Religious Education (Catholic) 25 – Page 4

RS 25: Inherit the Wind Reflection #1

Directions: 1) First, click on the link Christian views on Hell and skim some of the information. This is to give you some concept of how Christians understand hell. Also read Pope Benedict XVI’s view on hell by clicking on the link, Hell Exists. The late Pope John Paul II at the General Audience of Wednesday, 28 July 1999, said that care should be taken to interpret correctly the images of hell in Sacred Scripture, and explained that “hell is the ultimate consequence of sin itself… Rather than a place, hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy”. (Source)

2) Answer the question below. Your answer should indicate that you learned something from the readings above. The rubric used is called Reflection Rubric and is found in the pages on the right. Answer the question in a word document, save it, and either print it off and hand in or e-mail it to me.

Reflection Question:
Rachel Brown, the fiancée of Bertram Cates , while on the witness stand said, “At the funeral, Pa taught that Tommy didn’t die in a state of grace [a basic definition] because his father won’t allow him to be baptized.”

Mr. Cates then shouts to Rachel, “Tell him what your father really said. That he was dammed in hell fire.”

Does God throw people into hell? Explain your thinking on this question.

Note: It is not what you believe that is important. What is important is why you believe what you believe. I want to see some thinking.

RS 25 Inherit the Wind Reflection #2

Directions: Select ONE s of the two questions below and answer the question. Your answers must reflect what you have learned in class. The rubric used is called Reflection Rubric and is found in the pages on the right. Answer the question in a word document, save it, and either print it off and hand in or e-mail it to me.

1. While Matthew Harrison Brady is on the witness stand, Henry Drummond asks, “Now listen to this. This is Genesis 4:16, Then Cain went away…and Cain’s new wife… Now where the hell did she come from?”

Mr. Brady responds, “Who?”

Mr. Drummond, “Mrs. Cain. If in the beginning there was just Cain and Able, Adam and Eve. Where did this extra woman come from? Did you ever stop to think about it?”

Mr. Brady “I do not think about things I do not think about”.

Mr. Drummond,: “Do you ever think about things that you do think about?”

How would you answer Mr. Drummond’s question about Cain’s wife? What did Mr. Brady mean by, “I do not think about things I do not think about”?

2. The following dialogue occurs when Matthew Harrison Brady is on the witness stand.

Brady: “A well known biblical scholar, Bishop Usher determined the exact time of creation. It occurred 4004 B.C…In fact, he determined the Lord started creation on the 23^rd of October, 4004 B.C. at 9 A.M.”

Drummond: “Is that Eastern Standard time or Rocky Mountain Time? It wasn’t Daylight Savings Time, because the Lord didn’t make the sun until the 4^th day”.

Brady: “That is correct.”

Drummond: “That first day. Well, what do you think it was? 24 hours long?”

Brady: “The bible says it was a day”

Drummond: “There was no sun. How do you know how long it was?”

Brady: “The bible says it was a day”

Drummond: “Was it a literal day? A normal day? A 24 hour day?

Brady: “I do not know.”

Drummond: “What do you think?”

What is Mr. Drummond trying to tell the jury? What is he saying about scripture? Does he mean to say that scripture is incorrect? Explain.

Movie Study Assignment Rubric

RS 25/35: Remember the Titans Assignment

Introduction:

Read Unequal Access: Canadian Race Relations

Canadians tend to think that racism is more prevalent in the United States, but not so much in Canada. The above report seems to say otherwise.

Questions: (answer three of the following)

What is your reaction to the above information? Did anything surprise you? If so, what? If not, why not? Do you agree with the information presented in the report? Take a position on the report (believability, reliability, etc) and provide support for your position from your experiences or research. If you do not deem these statistics convincing and valid, then what other explanation is there besides racism that might explain the information provided in the report?
Read Galatians 3:26 – 28 and Matthew 20:1-16. You can use oremus Bible Browser to help you. Explain what implications these texts have regarding racism. Explain how the statistics reported in the above article Canadian Race Relations might change if these scripture texts were taken seriously.
What can the story of the 1971 Titans teach us about our world today, especially in relation to race relations in the wake of 9/11 or even more recently the ISIS (ISIL) threat? Since the events of 2001, does our country treat Muslims according to Christians values? Read the article CBC Discrimination poll to find out how Muslims are treated in Canada.
Gerry Bertier tells Julius in the hospital after being in a car accident, “I was afraid of you, Julius. I don’t understand what I was afraid of. Now I only know I was only hating my brother.“ Does prejudice stem from fear? Explain your response providing evidence. Is racism and/or prejudice and/or bigotry a learned behavior? Explain your response providing evidence from personal experience or from research. Here is an interesting article (Children learn attitudes about race at home) about racism as a learned behaviour.
At the beginning of the film, before training camp, we hear the line; “He’s just another blessed child in God’s loving family.” At the end of the film, we are told to “Trust the soul of a man, not his look.” Both of these are good sentiments, if they are spoken with sincerity. However, in the film, the first is spoken sarcastically. Even though it is spoken using sarcasm, is this a truth according to Galatians 3:26 – 28 and Romans 8:14? You can use oremus Bible Browser to help you find out. What exactly does, “Trust the soul of a man, not his look”, mean? Explain.

The rubric titled Movie Study Assignment Rubric located on the pages at the left will be used to grade this assignment.

RS 25/35 Reflection: Is Racism a Social Justice Issue in Canada?

Is racism a problem in Canada? We as Canadians like to see ourselves as a tolerant, multicultural society, but are we. Read at least three of these articles and you decide.

Racism on the Canadian Prairies

Survey on Racism (2015)

Canadians can’t be smug about racism

Hate Crimes

Views of Aboriginals Worsening

Anti-Racism Protest

Reflection Question:

Explain how racism is different from discrimination or prejudice? Based on the news articles you’ve read, is racism a problem in Canada? Support your opinion from evidence from at least one of the articles. Is racism a problem in Vermilion? Clearly explain why or why not using examples from your experiences or knowledge.

RS 25/35: Remember the Titans Background Info for Assignment

For some information regarding the story of the Titans and the historical accuracy behind it, see Remember the Titans. For some information about T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Read the History section and Football and Remember the Titans section. This will help give your some insight into what was happening in the 1970s regarding integration and race relations.

The assignment is located among the pages at the left. Look for Remember the Titans Assignment

RS 25: Catholic Social Teaching Assignment

Answer the following questions:

1) What is Social Justice? Write at least two definitions. Provide the source of your definition.

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Major themes from Catholic Social Teaching

Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Rights and Responsibilities
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Solidarity
Care for God’s Creation

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2) Use the following websites to briefly summarize each of the seven themes from Catholic Social Teaching.

3) Select a pressing or urgent social justice issue that for you needs to be addressed by society and write a brief summary (4 or 5 sentences) of the issue. Also, explain why you believe it is the most urgent issue to be addressed. Which of the seven Catholic Social Teaching themes does your social issue apply to. Explain. The websites below will help you do this.

RS 25: Tuck Everlasting Assignment

Explain how this movie (story) is a parable. What specific characteristics does this story have that meet the criteria of a parable? Be as specific as possible and discuss all the characteristics of a parable.
What is the surprise that caught your attention in this parable movie? In other words, what is the “twist”?
What is the “truth” being taught by this parable story? Could the main teaching of this parable movie be, “Don’t be afraid of death, be afraid of the unlived life. ” What does Angus Tuck means by an “unlived life”. Explain. Reading the poem, An Unlived life might be helpful. ”John 10:10 say about the purpose of life? (Use Oremus Bible Browser) What does Colossians 3:1-17 say about how to live life this way?

The rubric used to grade this assignment can be found at the pages on the right. The rubric page is titled, Video Study Assignment Rubric

RS25: Tuck Everlasting Reflection

Answer the following question. The rubric page titled, Reflection Rubric will be used to grade this reflection.

Use the following to answer the question

Angus Tuck takes Winnie out onto the lake and tells her the following:
“Look around you, it’s life. The flowers, and trees, and frogs, its all part of the wheel. It’s always changing. It’s always growing. Like you, Winnie, your life is never the same. You were once a child, now you are about to become a woman. One day you’ll grow up. You’ll do something important. You’ll have children maybe, and then one day you’ll go out. Just like the flame of a candle. You’ll make way for new life as a certainty. It’s the natural way of things. And then, there’s us. What we Tucks have, you can’t call it living. We just are. We’re like rocks stuck at the side of the stream. Listen to me, Winnie, you know a dangerous secret. If people find out about the spring, they’ll trample over each other to get that water. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about people: Many people will do anything. Anything not to die. And they’ll do anything to keep from living their life. Do you want to stay stuck as you are right now, forever? I just want to make you understand.”

Tuck clearly as an idea about what life should be. Explain Tuck’s vision of life in your own words. Do you agree with Tuck? There is a Scottish Proverb which says, Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead. Is this proverb trying to tell us the same thing as Tuck is? Explain.

RS 25: Who is Jesus? (Assignment Two)

Directions: What follows in bold is the verses from a parable found in Matthew 21:28-31. Under each verse are some questions which are intended to help you understand the parable’s message and to relate it to your world today. Address the questions that follow.

Activity one: The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:44)

“The kingdom of heaven [God] is like treasure hidden in a field…”

Name those things that you consider “treasure” — those things you would truly long to have.

“which someone found and hid…”

What would be an example of something so wonderful; so desirable; so valuable that someone would want to hide it from everyone else?

“Then in his [her] joy…”

What would truly bring you joy, happiness and fulfillment in your life? Be honest! Explain why this would bring you the happiness that you think it will. Does it bring happiness to others who have it?

“He [she] goes and sells all that he [she] has and buys that field”

Would you be willing to give up absolutely everything (all possessions) for something that would bring you true happiness? Is this a radical thing to do?

Activity Two: Parable of the Two Sons (Matt 21:28-31)

“A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today’…”

Name some of the responsibilities you have been given by your parents. As a person raised a Christian, what responsibility have you been given?

“He answered, ‘I will not’…”

Have you ever blatantly refused to do something that your Mom or Dad asked you to do? Why did you refuse? Have you refused to do what your faith asks of you?

“but later he changed his mind and went…”

Have you ever blatantly refused to do something that your Mom or Dad or your faith asked you to do and then changed your mind? What made you change your mind? How did you feel because of it?

“The father went to the second [son] and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go”

Have you ever told your Mom or Dad that you would do something that asked you to do when you knew you had no intentions of doing it? Why would you say you would do something when you knew you would not? Did your decision make you feel guilty? Why or why not?

“Which of the two [sons] did the will of his father?”

Which of the two sons did the will of his father? How would you answer this question? Which of the sons would your parents approve of most?

Which son did the right thing? Explain your answer.