1. Course Philosophy
The principal aim of Christ and Culture is to assist students, with the help of the Gospel, to participate as Christians in the shaping of our culture. The program explores major cultural issues from a Christological perspective. Beginning with their own life experiences, students acquire a deeper and more systematic knowledge of themselves, Christ’s message, and the Church. Connections between the Church and contemporary culture are explored in terms of what it means to be a responsible adolescent developing as a member of a Catholic, Christian community while living within the context of a broader culture.
2. General Outcomes/Themes
Students will examine the culture in which they are maturing, and reflect on Christ’s invitation to transform it. They will be encouraged to demonstrate through word and action the teaching of Christ: that a disciple’s life is a life lived for others and in service of Christ and his Church. Through the study of various print and visual texts, as well as discussion and reflection, the course provides opportunity for students to more fully explore their relationships with God, others and self as presented in their own and other cultures and from a Catholic perspective.
The student will:
- Explore what creation stories from a variety of World Religions and Church teachings reveal about what it means to be human
- Understand the dynamic nature of culture, the need for adaptability and optimism, and our role as agents within culture
- Understand how the signs, symbols and rituals of various World Religions, including Canada’s FNMI communities, influence culture
- Examine the impact that faith in Christ, and the God who Jesus reveals, should have
upon culture - Explore ideas about and challenges that arise when examining relationships with self, others, and God as presented both in culture and from a Catholic perspective
- Recognize that Christians are called to relate to the world as disciples and witnesses
- Understand and experience humility and open-mindedness through active participation in the prayer life of the Eucharistic community
3. Assessment
A person’s relationship with God is a matter of conscience, the internal forum of the soul. God alone is the arbiter of souls (and then again, who can plumb the depths of Divine Mercy?). It is important, therefore, that we avoid the grading or evaluation of a student’s faith.
We grade the knowledge the student has acquired based on the program of studies and the skills the student is able to show in articulating his/her knowledge.
A wide range of assessment information is used in the development of a student’s final grade. Individualized assessments provide specific information regarding student progress and overall performance in class. Student assessment may vary from student to student to adapt to differences in student needs, learning styles, preferences, and paces. Not all assignments are used for assessment.
Course Work and Evaluation
Report Card 1: Marks collected from course beginning to 1st report card cut-off.
Report Card 2 Marks collected from 1st report card cut-off to final report card cut-off.
Course work: may include assignments, presentations, journals, reviews, notes, research projects, portfolios, exams and quizzes.
4. Primary Resources
Christ and Culture, Concacan, Ottawa, Ontario, 2001
Exploring the Religions of our World, Nancy Clemmons, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana. 1999.
The Group Retreat Book, Arlo Reichter et al, Thom Shultz Publications, USA, 1983.
https://religions.snowotherway.org/files/2015/11/2015_religious_education_152535.pdf