1.3
Belief-O-Matic: Is Belief Truth?
In this lesson we are going to take a look at belief systems or world views to begin to talk about the
diversity (differences between) beliefs and the qualities of truth. Please read to the end of the lesson
before beginning the work.
To start, do the following:
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Go to beliefnet.com
Find the tab that says: Faiths and Prayer
Find Belief-O-Matic in the dropdown
Start the survey – type in a fake name and email address
Please NOTE: Most of all, please take this survey as it is meant to be taken: it is a form of entertainment
and not an absolute identification of your belief system-belief. World views and belief systems are much
more complex than that!
 Answer the questions honestly on your computer.
 Save a record (ie, print) of the questions and your responses as we will be returning to
these questions.
 Click on, copy and read carefully the guide to your faith “label” at the end of the
survey.
ASSIGNMENT 1.3 Belief O Matic
Answer in detail the following questions about the faith “label” that has been given to you in
the survey. Answer within the chevrons (< >) your response should be in blue.
1
What is your Faith “label” as given by the Belief-O-Matic? < >
2
Formative mark:
3
Look at question 1 in the Belief-O Matic survey about the number and nature of deities
(gods). Which answer did you pick? < >
4
Summative mark:
Do you agree or disagree with this label as it applies to you? (Refer to the
information that is given in the guide.) Explain in detail. < >
Which answer, if any, is the accurate or “true” answer for #1? Consider
these guiding questions (you don’t have to answer these specifically if you have better
ones): Is it the one you picked? The one you predict most people would pick? The answer
that your parents or pastor would pick? Did you learn this from when you were little? Is it
a matter of personal experience? Does it just feel right? Is it the most reasoned choice?
Etc. Explain in a paragraph which answer you consider to be true for #1 and why:
<>
6
Look at question 3 in the Belief-O Matic survey about the origins of the physical
universe . Which answer did you pick? < >
7
Summative mark:
Which answer, if any, is the accurate or “true” answer for #3? Consider
these guiding questions (you don’t have to answer these specifically if you’ve got better
ones): Is it the one you picked? The one you predict most people would pick? The answer
that your parents or pastor would pick? Did you learn this from when you were little? Is it
a matter of personal experience? Does it just “feel” right? Is it the most reasoned choice?
Etc. Explain in a paragraph which answer you consider to be true for #3 and why. <
>
Choose ONE of questions 13 through 20: < >. In a paragraph, again, tell how
you answered it and explain why. < >
8
Summative mark:
9
Summative mark:
PREPARING FOR DISCUSSION:
Now ask two other people to take the survey and share their responses with you. What is
their relationship with you? Relationship of person 1 to you: < >Relationship of person 2
to you: < >. What are their faith labels? Person 1: < >Person 2: < >.
Now, compare their specific responses to yours. Note similarities and key differences. If
any of your answers are the same, does this make the response more true? How do you
account for any differences? Are your answers more true than those of others? Take
notes regarding these questions and have them ready for discussion with me.
Please email the lesson your answers to questions 1-8 to joanne.boutet@hfcrd.ab.ca.Write
the following into the subject line: 1.3 CHRS25 Belief-O-Matic. (your first and last name)
Discussion:
Once you have submitted questions 1-8, I will make arrangements with you for a
chat/discussion This discussion might be a phone call, Skyped, or face to face if you are in the
school. The discussion may be one-on-one, or may involve other students.
We will talk about your response to the course and how you are doing so far.
We will more formally discuss #9 above. This part is for marks. Please make sure
you bring notes for the discussion about #9.
Summative mark:
You do not have to hand in your notes unless you want to, or I feel it’s necessary.
How you’ll be marked:
Question #2 is formative. Your answers to questions #4, #7 and #8 are summative and will be marked
together using the scoring guide below. Question #9 (The Discussion) is also summative. And will be
marked using the same scoring guide.
Thought and Detail
10-9 marks
8-7 marks
6-5 marks
4-3 marks
The assignment is
answered
thoroughly.
Responses are
clear, confident and
sophisticated.
Relevant ideas are
purposefully
supported with
specific, relevant
detail.
The assignment is
answered
completely.
Responses are
clear, confident
and thoughtful.
Relevant ideas are
well supported with
specific, detail.
The assignment is
answered
satisfactorily.
Responses are
predictable. Most
ideas are supported
with detail in a
satisfactory way.
Many or all
responses are
inaccurate,
unsupportable or
unsupported, and/or
ideas are too few to
show learning.
No mark
Not
enough
evidence.
*Please note that while your work will not be marked for organization and correctness this time,
these criteria affect the clarity of your response and may affect your mark.
TOTAL______/10 points