Early Christianity

Status: MODERATED

Grade Level: High School

Objectives: 

The student will know 2 basic facts about Christianity

Materials:

• Several die (at least one per team). May use an dice app.

• Paper for the quiz

• Paper for the Recorders to write on during the Game

• YouTube video (link in the Method below)

Preparation:

• Prepare presentation equipment (Projector or monitor & laptop)

Method:

1. Opening Gassho

2. Welcome

3. What do you know about Christianity? Where did it start? How?

4. Pass paper and ask the students to write down their answer to the following questions as it pertains to Christianity

   1. Who is the founder? 

   2. When was it founded?

   3. What are the central beliefs?

   4. Who are the leaders?

   5. What is the central text?

5. Discussion

   1. Tell the students that these questions are the one that we can ask of any religion

   2. Gather the responses.

   3. Ask "What do you think of this?"

   4. Say "Now let's find out"

   5. Think of a question that you might want to ask. Examples:

      1. What do I want to know about this?

      2. What is its "true" belief?

      3. Is Christian "Faith" same as Buddhist "faith"?

      4. How should I talk to "Christians?"

6. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/TG55ErfdaeY

7. Discussion

   1. What did you learn?

   2. What are the answers to the questions:

      1. Who is the founder? (Jesus Christ, Saul, St Paul)

      2. When was it founded? (Year 0 CE,  1st Century (as a sect), 313 CE (Constantine's edict))

      3. What are the central beliefs? (Bible, Apostle's Creed, Holy Trinity, Resurrection of Christ, Holiness of the Church)

      4. Who are the leaders? (St Peter, St Paul, Pope)

      5. What is the central text? (Bible)

   3. Did you get your question answered?

   4. (If no, then say that "keep these questions so we can get them answered in this set of classes")

8. "Create a religion" Game

1. Activity: Create my religion : Objective: to have the most members at end.

2. Groups of 3 (could be 2 or 1) Choose a leader, record keeper, member

   • Leader: makes decisions, based on some rules

   • Recorder: writes down rules and agreements

   • Member: belongs, tries to convince others

3. Before first turn:

   • Each Religion decide on name

   • Decide on basic tenets of the religion/practice

     • Required 

       • Central object/person of reverence

       • Central rules (including Member behavior)

     • Others 

       • Difference from other/previous.

       • Maybe a branching from base religion

       • Monotheistic or Polytheistic?

       • Based on covenants?

       • Decide how to decide (governance)

   • Leaders make statements to class explaining their Religion

4. Each turn: There are these phases:

   • Conference: all members have 3 min to decide on changes to the rules if any. Decision process based on rules. Recorder writes the rule. (Crosses out deleted rules).

   • Appeal: Leader makes a statement to class trying to attract new members

   • Evangelism: Members are free to walk around and talk to Leaders. Members may make deals and convert (go to a new religion). Deals should be documented by the Recorder, but may not. If not, then the Leader may renege on the deal. Deals can be anything from : Changing the Leader or changing the rules to a particular way.

5. Events

   • Before Turn 2: Invasion. Each team rolls a die (6 sided die). 

     • If you roll a 1, then you lose all members including the Recorder.  

     • If you roll a 2, then you lose 2 member (possibly including the Recorder).

     • If you roll a 3 or 4, then you lose 1 member (if there is only the Recorder, then you are safe)

     • If you roll at 5 or 6, then your religion is safe; you lose no members

   • Before Turn 3: Famine

     • Everyone is too hungry. All teams lose on Member (if they have one)

   • Before Turn 4: Revolution

     • All Leaders in Jail. Leaders cannot participate in Appeal or Evangelism phases.

   • Last Turn:

     • Starting from the most popular religion Leaders presents the tenets and rules at the beginning and what they ended

     • Include folded religions

     • At the end, remind students that this is what happens to many religions at the beginning: Staying true to your beliefs vs Attracting new members

6. Summary

   • Ask what they learned today

   • Ask what was memorable about Early Christianity

Evaluation:

• During the questions asked during the Summary

Notes:

If there is insufficient time, the Game maybe omitted or even made into its own lesson

Author:

Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.com, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 2024