Across the Indus River to Valhalla- Goddesses, Rituals, Saints and More.
Jessika O'Sullivan
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(1,099)
A 15 week class working around themes to see similarities and differences in religions.
Class experience
US Grade 7 - 10
All cultures and areas of the world have belief systems that explain how the world was created, why there is good and evil in the world, and how humans are supposed to act towards each other and towards the divine. No religion is created out of a vacuum. Religious beliefs come from geography, human fears, and longings and cultural meetings through trade and conquest. The goals of these 15 hours are to create an understanding within the student of how human history and conditions have...
15 lessons//15 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Creation MythsWe will learn about creation myths that can be categorized as creation by a supreme being or creation through an emergence or birth and discuss where evil and suffering come from.Week 2Lesson 2Creation MythsWe will learn about creation myths that can be categorized as creation through a cosmic egg, creation through sacrifice, and creation through a battle.Week 3Lesson 3Mother GoddessesWe will learn about Mother Goddesses from Africa, Central America, Australia and Europe.Week 4Lesson 4TrickstersWe will learn about Tricksters from Africa, Europe, and North AmericaWeek 5Lesson 5The UnderworldWe will learn about goddesses and gods connected to death, the underworld/afterlife, and minerals from Europe, Asia, and South America.Week 6Lesson 6SkyWe will learn about gods connected to the sky from Europe and Asia and discuss the Indo-European heritage.Week 7Lesson 7Sacrifice and prayerWe will learn about the practice of sacrificing and prayer from religions in Asia, South America, and Europe.Week 8Lesson 8Rites of passageWe will learn about rites of passage from Asia, Europe, and AustraliaWeek 9Lesson 9Moral RulesWe will discuss moral dilemmas and see what moral rules have been broken from Hinduism, Greek, and The Golden Rule from all religions.Week 10Lesson 10Moral RulesWe will discuss moral dilemmas and see what moral rules have been broken from Hinduism, Greek, and The Golden Rule from all religions.Week 11Lesson 11Women in ReligionWe will learn about Shamans throughout history and today and how this role has often been played by women. We will also learn about the concept of the Axis Mundi, The World Tree, and "The Umbilical Cord," which many religions believe connect the human world with the spiritual world.Week 12Lesson 12Women in ReligionWe will learn about Vestal Virgins in Rome and nuns from Christianity and BuddhismWeek 13Lesson 13Female SaintsWe will learn about Saint Aquilina and Joan of Arc and discuss how these two young girls acted due to their religious beliefsWeek 14Lesson 14Female SaintsWe will learn about Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, discuss stigmata, and learn about St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who wrote The Story of a Soul that still is a bestseller.Week 15Lesson 15Extra timeThis last lesson is a buffer for discussions that run long during the other 14 weeks and/or can be used for general discussions about what we have learned throughout the class
My masters degree in education was obtained in Sweden where world religions are taught in public schools. In college I spent two years exclusively studying religion from a historical, psychological and sociological perspective. This gave me a deep understanding of the development of religions and the human experience of religions.
Homework Offered
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered
I will speak of sacrifices and goddesses connected to female experiences including childbirth and menstruation. Some imagery of gods and goddesses will show slight nudity. On occasion, depending on the group of students, sensitive subjects like racism, sexism, violence etc might be discussed.
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(1,099)
I believe in creating connections with my students and keeping my teaching age appropriate. My teaching will challenge my students but never let them fail or feel like they are failing. Patience, silliness, and kindness go a long way. As a...
Group Class
$200
for 15 classes1x per week, 15 weeks
60 min
Completed by 85 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
2-10 learners per class
