Unit Outline
This unit will enable students to learn more about Christianity and Islam as world religions, both in the past and today. It will also show how both religions have brought unity and connection to believers across the world, but also how they can lead to conflict between people. The Crusades will be used as an example of this in the past, before giving students an opportunity to investigate a religious conflict of their choice in the present, to explore how religion can both create conflict, as well as provide the means for solving world conflicts.
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STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
"Religions are global belief systems that bring unity and connection but can also lead to diversity and conflict"
GLOBAL CONTEXT
Globalisation and Sustainability (Commonality, Diversity, and Interconnection) - Students will explore the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the relationship between local and global processes; how local experiences mediate the global; the opportunities and tensions provided by world interconnectedness; the impact of decision-making on humankind and the environment.
KEY CONCEPT
Global Interactions - Global interactions, as a concept, focuses on the connections between individuals and communities, as well as their relationships with built and natural environments, from the perspective of the world as a whole.
For individuals and societies, global interactions focuses on the interdependence of the larger human community, including the many ways that people come into conflict with and cooperate with each other, and live together in a highly interconnected world to share finite resources. RELATED CONCEPTS
Conflict (History) - Conflict can develop from inequalities in distribution of power and may manifest itself in many forms: protracted disagreements or arguments; prolonged armed struggles; clashes of opposing feelings or needs; serious incompatibilities between two or more opinions, principles, or interests. Historians study conflict between individuals and societies over time and across place and space, and they also examine how conflicts can be sources of continuity and catalysts for change.
Beliefs (PRS) - Religious belief is the belief in the reality of the mythological, supernatural, or spiritual aspects of a religion. Religious belief is distinct from religious practice or religious behaviours with some believers not practicing religion and some practitioners not believing religion. Religious beliefs, being derived from ideas that are exclusive to religion, often relate to the existence, characteristics and worship of a deity or deities, divine intervention in the universe and human life, or explanations for the values and practices centred on the teachings of a spiritual leader or group. In contrast to other belief systems, religious beliefs are usually written down. |
1. What are the core beliefs of Christianity?
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The unit begins with an investigation into the core beliefs of Christianity, examining the central importance of Jesus, the significance of Holy Week, before reflecting on the nature of the resurrection and how it informs the lives of Christians today.
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2. What are the core beliefs of Islam?
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Following in a similar approach to last lesson, this week gives students a chance to examine the core teachings and beliefs of Islam, the importance of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the role of the Quran, and the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity.
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3. What do world religions teach about conflict?
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Having examined the commonalities between the two Abrahamic faiths, this lesson explores their views on violence and conflict, asking the question: 'Can violence ever be morally justified?'. This is explored further by examining the role of faith in conflict today.
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4. Was religion the main cause of the Crusades?
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In history, there are countless examples of conflicts driven by cultural and religious differences. The Crusades are a perfect example of how religious belief can drive conflict and lead to its worst excesses - but is it a case of religious belief being misused?
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5. What did Muslims think about the Crusades?
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The impact of the Crusades on the Middle East and Europe still reverberates these regions and the world today. Yet the mixing of two religious cultures didn't always lead to violence, showing that religious belief can actually heal and bridge the gaps between vastly different peoples.
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6-7. Assessment: Does religion cause conflict?
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The final assessment for this unit gives students the chance to inquire into a present day religious conflict of their choice, in order to examine whether religion is the cause of conflict or whether it can work to help solve conflict and lead to reconciliation between people.
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8. Reflection: Can religion help end conflict?
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Man's inhumanity to man has evolved in each generation since the dawn of time, with religion being just one cause of these conflicts. But can religion actually work to help end conflict? This lesson gives students a chance explore those working for peace today.
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