Decision for Truth
Decision for Truth
How to Survive and Thrive in the Modern World
including information about 7-item survival kit
Episode I: Truth on Trial: What is truth? We don't care! Why?
Homework:
- Purchase A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) (KIP) and the Physics for First Communion DVDs or be ready for everything and purchase the (7 item) IAP Survival Kit.
- Decide where you are on the levels of IAP involvement list.
- Explore IAP's website, iapweb.org (this website).
- Read How to Learn in Four Steps from Physics and Culture at iapweb.org/magazine
- Set aside the time where you think:
Ask yourself: What is a physical thing? Do you know? Almost no one does! But, it's what we start with. Think about how little that means we care about truth. Think about how little you know. Think about your need to know. In particular, think about the fact that we talk about souls and God and morality and man and all kinds of high level things but we don't know what the simplest things in the world are, the things we see with our eyes! Think about the humility this should engender and how we need to open our minds and truly listen. What is humility? Think about its meaning: openness to truth!
Aspirations:
- Help me to truly remember and act on the reality that physics is the base of everything I think and say and do.
- Lord, help me to be ashamed of my bad habits of thought so I may see the true work I must do to get to You, but keep me from the devil’s thought that I should despair of overcoming the obstacles I find.
Episode II: Family on Trial: Do we care if our family knows the truth?
Homework:
- Purchase The Science Before Science book and the corresponding audio book. Get Grab That Word and A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) (KIP) if you haven't yet.
- Download the Survival Packet (Guide) and starting brainstorming a plan for you and your family. Make plans to watch and read with your children.
- Read How to Have Productive and Enjoyable Conversations article --begin to practice these virtues with people who you know, especially people you will study IAP material with. Best practice is with those who demonstrably know more than you.
- Read Is Your Computer Real?
- Mark your calendar to read about substance and accident in A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) and generally go through the book.
Aspirations:
- St. Joseph, please intercede for me that I may see that the greatest gift I can give my family is the truth, even if it means going against my already existing mindset.
- Help me to hate error to better love God and my fellow man.
- Holy Spirit, put me on fire for truth and goodness.
Episode III: Our Lives on Trial: Fix your life by committing to truth
Homework:
- Commit to an appropriate level of activity as found in the levels of participation.
- See Jacques Maritain and G.K. Chesterton on the State of the World.
- Think about the parables in this episode and ask how they apply to yourself. Pray for guidance to St. Thomas and our Lady.
- Pick one aspiration and pray it throughout the day.
- Go to the IAP Mission Statement page (iapweb.org/mission.htm) and commit to memory the proof that physis is essential in addressing our cultural problems so that you won't lose your resolve to follow through on learning the basic physics.
- If you have not already purchased the Survival Kit, purchase Physics for First Communion DVDs, The Science Before Science Audiobook, A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) Audiobook and Grab That Word at iapweb.org/store/kids. Also, consider The Science Before Science DVDs.
- Mark days on calendar to read A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond). If possible, plan to do this at adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and ask Our Lord for enlightenment in understanding these fundamental truths.
- Mark days on calendar to read What is the One Ring that Rules them all? at iapweb.org/magazine. Also, if possible, take to adoration.
- Make a personal commitment to seek and follow truth. A formal consecration to truth is provided here for Christians and here for non-Christians and here for atheists.
Aspirations:
- Dear Lord, help me to commit the requisite time and effort to grow in truth.
- Unchangeable Changer, change me into the man You created me to be.
- Help me to kill my bad habits that ignore the "kid's book" level physics in my everyday thinking and acting.
- (repeat) Help me to hate error to better love God and my fellow man.
- Help me to understand X; clear away the confusion that surrounds X.(Insert for X whatever principle or issue you're having trouble with.)
Episode IV: The Culture on Trial: Confronting the culture
Homework:
- If you haven't already, commit to an appropriate level of activity as found in the levels of participation.
- If you haven't already, get The Science Before Science (and audiobook), A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) (and audiobook), and Physics for First Communion DVDs at iapweb.org/store/kids. Also, consider The Science Before Science DVDs.
- If you are able, get A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) and The Science Before Science included in your homeschool curriculum and in the educational resources at your church.
- Mark your calendar to read Physics and "Judge not that you may not be Judged" at the IAP Online Magazine.
- Get the 15th Anniversary Conference DVDs.
- Mark your calendar to read What is Science? at the IAP Online Magazine.
- Pick another aspiration and pray it throughout the day tomorrow
Aspirations:
- Help me choose entertainment that is good and true.
- St. Thomas, teach me how to follow and trust those who know and ignore those who do not or who teach error.
- Help me find relaxation in the good and true, especially the fundamental kid's level truths upon which all I know must grow.
- Help me to help my fellowman care about whether or not he has the truth, especially in fundamental areas.
- Lord, help me to remember that I am a physical creature that learns through contact with my fellowman and, thus, I truly need the IAP resources and people to advance and even keep the truths that I have learned through IAP.
Episode V: Truth is Worth Living! Grow your life in truth
Homework:
- If you haven't already:
- Buy The Science Before Science (also available on Amazon) and/or A Kid's Introduction to Physics (and Beyond) to start!
- Resolve to become a part of IAP's work in the ways discussed in the series and at the levels of participation. - Read How a Neglect of Physics Has Turned Christianity into a Myth for Modern Man (in New Oxford Review)
- Read The Death of Justice? on iapweb.org/magazine
- Read Is there in Truth, Beauty? on iapweb.org/magazine
- Look up the St. Thomas Study Prayer online and pray for growth in truth.
Aspirations:
- Thank you for the truths you have given me, especially through this IAP material. Let me not forget them or act against them, nor ever be ungrateful for them.
- Blessed Mary, be my Mother in helping fundamentally change my habits of sloppy thinking and resenting clear thinking.
- Christ, lead me to walk in your footsteps toward your Father, becoming more perfect each hour in truths of thought, word, and action, as you have asked.
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