Reflection questions – World Religions

God’s Not Dead Reflection

Directions: Answer ALL of the questions below. The page titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to access this reflection. It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

INTRODUCTION: Dr. Radisson gives the class their first assignment. He passes out blank papers, and demands that each student write, “God is dead” and signs their names in order to get a passing grade. Josh refuses, so the professor forces him to take an alternate assignment; Josh will be given time in the next three lectures to prove the existence of God. If the students in his class are convinced, he passes the assignment. If not, he fails the semester, and thus his chances at a prestigious law degree.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock”.

QUESTIONS: What Jefferson is referring to when he says, “…In matters of principle, stand like a rock” is integrity. 1) What is integrity? 2) Is Josh taking a stand an example of integrity? How so? 3) Are the other 70 plus students in the class just cowards or followers which is what Jefferson is referring to when he says, “In matters of style, swim with the current…”? Explain your reasoning.

RS35: In Pursuit of Happyness Reflection

The movie Pursuit of Happyness is based on the true story of Chris Gardner’s struggle to achieve his share of the American dream.

Directions: Answer ALL of the questions below. The page titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to access this reflection. It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

1) Scene in movie: Christopher is telling a story to his father. The son explains that a drowning man refused two rescue boats because he believed that “God would save him.” The man passes away and, while in heaven, asks God why he was not saved, to which God replies: “I sent you two big boats ya dummy!” What is the message of this story?

2) In Matthew 7:7-8 it says, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is this essentially the same message as Christopher’s story about the drowning man? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.

3) In James chapter 4, verse 3 it says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures”. Is there a proper way to ask God for help? What is the correct way to ask God for help? Explain what you think that is. The article entitled, Does God Answer our Prayers? suggests a way to ask God for help. Do you think this article has it right? In other words, do you agree with what this article is saying? Why or why not?

Religion 35: World Religions and Peace

There are many points of view about whether peace on this planet we call earth is possible. Some believe peace could never be attained. Others such as Religions for Peace, the largest international coalition of representatives from the world’s great religions, are dedicated to promoting peace.

They believe in respecting religious differences while celebrating our common humanity, Religions for Peace is active on every continent and in some of the most troubled areas of the world, creating multi-religious partnerships to confront our most dire issues: stopping war, ending poverty, and protecting the earth.

Hans Kung, a German theologian says, there will be “No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. (Hans Küng, Christianity: Essence, History, Future)

Mitra Sen, Canadian teacher, filmmaker, and creator of the Peace Tree says, “Let us embrace the beauty of every culture and faith to create peace in our world.”

Thich Nhat Hanh Buddhist monk and peace activist says, “How do you want to create peace, if there is no peace inside yourselves?”

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the peace you wish for the world.”

Question: Do you believe world peace is possible? Why or why not? Which of the above people do you think has the right idea or a way to achieve world peace? Clearly explain why .

RS 15: Awakenings Reflection #1

Directions: Answer ONE the question below. The page titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to access this reflection. It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S. Use the following information in your response.

Catholic catechism provide seven answers:

Humans are created in the image and likeness of God.
Humans are called to happiness and holiness.
Humans are rational and free.
Humans are moral beings.
Humans have passions or feelings.
Humans are blessed with a conscience.
Humans are able to sin.

1. Just after Dr. Malcolm Sayer got his job at the chronic hospital, he was taken on a tour of the facility. During that tour, the following conversation occurred:

Dr. Sayer: “Excuse me. What are all these people waiting for?

Guide: “They’re not”

Dr. Sayer: “How are they supposed to get well?”

Guide: “They’re not. They’re chronic. We call this place the garden. All we do is feed and water.”

What does this conversation tell you about the view of the patients in the chronic hospital? Does the hospital staff see these patients as human? Explain, using one or more of the statements in the Catholic catechism, if the catatonic patients are human or not.

2. Dr. Sayer discusses his post-encephalic, catatonic patients with a doctor who once treated them. The retired doctor describe these patients as, “insubstantial as ghosts”, “children who fell asleep” and as “people who were once normal but are now elsewhere”. Leonard’s mother when describing her son’s progression said, “He never spoke again. It was like he disappeared”. Were these people dead (not in a physical sense)? Explain. If these patients seem “dead”, then are these patients human? Explain using one or more of the statements in the Catholic catechism.

Religous Studies: The Human Experience Reflection #2

Directions: Answer the question below. The page titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to access this reflection. It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

Experience II: The abandoned children of Peru

Anna Halpine, World Youth Alliance stated, “In the West today, many young people do not have a meaning and purpose to their life. They’re looking to say, does my life matter? Do I have a unique contribution to make… In the developing countries, this is much more clear…for them it…[is a] a need to survive…to get an education…a job because someone needs me…when you recognize that you have a real mission, an indispensable contribution to make, then you embrace life, you celebrate life in a completely different way”.

Questions: Have people, especially young people, in the Western World lost their way? In other words, have they lost their sense of purpose and as a result no longer live life fully and joyfully? Provide reasons for your answer. Could it be true that people in the third world (e.g. Africa) really do embrace life more fully and celebrate life more than us in the 1st world? It states in John 10:10b, “I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” What is it about Jesus and/or his message that might allow people to live life fully and joyfully? If you are not familiar with some of Jesus’ messages, click the link, Jesus’ message of love. Could love (in this case agape love) bring joy and fulfillment? Always justify your answers with examples, supporting quotes, etc.

Religious Studies: The Human Experience Reflection #1

Directions: Answer ONE of questions below. The page titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to access this reflection. It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

Experience I: Homeless people of New York City

Jeffrey Azize said, “Everyone lives differently. When you go somewhere out of your own comfort zone; out of your own realm, and you enter someone else’s; that’s learning”. In other words, Jeff is saying the same thing as the proverb, “Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile [1.6 km] in his shoes.”

In John 8:12-15 it says, Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world…you judge by human standards; I judge no one.'” In Matthew 7:1-2 it says, Do not judge so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

Questions: Is Jesus, in scripture, saying the same thing as Jeffery? Explain why or why not. Christian Slater, an actor, says, “Good judgement comes from experience. Sometimes, experience comes from bad judgement”. Jeffry in the movie exemplifies Slater’s quote. Explain how Jeffry and his brother’s experience as a homeless people provides evidence that Slater’s quote is true.

You may want to read these texts in context to help you with your response. The Oremus Bible Browser will aid you in doing this.

Jeffrey Azize stated: “You become more humble… you can feel the humility that the homeless people go through. And I don’t know. It’s different… my whole heart feels different.

In Matthew 18.4, it says, “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” In Colossians 3:12-17, it is written, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” You may want to read these texts in context to help you with your response.

Questions: What does it mean to be humble or have humility? Explain why humility would be one of the qualities of holiness? How is it possible for a person to have humility in our 21st century world when our society teaches us to be competitive; encouraging us to be number 1?

RS 9: Cinderella Man Reflection 2

Answer two of the following questions. Your answers for both questions must be a minimum of five to ten or sentences. Place your response in a word document, save it, and either print it off and hand in or e-mail it to me. The rubric on the right titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to evaluate your response.

The purpose of marriage is the mutual growth in holiness of the man and woman. From the movie, we see that Jimmy and Mae’s marriage was a true covenant (pledge) of love.

1) Talk about some of the key scenes in the film that express the meaning of Jimmy and Mae’s marriage. What did their marriage mean to them in times of plenty and in times of want?

2) How did Jimmy and Mae show their respect for one another? How did their covenant of love and respect grow over the duration of the film? What challenges did their covenant or pledge to one another have to meet so that the Braddock could stay a family?

3) What were Jimmy and Mae’s beliefs about their family, their children? What did you think about the scene in which Jimmy has to take his son to return the salami he has stolen? What did the scene tell us about Jimmy’s moral character and his relationship with his son/children?

RS 9: Cinderella Man Reflection 1

Cinderella Man portrays a man who loved his family and would do anything for them—and Boxing is how he achieved the purpose of his life.

1) Why did Jimmy Braddock struggle with his faith? What made him turn away from prayer and worship? Do you think he began to doubt God? Did a sense of failure have anything to do with it? Why?
2) If you had been in Braddock’s wife, Mae’s place, would you have said anything different to encourage Jimmy in the practice of his faith? Do you think Mae showed wisdom in how she talked to Jimmy about faith and going to church? Why or why not?
3) raddock had many qualities that could be viewed as truly religious or a man of faith. Identify three of these qualities.

RS 9 Reflection 3: A Walk to Remember

Answer the following two questions. Your answers for both questions must be a minimum of five to ten or sentences. Place your response in a word document, save it, and either print it off and hand in or e-mail it to me. The rubric on the right titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to evaluate your response.

1) Eric, Landon’s friend, says, “This girl’s changed you, and you don’t even know it.” What changes in Landon did you notice in the movie? Identify at least 3 specific changes you noticed and explain at least one of the scenes in the movie that show the change. How do you explain these changes in Landon?
2) Jamie tells Landon, “I don’t think getting out (of town) is the problem. It’s figuring out what you want to do when you get there”. Will “getting out of here” solve problems? Explain. What is Jamie really trying to say?

RS 9 Reflection 2: A Walk to Remember

Answer the following two questions. Your answers for both questions must be a minimum of five to ten or sentences. Answer it in a word document, save it, and either print it off and hand in or e-mail it to me. The rubric on the right titled, Reflection Rubric, will be used to evaluate your response.

1) Jamie says in the movie, “Maybe God has a bigger plan for me than I have for myself”. (a) Is this an example of faith? Explain. Your explanation should include an explanation of your understanding of faith. (b) Do you think God has a plan for you? Why or why not?
2) Jamie describes her faith in God as ”the center of everything”. In another scene, after Landon tells Jamie that he loves her, she says, “I don’t need reason to be angry at God”. It is obvious that her faith in God is very important to her, and being a Christian is what defines her as a person. (a) Explain what she means by “center of everything”. Support your response with examples from the movie. (b) Why do you think people, like Jamie, have such a strong faith? (c) How does having a strong faith benefit a person? Use examples from the movie to support your answer.