Grade 8 Religion - New Testament


Theology 8 Syllabus.doc
  • November 5th 2018 - Discussed as a class the meaning of the parables of the kingdom of heaven. Students were asked to pick one of the parables, interpret it, and give a definition for the meaning of the "Kingdom of Heaven."
  • October 30th 2018 - Discussed the letter of the law and the rule behind the law. Jesus' deeper intention was to help us to grasp the intention of the laws and not simply obey the rule of them. Discussed the rules relating to the Sabbath, washing hands, and eating on the Sabbath.
  • October 23rd 2018 - Discussed the relationship between Jesus and Moses. Students were asked to journal on the similarities in the life of both Jesus and Moses.
  • October 22nd 2018 - Discussed the question, what is prayer? Why does Jesus say that the Pharasees were hypocritical? What does it mean when Jesus says that life is more than food and clothing?
  • October 11th 2018 - Continued a conversation on the beatitudes. Students were asked to journal about them. They were asked to write down the beatitudes, point out what attachment/addiction it helps free us from, and finally which beatitudes they were most attracted to, and which beatitudes they were most repelled by.
  • October 4th 2018 - Discussed the temptations of Christ, and how the temptations reflect a movement away from long term thinking toward short satisfaction.
  • Monday October 1st 2018 - Students read Matthew ch 3-4. We began a discussion around the pharasees, Sadducees, and finally on what repentance means. Students were asked to discuss the idea if John the Baptist were alive today, how would he ask us to change or become better.
  • Friday September 28th 2018 - Students asked to fill in the answer for a number of questions asked in class: When was Matthew written, who was Abraham, who was David, what is the significance of the chronology? Students were then asked to read Matthew 1:18 and Matthew 2.
  • Tuesday September 25th 2018 - Students were reminded of the past due assignment. After taking pictures, we began a discussion on the Genealogy of Jesus. We discussed what a genealogy is? We spoke about the major events that took place in the genealogy, and the major figures. Finally, we discussed why Matthew would have included a genealogy in his text.
  • Thursday September 20th - Students asked to work in class on their assignment: Is it reasonable to believe in the existence of God? Students were asked to journal first on the question, receive a critique of the entry from the teacher, and then hand in a final good copy on Friday September 21st 2018. The assignment is one page double spaced typed.
  • Friday September 14th 2018 - Discussed in class the difference between proving something in science to be true, and proving something in mathematics to be true. Gave examples from court cases. Watched a video on the notion of proof.
  • Wednesday September 11th 2018 - The class was given the opportunity to finish the journal entry for the last class. We discussed the cosmological argument for the existence of God. Students were asked to answer the question in their notebook: What is the cosmological argument?
  • Wednesday September 10th 2018 - In class we discussed the difference between religious truths and scientific ones. Students were asked to write in their journals two examples of a scientific truth, and two examples of a religious truth. Students discussed and then journaled about the "Tortoise and the Hare" story. We asked the question whether one can believe in the Tortoise and the Hare and scientific evolution at the same time.
  • Wednesday September 5th 2018. Went over syllabus with the students. All students were asked to bring in a journal which would be what they use for notes and journal entry reflections. In class, as a group we discussed whether or not there is reason to believe God exists.