Understanding Religion 101

This page is going to be reserved for my make-shift  lesson plans if I were to teach a specific topic.  They will include a name of the class, a schedule (either 8, 10 or 12 or full school year week plan since I want college or private school and these are the typical schedules.) All you "teachers" out there are welcome to provide input, suggestions, ideas and who knows...maybe one day i'll actually get to teach these things. 


First up!??? -- Coming soon :)


For a long time I have wanted to teach a class on "basic" religion.  I feel disappointed that the first interaction kids have with religion is typically in college and by then they have already begun to form their opinions without even attempting to under what religion is, how it works in society (both anthropologically, sociologically and personally.) A part of me wants to think that with an understanding knowledge of religions and how they operate, it may be possible to teach people to respect and interact with different religions even if they are different from their own.  [hint hint, he's my objective]  Of course this class would probably never make it to the public sector (i will keep fantasizing)... but I can see it being a part of a private curriculum or part of a home-school program.  I want to emphasis some else up front : This class would NOT be an understanding of a particular faith.  It would incorporate religious material only if was important for understanding the canonicity or basic structure of the faith.  It would NOT, i repeat NOT be a direct means of missionary work or evangelism.

So, here is goes:

Week 1: Introduction to religion
   What is religion? What is its place in society? Discuss religions of people in class, what they know about other religions.  Review what religions will be discussed in class.
  Read introduction to at least 2 different texts (one on an anthropological/sociological level and another on a "world religions" textbook type level.)

Week 2: Pre-History Religion
  review of early civilization religions, such as mesopatamia, africa, egypt, dip into greek & roman (trying to stay chronological but its hard when its easier to relate religions than go in order of appearance.) DEFINITELY read Gilgamesh, the Creation Story from Mesopatamia, an African and Egyptian story.  Possible book review on a Greek/Roman god (there are thousands of these to choose from.)

Week 3: Major world religions-week1
  Judaism
Looking at basic beliefs, difference within the faith (orthodox, conservation, reformed & messianic)
Discussion groups or group presentations on one of these groups.
Readings--biblical readings discussing the nature of the nation of Israel, possible rabbinical readings

Week 4: major world religions- week 2
  Hinduism
all "major world religions" will have a similar set up. Looking at basic beliefs, divisions within the faith,  locale of the religion and have discussion groups or presentations on subjects discussed.  Right now off the top of my head I admittedly do not know much about this group but I know where to find my resources if I had to teach.
readings: (dang it cannot remember names) but the major readings used in everyday prayer time.  Also, individual project is to locate a modern book review of a Hindui believer (there is some of this in Eat, Pray, Love but I would be looking for something more directly related to religious academia.

Week 5: major world religions - week 3
  Christianity--similar set up as previous.  readings may include biblical but most likely early christian writers such as the Nicene Creed, Tertullian, early church fathers.  Also, possibly a modern reader.  no project for this depending on the studen population because if taught in America, many people already have exposure to this religion.  However, would be willing to change if, per se, I was teaching in a setting where children were more exposed to Jewish teachings, then I would remove the project there.

Week 6: major world religions-week 4
  Islam
review of beliefs, locale & history & sects.  Readings include parts of Quran & any other "belief" documentation as well as a modern writer discussing Isalmic beliefs.

Week 7: major world religions - week 5
Buddhism and other Asian religions
  review of belief, locale, history & sects. Readings include Tao de Ching, a basic history of the Budha & some sort of arts project mostly because this religion can have multiple interpretations artistically speaking.

Week 8: Religion in modern times
  review of modern religions such as Mormonism, Scientology, "New Age." Review of similarities, discussion of what constitutes a religious structure.  Readings: Book of Mormon, Scientology belief book.

Week 9: Religion in Society
  Discussion of what religion looks like in society, discussion about how wars are started over beliefs, look at the middle east conflict, the asian conflict.  Read such things as "weathered by miracles" or review people like Ghandi.  Possible room for biography, 1-2 pages on figure that has made an impact but has religious ties (possible Mitt Romney, Ghandi, Mother Teresa and even Bin Laden as all religious impact is not positive.)

Week 10: Group Presentations:
  I honestly think there should be some way to incorporate what was discussed & have groups put together some review of religion.  Or look at a unique religion that no one in the group practices & present it to the class.  Or maybe even create a religion, based on the definition discussed on the first week of class (spaghetti monster-type reference here appropriate) and have them present it to the class.

Any final? the final project would be to take the created religion and discuss it intellectually.  Possibly write a paper on the religion with the group presentation as a supplement.  Or have the last week be review & discussion so that a final can incorporate multiple choice, short answer and essay questions
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Geez... i would want to take this class but that's a lot of work.  I guess it always is better to have all your ideas together in one basket so you can pick the best ones for the time.  And variety for a class I think is important because it helps reduce cheating as well as promote curiosity.  Just sayin'

Word of the Week

So in hopes to expand my blog, I decided I wanted to start a "word of week" portion of my blog.  I love languages, especially the Biblical ones and I enjoy even more some of the history and meanings of words in other languages. So I decided to provide a weekly word section where I will look at the meaning of a word in another language and expand on its, well, "importance." :)

Word of the Week

ty™IvaérV;b       br'shit

What word would be more fitting as a beginning than the word for "beginning?" B'resheet is the first word of the first book of the Bible and in the Jewish community the title of the book we English-speakers know as Genesis.  And rightly so, because the word comes from a similar root word in Hebrew that means "head" or "chief."  (See Brown Driver Briggs Lexicon p 911-12.)  B'resheet in its Genesis 1:1 context has a distinct meaning, as it carries a prefix (B') that indicates "in, with or by." something.  The actual noun is resheet which refers to "beginning" or "chief." 

If one would continue in the Lexicon you can see the other times this words appears in the Bible it is always associated with the beginning of something new & amazing.  For example, the beginning of a new kingdom (Gen 10:10) as well as the beginning of creation.  It also is associated with the first fruits in Exodus 23:19 and even the first chief in Amos 6:1.  

The similar root is the word meaning chief or head, which includes a meaning of "beginning" of time located in my favorite chapter Isaiah 40:21. 

I think if we were to remember this word when we coming across it in the Bible, it is important to remember its significance in that it is not just a beginning of a new chapter ... it truly means a new context.  either a new world, a new kingdom, a new person.  And so let the new chapter of this blog, well BEGIN!

Creation Interact

Though I consider myself a very sociable person with the human side... I talk to my dogs a lot.  In fact, I have theological conversations if they are hanging around when I'm studying or I need an "audience" to practice a sermon.  Yes, I have asked both my dogs if they know Jesus. It gives me a nice laugh (especially their facial expression of "do you really have to ask me that...")

So this got me thinking.  We as believers need to interact with God's creation more.  Now I don't necessarily mean talking to your dogs or fish or plants (even though there are tons of articles and philosophies about talking to plant life.) But I do mean going outside more, taking a moment to be thankful of the Creator that not only has created everything around but also given us as humans the responsibility to take care of it.  Sometimes I think as humans we take advantage of this.  We abuse our creation every day and sometimes don't even take a second to acknowledge the blessings God has given use through His creation.

And that's why I have dogs...that's what my dogs remind me of.  They remind me of God.  They remind me to be thankful (they are rescues) and to be happy even for the smallest things of coming through the front door and being home among family.  To be happy about even the simplest food....and to enjoy EVERY toy!