Religion 15Unit 1 What does it mean to be Human?

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Exploring your Faith

6 stages of faith We are going to explore:

Which stage you are currently at Which stage you would like to achieve this

semester

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Stage 1: Imaginative Faith

Characteristics include: Occurs at baptism, faith is received

Believe is in the head childlike experience of faith

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Stage 2: Literal Faith Characteristics include:

You are forming your faith but are not questioning

Believe because your parents say so Taking stories like Adam and Eve or Noah’s

Ark as literal history rather than as faith stories meant to convey a profound theological message about fall and redemption

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Stage 3: Group Faith Characteristics include:

conformity defend their own in-group, believing “my church

is the only true church” Anyone who disagrees is seen as their mortal

enemy.

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Stage 4: Personal Faith

no longer believes things just because someone else says they should.

often feels like they are losing their faith, but as long as they keep the essentials, they are actually going deeper as they begin to own their faith, not just blindly follow the crowd.

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Stage 5: Mythical Faith Characteristics include:

the ability to understand another person’s faith from their point of view

the ability to hold two conflicting points of view at the same time.

This creates great respect for other traditions.

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Stage 6: Sacrificial Faith

you are willing to fight to defend the foundational human right of religious freedom, and are even willing to lay down your life to bring reconciliation between people holding differing beliefs.

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Your Experience in Religious Studies

You are encouraged to feel safe to explore the Catholic faith: You may question, doubt, challenge and

embrace the faith You may grow in your faith through the

knowledge and experience the Catholic tradition

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Quote of the Day~ Journal #1

Catholic school graduates exhibit a wide variety of qualities that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community lives. Joe Baca (American Democrat)

Do you agree with this statement? Support your answer.(Ex. Which qualities?)

Has attending a Catholic school influenced your life? Support your answer.

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What Does It Mean to Be Human?

Chapter 1- Identifying Human Characteristics

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Why is this important?

Perspective (helps answer the foundational life questions)

Affects how we relate to others (personally and as a society)

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By the end of the presentation you will be able to….

1. To explain to Pinocchio what it would take to make him “A Real Boy”

2. Answer at least four exam questions

3. To write a letter to the editor on a Religion vs. Evolution debate

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What do you think? In groups of 3

You are an alien with a mission You need to draw up a character profile of a

human being to help aliens understand what it means to be human

Which sources of information would you use to gather data and to make judgments?

How would you verify your findings? What would you report to your fellow aliens

back on the mother ship?

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Journal #2

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Please finish the following statement

A human is…..

Where Do We Turn ?

Where do we turn to become informed about the basic traits of human beings? Science (Anthropology) Media Our experiences/ other ppl. Philosophy

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What is Anthropology? The science that studies the origin, development

and customs of human beings. Asks such questions as:

How is a human different than other living creatures? Where did we come from? How do we humans get along with other human

beings?

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As Catholics we turn to..

Our Faith= God!! Scripture Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Science and Creator http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/

3889/genesis--apollo-8-christmas

Science and Catholicism do not collide

God is truth All truths lead to God Scientific truth leads to God

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“Christian faith respects scientific research for the explanation it tries to give of the process by which the cosmos appeared in time” (Christ and Culture, p.8)

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Science and Creator cont’d

Christian faith goes even further *When Catholic Christians look at creation we

see and celebrate the work of the creating God

*(Christ and Culture, p.8)

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http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/2847/god-of-wonders

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1.a What Does it Mean to be Human? Created by M.Cuglietta,

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1.a What Does it Mean to be Human? Created by M.Cuglietta,

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Creation vs. Darwinism

Pope John Paul II has recognized the validity of teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution (K. Davis, 2001, p. 48)

“If the human body has its origins in living material which preexists it, the spiritual soul is immediately created by God.” (Pope John Paul II)

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What’s the Point of the Creation Stories?

Two important points:

God is the Creator

Humans have a special relationship with God

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Creation Story

Creation story found in the book -“Genesis”

The word Genesis means “ the book of generation or production”

What?? Two chapters tell different creation stories??

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Two Different Versions Telling the Same Story

Genesis Chapter 1 & 2 differ. How so? Chapter 1:

God creates the heaven, earth, light, land, sun, moon, stars and animals

Man and woman are created at the same time (both in the image of God)

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Genesis Chapter 2

Genesis 2 account: The institution and sanctification of the

Sabbath Man was created out of the earth A description of the garden of Eden The creation of woman out of Adam’s rib

(Woman is a special grace)

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One of the Stories Must be Wrong?

Two accounts written to present the same story Chapter 1: Priestly account Chapter 2: “Yahwist” who lived around 950

BC Both points of view provide us with

important information Example: Car crash?

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What Does Scripture Say about Humans?

The story of Genesis is not a story of an original couple but of every man and woman

Draws a picture of the way God had intended humans to be – without faults

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What Does Scripture Say about Humans?

Find a classmate who likes the same flavor of ice cream

Each person needs a Bible Find and read Genesis 2: 4-24 Try to find the four major traits of humans

that are discussed in the passage

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Journal #3“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by

everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing

to eat.” Mother Teresa

Think of a time where you felt alone, uncared for. How did it make you feel? What would have made you feel better?

What can YOU do at school today to make a difference to one person? Explain.

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Humans are a creation of God

Human beings are the outcome of the desire of God

God formed us God gave us life, our desire for one

another, and our ability to speak Creation is a GIFT

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Humans are a mixture of earth and divine breath

God formed human beings out of the earth God breathes into the human being the

breath of life We are drawn to the earth and yet to what

lies beyond us We are an incarnation (embodiment) of

the Divine

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Humans are good

God is good and declare all of creation good

Of all creatures, only humans enter into dialogue with God

Our goodness lies in our ability to respond to God’s goodness

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Humans are Male and Female

As male and female we are the image of God (one is not more than the other)

Adam says “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”

Eve when she gives birth to a son “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord”

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Humans are Male and Female

Before their disobedience Adam and Eve did not feel ashamed in their nakedness

Adam and Eve were in communion with one another before sin causes their division

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Watch God of Wonders http://thompsonandokanaganclassifiedads.com/sports.videos/video/KfEphUbVEp0/-God-Of-Wonders-Documentary-2009-Full-Movie.html

Answer questions on assignment 2

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Four Major Traits

1. Humans are a creation of God

2. Humans are a mixture of earth and divine breath

3. Humans are good

4. Humans are male and female

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Catholic Christians Use the Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC: Is the official compendium of the Catholic Church (a summary of the Catholic Church’s teaching)- looks at 4 areas of Catholic life:

1. Major beliefs of our faith tradition

2. Celebration of the Christian mystery

3. How Jesus intended for us to live in our relationships with others

4. Christian prayer

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The Dignity of the Human Person CCC § 1700

Refer to handout On your own, read the section regarding

the Dignity of the Human Person found within the Catechism

Underline important information On a sheet of paper identify the 7 human

characteristics

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7 Human Characteristics

1. Created in the image & likeness of God

2. Called to happiness and holiness

3. We are rational and free

4. We are moral beings

5. We have passions/feelings

6. We possess a conscience

7. We are able to sin

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REWIND

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Are human beings somewhat divine? Why or why not?

What changes occur after Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit?

What are the four human traits that are discussed in Genesis 2?

1. Created in the image & likeness of God

What does this mean? Out of all creatures only humans can know

and love God Only humans are called to have a

relationship with God We crave this relationship ~ seed

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2. Called to happiness and holiness

What does this mean? The desire for happiness comes from God

which draws all people to the One

He alone can fulfill this desire and provide us the answers

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3. We are rational and free

We are able to understand the world around us (that has been created by God)

By free will, we can direct ourselves to our true good

Freedom: Allows you to shape your own life Makes us responsible for our actions More good we do the freer we become

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4. We are moral beings

We can act with intent; animals act out of instinct

We can intend to act morally For an act to be morally good:

We have to choose to do what is good Our reason for doing it must be good Circumstances of the act must be good

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5. We have passions/feelings

Feelings are a gift from God: Example: feeling of being in love

Our highest passion is the passion of love because we are attracted to what is good

Love is the first step that you take towards the good

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6. We possess a conscience

Jimmy the Cricket is present within everyone (not just Pinocchio)

Our conscience allows us to do good and it is where we hear His voice It is where God speaks to us It allows us to know what’s right

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7. Humans are able to sin We can choose good or evil God has called and left a message…

but its up to us to call him back When we fail to love God and others

we sin Happens when we are to attached to

THINGS

Ex.) $$$, our own beauty, our positions, others?

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Task: “What Does it Mean to be Human?” ~ Article

Read an article that discusses the religion vs. science debate regarding humanity

Demonstrate an understanding of human traits

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Bicentennial Man (1999)

• Robin Williams • http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=L_qfC3utQwI

Is Robin William’s character human? Why or why not?

Why do we need each other?

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God created us as social beings God planted within us the desire for relationships

that are fulfilling Psychologist Tiffany Field found that preemies were

more likely to thrive if they had skin to skin contact with their parents

Hundreds of children with severe disabilities lie neglected in hospital beds around the world. There is silence. Not one of them is crying. What do you think are the possible reasons for this behaviour?

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Geese fly south in a V formation. Together they can fly 71% father this way The geese take turns being at the front

where is there is no updraft If a goose gets sick, a couple of geese

stay with it until it can rejoin the flock or has died.

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Journal

Describe a situation where being part of a group was to your advantage

Describe how the members of the group supported each other

What did you achieve as a group that you wouldn’t have achieved alone?

How have you ever contributed to a group and helped the others in it?

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Jean Vanier’s principles of humantiy

Principle #1 All humans are scared, whatever their culture, race or religion, whatever their capacities or incapacities, and whatever their weaknesses or strengths may be. Each of us needs help to become all that we might be.

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Principle #2 Our world and our individual lives are in the

process of evolving. It is a question of loving all the essential values of the past and reflecting on how they are to be lived in the new. These values include openness, love, wholeness, unity, peace, the human potential for healing and redemption, and most important, the necessity of forgiveness.

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Principle #3

Maturity comes through working with others, through dialogue and through a sense of belonging and a searching together.

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Principle #4

Human beings needs to be encouraged to make choices and to become responsible for their own lives and for the lives of others.

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Principle #5

In order to make such choices, we need to reflect and to seek truth and meaning. To be human means to remain connected to our humanness and to reality , to choose to move toward connectedness. To be human is to accept ourselves just as we are, with our own history and to accept others as they are.

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Unhealthy relationships

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNGqmSQX4tA&feature=related

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