As I have the privilage of sharing these sneak peeks with you each week, I am getting more and more enthused for this particular HOD guide!
It is good for me to gather my thoughts as I share with each of you, and it is such a joy to be able to reveal our plans and book choices that have been many months in the choosing! This particular sneak peek is very near and dear to my heart, as it is truly a part of the guide that took me a very long time to develop a plan for implementation. This is because while we desperately wanted to include a world religions and cultures course along with the study of geography, we didn't want to make it seem to the students as if we were encouraging them to embrace the various world religions as truth. We also wanted any content to be living and narrative, rather than taking a textbook approach! Consequently, we spent a long time figuring out how best to approach this very important and necessary topic.
Understanding world religions is a crucial, and often overlooked, part of understanding world geography. This is because the religions of the world dominate settlements, architecture, family structures, professions, community design, travel, worship, and government.
To teach world geography without teaching world religions would result in a very surface view of geography, and the students would then be missing much of the "why" and "how" behind where settlements occurred and civilizations grew. As students study world religions and cultures, it is also important for them to understand how each religion compares to Christianity.
At the same time, we desire to instill in students compassion and a heart for the people of the world. We deeply desire for our children to know how to approach those of other faiths in a respectful manner that is not condescending. To do this, students need to understand those to whom they are seeking to share Christ's message of salvation. So, these became the goals of our world religions and cultures course. We have designed our world religions and cultures course to be a semester credit, however we will stretch it out with daily sessions of 30 min. (4 days a week) over one full school year. It will be a required part of the World Geography guide, and the books needed for the study will be a part of the Economy Package. The course will begin with the foundational question, "But Don't All Religions Lead to God"? After that introduction, we will move into an overview of each of the major world religions and their cultures (with corresponding notebook graphic organizers for each religion).
After each world religion is introduced and studied, it will be followed up by reading a personal story of someone living in this religion's culture who either converted to Christianity from the particular religion studied or who lived among the people of that particular religion for many years in a ministry capacity. These types of true stories give a wonderful view of how each religion compares to Christianity, and also show how religion dominates the culture surrounding each person and affects his/her life and decisions in the day-to-day.
The final books in the course look at Christian worship in various places around the world to help us broaden our view of what Christianity looks like in different cultures. These books open our eyes to the joy that Christians around the world share in our Savior and to the differing ways that Christians in various cultures worship that Savior.
This type of course is not meant to glorify the religions of the world or to place all religions on an even plane as viable possibilities. Instead, it is meant to give students compassion for the unreached peoples of the world and to help them gain a better understanding of what those who belong to various religions believe. It is also a reminder that there should be no arrogance in us as we deal with people of other religions, because each of us are only saved from sin through the redeeming blood of our Savior!
Below is a listing (with descriptions from the publisher) of the books that will be used in this course. Keep in mind that not all of these resources are perfect, as the only perfect book is God's Word, and there will be some notes in the guide of a few places to discuss possible differences with your children. Yet, overall each resource is truly excellent for the role it will play in this course.
But Don't All Religions Lead to God?
We've all heard the rationale: "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere." Or "All religions are pretty much the same." But are they the same? Does it matter which one you follow? In this insightful and compelling book, Michael Green invites readers into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the divine revelation and only pathway to the one true God.
In a conversational style geared toward nonbelievers, Green compares Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and other religions to help spiritual seekers navigate the multi-faith maze. "But Don't All Religions Lead to God?" is an ideal reference and evangelism tool for churches and individual Christians as well. It offers scriptural references, looks at how divergent religious traditions view salvation and eternity, and answers difficult questions such as "What about people who have never heard of Jesus?" and "How should Christians regard other religions?"
In the midst of our pluralistic and tolerant culture, here is an important and convincing argument for faith in Jesus-the only great teacher whose death and resurrection provided grace, forgiveness, and an eternity in the presence of God.
World Religions: An Indispensable Introduction
An essential introduction to eight of the world’s major religions. Gerald R. McDermott explains what you need to understand about major world religions in order to engage people of other faiths while better understanding your own Christian faith and practice. McDermott offers an overview of the central beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto. Each chapter includes explanations of traditions and rituals. McDermott discusses major figures within each religion. Features include insights from members of each religious community and a glossary of important terms.
Mimosa by Amy Charmichael
The child of an Indian village, from a Hindu family, heard one afternoon of a God who loved her, and she lived from then on under His influence. Read this remarkable story of the girl who was embraced by the love of God and overcame every kind of opposition and trouble.
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus
Gain a deeper understanding of Jesus by seeing his world through the eyes of first-century Jews! Journey back to ancient Palestine and explore the culture, customs, feasts, and prayers that shaped Christ and his disciples. You'll discover how to enrich your own faith by gaining insight into the Jewishness of Jesus. Includes suggestions for reflection, prayer, and meditation at the end of each chapter.
Sundar Singh
Searching since boyhood for the way to God, Sundar Singh found truth in Jesus Christ. At sixteen, the former Sikh became a Christian sadhu, or holy man, and at great risk devoted his life to Christ. With bare feet and few possessions, Sundar crossed the precarious Himalayas between India and Tibet many times, sharing the gospel with Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs. As he travled, Sundar constantly read the Bible, prayed, and meditated, confident that God was always with him, even in the face of death. Preaching in India, Europe, and as far away as America, this Indian saint impacted thousands with his quiet yet bold words and actions.
Queen of the Dark Chamber
Known as a child as "Too Many", she was the 18th child born to a ruling Buddhist family and also surrounded by Chinese Confucianism. This retelling of her life story brings hope and comfort as she meets the Infinite-Personal God of the Bible! Now called Christiana Tsai she would eventually be known as The Queen of the Dark Chamber. Billy Graham writes this "...Christiana Tsai has made us feel the heartbeat of a nation and has done much to interpret the sufficiency of Christ to a great and needy people." This autobiography is too good to miss.
Japan Diary
Veteran missionaries Larry and Lilian Driskill describe the many lessons and insights they learned as they adjusted to living in post-World War II Japan, shortly after the Japanese Emperor declared that he was not truly "divine". This revelation shocked the Japanese people and shook their Shinto belief system to its core. Like the facets of a diamond, the vignettes in this book throw light not only on life in Japan, but on what is involved in adjusting to any new culture. It also shows how the Driskills, aided by their faith, bore the fruit of acceptance into Japanese culture by planting and growing churches and schools among their Japanese friends.
I Dared to Call Him Father
This is the fascinating true story of Bilquis Sheikh, a prominent Muslim woman. Her unusual journey to a personal relationship with God turned her world upside down-and put her life in danger. Originally published in 1978, the book has sold 300,000 copies and is a classic in Muslim evangelism. The 25th anniversary edition includes an afterword by a missionary friend of Bilquis who plays a prominent role in the story and an appendix on how the East enriches the West.
God's Global Mosaic
God's people around the world form a mosaic. Each piece of the picture is different, but it contributes to a beautiful portrait of who God is and what he is doing. Each area of the world exhibits a unique aspect of the Christian faith. As we learn from these many cultural expressions of Christianity, our own faith can be made more complete. You will see God through the eyes of others; and new windows of devotion, encouragement and growth will open before you. If you want to see God as you have never seen him before, a God who is big as the whole world, this is the book for you.
Foreign to Familiar
If the world were roughly divided into "hot climate" and "cold climate" cultures, what could one half of humankind learn from the other? Lanier---the daughter of missionaries and an experienced world traveler---writes insightfully on topics including relationship vs. task orientation; direct vs. indirect communication; individualism vs. group identity; and different concepts of hospitality around the world. This book is a splendidly written, well researched work on cultures. Sarah's love and sensitivity for people of all nations will touch your heart!
I can truly say that each of the books in this study are fascinating and engaging in a different way!
We pray that as your students work through this course that the stories they read will open their hearts to a deeper relationship with their Savior and to a greater understanding and love of others around the world! Blessings,
Carrie
Amazing! Inspiring! Invigorating! I want to be homeschooled!! No fair!