ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
ETHICS AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE Learning and Evaluation Situation
Pilgrimages: Journeys of the Spirit Secondary Cycle Two Religious Culture and Dialogue STUDENT BOOKLET
NOTE This learning and evaluation situation is a working document, which is therefore subject to change. It may be adapted as needed depending on the student’s social environment, the planning of teaching and learning activities, the integration of the Ethics and Religious Culture program and the Québec Education Program, etc.
Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Table of Contents Student Evidence and Tools (organized in booklet form for ease of use) Student Booklet Cover
p. 3
Background Notes on Pilgrimages
p. 4
Transformative Journeys
p. 5
Organizer for Research on Pilgrimages
p. 6
Compare and Contrast Diagram for Religious Pilgrimages
p. 7
Interview Sheet for Religious Pilgrimages
p. 8
Research on Pilgrimages or Journeys by Key Figures Associated With a Religious Tradition
p. 9
Suggested List of Works of Literature and Movies
p. 10
Research on Journeys in Fiction
p. 11
Comparison of a Fictional Journey to a Pilgrimage
p. 12
Making an Analogy
p. 13
Postcard From a Pilgrim
p. 14
Evaluation Tools Peer Evaluation of Interaction With Others
p. 15
Please note that all graphics are from Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office Online and are intended for classroom use only.
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Name __________________________ Date____________________________ Group __________________________
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Background Notes on Pilgrimages Pilgrimages have been in existence for many thousands of years. One of the earliest known pilgrimage sites was in Abydos in Egypt, believed to be the place where Osiris, King of the Dead, died and was reborn. People may have gathered there as early as the 31st century BCE. Many of the major religious traditions have pilgrimages to special sites or places they consider sacred. However, secular pilgrimages (not related to a religious tradition) are also popular with many people even today. Listed below are a few definitions of pilgrimage-(you may wish to consult a dictionary or encyclopedia of your own for other definitions. Journeys of devotion, penance, thanksgiving, or the fulfillment of a vow. (Concord Encyclopedia of World Religions (2006). Any long journey, especially one undertaken in quest of something for a particular purpose. (Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary (1989). A pilgrimage entails a journey from one place to another, from one aspect of one’s life to another. As a result of this movement, many people experience pilgrimage as a transformation. Religious pilgrimage, in particular, can be viewed as a movement from the profane to the sacred, from everyday life to an encounter with the divine, or from local, conventional religion to a radiant religion experienced in a far-off place. (Gesler, Wi (1996). Lourdes: healing place of pilgrimage, Health and Place, 2 (2) pp.95-105) In their book Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Society (1978) Victor and Edith Turner describe the pilgrimage experience as analogous to a rite of passage that has three defining stages: 1. A separation from society that includes preparation and the start of the journey. 2. The liminal stage that includes a. the journey itself b. the encounter with objects, symbols and rituals at the site itself c. the encounter with something sacred or special 3. Reintegration (returning home) In Québec over 1.5 million people per year make the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Ste. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary. The shrine is located about 35 km northeast of Québec City. It has a large basilica that contains a statue of Ste. Anne as well as relics. People claim to receive cures for physical ailments after making the pilgrimage and praying to Ste. Anne. Preparation for the journey May take many forms: having a request, needing help, prayer, etc.
The journey
Objects, symbols, rituals at the site
May travel alone or with a guided group
The basilica, the statute of Ste. Anne, relics associated with Ste. Anne
Encounter with the sacred or something special The healing presence of Ste. Anne; a lace where many have received favours
Returning home
A sense of having accomplished a spiritual duty; being part of a large religious community
Additional Sources: Glassop, Andrew (2005). Inspired Travel- The History of the Pilgrimage. (Education Services) Asian Civilisations Museum. Available at
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Criterion of dialogue: Adequate use of related content involving interaction with others
ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Transformative Journeys Name _________________________________
Date ______________ Group _________
After reading the Background Notes on Pilgrimages, read about the Pilgrimage Experiences of Martin Gray at . Then together with a partner discuss what you have read and consider two of his pilgrimages and how they might be considered transformative. Use the table below to help you organize your discussion. (You may want to look up transformative in a dictionary). Preparation for the journey
The journey
Objects, symbols, rituals at the site
(How might an individual get ready?)
Encounter with the sacred or with something special
Returning home
How do you think the journeys affected the individual? The community? For example, Martin Gray may feel that his view of the world is different, richer because he has met so many different people. Me:_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ My partner:_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of religious culture: Detailed analysis of a form of religious expression
Secondary Cycle Two
Organizer for Research on Pilgrimages Name___________________________________
Date_________________
Group _____________
Use the organizer below to record your findings on religious pilgrimages. Try to research at least three different pilgrimages associated with different religious traditions.
Religious tradition and pilgrimage site
Reason for pilgrimage
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Journey: How do they get there?
August 12, 2008
Objects, symbols rituals at the site
Encounter with the sacred
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Transformation
ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Criterion of dialogue: Relevance and sufficient quantity of written records regarding how students organize their thinking
Criterion of dialogue: Adequate use of related content involving interaction with others
Compare and Contrast Diagram for Religious Pilgrimages Name _______________________________
Date___________________ Group: _______
Pilgrimage 1
Pilgrimage 2
How are they the same?
How are they different? Reason for pilgrimage
Journey (where)
Objects, symbols, rituals
Encounter with the sacred
Effects on the individual or community
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of dialogue: Adequate use of related content involving interaction with others
Secondary Cycle Two
Interview Sheet for Religious Pilgrimages Name_____________________________ Date ___________________ Group __________ Person Interviewed: ____________________ Use this sheet to interview a partner about one of the religious pilgrimages that they researched. Why do people undertake this pilgrimage?
Is the pilgrimage associated with any religious festival?
What effect does the pilgrimage have on the individual or community?
Your own question:
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of religious culture: Explanation of the connection between Secondary Two forms of religious expression and elements of the socialCycle and cultural environment
Research on Pilgrimages or Journeys by Key Figures Associated With a Religious Tradition Name__________________________________ Date__________________ Group _______ Use the suggestions and the links provided by your teacher to learn about the pilgrimage or journey of a key figure associated with a religious tradition. There are some guiding questions to help you focus your research. Why did the person undertake the pilgrimage or journey?
What did the person learn from the journey or pilgrimage? How was he/she transformed?
What effect do you think the pilgrimage or journey had on the religious tradition at the time? What is its impact in our time?
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Suggested List of Works of Literature and Movies That Have a Journey or Quest as a Unifying Motif Works of Literature
Myths
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales http://www.canterburytales.org/
Greek Heroes http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/heroes.html
The Wizard of Oz http://www.thegreatbooks.org/library/texts/baum/woz1 /
Gilgamesh http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/FiGo/Gilgamesh.html
The Works of Jules Verne http://www.thegreatbooks.org/library/texts/verne/
Beowulf http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/ArBe/Beowulf.html King Arthur http://www.2020site.org/kingarthur/calibur.html
Alice in Wonderland http://www.sabian.org/alice.htm
Fairy Tales
Movies
Goldilocks
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Little Red Riding Hood Star Wars Trilogy Hansel & Gretel The Incredibles
Three Billy Goats Gruff Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Lord of the Rings Fables The Tortoise and the Hare
Narnia The Golden Compass
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of dialogue: Relevance and sufficient quantity of written records regarding how students organize their thinking
Secondary Cycle Two
Research on Journeys in Fiction Name_____________________________________
Date______________ Group _____
Many works of literature have been written that contain a journey that can be physical or spiritual. The main character(s) often embarks on a physical journey because he/she has a need to find something that is missing in his/her life. Much like a pilgrim who undertakes a pilgrimage to achieve spiritual renewal, characters in books and movies are also looking to find something out about themselves or the world. Think about some of the books you have read or movies that you have seen, that can be considered as journeys of the spirit. A list of suggestions will be provided by your teacher- you can review some of them online. Choose at least two works of literature or one from literature and one from a movie and categorize it according to the framework provided below. An example has been given for you. Example The Wizard of Oz Why did the character undertake the journey?
What are some of the things that happened on the journey?
Dorothy wished she could travel to a place where no one told her what to do.
She had many experiences, including being hailed a hero by the munchkins and captured by the wicked witch.
Who were some of The Scarecrow, the Lion, the the people they met Tin Man or helped them along the way?
Dorothy was very happy to How did the be home as she had missed character feel when her Aunt and Uncle. they got home?
What do you think the character learned from the journey?
“There’s no place like home.” Dorothy understands that everything she needs or wants is right in her own backyard.
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of religious culture: Explanation of the connection between forms of religious expression and elements of the social and cultural environment
Secondary Cycle Two
Comparison of a Fictional Journey to a Pilgrimage Name_____________________________________
Date______________ Group _____
Use the chart to compare a journey in a literary work or a movie that you and your partner have researched, to the stages in a pilgrimage as discussed in class. Pilgrimage stage
Literary work or movie _________________________
Literary work or movie _________________________
Preparation for the journey (Why does the person want to go on a journey?)
The journey (What happens along the way?)
Objects, symbols, rituals at the site (What happens once the person reaches his/her destination?)
Encounter with the sacred or with something special
Returning home (How is the person changed or transformed?)
What did you and your partner learn from this comparison? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Making an Analogy An analogy can be defined as a comparison of two things that have some similarities but are in some ways very different. For example, the same way a tree bears fruit so do humans bring forth life. The way the sun brings forth light, so does knowledge bring forth truth. A religious pilgrimage is analogous to a spiritual journey. The analogies would be as follows: A tree is to fruit as a human is to life. The sun is to light as knowledge is to truth. A pilgrimage is to a destination as an inner journey is to self-knowledge. Now that you have read many accounts of pilgrimages and journeys you will write about how an outer journey can be a journey within. Use the organizer below to plan your written text (use a different page) on a pilgrimage as a spiritual journey. Think of analogies between the different stages. Discuss with a partner.
Religious Pilgrimage
Spiritual Journey
Encountering a problem to be solved or a situation that is new and difficult to deal with
Beginning the journey
Meeting people, having experiences
Having people to help you through
Transformation or knowledge gained
Self-knowledge: What can an individual learn about her/himself?
Example of a transformative spiritual journey: The children in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, go through a door in a wardrobe. They usually argue between themselves. The journey to Narnia is really a spiritual journey that helps them become closer with one another- they learn camaraderie and friendship and are changed people when they return. A person must deal with the death of a loved one. Through the grieving process and the help of family and friends they are able to get through and become stronger at dealing with loss and disappointment.
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Secondary Cycle Two
Postcard from a Pilgrim Name_____________________________________
Date______________ Group _____
Imagine that you are a pilgrim that has just returned from one of the places you have researched. You have promised to send a postcard to a person you met at the pilgrimage site. Write a few sentences about your experience, what you learned, and how it will change your interaction with people within your community.
_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
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ERC-LES-Religious Culture and Dialogue
Criterion of dialogue: Adequate use of related content involving interaction with others
Secondary Cycle Two
Peer Evaluation of Interaction with Others Name ____________________________________________ Date ___________________ Group ___________ Use this sheet to evaluate your interaction with a peer after the discussion on Transformative Journeys and the Interview on Pilgrimages. (Use different colours for each activity.)
Criteria
Me Yes (explain how)
No (explain why)
My Peer Yes (explain how)
No (explain why)
We were aware of our reactions to the subject we were discussing We found ways to foster dialogue
We expressed our points of view
We listened to each other’s ideas
We explained our points of view using clear arguments
If we didn’t understand something we asked for clarification
If we encountered obstacles we were able to overcome them
What can I improve upon next time? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
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