Christ Alive in Us: An Introduction to Moral Theology

This book follows the USCCB’s framework for “Life in Jesus Christ.” It is written by John Meinert and Emily Stimpson Chapman. Instead of explaining morality as a set of “thou shalt nots,” this book uses the Catechism and the Church Fathers to reframe morality in light of human freedom and the grace of God. 

The Challenges section in this book in particular will answer many common questions with which someone of high school age may struggle, including whether it is wrong to judge others and whether free will is truly free.

About the series:

The Formed in Christ series is a solid and faithful resource that provides a thorough treatment of the Catholic faith and the various branches of theology. Teachers may use this series to draw lessons for all core curriculum subjects in the USCCB’s doctrinal framework for high school level theology.

Each book in the Formed in Christ series is written at a high school age-appropriate level and includes further reading from magisterial or other orthodox sources (ranging from the Church Fathers to books published within the last ten years), along with discussion and reflection questions. Also included in each book is a “challenges” section, which follows from the USCCB’s suggestions for apologetic topics for each course.

The simple structure of the Formed in Christ series is meaningfully designed to allow teachers to build their own course or to use these books as a supplement. It means they can also be used by homeschoolers or religious educators, by the beginner armchair theologian, or by the college or high school student for independent or group study. The versatility inherent in these books means that they are not only for a high school classroom, but for anyone willing to put in the work to learn more about the truths of the faith.