: "Dialogue cannot be made in a laboratory. It
must be human, and if it’s human, it is with the mind, the heart and the hands."
Detailed sharing of an experience
(Part I) – 40%
100
The sharing was very detailed.
Precise and clear words were used to
describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his or her feelings.
The content of the sharing was
EXCEPTIONAL and EXPRESSIVE.
95
The sharing of experience was very
clear. Precise and clear words were
used to describe the action.
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. The content of
the sharing was EXPRESSIVE.
90
The sharing of experience was very
clear.
The student was very honest in
describing his feelings. Minimal minor
details were missing. However, the
experience was still clear.
85
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or one major
detail is missing in the sharing. Some
details of the action could have been
added to make the sharing more
expressive.
RUBRICS for the REFLECTION JOURNAL
Reflection on the presence of God in
the experience (Part II) – 40%
100
The reflection clearly showed how the
student made sense of God’s presence
in their action.
The sharing showed a strong connection
of the experience to the understanding of
the context of how to dialogue with the
poor
Insight about the sharing was evident.
The reflection was EXCEPTIONAL.
95
The reflection clearly showed how the
students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding of the
context of how to dialogue with the poor
90
The reflection clearly showed how the
students made sense of God’s presence
in the given action.
The sharing showed a connection of the
experience to the understanding of the
context of how to dialogue with the poor
Minor lapses or misunderstanding might
be present in the reflection, yet the
reflection is still CLEAR.
85
The reflection showed minor difficulties
or one-two major difficulties in making
sense of how God is present in the
action.
The student tries to draw a connection
but commits minor misunderstandings or
one-two major misunderstanding.
Despite these, the reflection is still
Helpful tips on what others can learn
from their sharing
(Part III) – 20 %
100
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
to learn how to dialogue with the poor.
They were encouraging and convincing.
The student shared what others can
learn from his experience and reflection.
The student gave two specific and
concrete actions that others can learn
from their sharing. The tips can also be
easily understood by the reader.
95
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with the poor.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described.
The student gave two things or actions
that others can learn from their sharing.
90
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with the poor.
They were specific and concrete. The
tips were well-described. A few details
were missing.
The student gave two things or actions
that others can learn from their sharing.
85
The tips gave a clear way for the reader
how to dialogue with the poor.
Tips were specific and concrete.
page 22
The sharing is ADEQUATELY ADEQUATELY CLEAR and
CLEAR AND ACCEPTABLE ACCEPTABLE

80
The sharing was easy to follow and
understand.
A lot of minor details or few major
details were missing in the sharing.
Some details of the action could have
been added to make the sharing
more expressive.
80
There was a clear attempt to connect the
reflection to the experience. However, a
lot of minor or major misunderstandings
were committed.
Despite these, the reflection is still
ACCEPTABLE.
80
The tips were too general. However,
there was an attempt to properly connect
the tips to the reflection.
The student gave only one thing or
action that others can learn from their
sharing.

75
The sharing of experience was too
general. The description of the
experience was limited and lacks
major details.
75
A general reflection was shared but
there was a little or no attempt to make
sense of the action in relation to the
context of how to dialogue with the poor
75
The tips/s to the reader was/were too
general. The student tried to encourage
how to dialogue with.the poor

65
No experience of doing an action
was shared. The lack of experience
is not given a good reason.
65
A general reflection was shared but
there was no attempt to make sense of
the action in relation to the context of
how to dialogue with the poor
65
The writer failed to share specific
things or actions that others can learn
from their sharing.

REFLECTION JOURNAL # 3
I was born and raised (and also still live in) upland area or what we call “bulod.” There, my
family experienced financial poverty but never a spiritual poverty. Most of the families living there
have below average income. My family may have started poor but we were never spiritually poor
since my parents are devoted catholic. We were taught to pray before eating and before sleeping.

As Christians we shouldn’t be bothered by being poor in money, but rather we should focus
on not getting mentally and spiritually poor. Besides, Jesus Christ told us in John 6:20-21 “Blessed
are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you
will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” It is really an encouraging
and uplifting for my spirit whenever I face uncertainties. If I have a chance, I would send these
verses to every human being struggling right now may it be financially or spiritually. What was
Jesus trying to say here is that those who hunger after His righteousness are more blessed than
those who think they can manage their own life. Those who are poor are going to be blessed than
those who are rich and worshipping their own money. People who are crying and begging for
God’s forgiveness will soon be happy with their life. Problems and trials that are given to us aren’t
too hard to solve, God doesn’t put us in a situation that we cannot handle.

We, as Christians, should also help others who are struggling by praying and fasting with
them. It may take a while for them to get up but I assure you that it will all be worth it to see others
improving their relationship with God because you helped them.

page 23