Introduction to Islam

Please click here to see Friday's ppt!

Branches of Christianity

As promised, here is the Powerpoint from the Branches/Schism lesson. Click here to access!

Gay Straight Alliances

Click HERE to read about a hot topic in the news concerning Gay Straight Alliances. The Toronto Archbishop opposes the formation of these groups in Ontario's Catholic schools.

Christianity PPT - Please Review

We've been having some great discussions in class about various topics connected to Christianity. Please click HERE to access the PPT that has guided our talks.

Exam Date!

Thursday, June 21st, 8:30 am

Judaism Quiz ... Concepts to Know!

All definitions can be found from your textbook! The quiz will be fill in the blank ... with a handy word bank. Anti-Semitism Ark of the Covenant Mitzvah Chosen People Circumcision (explain its connection to Judaism) Diaspora Exodus Gerut Ghetto Holy Ark Kidduah Kippah Kosher Menorah Messiah Rabbi Sabbath Shiva Star of David Synagogue Tallis Torah And be familiar with the handouts from the Judaism festivals/celebrations

Annotated Bibliography

As part of the Survivor Project, you've been asked to put together an annotated bibliography. I know this is new for some of you, so I've included an example here. Remember to identify the source, and evaluate it by including a few details about WHY you chose to do your research from this source. Example: (1) The Museum of Tolerance, A Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum. Retrieved from: http://www.museumoftolerance.com I chose to use this website because the Museum of Tolerance was founded by the Holocaust survivor I have chosen to study. Simon Wiesenthal created this museum to house Holocaust artifacts, and to be a place where people can come to hear survivor stories. There is a very detailed link to a resource providing a vivid description of Mr. Wiesenthal's life before, during and after the Holocaust.

The Pianist and Holocaust: The Survivor Project

I think that many of us noticed after last week’s Judaism presentations that much of Jewish religious celebration centres around recognizing the past history of suffering and persecution that Jews have endured over the millennia - something unique in Judaism when compared to most other religions.   In fact it is sometimes the basis for modern thinking about Judaism because it still exists in modern times, for example the Holocaust. This leads us to our next task - The Pianist and Holocaust: The Survivor Project Access the project at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x4XyYO7swSHgEl8MVvBuaYCFYpJFeWsp1AE3a-7xh-w/edit As a part of our Judaism unit we have looked not only at the festivals, holidays and celebrations of the Jewish people, but of events that hurt, destroyed and decimated their culture … the most significant of these events in recent history is the Holocaust of World War Two. After having watched the film The Pianist, you will try to put their life during World War II into pictures and words. Step 1: Spend a day in the library using both books and the internet to complete the following research pages. Answer the questions to the best of your ability in POINT FORM notes. All notes MUST BE in your own words, unless you are quoting a survivor directly. Step 2: Search the Internet finding appropriate pictures that you can use to create your scrapbook page. Remember that you are using a real person as inspiration (one of the survivors from the last question of the research). Print out various pictures (in black and white is fine). Spend the time ensuring that the pictures you find represent their entire lives (what they did prior to the war, a home they may have lived in, the camp they may have been placed in, what happened after the war, etc). Match your pictures with several quotes that you found from survivors that you would use on the scrapbook page. Step 3: Using an online scrap-booking site (free) or using Publisher, create two pages as a collage of pictures or as a story of a life. There must be quotes and the name of the speaker on the page. Take notes on the following in electronic format: Where did Jewish people live, survive, take refuge and hide during World War Two. (List camps, countries, towns, and organizations) What were their roles in these places? What are some significant quotes said by survivors about their time in camps, in hiding or on the run? (Quote directly and be sure to include the name of the speaker). What did newspapers of the day say about the plight of the Jews? (Research the archives of major newspapers and use Google to see images of front pages. Check not only Toronto papers, but also newspapers from Washington, London, Vancouver, Amsterdam etc). Find a family tree where some members of the family died, while at least one survived (like the Szpilmann family in The Pianist). Recreate the family tree here, indicating their dates of birth and their date of death if they died in the Holocaust. One of the surviving members of this family will be the basis for the next part of this project.

Shavuot Video

Thank you so much to our first two presentation groups today. Well done.
You can access the Shavuot video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju0xoSxiqkg

Introduction to Judaism

Read pages 213-218. Please answer the following questions:

1. In detail, describe the vision Abraham received from ‘God’. When did he receive the vision (time period)?
2. How did this vision challenge Abraham’s (and his society’s) religious beliefs of the time period?
3. Explain the significance of the Chosen People and the Promised Land?
4. Where is the Promised Land located today?
5. Explain why the Covenant is important in Judaism.

Ghana's Unique Coffins

Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZDuVKn8dXc

Buddhist Practices, Rituals, and Symbols

Read pages 178-189 and answer the following questions:

1. In your Buddhist religious dictionary, provide a definition for Sangha. Why is the act of bowing important in Buddhism? Who bows to who, and why?

2. Why do Buddhists meditate? What is the goal of meditation?

“Buddhists believe that meditation brings insights into _______________ and _______________, which in turn lead to ______________________ and _____________________.

3. The chanting of mantras is thought to enhance meditation. What is the 6-syllable mantra common chanted? What does it mean?

4. Why is the lotus flower an important symbol in Buddhism? What does it represent?

Extend your understanding here: Why do some Buddhists sit in the lotus position during meditation. What could this mean?

5. What are mudras? Why are they used during meditation?


AGE-BASED MILESTONES IN BUDDHISM!!!

1. In general, do Buddhists practice specific rites of passage? Why or why not?

2. Describe the Buddhist practices which acknowledge certain stages of life:

Becoming a Buddhist Monk
Marriage
Death (Describe a Buddhist Funeral)

An Interview with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama Assignment

How do you reconcile a commitment to non-violence when faced with violence? Why do the poor often seem happier than the rich? Must a society lose its traditions in order to move into the future? These are some of the questions that have been posed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during interviews with various journalists and filmmakers from around the world.

Now it’s your turn…

If you had the opportunity to sit with the Dalai Lama and ask him 3 questions, what would they be? Based on what we’ve learned about his upbringing (from the film Kundun), his relationship with Tibet and China, and/or your growing knowledge of Buddhist beliefs and practices (the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the lives led by monks), how would he answer your 3 questions?

Your task:

o Individually develop three thoughtful and articulate questions for the Dalai Lama.
o Answer the questions as you might predict he would answer him … being careful to show what you’ve learned so far in the Buddhism unit.
o Feel free to add in the odd “he … he … he …” as appropriate!
o I have not set a standard length for each response. I would like you to use your own judgment and carefully consider whether you have provided a sufficient response. Read the evaluation rubric… use it as your guide for developing a reflective, thoughtful interview.
o The rubric will be given to you separately … please review to ensure full marks!

Intro to Buddhism

I haven't been posting too much here for Buddhism because everyone has been coming to class and participating well in the discussions!
However, here is the link to the Buddhism powerpoint (copy and paste into your browser!):
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AeJfw-p5bATtZGtidnAzel81OTdndnd3dGZkaw&hl=en_US

March 2

Please note the change we made to the Hindu God Project:

Your Hindu God card must include:
- Name of God/dess
- Role and/or responsibilities in Hinduism
- Visual representation of the God/dess
- Personal statement (1/2 page, typed, double-spaced) as to your (group's) interpretation of her/his importance in Hinduism

To help you choose a Hindu god/deity for the Hindu God Card Project, watch the following 'Pocket Guide to the Hindu Gods':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2q66Eqn7I

Here is an example of a student project from 2 years ago. Instead of creating a card, she made a YouTube clip about her deity, Dhumavati:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmnLu30hMSc

List of God/desses:
Brahma - Jacob/Isaac, Vishnu - Julia, Shiva - Katie/Austin, Parvati - Natasha, Saraswati - Melissa/Erin, Lakshmi - Ashling, Krishna - Keethi, Durga - Laura/Brianna, Kali - Kaylynn, Ganesha - Jon/Jordan, Hanuman - Savannah/Melissa, Tara - Dakota, Murugan - Larissa, Bagalamukahi (Goddess that ceases the tongue) - Brandy, Nataraja (God of Dance) - Amelia, Yama (God of Death) - Addie

Feb 27

Today you were given:

1) Article Reading: "Holy Cow!" Please see me if you need a copy.

2) Handout: Ways Hindus Express Their Faith: Practices, Rituals, and Symbols
From pages 129-135 in your text.

(i) What does 'om' represent to Hindus? (see pages 129-133)

(ii) The swastika is another important symbol in Hinduism. What does it mean and when is it used? (page 133)

(iii) Describe how a Hindu might worship in their home? In you vivid description, include the terms: shrine, deities, puja, offerings, arati, Prasad. (page 130).

(iv) From the textbook and the 'Holy Cow!' article handed out earlier, explain the significance of the cow in Hinduism. (page 131)

(v) Yoga is very much a part of our society these days. How does our practice of Yoga in North America differ from Yoga as understood by Hindus? (page 131)

(vi) What is a pilgrimage? Why do many Hindus strive to visit, at least once in their lifetime, the city of Varanasi? (page 131)

(vii) Why do you think there are so many Hindu festivals? Provide a brief description of one festival that sparks your interest. (pages 134-135)

Feb 27

From our lecture on Hindu terms:

ATMAN
The human soul or spirit that is connected to Brahman, the universal soul.
A Hindu’s goal in life is
to reunite the atman with
the Brahman.
The atman is eternal and
immortal; when you die,
the atman lives on,
shedding the lifeless
body to enter a new one.

He (atman) is not born, nor does he die at any time. He is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval; he not slain when the body is slain.
Just as a man, having cast off old garments, puts on other, new ones, even so does the embodied one, having cast off old bodies, take on other, new ones.
He is uncleavable, he is unburnable, he is undrenchable, as also undryable. He is eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable, existing from time immemorial.

REINCARNATION
Hindus believe that the soul does not die along with the body but enters another body to carry on its existence.
This endless cycle of rebirth, or reincarnation, is called samsara.
In Hindu thought, the physical world is temporary, ever-changing and artificial.

The imperfect world we live in is referred to as maya, and life within it is considered meaningless.

Hindus believe that all life is caught in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara).

MOKSHA
The goal of Hindus is to achieve what is called moksha, or liberation, from the endless cycle of rebirths into this world, and to unite the atman with the Brahman.
Moksha is seen as a final release from one's worldly conception of self, the loosening of the shackle of experiential duality and a realization of one's own fundamental nature which is true being, pure consciousness and bliss.

KARMA
Karma is the totality of one’s actions in life, and it determines the form that an individual will take when he or she is reborn.
The accumulation of bad karma will result in rebirth at a lower station in life or as a lower form of life, such as an animal.
The accumulation of good karma will result in rebirth at a higher station in life, which is closer to attaining salvation.
In order to achieve salvation, Hindus must work their way up the ladder of existence; they do so by trying to secure rebirth at a higher level.

HINDUISM - FOUR STAGES OF LIFE

These stages, along with the caste system, define the actions for which people are responsible in Hindu (and for the most part Indian) society.

Women normally do not enter the last two stages, and very few men enter the stage of ascetic.

Everyone was given a (yellow) sheet to summarized these stages, and develop YOUR OWN four stages of life. To be handed in on Thursday.

Feb 23 - Intro to Hinduism

Please follow the link below to see the Powerpoint presentation from today's class:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nlpmn5tN-0wucl2ttkG8Zs_Nk-rcdTzK-r8Gi_Biz58/edit

Gandhi Google Docs

Jon R., Jordan, Addie, Jillian, Kalynn, Austin, Keethi, Natasha, Dakota, Emily, Jacob, Laura, Ashling, Melissa, Erin, Isaac, Savannah, Brianna, Katie, Stephanie

If you don’t already have one, create a Gmail account with your username as your own name (or as close to it as possible). For example, mine is joannepattison@gmail.com

Upload your Gandhi presentation to GoogleDocs (if you used PowerPoint). When it's done please make sure the Share setting is set to Anyone with the link can view.

And then please send the link to me via email to joannepattison@gmail.com

Please don't put your last name or any other personal details on your work.

How to reference using APA style:

To prepare your references for the Bibliography, please use the following format for your websites:

Pattison, J. (2012). 100 Reasons to Love World Religions Class. Retrieved from http://www.worldreligions101.com/

Days 8 - (Feb 14 -) Gandhi Days

During the next week or so we will be studying the life's work of Gandhi.

Considered one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi used his strong Hindu roots to propel him in his quest for India home rule. Peaceful, proactive and highly educated, he wanted the spiritual nature of Hinduism to be used for good. He was guided by the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita, and demonstrated tolerance and admiration for many other religions.

We will watch the award-winning film portraying his life, and then you will have two days of class time to complete the following assignment:

Gandhi: His Life and Works in Pictures
A PowerPoint/GoogleDocs Project

You will:

1.Research his life; creating a timeline that includes his biographical information (birth, marriage, death, significant events in his life, etc).
2.Choose 5 significant events in which he was involved. Find a minimum of 1 photograph for each event.
3.Using PowerPoint or Google Docs, incorporate the photo(s) with a well-constructed paragraph that discusses not only the facts of the event, but also WHY it was significant to Gandhi, his cause and his legacy.
4.Your project should have a minimum of 7 slides; introduction, timeline, 5 events each with their own paragraph, conclusion with a PERSONAL OPINION about the man and his legacy.
5.Type out a bibliography. I will post instructions on how to structure APA referencing on the course blog.

Quotes from “Gandhi”

“Humility and simple truth are more powerful than empires.”

“Love thy neighbour as thyself – all the religions come down to the same thing.”

“If you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth.”

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

“Where we see injustice, do we fight to change things, or fight to punish?”

“At temple as a little boy, it mattered not which holy book was being read as long as God was being worshipped.”

“I am a Muslim, a Hindu, a Jew, a Christian. When you wave those flags you send fear into the hearts of your brothers – that is not what I want. Stop it.”

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

“I know a way out of Hell. Find an orphan boy, a Muslim, and raise him as your own. Only be sure to raise him as a Muslim.” (Said to a Hindu man who had killed a Muslim child in the riots).

“The only devils are the ones running around in our own hearts.”

“The way of truth and love has always won – there are tyrants who may seem invincible but in the end they always fall. Always.”

Day Six (Feb 13)

5 Main Reasons Why People Practise Religion (from homework sheet):

Most people feel that there is a realm beyond their own physical reality. Something beyond our five senses. Because we can't verify what that other reality is we have a need to "verify" that other reality through faith.

FEAR - some are concerned that after they die they might end up somewhere not so nice, so through their belief they believe they'll end up in heaven. Look up "Pascal's Wager."
One of our natural human tendencies (part of our Human Nature) is to maintain deep seated fears that our ancestors held. We have insecurities about being alone, death, doing the wrong thing, sickness, disease, sadness and hopelessness. We fear the power of nature and our small position in it.

WONDER - nature remains quite mysterious for most people. Many things in nature that are not explainable through our current understanding are called "miracles." This is used as evidence of the "super" natural. Is it all random or is it carefully designed by a higher being? For some people what remains poorly explained by science is explained through spirituality.

QUESTIONING - many people will not accept that their existence is limited to their time on earth. Few of us want to go through life alone and we certainly do not want to face death alone. Most of us do not accept that chance rules out lives - rather we want to control our destiny through free will and perhaps with the intervention of a God or higher power.

IDENTITY - is it enough to be identified with a label that's relevant only here on earth? Labels like,
student
sibling
friend
athlete
worker
rocker
skater
jock
etc.
For most people something more long-lasting and meaningful is necessary and they find that in spirituality.

INTUITION - many of us feel unfulfilled by our material wealth. Even though we have dominated the earth we still do not feel fulfilled (U2's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" for example). Many religions were founded by inspired leaders who had ideas about a different and improved reality.

Day Five (Feb 10)

What is Religion?

Religion is defined as a system of beliefs to explain the universe and natural phenomena
Often involves one or more deities or other supernatural forces and also requires adherents to follow prescribed religious obligations

The Religious Impulse

Some believe that a common characteristic of humankind is to have faith, and to have an intuitive sense of the supernatural – a force, power, or reality beyond the material world.
The one common thread throughout countless human religions has been the impulse (or instinct) to worship something.

Belief in the supernatural (“beyond natural”) and spiritual world beyond the material world.
Belief in the existence of a soul.
Collection of sacred writings (“scriptures”).
Strong sense of family and community based on rituals and festivals that celebrate shared beliefs and practices.
Set of answers to the most pressing human questions (e.g. meaning of life, meaning of suffering, what happens after you die, etc.)

The Universality of the Golden Rule of World Religions

Faith groups differ greatly in their concepts of deity (higher powers), beliefs and practices.
But there is near unanimity (total agreement) of opinion among the world's religions on how one person should treat another.
Almost all religions have passages in their holy texts, or writings of their leaders, which promote the Ethic of Reciprocity or the Golden Rule.

But, but, but … Why practice religion?

Most people feel that there is a realm beyond their own physical reality.  Something beyond our five senses.  Because we can't verify what that other reality is we have a need to "verify" that other reality through faith.

HANDOUT - The Religious Impulse Questions

1. Why is religion practised? From pages 6-8, summarize (in your own words) the 5 main reasons outlined below:

(i) Fear
(ii) Wonder
(iii) Questioning
(iv) Identity
(v) Intuition

2. In your view, which of the two reasons (above) best explain why people throughout time have turned to religion? Why?

3. What is the essential difference between religion and ethics? Pages 10-11.

4. Read the 'Living My Religion' section on page 12. Do you think that Sandy is a 'religious' person? Explain.

5. Do Religion and Ethnicity have the same meanings? Explain. Page 16.

6. How is religious freedom protected in Canada today? Page 20.

7. How would you explain the fact that married couples, senior citizens, and recent immigrants are the most likely to attend religious services? Comment briefly on each group of people.

Days Three/Four

We had a very interesting debate about whether evolution and (Christian) creation should BOTH be taught in Ontario public schools in science classes. We had some great thoughts from may sides of the debate!

We looked at the top 3 religions in the world (according to the number of adherents/followers): Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

Xenophobia: a fear of foreigners or strangers who are different. Hmmmm... do we experience xenophobia in our school/community? Why is this the case?

Your first assignment: Creating a Personal Credo. This is due on Monday. Please don't rush... take your time. See me if you need an extra copy of the assignment.

Day Two - Feb 7 (Worldviews)

What is a (your) worldview?
- How you look at the world.
- How you think it operates.
- Why things happen the way they do?
- What is right, and what is wrong?
- What is your purpose?
- What brings meaning to your life?

Does your worldview include karma?
If you believe in karma, as millions of people do, how do you translate it into action in your own life?
If you know of someone who is suffering and you have the power to help them, do you not help them because you think suffering is their karma?
Or do you help them, because it is your karma?

We watched a TED talk on Rick Warren's worldview:
http://www.ted.com/talks/rick_warren_on_a_life_of_purpose.html

Summarize: what is Rick Warren's worldview?
Do you agree with his worldview? Explain.

Over the past few days we've been talking about some really big life questions, including:

Who am I?
What is right and wrong?
Is there something bigger/greater than this?
Why are we here?
Where did all of this come from?
What happens ‘after’?

Some of my own personal questions include:

What obligations do I have to other people?
What kind of life should I lead?
Am I living to my true potential? Should this matter?
What’s it all for?
What is ‘happiness’?
Will I ever feel fulfilled?

Next I challenged you to develop your own BIG questions:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

Day One - Feb 6 (Believers, Non-Believers, Questioners)

Welcome to the grade 11 World Religions class! This is one of my favourite courses to teach. I find that grade 11's have a grasp of some of the big questions in life ... and we will be talking about many of these today.

Are you a believer, non-believer, or a questioner?

Here is the link to the Baraka video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL4iL2JfzDk

Click on the link below to find a copy of the course outline:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zsrEq1QIKy0eFr4n0ovO0UiBahh-S952gx62PVptDE8/edit