Catholicism

Status: MODERATED

Grade Level: High School

Objectives:

The Student will know 2 comparative facts about Early Catholicism.

Materials:

• Early Catholicism Slides (below)

• Worksheet - Early Catholicism

• Worksheet - Early Catholicism - Answer Sheet

• Tokens

• Game Board Map - Ancient Rome

• Christian Persecution Game Rules

Preparations:

All are attached below.

• Prepare presentation equipment

• Copy sufficient copies of the Worksheet

• Copy sufficient copies of the Game Board (1 for each team/player)

• Copy sufficient copies of the Game Rules

• Print Tokens and cut out

Method:

1. Gassho

2. Welcome/Roll

3. Intro (If desired, use the presentation)

   1. Have you been chased by a lion?

   2. Stoned for your beliefs?

   3. Been punished for your beliefs?

   4. This was the life of an early Christian

4. Overview

   1. Video: Crash Course: https://youtu.be/TG55ErfdaeY

5. Talk w/ Worksheet

   1. Founder?: Jesus of Nazareth

      1. Greek name Christ means “annointed” (chosen)

      2. Remember: Tenakh (Jewish Bible) = Old Testament

      3. Was an observant Jew (from New Testament) who claimed to be the Messiah. 

      4. Diffs: Baptized people. But believed in keeping the Jewish Covenant.

      5. After being cruxified by King Herod, supposedly resurrects and tells the Apostles to spread throughout the world. This is where many evangelicals claim this requirement.

   2. Founder?: Paul the Apostles (was Saul of Tarsus)

      1. 14 Chapters of the New Testament are attributed to him (7 are authoritative)

      2. As a leader of the Jewish community used to persecute Christians

      3. On the road to Damascus he is blinded and a voice claiming to be Jesus tells him to stop persecuting Christians. This is after Jesus’s resurrection.

      4. He is a Roman citizen as well as Jew.

      5. He founds several groups among the non-Jews: Gentiles

      6. They practiced a relaxed version of the Jewish codes; No Covenants

      7. Early he was independent of the rest of the Apostles; Christianity continued to diverge from Judaism

      8. Continued to spread Christianity throughout the Mediterranean and to Rome

      9. Some Christians considered him their founder.

   3. Christianity in Rome

      1. There was some Christians in Rome before Paul who arrives in 60 AD.

      2. Originally, tolerated as something among the Jews

      3. Peter was the leader of the Apostles and leader of the Church of Jerusalem. Church means a Christian organization.

      4. According to Catholic tradition, both Paul and Peter are said to be the Bishop of Rome although Peter did not spend a long time there before being martyred.

      5. The Bishop of Rome came to be called the Pope

      6. From around 253 to around 300 AD, the Christians are heavily persecuted for their refusal to worship the Roman gods; 

         1. Driven from their homes

         2. Stoned

         3. Forced into gladiatorial games

         4. Enslaved

      7. Peter is crucified and is said to be buried under the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

   4. Review the answers on the Worksheet

6. Persecution Game

   1. Objective:

      1. Vigiles: (Policeman, V)

         1. To find and catch the Early Christians (5 pts)

         2. To find evidence of their religion (1 pt)

      2. Early Christians (EC)

         1. To hide/Stay hidden (1 pt)

         2. To escape (5 pts)

   2. Setup

      1. Each person/team gets a map of Rome

      2. EC get to cover their map w/ a piece of paper and a token

      3. V get a map with a token

      4. Decide among EC order of play and starting space

   3. Turn

      1. Please read the Christian Persecution Game Rules below)

      2. At this point, free EC get a point.

   4. Game ends when time runs out. 

7. Review

   1. This game is a simulation of what an Early Christian faced.

   2. Ask how certain actions felt

Evaluation:

During the Review

Notes:

The game can be played in another session or skipped all together. The game may be played with teams instead of players. 

Author:

Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.com, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 2017