Unit+1+-+Religious+Inquiry


 * Activity 1: So... what do you already know?**

You will complete a brief world religion quiz and we'll take it up in class


 * Activity 2: Blog reflections**

Every other day over the course of this unit you will do two things: 1) respond to one of the questions listed below and post to your blog. and; 2) briefly comment in a respectful fashion to one of the posts of your classmates. Your responses should be 2 - 3 paragraphs in length, while your comments should be 1 - 2 paragraphs in length. Your responses should reflect your personal beliefs as informed by your readings. See the journal rubric for evaluation criteria. Here are your topics:


 * 1) What is religion?
 * 2) Why is religion practiced around the world?
 * 3) Are you religious? Explain.
 * 4) Do you believe in one God or many gods? Why?
 * 5) Do you feel you have a soul? Explain.
 * 6) How do you think the universe was created?
 * 7) Is there a reality beyond that of the material world? Explain.
 * 8) Is death the end or a new beginning? Explain.
 * 9) Is there a purpose to life or is it just a series of random events? Explain.
 * 10) Is there really such a thing as right or wrong? Explain.
 * 11) Why is there suffering in the world?
 * 12) Is the world fundamentally good or evil?
 * 13) Why are we here?


 * Activity 3: Research**

Choose 5 of the following topics. Research them. Iin a blog post describe your findings and briefly comment on them.


 * Define the following: religion, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
 * Visit []. Define the following: religious tolerance, atheism, agnosticism.
 * What is the “Golden Rule”?
 * What are “karma” and “reincarnation”? In what religions is the concept of karma central?
 * Who is the Dalai Lama? Describe his role and achievements.
 * Describe the controversy over the publishing of Muhammad cartoons in Denmark (2005). Do you think the cartoonists were justified in publishing these cartoons?
 * Why was the book and movie “The Divinci Code” controversial?
 * What is stigmata? Describe the characteristics of stigmata. Do you believe it is a genuine occurrence? Explain.
 * Visit []. What was the “milk miracle”? Watch the video. Do you believe it could be true? Explain.
 * What is a Seder Feast? What items are on a Seder Plate? What religious holiday does it commemorate?
 * What is the religious significance of each of the following religious symbols: yin-yang,om, Star of David, swastika, menorah, star and crescent moon, Jesus fish, alpha and omega.
 * Who was Nostradamus? What were some of his predictions and prophecies (name three)? Do you believe his prophecies are credible? Explain.
 * What is a ‘parable’? Describe two parables.
 * What religions practice arranged marriages? How much freedom of choice is there with arranged marriages?
 * Watch “[|Muslims While Flying]”. ([] ). What is the central message? Is it effective? How objective is the speaker?
 * Find 2 current songs with religious connotations. What is the religious meaning / message to the songs?
 * Visit [] . Describe the miracle of the “weeping statues”. How do you respond to this phenomenon?
 * List and describe FOUR episodes from __The Simpsons__ with religious themes.
 * Visit __Times__ __Top 10 Religious Stories of 2009__: [|http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944604,00.html]. What three stories interest you the most? Explain why.


 * Activity 4: Summative**

**Directions:** using the [|Community Search.rtf], locate at least one **//worship community//** (i.e., church, synagogue, temple, mosque, etc.) for each religion listed. For each group, write down the name, address and phone number of the community that is //closest// to you and indicate the total count of communities in the area for each faith listed. > **A "community" is a //group of people//**, whether of not they have their own building. But it is not a //single// person (e.g. a priest who provides services); nor is it a "community center" for purposes of socializing or education (unless they do also worship there as their primary location). There should be a name for any such //community// - //not a person's name//, even if they use a person's home or PO box as a mailing address. But you should **provide the address for the location where they worship** (if indicated). >  **Resources to use:** (click links for detailed directions and helpful hint to use these resources most effectively) > **Be aware that no one resource or online directory will be complete. You will get the best results by consolidating results from several resources.** You can also use the yellow pages of your //regional// (not local) phone book(s) (under "churches" and "synagogues").
 * Approximately **100km radius search area** should suffice to find most of the religions.
 * **For counts:** This should be the t//otal number of congregations for a given religion in your search area//. For example: you are in Curran and are looking for Baptist churches. You want to find out how many are within your search area. Maybe you find there are 37. So that's the number you put for "counts" (I just pulled that number at random for the example, off hand I don't know if that's even close).
 * For realistic demographics y ou want to be sure to **use the same search area** for the counts for //all// the religions. And you want to be sure you are counting //actual places of worship// for each religion. Not schools, not administrative offices or service organizations that might be associated with the religion. And not individual people or members of the religion.
 * For some of the less common religions, especially if you are in a rural area, you may need to extend your search - **up to a 100 km radius** search area would be within reason for the hardest to find religions. If you have to go further than that to find something, then do so. **Do not just leave it blank!** When it comes to entering a count for such a place, Indicate when you've made exceptions (indicate just "1" - and how many km away it is). Do //not// use this larger range as the search area for counts on all the other religions - //this is an exception//. Unless you have to use a larger search area for more than 10 of the religions, stick to the standard range and just make the occasional exception as needed.
 * **If you do not provide a street address** for the center of your search area, I will just use the center of the postal code area to determine the accuracy of your findings. (if you want my evaluation of your work to be most accurate, then provide me with the same information you used when doing your search.).
 * You can begin with [|Mapquest] or Google Maps to locate the places closest to you.
 * You can also do an Internet search for places of worship: using a search engine, enter key words for geographical location (e.g. your town, your county, nearest major city, etc.) and the name of the religion you wish to locate (you may want to narrow your search by also entering terms such as "temple," "worship," and/or "directory").
 * [|Some religions have their own directories online]. These are often the most reliable sources and some are quite easy and effective to use (others are not).
 * To locate Christian churches of various denominations, try [|Church Angel] (this link will take you directly to Virginia listings; if you want to search in other states follow their link at the bottom of the page back to their "states menu"). This Church Angel site breaks down the listings by city. Don't limit yourself to just one city, check surrounding cities as well.
 * A good on-line directory for non-Christian religions can be found at "The Pluralism Project Directory of Religious Centers."
 * **Do not try to use Mapquest or GoogleMaps for counts.** The Association of Religion Data Archives and American Church Lists databases are more reliable sources for counts.

** [|Community Search.rtf] ** Rich Text Format, should be able to open in any word processor. Your findings can be typed in and then saved. (This worksheet will open in a new window so you will still be able to reference these directions.) **How you will be graded:** > points for correct locations + points for fairly accurate counts + points for completeness = total > **example:** out of 25 religions on the list: 15 correct locations + 20 correct counts + 50 for being complete = 85% = Level 4
 * **Complete:** including at least a paragraph of commentary and no blanks, with all counts filled in (automatic 50% for a completed worksheet; -1% for any space left blank; -up to 5% for missing or too brief commentary)
 * **Locations** given (addresses) //are// the closest to your home base, appropriate groups identified and truly associated with the religion in question (i.e., no mistaken identity, no service, political, educational, administrative or other organizations that are not likely to be actual worship communities) (1% for each appropriate location - //need to include city// with address to verify where it is - //I will verify// locations using above noted resources. Also **need to include the //name// of the community** so I can verify that it is truly a worship community associated with the given religion).
 * **Counts** given are realistic for expected search area (as per directions above) and in relation to one another for diverse groups, indicating effective use of resources (1% for each count that is within 50% high or low of the target number I find for your area)