Comparitive Religions 11/12

Description:
This course examines various world religions and worldviews in light of our Christian beliefs. All faiths will be studied in terms of their own explanations and examined based on their agreement with the Bible. The main focus of this class is faith building and strengthening. Students will be asked to use their Bibles and other biblical reference materials to evaluate the religions and worldviews. They will also prepare and lead Bibles studies and devotions throughout the year. Students will be required to memorize certain Bible passages that pertain to Christian hope and salvation. Students will also keep a faith journal, which will be used to reflect on devotions, discussions, etc. Part of Christian growth is serving our Lord and Savior. Therefore, each student will be required to do five hours of service to his/her community each quarter.

Textbooks:
Ridenour, Fritz. So What’s the Difference? Ventura: Regal Books, 2001.
The Holy Bible.

Classroom Policy:
The atmosphere of the classroom is based on the acronym GROW.
1. GOD should be number one in everyone’s life in the classroom. This means that all people in the classroom are expected to treat one another with Christian love and respect. Also, we are all sinful creatures; therefore as God forgave each person we should forgive one another when we make mistakes.
2. Everyone in the class needs to be READY. This means that students should come to class prepared to learn – have all supplies, and an open mind to learning.
3. OTHER people are important and their ideas and feelings are valuable. This means that when someone else is speaking, the rest of the class is listening. Also, building on what others have said is welcome. Whatever is said should be done so in an uplifting and constructive manner in order to encourage one another.
4. Everyone in the classroom should be WILLING. This means that their minds are open to new thoughts and ideas and they are willing to serve their Lord and Savior.

You should expect me to:
1. Provide a comprehensive, sensitive, and Christian examination of various religions and worldviews present in our world today.
2. Encourage and provide opportunity for every student to examine, question, and discover what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ in a comfortable, caring, and trusting atmosphere.
3. Present God’s word as the truth, source, and norm of a Christian’s life.
4. Challenge and create opportunities for each student to grow in his/her faith through becoming engaged and fluent with the Bible, exercising prayer in his/her life, serving others, and taking advantage of other spiritual growth opportunities such as Connecting Lynx, church attendance, and other Bible studies.
5. Share Christ’s love and forgiveness and model Christ as a teacher.

I expect you to:
1. Acquire a basic knowledge regarding other religions.
2. Be able to differentiate the core beliefs of Christianity from other religions.
3. Judge religions/worldviews based on the “bottom line” or how they claim salvation is achieved.
4. Be able to witness and share core values of Christian beliefs.
5. Demonstrate faith development and a commitment to Christianity through behavior in and outside of the classroom.
6. Become knowledgeable, fluent, and engaged with the Bible.
7. Come prepared for class with your Bible, notebook, writing implement, and open mind.
8. Participate in class by asking questions and contributing to the discussion.

Requirements to Pass Course:
1. By the end of the year you will make a tic-tac-toe portfolio by completing one project per quarter for 3 quarters. Some of the projects may be group projects and some are individual.
2. You will lead a detailed devotion once a quarter: one quarter as the sole leader for the whole class, one quarter as the sole leader for a small group of peers, one quarter as a member of a small group leading the whole class, and one quarter as a member of a small group of peers.
3. You will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and analysis of world religions at the end of each unit through a variety of assessments including exams, faith papers, simulations projects, etc.
4. You will complete 5 service hours per quarter.
5. You will keep a faith journal, which will be evaluated for depth of thought by the teacher quarterly.

These items will be each comprise 20% of your quarter grade. During the quarter in which you do not do a project the remaining four items will each be worth 25% of your grade.

Students will have an opportunity to redo assignments as many times as necessary to receive a satisfying grade. Students will have an opportunity to redo a test or quiz. The first time they will receive a new test or quiz. Additional times students will be given a different form of assessment.

Late Work:
Late work and missing work is expected to be turned in. Anything that has not been turned in at the end of the quarter will receive a 0. When a student is absent, he/she has the number of days he/she was absent plus one to turn in the work after returning to school before the assignments are considered late. If a quiz or test is missed arrangements are made, usually during study hall, to have it made up. Any assignments that are not completed on the due date may be turned in, but the highest grade possible for it will be an A-.

Attendance:
Students are expected to be in class on time everyday. A student will be considered tardy if he or she is not in the room when the bell rings or has not talked with me first.

Class Topics:

Religions and Worldviews
Naturalism
Pantheism
Polytheism
Monotheism
Relativism