Religious Literacy and Religious Literacy and the Public Schoolsthe Public Schools

Past, Present, & FuturePast, Present, & Future

Religious Literacy QuizReligious Literacy Quiz1.1. Name the four Gospels. List as many as you can.Name the four Gospels. List as many as you can.

2.2. Name a sacred text of Hinduism.Name a sacred text of Hinduism.

3.3. What is the name of the holy book of Islam?What is the name of the holy book of Islam?

4.4. Where according to the Bible was Jesus born?Where according to the Bible was Jesus born?

5.5. President George W. Bush spoke in his first inaugural address of the Jericho road. President George W. Bush spoke in his first inaugural address of the Jericho road. What Bible story was he invoking?What Bible story was he invoking?

6.6. What are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old Testament?What are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old Testament?

7.7. What is the Golden Rule?What is the Golden Rule?

8.8. "God helps those who help themselves": Is this in the Bible? If so, where?"God helps those who help themselves": Is this in the Bible? If so, where?

9.9. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God": Does this appear in "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God": Does this appear in the Bible? If so, where?the Bible? If so, where?

10.10. Name the Ten Commandments. List as many as you can.Name the Ten Commandments. List as many as you can.

11.11. Name the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.Name the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.

12.12. What are the seven sacraments of Catholicism? List as many as you can.What are the seven sacraments of Catholicism? List as many as you can.

13.13. The First Amendment says two things about religion, each in its own "clause." What The First Amendment says two things about religion, each in its own "clause." What are the two religious clauses of the First Amendment?are the two religious clauses of the First Amendment?

14.14. What is Ramadan? In what religion is it celebrated?What is Ramadan? In what religion is it celebrated?

Religious Literacy Quiz AnswersReligious Literacy Quiz Answers1.1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (1 point each)Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (1 point each)

2.2. Can include the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Can include the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Yoga Sutras, Laws of Manu, Kama Sutra (1 point)Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Yoga Sutras, Laws of Manu, Kama Sutra (1 point)

3.3. Quran (1 point)Quran (1 point)

4.4. Bethlehem (1 point)Bethlehem (1 point)

5.5. The Good Samaritan (1 point)The Good Samaritan (1 point)

6.6. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (1 point each)Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (1 point each)

7.7. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12) or a similar "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12) or a similar sentiment from Rabbi Hillel or Confucius. ("Love your neighbor as yourself" is not sentiment from Rabbi Hillel or Confucius. ("Love your neighbor as yourself" is not the Golden Rule.) (1 point)the Golden Rule.) (1 point)

8.8. No, this is not in the Bible. In fact, it is contradicted in Proverbs 28:26: "He who No, this is not in the Bible. In fact, it is contradicted in Proverbs 28:26: "He who trusts in himself is a fool." The words are Ben Franklin's. (2 points)trusts in himself is a fool." The words are Ben Franklin's. (2 points)

9.9. Yes, in the Beatitudes of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3) (2 points)Yes, in the Beatitudes of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3) (2 points)

10.10. The Protestant, Catholic and Jewish versions of the Ten Commandments differ. The Protestant, Catholic and Jewish versions of the Ten Commandments differ.

11.11. 1. Life is suffering, 2. Suffering has an origin, 3. Suffering can be overcome 1. Life is suffering, 2. Suffering has an origin, 3. Suffering can be overcome (nirvana), 4. The path to overcoming suffering is the Noble Eightfold Plan.(nirvana), 4. The path to overcoming suffering is the Noble Eightfold Plan.

12.12. Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sickthe Sick

13.13. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”the free exercise thereof.”

14.14. Muslim holiday characterized by a month of fastingMuslim holiday characterized by a month of fasting

The PastThe Past

First Amendment rightsFirst Amendment rights Religious views informed the public Religious views informed the public

debate on major issues:debate on major issues: AbolitionAbolition TemperanceTemperance Women’s rightsWomen’s rights Civil rightsCivil rights

The PresentThe Present Separation of Church and State Separation of Church and State

doctrine dominates decision makingdoctrine dominates decision making

Major public issues with religious Major public issues with religious viewpoints:viewpoints: AbortionAbortion Birth controlBirth control Capital punishmentCapital punishment Gay marriageGay marriage

Global warmingGlobal warming Intelligent designIntelligent design Military/Foreign Military/Foreign

policypolicy Welfare policy Welfare policy

The FutureThe Future

Calls for Education ReformCalls for Education Reform Ethics/Values EducationEthics/Values Education Religious Literacy of major world Religious Literacy of major world

religionsreligions

Literacy of World ReligionsLiteracy of World Religions

Pre-9/11 apathy, general ignorance, Pre-9/11 apathy, general ignorance, limited understandinglimited understanding

World religion as subject matter World religion as subject matter Teaching religionTeaching religion Teaching about religionTeaching about religion

Social Studies curriculumSocial Studies curriculum Religion in world historyReligion in world history

Ethics and Values in EducationEthics and Values in Education Philosophical origins of Western educationPhilosophical origins of Western education Socrates, Aristotle, AquinasSocrates, Aristotle, Aquinas Historical church schools – morality, Historical church schools – morality,

values educationvalues education After VirtueAfter Virtue (1981) by Alasdair MacIntyre (1981) by Alasdair MacIntyre

book proposes an Aristotelian account of book proposes an Aristotelian account of practice and virtuepractice and virtue

““Moral education in the practice of shared Moral education in the practice of shared virtues can itself be a viable practice in virtues can itself be a viable practice in our plural society.” Katsushige Katayamaour plural society.” Katsushige Katayama

Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion Do we need to add world religions Do we need to add world religions

literacy to social studies curricula?literacy to social studies curricula?

Do we need to add moral values Do we need to add moral values education to curricula?education to curricula?

How will you personally live your How will you personally live your beliefs while serving as a professional beliefs while serving as a professional public educator?public educator?