Overview
Students will consider a number of significant questions that examine the reliability and credibility of the Christian faith. These explore philosophical objections, the relationship between faith and science, and the historical credibility of Christianity. Students will be introduced to a range of Christian responses to these common and important questions.
Questions can be examined individually or combined as a unit of work.
Learning Activities
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Students will be able to identify and articulate major questions related to the Christian faith.
- Students will examine reasoned arguments and demonstrate the ability to engage critically with complex ideas.
- Students will reflect on how their own beliefs and values impact their perspective on a variety of questions and issues.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the practical implications of different faith perspectives.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
- Students can critically evaluate the credibility and logical coherence of key Christian claims.
- Students can construct well-reasoned arguments in written or oral form addressing a chosen question of faith.
- Students can articulate thoughtful responses which demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the issues examined.
- Students can analyse the relationship between scientific findings and Christian beliefs, including how each influences the other.
Questions of Historical Credibility
Philosophical Objections
Science & Religion Questions
Assessment Task
Formative Assessment:
Track student engagement by observing or assessing their participation in class discussions, and/or some kind of online forum where students can discuss and critique the various issues raised in the unit.
Assessment Criteria:
- engagement with course material
- ability to articulate and support viewpoints
- responsiveness to peer contributions
Summative Assessment:
Students can complete one of the following by choosing a specific question or issue from the unit, that interests them.
Research Proposal with Annotated Bibliography – Students write a research proposal outlining how they would investigate their chosen question/issue. They also compile an annotated bibliography of key sources which could be used in the research.
Multimedia Project – Students create a multimedia project, such as a podcast, mini-doco, website, or interactive slides that give an overview of their chosen question/issue. Quality submissions will explain the significance of the question/issue in a balanced way.
Research Report – Students complete further research on their chosen question/issue, presenting their evaluation of the evidence or arguments that they discover. They can produce a formal or informal report, which may be written, recorded or presented in class.
Curriculum Integration
We’ll add more here over time, feel free to let us know which classes these lessons have been helpful for.