Comparative+Religion

This unit we are going to learn about different religions practiced around the world.
 * Comparative Religions**


 * Some Essential Questions about Religion:**
 * 1) To what extent are all religions fundamentally similar? (Formative argumentative essay question)
 * 2) To what extent are conflicts a result of religious interpretation? (The interpretation/practice of religions has evolved over time.)
 * 3) To what extent do belief systems shape identity?
 * 4) How is culture (art, literature, music, architecture and political systems) influenced by religion?
 * 5) Discuss your responsibility to understand the significance of religious art, literature, music, architecture and political systems for multiple faiths?

= Day 1: Return Essays and Interview = What could you have done better? What did you do well?

**Activity 1**: List and describe 3 events (other than a birthday) that you have celebrated or observed during the past year. Include events that:
 * Are of personal importance to you, like a birthday;
 * Involve your family or friends, like a wedding or religious event; or
 * Are celebrated in the community, like a national holiday.
 * For each of the 3 celebrations that you list, think about and share:
 * Who was involved – family, friends and/or others in the community?
 * How you celebrated. Did you go somewhere special? Do something special? Eat something special?

The reason for the celebration. Why was this day or event important? Do you or your friends celebrate it every year? If so, has the way the tradition is observed changed over time? If so, how? How would you change traditions if you could? Be prepared to share highlights of your traditions with the class.

**Activity 2:** Interview Questions Find 1 partner in the class who practices a religion different from the one you have practiced or know a lot about. Some ideas for questions you could ask:
 * 1) What is the concept of the afterlife according to your religion? Is the afterlife important? Why? If you don't practice a religion, what do you think happens to you after you die?
 * 2) How does religion affect your daily life? If it doesn't affect your daily life, does it affect anyone in your family in their daily life?
 * 3) What is the concept of "God" according to your religion? If you don't believe in God, do you believe in a guiding force or higher power in life? Where does the concept of right and wrong come from if not from religion?
 * 4) Is there anything that has happened in your life that has changed your view on religion?
 * 5) ** ALSO review the basic ideas of Islam on pp: ****410-418 on the basics. **

NOTE: If you were raised with a religion but do not practice it today, talk about what you know or what your family members have done or told you about this religion.

You will share what you learned in your discussion. Be sure to take notes as you talk with your partner so you can fully answer each of the above questions.

Write a narrative paragraph (one page) with evidence from the interview you conducted explaining the religious views of your classmate.
 * Homework: **

= Day 2 Continuing Religion (Tenets Chart) = Monism vs monotheism/ East vs West Abrahamic vs others

**Do Now:** Each student will share what they learned from their partner. OR research and discuss: To what extent are people today less religious? Why? [|Here's a interview of 6 young people about why they have questioned or changed their beliefs about religion]

[|Some ideas here from Big Questions site]

Goals for class: Find the following information about Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism

Questions to ponder: What does it mean to be religious? Why do religions exist? Why were they created?........
 * Activity 1:** Intro to Eastern Religion: Hinduism and Buddhism lesson

**Activity 2:** As a class you will make a copy of [|__this document__] and post information about all of the above religions using the bbc website below:


 * [|Class document for period 3]**
 * [|Class document for period 7]**

[|__Use this bbc website to help you__] start with the “at a glance” section

** You must include the following concepts: **

Deity (concept of "god")

Holy Book

Afterlife

Code of Conduct (how should you behave?)

Other Important concepts


 * Activity 3:**


 * Overview: FIRST go to the [|TED Ed Page on Religion] (after you make an account for TED Ed) and try the quiz. THEN Watch the video below, take brief notes. Then, take the quiz again. If you are able to answer all of the questions well (including the short answer questions) you should have a good understanding of the 5 major world religions and be prepared for your quiz!**

media type="youtube" key="m6dCxo7t_aE" width="560" height="315"

Soul Pancake clips to help you:

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**Homework** (you can spread this out over the next few days or do it all at once. Note check will be after day 5)
 * 1) Read pp 174-180 and explain the similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.
 * 2) Read pp 180-183 Compare Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.
 * 3) Then read pp 187-194 and compare the lives and teachings of Jesus and Buddha.
 * 4) Read pp 195-196 and explain how the interpretation/practice of religions has evolved over time.

= Day 3-6 (Introduce project and go over tenets in small groups) = 1. What are two things that all 5 of the religions you learned about last time have in common (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism)? 2. How would someone who practices one of the five religions learned about last class incorporate his/her faith in their daily life? Give 3 examples of activities in daily life that are a part of the religion you choose to discuss.
 * Do Now:** Answer both of the questions below on a piece of paper to turn in as a quiz grade:


 * Activity 1: Intro to Abrahamic Religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam)**

**Activity 2:** You will be put into groups of 2 or 3 and will be assigned to research a religion that you do not practice.

**Situation:** Your religion has been blamed for a terrorist attack. There are demonstrations all over the country against people who practice your religion.

**Your task:** Stand before a government committee on preventing terrorism and prove that your religion is not responsible for a horrific terrorist attack that was said to be done in its name. You must make a speech to defend your religion.

**Requirements:** You must incorporate **some** answers to the following questions in your presentation. You may use any visuals you like to help your presentation.

1. What are the basic beliefs of this religion? 2. When/where was this religion founded and by whom? 3. What are the sacred text(s) for this religion? What role does it play in the practice of the religion? What does the text teach? 4. Explain the concept of the afterlife according to this religion. 5. What are the rules/impact of rules on the daily lives of people of this religion? (this might be similar to the sacred text answer) 6. What is the religion's concept of God?

Guide for presentations: Address the following: 1. Discuss a real attack done by people who claim to practice your religion. 2. Explain how the perpetrators (attackers) might try to justify their attack (ie quotes from holy books, leaders etc.... note: this might not be possible. Be aware of situational forces (question 4)) 3. Explain why violence is NOT justified by your religions. Ex: religious texts, interviews from other people who practice the religion etc 4. Discuss how religion is based on individual interpretation/situation/social forces. There's no such thing as a perfect Christian/Muslim/Buddhist/Hindu/Jew. How does this relate to explaining attacks by people who are "religious"?

[|Here's an article from the New York Times about religions being linked to violence and the argument between Ben Affleck and Bill Maher]

[|And here's one that says why religion is not to blame for violence]

= Day 7: Speeches!!! Please post your presentations to the google community for your class. = (go to Google plus, search communities for your world history class: Currey World History Period ___, then request to join)

Great Example of Defense of Islam: media type="youtube" key="WSOLLpp5Yes" width="560" height="315" = =
 * [|Rubric here]**


 * Homework: answer the following question on the community based on what you learned from any of the presentations OTHER than your own:**
 * 1) ** To what extent are religious conflicts a result of religious interpretation? (The interpretation/practice of religions has evolved over time.) **


 * Also, read and answer the questions below. *Note the additional question that was added about Islam in number 5! **
 * 1) Read pp 174-180 and explain the similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.
 * 2) Read pp 180-183 Compare Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.
 * 3) Then read pp 187-194 and compare the lives and teachings of Jesus and Buddha.
 * 4) Read pp 195-196 and explain how the interpretation/practice of religions has evolved over time.
 * 5) ** ALSO review the basic ideas of Islam on pp: 410-418 on the basics. **

= Day 8: Cooperation and Peace = =Do Now: **If you have not already done so, please post your response to this prompt onto the google community:**=
 * 1) ** To what extent are religious conflicts a result of religious interpretation? (The interpretation/practice of religions has evolved over time.) **

Christianity under attack in the US? Daily Show Clip media type="custom" key="27108436"
 * Activity 1:**

**Activity 2:** Today you must find solid examples of specific groups/organizations/events that have been initiated by a religion to help others. (You must use the religion that you presented on)
 * Cooperation based on religion **

Example 1: One of the pillars of Islam is to give to charity but what exactly does that look like beyond JUST donating money? Volunteering? Establishing Charity? etc…….. You shouldn’t just say “we give to charity”

Example 2: There are organizations in Israel (Jews) and Palestine (Muslim) that promote cooperation between Jews and Muslims. You are encouraged to look for actions that benefit people outside of the faith that you are talking about.


 * By the time you leave class, you must have at least 1 full page of notes about what actions people do in your religion to help others. ( Formative ) **


 * HW: Now that you have looked at how regular people are influenced by their faith, research how religious leaders of any religion (not necessarily the one you presented on) have helped to spread the message of cooperation and peace in the world. **

For example, the Dalai Lama and the Pope are both speakers who promote inter-faith peace. To what extent do the leaders of your religion encourage interfaith cooperation?

= Day 9: Review Religions and take quiz = = Reading notes check =

Prep for Socratic Seminar: Start with reading this article together: [|How many terrorist attacks are actually committed by Muslims?]Why is this surprising?

**Socratic Seminar**: religious interpretation can be the source of both conflict and cooperation ( Formative ) __ [|Rubric] __

= Day 10: Socratic Seminar =


 * 1. First: Review Quiz!**

Look at the[| rubric] Think about what makes a good Socratic Seminar and show what you know!
 * 2. Prepare for Socratic Seminar**

Prompt:
 * 3. Socratic Seminar: 30 min or more......**
 * Religious interpretation can be the source of both conflict and cooperation **

Reflection: In your notes, please reflect on your Socratic Seminar experience. Use the questions below to guide your reflection… 1. What were your strengths during the SS? 2. What were some areas where you need to improve? 3. What goal would you set for your next SS? 4. How do you see this skill being used in other settings? 5. What did you most enjoy (or not enjoy) about the SS?

Keep these responses somewhere you can refer back to before our next Socratic Seminar.

= Day 11: Intro to Argumentative Essay = [|The Daily Show just had a guest who wrote about why extremist religious governments are able to take over in certain places.]

Intro argument essay, T o what extent are all religions fundamentally similar? What is the difference between [|__persuasive and argumentative writing__] ? Read “Teaching the Argumentative Standard” descriptions Which color is better, green or blue? Example

Directions: read and analyze the following article. highlight the counter argument; underline evidence; put a box around the analysis that uses the evidence to prove a point.

Then look for weaknesses in the essay. How might you improve it?

[|__Example argumentative essay on legalizing marijuana__]

Now use the argumentative writing [|__rubric__] and assign a grade to the essay.

**Homework:** Gather evidence to help you prove the statement below: All religions are fundamentally similar.

= Day 12: Work on essay =

= Day 13: Peer Review Essay due next class. Use the rubric to evaluate a partner's essay =

= Day 14: Essay Due =

Prep for Socratic Seminar. > To what extent do belief systems shape identity?
 * Can religion be used to advance an agenda? (Using religion as a justification to accomplish other goals?) Can the agenda ever be for good?

Optional movie to help you prepare: Paradise Now: media type="youtube" key="DNMJTDS3cRk" width="560" height="315"

Use this cartoon by Mr. Rugnetta to focus on before and while you watch //Paradise Lost//



= Day 15: Socratic Seminar =


 * 1) To what extent do belief systems shape identity?
 * 2) Can religion be used to advance an agenda? (Using religion as a justification to accomplish other goals?) Can the agenda ever be for good?
 * 3) Are all religions fundamentally similar? If so, why? Why do people turn to religions?
 * 4) Are people more motivated by religion, politics, or their own personal history? (think about the movie)

Activities from 2012