Normally, the first thing students do in my class is a bellwork or bell ringer or whatever term you want to use. This is the first day, so I will spare you the details until I actually have an example.
After the bell rings, I introduce myself and
ask the students to take out their notes. (We will get to know each other better in just a few minutes). I tell them to write the following on
the first page of their notes in large letters so it will stand out:
“Christianity is not a religion about God; it is a
relationship with God.”
When they have done this, I give them my personal objectives for the course:
• This
course is not about converting you or forcing you to believe or to act in any
particular way.
• Instead,
by the end of this course, you will be able to describe and explain what
Catholic Christianity believes and teaches, and you will be able to explain why
the Church believes and teaches what it does.
The course is designed for
anyone. You do not need to have any particular creed or Faith background to
take this course. If you are a Catholic or a Christian, you may grow deeper in their Faith. But if you are not, this course provides important critical study of Catholic belief.
I explain the following; this is the essential thesis of the course:
• Simply
put…
• Christianity
helps us to develop a relationship with God.
• If
we are made in the image and likeness of God, then the more we know God,
the more we know our Authentic Self.
• If
we know our Authentic Self, then we can be Truly happy.
• Yes…the
goal of Catholic Christianity is happiness…a happiness beyond imagination.
All parts of this class (and Catholicism) relate to this
thesis. Essentially, at the end of the course students should be able
to use material studied in the class to elaborate on this thesis.
I just want students to have a clear understanding that this class is really a rational approach to knowing and understanding Catholic Theology and practice.
The next thing we do is prayer.
I ask students to open their Bibles (or use their iPads to access Scripture).
They should open to Matthew 13: 45-46. I gives students a link to
where they can find this easily, and I make sure they know how to do
this. They will use Scripture often in class for prayer and for study.
I make the sign of the cross and asks for any prayer intentions. After students share intentions, I call on a student to read the Scripture passage.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls. When he finds
a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”
Prayer doesn't have to be rigid and overly solemn; it can be instructional and intelligent. I lead the class in a reflection, connecting the Scripture to the thesis of the class. The “Kingdom of Heaven” or the “pearl
of great price” is happiness like one cannot imagine. It is perfect happiness,
not as we define happiness, but more. Christianity says that God is the one who
knows where that pearl is and how to get it. By developing a relationship with
God, we also grow in knowledge and experience of that happiness.
It really isn't that complicated. I start by telling my students that the end will look like. Everything that follows explains how we can grow in relationship with God. The next step is a challenge to challenge students to "Cultivate Love" in the classroom.
(Henri found my sleeping bag)
If you have any comments or questions at any time, feel free to email me or just comment on this blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment