Christ and Culture (Grade 10)

UNIT 1: TO BE HUMAN IS…

1. What is anthropology?  Define and describe the two branches of anthropology.

• A science that studies the origin, development, customs of human beings

• Can be broken down into physical and cultural anthropology

• Social development

• Beliefs and practices

2. What are the four truths (or they may be understood as the four traits) that the Bible says about humans, as derived from the creation accounts in Genesis 2?

The 4 traits or truths

1. Profession of faith, all major beliefs of our faith

2. Celebration of the christian  mystery, the sacramental life of the church

3. Life in christ, how jesus intended for us to live in our relationships with others

4. Christian prayer , how to pray as jesus did

The creation accounts in genesis were 

1. The six days of creation and the 7th, sabbath

2. Creation of man and women in the garden of eden

3. What are the seven religious truths – i.e., the seven traits – about humans as indicated by the 

Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding humanity’s life in God’s Spirit? (See page 12)

1. Humans are created in the image and likeness of god

2. Humans called to happiness and holiness

3. Humans are rational and free

4. Humans are moral beings

5. Humans have passion and feelings

6. Blessed with conscience 

7. Humans are able to sin

4. What are the Five Principles of Humanity?   Be able to explain.

5 principles of humanity 

1. Humanity is to be considered sacred , life, no matter the religion beliefs, we all need help reaching our full potential 

2. Our lives constantly evolve, looking into past to reflect and move onto the future values 

3. Maturity sprouts from a process of being in community with people 

4. Humans are responsible for our own choices, lives, and sometimes the lives of others

5. To make mature choices, we must seek truth and meaning, accept ourselves, and accept others for who they are

These are basic morals principles 

5. According to these creation accounts, what is considered “good”?  What is

considered “sin”?

Good - the recurring phrase “and god saw that it was good”  expands God's satisfaction of our humans to be what God wants him or her to be.  Goodness is to be connected and have a good relationship with God

Sin - in the breach of a relationship with God, to bring a break in the relationship 

Missing the mark, turning away from god

6. What are the effects of sin on human relationships and our relationship to God?

Relationship weakens, we experience sin as a power that entities or temps us to act against god

UNIT 2: WHO HAS CULTURE?

7. Define culture.  What is the most basic element of culture?  What are the seven traits of culture?  Be able to identify and explain each one.

Culture is a set of meanings, beliefs, values, and rules for living, shared by groups, societies as a source of their identity.  

Most basic element of culture is actions, also includes ideas and context  

1. Humans create culture (culture differs us from the rest off nature, only humans have culture)

2. Culture consists of a way of doing things (How we do things, culture about form, meanings, beliefs)

3. Culture is public (How people AS A GROUP do things, it is not private it is public.  Everything is done in a certain way

4. Culture arises from tradition (Inherited from our ancestors, some are very old.  Greetings, holidays, ETC

5. Culture is made up of rule-governed actions (We feel obligated to do and participate in culture and traditions,  (Most seen natural normal which is why tradition takes time to change

6. Culture becomes established through institutions (Like a system of doing things.  A MUST.  The way we operate do things how we FUNCTION)

7. Culture gives us our identity ( culture identity; sets us apart from others , everyone loves differently, different cultures

8. What does “symbol” mean?  What are the four types of symbols?  Be able to give a couple of examples of each kind of symbol.

In greek, symbol means “Thrown together”  Symbols represent a deeper meaning 

• Symbols are a part of culture, connects to realty, beyond our direct grasp and understanding 

• Symbols are made off graspable objects something concrete distinctable by touch

• Allows us to get in touch and understand abstract realities 

1. Personal symbols - smth of your own

2. Cultural symbols - geese for canadians

3. Universal symbols - vatican flag, bbc logo

4. Religious symbols  - the cross

9. What are rituals?  Why do rituals use symbols?  Be able to identify the four traits of rituals.

Bodily actions surrounded by a language that makes symbols effective or meaningful in culture

Uses symbols to connect us to community in order to give is ;ofe. Guide us through challenges 

1. Rituals pass down tradition  - through centuries, people have given meanings to such events giving rituals such rich history, rituals help pass down history

2. A ritual needs our bodies - all rituals incorporates our bodies, rituals involve body; washed, anointed, ex: Baptism 

3. A ritual is accompanied by words - ex gives it a real meaning, ritual intention symbols needs words to be complete often songs sung

4. Rituals form a community - events are not intended for only individuals activities are such essential in building a community 

10. What does “secular” mean?

Opposite of religious, to not belief, atheist, means worldly not sacred, or having a worldly sensibility 

11. What does the “privatization of religion” refer to?

• More people do not participate in religious activities, life of church

• The church does not factor into one's personal way of finding the meaning in life

• To this extent, what is to be considered religious has become private

• Religion is replaced by an understanding focus that hones in on private “Me” of society

• Ultimately christ is being taken out of our culture

UNIT 3: THE GOD QUESTION

12.  Why is Moses an important figure for the Hebrew people?  Be able to give two good and very important reasons.

• Moses was called to set the hebrews free

• The ancient hebrews became the chosen people

• A nation summoned by the holy one god

• Moses also was given the ten commandments by god which are basic morals and principals that most christians follow 

13.  In general, how do we understand the prophets--i.e., what did they become for God? 

• Holy people in israel who became SPOKESPersons for god

• Prophets communicated with gods word through words of wisdom, visions, judgements, and symbolic actions, essentially messengers 

14.  What is “revelation”?  What are the four stages of revelation?

• Revelation is the revealing of god through jesus

• 4 steps

• Creation

• Covenant 

• Prophets

• Jesus (Gods Self Revelation)

15.  What are the four letters that make up the name of the Lord?  Who received the Holy Name of God to share with others?  Translated, what does the name mean?  How is the name like a verb or a promise?

YHWH

Moses received it to share with others

It means I am who I am

It's kind of like a verb or promise in a way that it’s like you believe in him if you do or you don't

16.  What is the word “covenant” used to express?  What are the four characteristics of a covenant?

• Used to express an agreement or contract 

• Originally between a king and his people

• Agreement of both sides on the rights and obligations of both parties 

• In the old testament it is used to express the relationship between god and the chosen people

The 4 characteristics of a covenant 

1. Like a treaty or alliance (a less powerful party enters a treaty with a more powerful party.  More powerful rulers would help the less.  Ex:  Moved by the sufferings of the Hebrews, God liberated them from the slavery from the Egyptians, and became their  God as they became the nation of israel.

2. Has conditions (Implies that for a ruler to protect his people, the people must uphold the conditions they entered with the more powerful ruler: EX the ten commandments)

3. Sealed with a ceremony (a ritual ceremony accompanies the official entering of a covenant, the covenant and its conditions are read aloud and then agreed upon between both parties )

4. Celebrated with both parties present (it is celebrated together with both parties like a ceremonial meal in the sinai covenant now we have traditions )

17.  The Torah is at the heart of the Old Testament.  What is at the heart of the Torah?

The heart of the old testament or hebrew scriptures is the torah, and at the heart of the torah is the 10 commandments 

18.  A parable is a story, and as a story, what does a parable essentially do?  What are the five characteristics of a parable?

• This is a short story that compares something we don't know to something that we know

• Usually it has a surprise twice that leads us to see things in a new and different way 

• Jesus used parables to give us a glimpse into the kingdom of god

Characteristics 

1. A story - parables are short stories that tell us about ordinary day to day life 

• Jesus based his parables on the experiences of daily life to which his audiences could easily relate and apply to

2. A comparison - parables compare things that were not familiar to ancient audiences to things that were familiar, creatively jesus made some surprising comparisons 

3. A crisis - like good stories, the structures of some parables incorporating a beginning, a crisis, and a resolution, consequently, a parable takes a strange thing into a story, it essentially challenges us to think differently about god and ourselves

4. An ending point - an obvious ending point , parables have endings that are happy or tragic 

5. About Gods Kingdom - presence of the kingdom of god in the storyline offers gentle and strange twists thus the story is about god and the unexpected ways that god takes care of things 

19.  What new name did Jesus reveal for God?  What does this name mean?

Abba was the name Jesus revealed for god. This means godfather or daddy, or good father 

20. What does it mean to say that Jesus is the “new covenant”?

As christians, God is like a new covenant through Jesus, God's original covenant with Israel became more pronounced.  The new relationship is revealed

UNIT 5: RELATING TO THE OTHER: THE VOICE OF THE OTHER IN ME

21.  In the context of friendships and relationships, what is the significance of the face?

• Implied in encountering another face is them mystery of the other persons before us as well as the mystery of ourselves to another

• Another's face is like a visual version of the fifth commandment (YOU SHALL NOT KILL)

• In another's face, god speaks to us the face calls us forth from ourselves to relate to the other

22.  What is reciprocity?

• The value that upholds the expectation that if a person does something for someone else the other person will do something in return 

• Additionally, reciprocity is motivated by both unselfishness and self-interest

• Our culture relies on reciprocity which implies trust among people. 

• When we trust each other, we will feel free to contribute to society 

23.  Why is the “other” significant concerning reciprocity and relationships in general?

• According to the bible, the other is your neighbor.  Like the face, the other can never be fully known.  It is an image of god to be honored, not hated.

24.  Name and describe the five kinds of love.

1. Hetaireia 

• The companionship love

• A bit misleading but this is a relationship based off of sharing common interests of goals but it does not involve emotional closeness

2. Eros 

• This romantic or sexual love

• The word erotic is derived from the word eros

• This love is characterized as passionate, pleasurable, and spontaneous 

3. Storge

• This is family love

• Another greek word for family love is homilia

• Storge is a love that children have for their parents and vice versa

4. Philia

• This is friendship love

• It is characterized a warm and tender love among friends

5. Agape 

• This is unconditional love

• Another way of understanding agape love  is a charity

• It is a love that is willing to sacrifice and does not expect anything in return 

• This love is not necessarily depending on emotions

• Only god can have this kind of love

UNIT 6: RELATING TO CIVIL SOCIETY

25. What is the significance of Christian time?   

• According to the christian time, the focal point of the human time is the story of god around us and with us

• Christian time remembers and celebrates the significant events that shape our relationship with god

• For example 2 very important moments in our christian calendar are christmas and Easter 

26. What is justice?  What is the basic difference between distributive justice and judicial justice?

• Justice is the ability to render or gibe a person what he or she is due, especially in the distribution of goods 

• The basic difference between distributive justice and judicial justice is that 

• distributive justice is the equitable and fair distribution of the economic goods of society 

• Judicial justice focuses on implying the involvement of lawyers and judges in a court system when conflict arise from abuse against justice

• The good at stake here are more than economic goods

• The right to one's stake more than economic goods 

• The right to one's body, privacy, dignity, and life 

27. What are some main points about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?  What are some main points about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?  Know the differences between the two.

• Proclaimed by the general assembly of the united nations in december 1948

• Contains 30 articles that define basic human right 

• Canadian charter of rights and freedoms was enacted into law in april of 1982

• This has become the part of constitution of canada

• Based upon the UNs declaration of human rights 

• Difference is that canadian was made 34 years later, human rights 

28. What is the common good?  How many elements make up the understanding of the common good?

• Made up of 3 essential elements

• 1. Respect for the individual person

• 2. The well being and the development of a social and cultural group

• 3. The establishment of peace as understood to be stability and security in a civil society

The common good requires that the conditions in our society  help each person reach his or her fulfillment in life more fully and more easily.

29.  What is violence?  What are the six root causes of violence?  Additionally, how can language make a difference in dealing with violence?  

• Violence, - the aggressive or unjust use of power or force to hurt others

• Oftentimes, violence is a consequence of situations whereby people lose the power to act for themselves, exx poverty, injustice, oppression, or feeling hopeless

• Violence is a means for someone to hold onto power over others or to gain more 

6 root causes

1. A Way out - seeking escape from intolerable conditions frustration leads to hopelessness, leads to anger, and leads to violence

2. Aggression - finding  competition in life, but competition drives out one's aggression and assertiveness.  Being assertive and aggressive is not the same.  The threshold of violence cannot be crossed

3. Abuse of power - school bullying is a means of exerting power and status, bullies use this to gain respect however it is a grudging respect based on inner fear

4. Envy or jealousy - this leads to rivalry which implies competition and competition can be tainted by envy and jealousy naturally which leads to aggression 

5. An Act of violence - acts of violence have been around since the beginning of history for example cain  murdered his brother abel in the start of the book of genesis these acts of violence destroys the structures of our culture

6. Violence can fascinate - some people are fascinated with violence as being entertaining, to a great extent, violence becomes a means to break the monotony for those who find life boring.