Title

Comparative World Religions

Type Document Authors Subject Course Grade(s) Location Curriculum Writing History Notes Attachments

Individual Map Marc Cicchino, Kurt Weber, Roxanne Dome, Patricia Sikorski Social Studies None Selected 09 , 10 , 11 , 12 Roxbury High School

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual September 1

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October 5

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November 8

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December

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February

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September/Week 1 The Study of Religion September/Week 2 - September/Week 4 Hinduism October/Week 5 - October/Week 6 Buddhism October/Week 7 Sikhism October/Week 8 - November/Week 9 Daoism and Confucianism November/Week 10 Shintoism November/Week 11 - December/Week 13 Judaism December/Week 14 - December/Week 16 Christianity January/Week 17 - January/Week 19 Islam January/Week 20 Current Issues in Religion

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: September/Week 1 UNIT NAME: The Study of Religion Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

Skills

1. World religious beliefs and practices have influenced the development of history, culture, and society.

1. What is religion?

1. Define the terms religion, philosophy, and theology.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture, and music; and written expression (Type I Type III).

2. Varying perspectives of theology, philosophy, and science have influenced the human perception of reality.

2. Why study religion? 3. What forms does religious expression take?

2. Identify the different dimensions of religion (aesthetic, emotional, cognitive, ethical, ritual, and institutional).

Standards

3. Examine different methods of studying religion (theology and religious studies, history, psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, and biology).

Plans:

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: September/Week 2 - September/Week 4 UNIT NAME: Hinduism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

Skills

1. The essential Hindu teachings shape the ethics and ways of life for its practitioners.

1. What are the basic concepts of the Hindu philosophy?

1. Identify the birthplace of Hinduism.

2. How is Hinduism practiced?

2. Analyze key concepts in Hinduism.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture and music; and written expression(Type I - Type III).

2. The rituals of Hinduism may take many different forms. 3. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. 4. Hinduism is like a maze, with several entrances, several rings or layers with new entries, and ultimately an arrival at the center, but with many possible ways of achieving it.

3. How are the multiple deities reflected in the principal teachings of Hinduism? 4. What impact has Hinduism had in the geopolitical conditions in the major areas where it is practiced?

Standards

3. Examine Hindu society and patterns in Hindu practice. 4. Critique the sacred Hindu writings.

5. Understand the plurality of Brahmin and manifestations of the unknowable. 6. Research life and afterlife in the Hindu tradition. 7. Connect the impact of Hinduism on the political events of the region of practice.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: October/Week 5 - October/Week 6 UNIT NAME: Buddhism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

1. The essential Buddhist teachings shape the ethics and ways of life for its practitioners.

1. What are the basic concepts of Buddhism?

1. Identify the birthplace of Interpreting primary sources; Buddhism and chronicle the life class discussions; collaborative of Siddartha Gautama (Buddha). learning; interpreting art, architecture, and music; and 2. Analyze key concepts in written expression (Type I Buddhism. Type III).

2. How do Buddhists worship? 2. The rituals of Buddhism may take many forms. 3. Buddhists place more emphasis on the journey towards enlightenment than the actual attainment of the state of enlightenment. 4. Buddhism is a non-theistic belief system

Skills

Standards

3. How is the concept of enlightenment similar and dissimilar to the Judeo-Christian 3. Examine Buddhist society concept of heaven? and patterns in Buddhist rituals and practices. 4. What role does Buddhism play in the geopolitical forces in 4. Critique the sacred Buddhist the major areas in which it is writings. practiced? 5. Compare and contrast the dogmas of reincarnation, enlightenment, and heaven. 6. Assess the role Buddhism has played on historical events.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: October/Week 7 UNIT NAME: Sikhism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

1. The essential Sikh teachings 1. What role does Sikhism play shape the ethics and ways of life in the geopolitical forces in the for its practitioners. areas in which it is practiced? 2. The rituals of Sikhism may take many forms. 3. Summarize how Sikhism developed over time into what it is today, especially its founding by the ten gurus and its life from the British Empire through the present. 4. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion

Knowledge

Skills

1. Analyze the origin and key concepts of Sikhism.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture, and music; and written expression (Type I Type III).

2. Examine Sikh society and 2. What are the basic concepts patterns in its rituals and of Sikhism? practices. 3. How does a Sikh worship?

Standards

3. Critique the sacred Sikh writings. 4. Explain the role of the guru in Sikh worship. 5. Assess how a Sikh may break the cycle of reincarnation. 6. Evaluate the role of Sikhism in historical events (eg. Sepoy Rebellion). 7. Research the treatment of Sikhs in the post-9/11 world.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: October/Week 8 - November/Week 9 UNIT NAME: Daoism and Confucianism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

1. Not all belief systems fit the 1. Why are Daoism and prototypical definition of a Confucianism considered to be religion; some belief systems philosophies and not religions? are categorized as philosophies. 2. How are Daoism and 2. The essential Dao and Confucianism trying to reach the Confucian teachings shape the same goal by different means? ethics and ways of life for its practitioners. 3. How are Daoism and Confucianism practiced? 3. The practice of the philosophies of Daoism and 4. What impact do Daoism and Confucianism are similar and Confucianism have on the dissimilar to the practice of political structures of the regions theistic beliefs. where they are practiced?

Knowledge

Skills

1. Generalize the differences between a philosophy and a religion.

Interpreting primary sources, class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture, and music; and written expression (Type I Type III).

2. Trace the development of Daoism and Confucianism.

Standards

3. Describe the ways/rituals in Daoism and Confucianism. 4. Paraphrase the essential teachings of Daoism and Confucianism. 5. Distinguish between the key concepts expressed in the Daode Jing (Daoism) and the Book of Filial Piety (Confucianism). 6. Explain how Daoism and Confucianism impacted the political structures of the regions where they are practiced. 7. Research how elements of Daoism and Confucianism are present in Asian societies and how they have influenced American society.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: November/Week 10 UNIT NAME: Shintoism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

Skills

1. Shintoism is a native Japanese religion.

1. What are the basic Shintoism characteristics and rituals?

1. Analyze the basic characteristics and rituals of Shintoism.

2. The essential beliefs of Shintoism have shaped the culture and history of Japan.

2. How do Shintoism and Buddhism complement each other?

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art. architecture and music; and written expression.

3. The practices of Shintoism take various forms.

3. How have the beliefs of 3. Compare and contrast Shintoism shaped the Japanese Shintoism with Buddhist rituals way of life? and practices.

4. Shintoism encourages religious pluralism through its lack of allegiance.

4. What role has Shintoism played in the geopolitical forces in the area in which it is practiced?

2. Describe kami and their symbols.

Standards

4. Examine the myth of origin of the Japanese islands and connect to emperor worship.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: November/Week 11 - December/Week 13 UNIT NAME: Judaism Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

1. The essential Jewish teachings shape the ethics and ways of life of its practitioners.

1. What are the basic concepts of Judaism?

1. Evaluate basic Jewish beliefs Interpreting primary sources; and practices. class discussions; collaborative learning; 2. Analyze the foundation of interpreting art. architecture and Jewish teachings. music; and written expression (Type I - Type III). 3. Examine Jewish society and how is it shaped by the tenets and practices of Judaism.

2. Judaism is a monotheistic religion. 3. The rituals and practices of Judaism take many forms.

2. What are the major rituals of Judaism? 3. How is the Jewish present shaped by its past?

4. What role does Judaism 4. In Judaism, practitioners play in the geopolitical forces in believe that death is not the end the major areas in which it is of human existence. practiced?

Skills

Standards

4. Differentiate between the different types of Judaism reform, conservative, orthodox, and the ultraorthodox. 5. Assess the role of Judaism in the geopolitical history and current conditions of the Middle East. 6. Compare and contrast the belief system of Judaism (monotheism) with the contemporary polytheistic belief systems.

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: December/Week 14 - December/Week 16 UNIT NAME: Christianity Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

1. The essential teachings of 1. What does it mean to be a Christianity shape the ethics and Christian? ways of life for its practitioners. 2. What does salvation mean 2. The rituals of Christianity to a Christian? take many forms. 3. Why is there so much 3. Christians believe in diversity in the Christian faith? salvation through several different methods. 4. Is Christianity its own unique religion or is it an expansion of 4. Christianity is a monotheistic Judaism? religion. 5. Are the key concepts of Christianity found in other religions/philosophies?

Knowledge

Skills

1. Explain the key beliefs of Christians.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture, and music; and written expression (Type 1 Type III).

2. Describe the ways in which Christianity is practiced by the majority of its followers (sacraments - baptism, communion, confirmation).

Standards

3. Assess what Christians mean by the term salvation and describe their view of heaven.

4. Trace the development of Christianity from its origins to modern times.Compare and contrast the basic beliefs of 6. Some religious experts have Judaism and Christianity. postulated that Christianity is the most culturally adaptable 5. Trace the development of religion in the world. Is this a Christianity from its origins to valid assessment or a religiously modern times. biased viewpoint? 6. Consider the similarities and differences between Jesus (Christianity) and Siddartha Gautama (Buddha).

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: January/Week 17 - January/Week 19 UNIT NAME: Islam Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

1. The essential teachings of 1. What are the basic precepts Islam shape the ethics and ways of Islam? of life for its practitioners. 2. How does a Muslim worship? 2. The rituals of Islam take many forms. 3. What differences exist in the beliefs and practices of the 3. Islam is a monotheistic different major Islamic groups? religion. 3. What are the similarities and 4. Islam is a universal religion, differences among the three geographically and culturally. major monotheistic religions (i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam). 5. Islam is considered by some to be both a religion and 4. How has Islam shaped the a political order. geopolitical forces in the areas in which it is practiced?

Knowledge

Skills

1. Examine the birth of Islam and the life of Muhammad.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture and music; and written expression (Type I Type III.).

2. Analyze the essential teachings of Islam.

Standards

3. Summarize the Five Pillars. 4. Evaluate the practices and rituals of Islam. 5. Compare and contrast the teachings of Islam with Judaism and Christianity. 6. Define the term theocracy and explain how a theocratic government is structured.

5. What is different about a theocracy?

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Title : Comparative World Religions Type : Individual

Duration: January/Week 20 UNIT NAME: Current Issues in Religion Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Knowledge

Skills

1. The role of religion in extremism.

1. How does religion lead to both tolerance and intolerance?

2. The place of religion in today's world.

2. Does religion have the capability to engender ignorance?

1. Research areas of religious intolerance and its effects as seen in the geopolitical vortexes in the modern world.

Interpreting primary sources; class discussions; collaborative learning; interpreting art, architecture and music; and written expression (Type I Type III).

3. Differences in religions exist and thereby make dialogue between them both necessary and possible. 4. Religion is a personal belief system.

3. How does the acceptance of religious differences lead to pluralism?

2. Analyze the extremist elements in all religions.

Standards

3. Define pluralism and apply to modern societies.

4. Are atheism and agnosticism 4. Apply the definition of religion religions? to these beliefs and evaluate if atheism and agnosticism are 5. Can a person be an ethical religions. and moral individual without being religious? 5. Identify the main beliefs of atheists and agnostics. 6. Evaluate the moral/ethical guides stipulated by the major belief systems and compare to each other.

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