Religion and Peace 22 indicative hours ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The focus of this study is the distinctive response of religious traditions to the issue of peace. Syllabus Outcomes: H1 explains aspects of religion and belief systems H2 H5 H6 H7 H8 H9 describes and analyses the influence of religion and belief systems on individuals and society evaluates the influence of religious traditions in the life of adherents organises, analyses and synthesises relevant information about religion from a variety of sources, considering usefulness, validity and bias conducts effective research about religion and evaluates the findings from the research applies appropriate terminology and concepts related to religion and belief systems coherently and effectively communicates complex information, ideas and issues using appropriate written, oral and graphic forms. Incorporating a Catholic emphasis: In approaching the teaching of this unit within the context of a Catholic Religious Education program it is expected that: 1. Each lesson would begin with prayer that is meaningful for students and pertinent to current local and global occurrences. Where possible prayer should incorporate references to Church teachings and lived experience that relates to the content of the unit. Prayer should capture the themes of peace for the individual and the world in line with the outcomes of the unit. 2. At some stage in this unit Catholic teaching on justice and peace should be integrated into the study. For example: - ‘Peace results from harmony built into human society by its divine founder, and actualized by people as they thirst after ever greater justice’ GS n78 - "In a world that is increasingly interdependent, peace, justice and the safeguarding of creation must be the fruit of the common effort of all in pursuing together the common good." John Paul II 22.10.02 - ‘Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic Prince of Peace. By the blood of his Cross, in his own person he killed hostility, he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God.’ CCC2305 3. The unit should incorporate an understanding of Christian prayer in the individual’s quest for inner peace: ‘Jesus’ filial prayer is the perfect model of prayer in the New Testament. Often done in solitude and in secret, the prayer of Jesus involves a loving adherence to the will of the Father even to the cross and an absolute confidence in being heard. CCC 2620 4. At the conclusion of this unit of study students will complete an activity on how the study of Religion and Peace has assisted them to reflect on their Catholic faith in relation to such areas as personal faith, commitment to liturgical practice and awareness of the role of faith in addressing critical social issues. Students about: learn Students learn to: NB: - Examples in this program are drawn predominantly from Christianity and Islam - Some samples of material to support teaching and learning are provided at the conclusion of this program and are identified as Sample 1, Sample 2 and so on. The understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions - - Suggested Teaching and Learning Strategies peace expressed through sacred texts for TWO religious traditions drawn from: Buddhism – Sutta Pitaka, Dhammapada Christianity – the New Testament Hinduism – Bhagavad Gita Islam – Qur’an and Hadith Judaism – the Prophetic vision of peace on Earth - investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts for TWO religious traditions drawn from: Buddhism – Sutta Pitaka, Dhammapada Christianity – the New Testament Hinduism – Bhagavad Gita Islam – Qur’an and Hadith Judaism - the Prophetic vision of peace on Earth 1. Investigate the understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions: a. Discerning an understanding of peace – class discussion on the concept of personal and global peace. For example use stimulus such as: Use Norman Rockwell’s The Golden Rule to initiate discussion of religions and peace (Catholic Studies – To Know, Worship and Love p.220) + image link in bibliography Quotations from various religious traditions relating to peace – see Sample 1 b. Forum: Personal and global peace in the 21st Century – the place of Religion? NB: This question should be taken up again at the conclusion of the study to assess development of understanding in relation to religion and peace. c. For each of the two religious traditions chosen: - examine sacred texts that inform teachings on peace Preliminary Link – Ethics See Sample 2 For examples of texts in Christianity and Islam see Sample 3 d. Writing task: Explain how sacred texts inform the understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions. {NB students could do this as a pairs task each writing about ONE religious tradition and then peer assessing the other response.] 2. The principal teachings about peace in two religious traditions: principal teachings about peace in TWO religious traditions outline the principal teachings about peace in TWO religious traditions a. b. In small groups students research a range of sources of teachings relating to peace in two religious traditions. These should complement those from sacred texts. Students present their findings to the class. c. Individually students create a summary outlining the principal teachings about peace in the chosen religious traditions. This could be written or visual. d. Develop a dialogue between adherents of each of the religions being studied to explain the principal teachings on peace to each other. Present in pairs and peer assess. 3. Guidance for individual peace in two religious traditions: Preliminary Link: Review ‘Observance’ from the Religious Traditions chosen for study. For example, ‘personal prayer’ in Christianity and the Five Pillars in Islam – how do these assist adherents to achieve inner peace? the contribution of TWO religious traditions to peace in the context of: demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace – the individual – means of achieving inner peace a. Students investigate the means available in two religious traditions of assisting the individual to achieve inner peace b. See Chapters 3 and 12 of Catholic Studies - To Know, Worship and Love c. Students investigate case studies of individuals in two religious traditions who support adherents in the quest for inner peace. Class discussion of the above findings. d. e. As a means of ‘demonstrating’ how religions assist the individual to achieve inner peace for each of the religions studied students develop a table summary incorporating sacred texts, principal beliefs. See Sample 4 for a draft template f. Writing task: With reference to specific examples, demonstrate how two religious traditions assist their adherents to achieve inner peace. See Sample 5 for a ppt slide on how to incorporate the components of the topic into a Band 5/6 response 4. The contribution of two religious traditions to world peace: – the world – means of achieving world peace discuss how TWO religious traditions are contributing to world peace a. Present students with a range of teachings/statements from the two religions being studied that indicate their stance on the issue of world peace. See Chapter 9 of Catholic Ethical Thinking for Senior Secondary Students: ‘Global Peace, Development and Justice’. b. Students investigate particular case studies of how two religious traditions are contributing to world peace. [It is suggested that contemporary issues be used for case studies]. See Sample 6 for some examples. c. Class discussion of what can be learnt from the case studies. Do they match the media portrayal of religious traditions in regard to world peace? d. Writing task: Discuss the contribution of two religious traditions to world peace. In your answer incorporate relevant examples to illustrate how belief is translated into action. NB It is suggested that the process of aligning sacred texts,/principal beliefs and specific examples used for the study of personal peace be used to summarise information and make connections between the components. Review: Return to the initial discussion question: ‘Does religion have a role in achieving personal and global peace in the 21st Century?’ Observe student comments to ascertain how the study of ‘Religion and Peace’ has been perceived by the class. Has there been any shift in opinion? Is so, what? Writing task: Students complete individual written response to the discussion question. Unit Reflection: How has the study of Religion and Peace assisted me to reflect on my own faith and the support offered by my membership of the Catholic Church (or other for nonCatholic students) Bibliography Cardinal Arinze Religions for Peace, Dartmon, Longman and Todd, London, 2002 [This book has an excellent introduction on the meaning of peace and provides explicit references to the sacred texts of religious traditions that exhort followers to the path of peace]. Engebretson, K et al Catholic Ethical Thinking for Senior Secondary Students, James Goold House Publications, Melbourne, 2004 Elliot, P.J. et al, Catholic Studies Years 11 and 12 To Know, Worship and Love James Goold House Publications, Melbourne, 2006 Morrissey, J. et al Living Religion 3rd Edition, Pearson Longman, Melbourne, 2005 Musser, D and Sutherland, D (eds) War or Words? Interreligious Dialogue as an Instrument of Peace Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2005 Internet Norman Rockwell The Golden Rule http://www.learn-line.nrw.de/angebote/litweb_schreiben/The-Golden-Rule.jpg World Conference of Religions for Peace http://www.wcrp.org/ The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies – University of Sydney: http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/centres/cpacs/index.shtml The Sydney Peace Foundation: http://www.spf.arts.usyd.edu.au/index.shtml Centre for Global Peace http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/acainst/cgp/index.html The International Journal of Peace Studies http://www.gmu.edu/academic/ijps/ The Berkeley Centre for Religion, Peace and World Affairs http://irpp.georgetown.edu/ Prayers for peace from some of the world’s religious traditions provided by Harvard University: http://www.hds.harvard.edu/oms/spiritual/peace.html Message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Day of Peace January 1, 2006: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20051213_xxxix-world-day-peace_en.html#_ftn2 Day of prayer for peace in the world – Assisi 2002 http://www.vatican.va/special/assisi_20020124_en.html A Powerpoint presenting the authentic teaching on war and peace in Islam can be accessed at the following site. You may modify it for students: http://www.princeton.edu/~rumi/files/warandpeace.ppt INNER PEACE ISLAM http://www.islam-guide.com/ch2-3.htm Australian Catholic Social Justice Council – excellent links to a range of teachings/issues: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/CONTENT/socialteaching.html Hadith relating to peace http://www.sufism.org/society/articles/PeaceHadith.htm Sample 1 Some Thoughts on Peace from Religious Traditions 1. Prior to viewing the statements have the class develop a list of what they think the major religious traditions say about peace. 2. Then view the statements below on overhead/powerpoint 3. Compare the two sets of information. 4. Use this as a basis for approaching the forum task: Does religion have a role in achieving personal and global peace in the 21st Century? Further texts from a range of religious traditions can be found at: http://www.unification.net/ws/theme074.htm A range of peace quotes that would be useful discussion starters at: http://www.salsa.net/peace/quotes.html Buddhism: The First of the Five Precepts: ‘I abstain from harming all sentient beings’ Hatred is never appeased by hatred. Hatred is only appeased by love. This is the eternal law. Pali Dhammapada v.5 Christianity: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ Whoever claims to be in light but hates his brother is still in darkness. Anyone who loves his brother remains in light. Whoever hates his brother is walking about in darkness not knowing where he is going, because darkness has blinded him. Matthew 5:9 1 John 2:10-11 Hinduism: 'This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.' Mahabharata 5:1517 ‘And when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others: then he goes indeed to the highest Path’ Bhagavad Gita 13:28 Islam: ‘And the servants of the Beneficent God are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace’ Qur’an 25:63 ‘O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.’ Qur’an 61:2-3 Judaism: ‘Thou shalt not kill’ Exodus 20:13 ‘The Lord has told you what is good. What is required of you is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God’ Micah 6:8 Sample 2 Consider how the ‘ethics’ ethics’ component can be used to complement this understanding Beatitudes, Jesus’ Jesus’ Commandment of love Islamic Jurisprudence The Prophetic Vision When you ‘investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts for TWO religious traditions’ refer to the work done in the Preliminary course on ethics. The foundations for teachings on peace will generally find their basis in the ethical teachings of a religious tradition. In conjunction with this the following article on ‘the golden rule’ (which would provide a useful link to the Norman Rockwell image if it was used at the start of this unity) may be useful for discussion: Everyday ethics: Could golden rule bring world peace? The golden rule isn't always as simple as it appears. http://www.startribune.com/614/story/511333.html Sample 3 Further examples from the sacred texts of Christianity and Islam Christianity: Source: http://iskandar.com/waleed911/peaceinthebible.html Please note that only New Testament references as per the Syllabus have been included here. Any references to Hebrew texts should be made in light of the usage in the New Testament, for example, Jesus’ recitation of the Isaiah text in Luke 4. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9 "...be at peace with one another." - Mark 9:49 "Now the God of peace be with you all. " - Romans 15:33 "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:3 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33 "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ," Galatians 1:3 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you are also called in one body; and be you thankful." - Colossians 3:15 "Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." - Philippians 4:9 "Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:2 "Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." - 1 Timothy 1:2 "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." James 3:18 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," 2 Peter 1:2 "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." - Jude 1:2 Sample 3 cont. Islam: Please note that this is a small selection of references to peace in the Qur’an. The full listing of 56 verses can be found at http://www.islamicity.com/QuranSearch/ Al-Baqara (The Cow) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 2:224 AND DO NOT allow your oaths in the name of God to become an obstacle to virtue and Godconsciousness and the promotion of peace between men: [212] for God is all-hearing, all-knowing. Al-Baqara (The Cow) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 2:248 And their prophet said unto them: "Behold, it shall be a sign of his [rightful] dominion that you will be granted a heart [239] endowed by your Sustainer with inner peace and with all that is enduring in the angel-borne heritage left behind by the House of Moses and the House of Aaron. [240] Herein, behold, there shall indeed be a sign for you if you are [truly] believers." Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 3:97 full of clear messages. [76] [It is] the place whereon Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace. [77] Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. And as for those who deny the truth - verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds. An-Nisa (The Women) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 4:83 AND IF any [secret] matter pertaining to peace or war comes within their ken, they [98] spread it abroad - whereas, if they would but refer it unto the Apostle and unto those from among the believers [99] who have been entrusted with authority, such of them as are engaged in obtaining intelligence [100] would indeed know [what to do with] it And but for God's bounty towards you, and His grace, all but a few of you would certainly have followed Satan. An-Nisa (The Women) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 4:86 But when you are greeted with a greeting [of peace], answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. [105] Verily, God keeps count indeed of all things. An-Nisa (The Women) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 4:90 unless it be such [of them] as have ties with people to whom you yourselves are bound by a covenant, or such as come unto you because their hearts shrink from [the thought of] making war either on you or on their own folk - although, if God had willed to make them stronger than you, they would certainly have made war on you. [110] Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, God does not allow you to harm them. [111] Sample 4 A process to ‘demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace’ For each religion studied students complete the following summary chart. This could be done in pairs or small groups. It is suggested that students have 3 - 4 examples from sacred texts as the foundation of this study. An example using Christian prayer as a means of achieving inner peace is included as a guide. How religious tradition X provides guidance for the individual to achieve inner peace Sacred Texts Principal beliefs Practical examples Guidance for the (specific texts relating to (based on the specific (of texts and teachings individual peace) 1 ‘In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.’ Matthew 6:6 2 3 4 sacred texts) Catechism of the Catholic Church: - ‘The tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer…’ 2698 - ‘The Christian tradition comprises three major expressions of the life of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation and contemplative prayer. They have in common the recollection of the heart.’ 2721 translated to action) The history of Centering Prayer owes much to the Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton. In his writing he said, "If you go to your center you will find God there." Within Christianity there are many groups who assist individuals to develop their ability to enter into centering prayer (and other forms of meditation). For example: http://www.christianmeditationaustralia.org/ Centering prayer is one means by which the Christian adherent may follow the example of Jesus and go to their own ‘deserted’ inner place to encounter God. Students may also be interested to research the suggested links between a sustained prayer life and mental and physical wellbeing Sample 5 Demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace Sacred texts Relationships Teachings Band 5/6 Impact on the individual Connections Specific Examples of means/agencies/ models An outstanding response to a question such as ‘Demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace’ will incorporate all the elements of the unit. Students need to draw on concrete examples of: - Sacred texts interpreted in Teachings which are evidenced in Specific examples/means of finding peace/role models/agencies/movements which then provide guidance for and impact on The individual As in all areas of study students need to gain practice in ‘joining the dots’ or making connections between the component of topics to maximise their potential marks. Sample 6 Examples: Religion and World Peace Seeds of Peace is an initiative of the National Council of Churches of Australia. The link below goes directly to the downloadable files. Amongst these are individual case studies of Australians working for peace in a wide variety of circumstances. NB These materials would also be useful for investigating religion and inner peace. Go to: http://www.ncca.org.au/special_projects/dov/seeds_of_peace/sop_files The Columban Mission Institute (Australia) Links to a range of peace-related issues ranging from the international impact of genetically modified food on poor nations to a range of initiatives to foster Christian-Muslim dialogue in the Australian context. http://www.columban.org.au/ Peace Churches Students could investigate expressions of Christianity which expressly advocate pacifism, for example the Society of Friends (Quakers) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_church Religions for Peace – World Conference on Religion and Peace Current examples of peace activism emanating from religious motivation. http://www.wcrp.org/Rforp/RFP_1_MAIN.html MidEast Web Sacred texts and current initiatives for peace from the three Abrahamic traditions: http://www.mideastweb.org/mewreligion.htm Projects Working for Peace among Israelis and Arabs Links to a wide range of such projects: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projects_working_for_peace_among_Israelis_and_Arabs The Parents Circle A coalition of Jewish and Palestinian families who have lost immediate family members as a consequence of war. http://www.theparentscircle.org/ Pax Christi An international Christian organisation working for peace in through a multitude of initiatives http://www.paxchristi.net/