Syllabus Checklist and Exam Questions Section A - The Search for Meaning and Values Section B - Christianity Section C - World Religions Section E - Religion and Gender THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HANDOUT YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS YEAR. DO NOT LOSE IT
Section A - The Search for Meaning and Values - Checklist. Contemporary Context: Be able to give two examples from contemporary Culture the illustrates the Human beings have a desire to search for meanings in their life - e.g. write about two songs, poems, pieces of art, literature, film, etc. How do these things give meaning to life. Be able to talk about two factors in contemporary society that block our search for meaning in our life e.g. consumerism, media, death of a loved one, etc. Maslow s Hierarchy of needs. Be able to talk about: (pg. 12) 1. The Goal and Purpose of Life 2. The meaning of Suffering 3. The nature of good and evil. Be able to talk about two ways that people are indifferent to the search for meaning. Pg 18. The Tradition of Search: Philosophy: Need to know - Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Know background info on their lives and be able to talk in detail on two of their main ideas. Why were these men important to the development of Philosophy. Know about the Sophists and their important contribution to Philosophy. 3 Key Moments in the History of Philosophy: Christianity - St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas Enlightenment - Rene Descartes Romanticism and Existentialism - Friedrich Nietzche. The Language of Symbol The Importance of Symbol. Be able to write about why Symbol is important to groups/individuals/society Pg 43.
Outline 3 Myths from ancient societies that try to answer Key questions in life: Native American Myth Genesis Creation Account Thor and his Hammer Children of Lir. Pandora s box etc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Tradition of Response: Evidence of Religious Behaviour in ancient societies: Rites of passage and Initiation Rites of Burial Rites of Sacrifice Sacred Art and Artifacts. Be able to talk about the evidence of the sacred and the spiritual in modern culture: pg. 60-66 eg pilgrimage Be able to write about three Humanists: 1. Erasmus 2. Marx 3. Camus Define and explain Atheism and Agnosticism, Humanism and Reductionism. Be able to briefly talk about two cosmologies of modern science 1. The Expanding Universe Theory 2. The Big Bang Theory. Pg 75-76. Gods of the Ancients Give two examples of Gods in Ancient Myths. We looked at Zeus and Thor Pg 82-84. Explain Polytheism and give two examples of it. Explain Monotheism and how it came about.
The Concept of Revelation: Explain the Concept of God in two of the following religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Pg 90-94. Explain Divine Revelation. Explain what Divine Revelation means to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Understanding the Transcendent in 2 Religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Pg 99. Naming God Past and Present: Name and explain 3 modern and 3 traditional images of God Pg 100-102. Outline the proofs of God in the writings of Anselm, Aquinas, Newton and St. Bonaventure. Be able to write about God and the Person in Judaism, Christianity and Islam Be able to talk about how the following three periods of time have contributed to a more secular world 1. The Enlightenment 2. The Renaissance 3. Existentialist Movement. Secular Sources of Values: How can values be shaped by things other than Religion, We looked at the Feminist movement and Family. Be able to write about how Religion relates to Secular Culture.
Section B Christianity Checklist: The Pattern of Return: Be able to discuss why it is important to return to origins every so often. Give 2 contemporary examples of returning to trend. Outline 2 attempts by Christianity to return to its origins Ceili De The Second Vatican Council. Jesus and his message in Contemporary Culture: Discuss a contemporary image of Jesus from Art, Music, Film, Literature. Why are such images relevant to modern culture and Society. The Impact of Rome: How did Rome influence 1. Political 2. Social 3. Religious system in Palestine at the time of Jesus. Be able to discuss the following groups: Zealots Sadducees Pharisees Essenes Evidence for Jesus: Discuss religious evidence for Jesus from 2 of the following: Any 2 Evangelists Paul Josephus Discuss Non religious evidence for Jesus from Tacitus Pliny the Younger Be able to discuss what is a primary source and what is a secondary source.
The Teachings of Jesus and the impact on the Community: Be able to Outline the Jewish understanding of the Kingdom of God. Outline the 4 Characteristics of the Kingdom of God(1. peace as an alternative to violence 2. Inclusion as an alternative to exclusion 3. Sharing as an alternative to Greed 4. A God of love as an alternative to God who punishes) providing examples for each. Jesus as Messiah: What is Messiah Explain Priestly, Davidic, Prophetic Messiah. Show evidence from Jesus words and actions that shows he knew that he was the Messiah. Conflicts with the Establishment Know two reasons why Jesus was seen as a threat to the Jewish religious Establishment. Know two reasons why Jesus was seen as a threat to the Roman Political Establishment. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Know the events from Holy Thursday to Good Friday in detail. How did the impact of Jesus resurrection impact the disciples? They had a new understanding of Jesus They had a new sense of mission They had a new awareness of community They understood Jesus as mediator of Salvation. The first Christian Communities established by St. Paul: The Community of Corinth: Geographical location Main features of Christian Belief Tensions within the Community Interpreting Jesus Message Today: You need to be able to talk about the idea that Jesus message today is still relevant even in the face of violence, intolerance and sectarianism.
Trends in Christianity: Be able to talk about 2 Christian rites of worship that Remember Jesus. Christology
Section C World Religions Checklist The Phenomenon of Religion: Be able to talk about Religion as a world-wide phenomenon Be able to list different types of religion Give an account of the global distribution of religion Give examples of religious traditions in Ireland Describe, with relevant evidence, three major trends in religion in contemporary Ireland. Primal religion What is primal religion? Be able to talk about why primal religions influenced all religions we have today. Be able to write a brief paragraph on each of the following: mana tabu totem shaman. The holy Explain what is meant by the holy, sacred and profane and discuss briefly their relationship Using examples of objects, discuss the relationship of the sacred and profane in religion Using examples of people, discuss the relationship of the sacred and profane in religion. Major World Religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A vision of salvation compare and contrast the vision of salvation/liberation in the 3 religions How is the human person seen by God in each of the major world religions. The community of believers give an account of the place of community in each of the traditions describe the members of the religion are organised in to groups (eg. sunnis and Shias in Islam) Describe the structure and organization at local and global levels define authority, stating what it means and where it comes from in the traditions describe how members of the tradition relate to and understand the world, and vice versa.
A celebrating tradition describe any rites of initiation associated with the traditions (or where none exist, another rite of significance) describe how the religion marks and celebrates time and or seasons, using examples present key elements of the human life cycle and show how the tradition celebrates each e,g, birth, marriage, death.. Challenges to the tradition report on the contemporary experience of the traditions, particularly in the Irish context discuss possible future developments for the traditions. Inter-faith dialogue outline clearly what is meant by inter-faith dialogue and give examples of its origins discuss the importance of inter-faith dialogue name two contemporary conflicts where religious beliefs play a role and explain the nature of the relationship between religion and the conflict. New Religious Movements: Define cult and give examples Define sect and give examples Discuss why these definitions are contested List common characteristics/features of cults Describe what elements cults and religions share, and how they differ. Provide a profile of two new religious movements focused on Foundations Major Beliefs Lifestyle and customs/practices of members.
Section E Religion and Gender: Checklist. Be able to discuss the meaning of gender. pg.4-7 Be able to talk about, in detail, the changing roles of men and women in society from the following perspectives (you need to know 2) Pg. 8-16. Sociology Psychology Biology Philosophy Be able to present a Comparison of gender roles in two of the following major world religions (pg 17-26) Judiasm Christianity Islam Be able to discuss images of God in the major world religions and how these images are linked to gender roles. (pg 27-33) Students study either chapter 3,4,5,6. We will be studying chapter 4 - Women and Men in Christian Scriptures. Be able to discuss two encounters between Jesus and Women in the Gospels. (pg 56-66) (I) Jesus and Mary Magdalene (II)Jesus and the woman at the Well With each account, - Be able to retell the story - Explain the significance of the encounter at the time. - Discuss the relevance of the story today for gender debates. Give an account of the role of women in the early Christian community of Corinth. Be able to discuss 3 characteristics of Feminist Theologies pg. 96-99 a. Recognition of Male Bias in theology b. Challenging these biases c. Reconstructing theological themes by seeking an alternative vision for humanity. Be able to talk about the relationship between these forms of theology and Christian traditions. pg. 99-101
Be able to give a detailed profile of 2 women including pg. 107-117 - their biography - their faith and how it impacted their vision for the world - contribution of the women to our culture and her church/religious tradition - The continuing impact of this woman on the world today - questions raised by her life and work for contemporary society and religion. Be able to give an account of the similarities and differences between the women and offer possible explanations for these. Nano Nagle/Sr. Stan/Mary Ward/Mother Theresa of Kolkatta/Edwina Gately/Catherine of Siena/Therese of Lisieux/Mary Aikenhead