Culture and Religion—How Do We Define Culture and Religion?
Ms. Watson
Contemporary Culture and Religion
10 Class Meetings
LAP 1
LAP 1 Overview:
In order to explore the relationship between culture and religion, it is first necessary to
develop a foundation for this study. To do so we must begin to articulate a
comprehensive understanding of culture and religion and all their complexities. We
must probe those elements that are essential to culture and understand more readily our
own twenty-first century cultural environment. We will also examine the role of faith
and religion within a culture, as well as pay special attention to how the Catholic Church
understands the relationship between culture, acknowledging the influence that it has
on the other.
Rational:
In the Incarnate Word Mission Statement, it states that Women of the Word are called
to recognize the dignity of the human person and make a positive impact on the world.
To be a follower of Christ is to live this world in all its joys and struggles. Jesus, as the
ultimate example of one who both embraced an challenged culture can be our model in
this endeavor.
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
To explore our understanding of culture and religion
To articulate a basic definition of religion
To articulate a basic definition of culture.
To develop methodologies to critically analyze culture and religion and their
relationship to each other.
5. To explore the impact of culture in one’s everyday life.


Open Lab Directions:
Please select TWO of the three open labs to complete. Please type your reflections,
print them out, and turn them into the appropriate tray.
Open Lab Heading:
First and Last Name
Section
Open Lab number and title.
Open Labs:
1. Read “Three Christian Responses to Culture”. After you
read this, think about which of the three responses
most represents where you are at in your life right now.
Then answer the following questions on loose-leaf in a
one page essay.
a. Which position most represents your life right
now?
b. Are you content with this response? Explain why
or why not.
2. Find one picture that truly defines the culture we live in.
Find one picture that truly defines how religion is viewed
by people in our culture.
a. TYPE an explanation for each picture as to why
you chose these pictures.
b. 10 sentence minimum. 12 pt font. Times New
Roman.
3. Is there Humor in Religion?
a. Please watch this interview between Stephen
Colbert and Fr. James Martin.
http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/3k5pcf/ja
mes-martin
b. Pleas answer the following questions. Please type
them and turn them in.
1. What is the purpose of the interview?
2. How is Fr. Martin bringing culture and
religion together?
3. Why, do you think, it is important to
find humor within faith?
Due Date:
Class Meetings
1.
Prayer
Overview:
Introduction. Go over syllabus and LAP 1. Expectations
for the semester.
Homework:
In your notebook, write your own defintions of culture
and religion.
2.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
Definitions of culture and religion
Overview:
What is Culture? What is Religion?
Homework:
Answer this questions in your notebook:
Can religion and culture exist together?
3.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
Question in notebook
Overview:
Does culture exist because of religion? Or does religion
exist because of culture?
Homework:
Fill out Pop Culture Survey
4.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
Pope Culture Survey
Overview:
Go over Pop Culture Survey
Define Methodology and how it applies to studying
Culture
Homework:
Read pg 29-44 “Methodology” Chapter 1 in A Matrix of
Meanings (Matrix). Be prepared for in class discussion.
5.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
Read pgs 29-44.
Date/Day Due
Yellow: Aug 17 A
Red: Aug 18 B
Yellow: Aug 19 C
Red: Aug 19 C
Yellow: Aug 20 D
Red: Aug 21 E
Yellow: Aug 25 G
Red: Aug 26 H
Yellow: Aug 26 H
Red: Aug 28 K
Overview:
In class discussion over Chapter 1. (Part I)
Homework:
Read pg 45-59. “Methodology” in Matrix
6.
Prayer
Homework Due at the Beginning of Class:
None
Overview:
Quiz
In class discussion over Chapter 1 (Part 2)
Homework:
None
7.
Prayer
Homework Due at the Beginning of Class:
None
Overview:
Developing our own methodology
Homework:
None
8.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
None
Overview:
Trends and Artistic Forms: How will we investigate areas
of culture using methodologies?
Homework:
Study Guide due CLASS 9
9.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
Study Guide 10 Points
Overview:
Reviewing material.
Questions about test.
Homework:
Study for TestNEXT CLASS
10.
Prayer
Homework Due at Beginning of Class:
None
Overview:
LAP 1 Test
Yellow: Aug 31 A
Red: Sept 1 C
Yellow: Sept 2 C
Red: Sept 2 C
Yellow: Sept 3 D
Red: Sept 4 E
Yellow: Sept 9 G
Red: Sept 10 H
Yellow: Sept 10 H
Red: Sept 14 K
Homework:
None.