As a school in the Catholic tradition, the curriculum reflects a broad range of topics for students to study. The students are required for graduation to take a total of two credits in the area of Religious Studies.
Ninth graders take “Understanding Faith” (0.5 credit, 1 semester) which examines the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, and the student’s own spirituality. In the sophomore year, within the World Visions course, the study of World Religions (0.5 credit, 1 semester) is integrated with the study of world civilization and world literature.
In the junior and senior years, the students have a choice of several classes, all of which, except for Philosophy, are one half credit. Juniors and seniors are strongly encouraged to take at least one half credit course each year, with a strong recommendation to take Social Justice as one of them. The Social Justice course examines the scripture imperative to live God’s all-inclusive justice in the world and looks at both the problems that face our times and viable strategies each of us can employ to change the injustice that exists. Any of the other courses offered may be taken based on a student’s interest and what her schedule will accommodate. The student always has the option of taking additional credit beyond the two needed for graduation.
Understanding Faith (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
This class is designed to help students explore, deepen, and enhance the relationships they have with themselves, others, and God. The Judeo-Christian tradition is the basis for this course, with an emphasis on the Catholic perspective. Other elements of this course include Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, prayer, morality, and decision making skills.
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World Visions: Religion (0.5 credit; part of two-block, 1 semester WV course)
This component of the World Visions course seeks to examine the various sacred traditions, particularly of the five major world religions. The primitive religions and the New Age religions of today will also be studied in a brief overview as well as other divisions of the five major religions. Students will be introduced to the founders, creeds, sacred texts, and beliefs of each of these religions. This course will culminate in a field trip to several of the places of worship of the religions examined in this class.
World Visions: Literature
World Visions: History
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Ancient Scriptures (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
The sacred texts from various world religions will be studied with specific emphasis on selected Hindu, Buddhist, Hebrew, and Islamic texts. The class studies specific literary genres found in the texts and explores the themes that emerge from the texts. The study of sacred texts will help the student come to understand how these writings have been fundamental in the shaping of views of the world, life, and human nature.
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Christian Scriptures (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
This course examines core themes of Christian teaching exemplified through three types of literature: narrative, letters, and apocalyptic. By reading selected letters, the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation, the central teaching of Jesus carried out in the community of disciples is studied. Reflection on these teachings will help the student understand how this message has shaped fundamental values and beliefs of the Christian tradition.
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Roman Catholicism (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
The Catholic Church has greatly influenced the world in the past and continues to do so in contemporary times. This course looks critically at several key events in Church history. In addition, topics such as ecumenism, hierarchical authority, and methods of Scripture interpretation will be studied.
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Morality Seminar (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
Morality deals with the set of values and principles that guide our choices about what kind of person we are becoming. Students study and reflect on the ways of divine love and justice which provide the ultimate standard against which all else is measured. Students further study how this standard is found in Scripture and modeled by individuals and communities faithful to the ways of God. The class considers the process of forming one’s conscience in order to make good moral decisions. The students also research and debate selected ethical issues applying principles for moral thinking that they have learned in class.
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Social Justice (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
In a world characterized by justice, conditions needed for all people and all creation to survive and flourish are met. This course develops a conceptual framework for thinking about justice issues. Attention is given to the social justice teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, particularly the justice teachings of the New Testament and social encyclicals. Equity issues are identified and evaluated using principles of justice specifically articulated in the teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition. The interrelationship of teachings about justice and the experience of justice in contemporary life are examined through a variety of activities, readings, and research projects.
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Of Sacraments and Symbols: A Theology of Sign and Response (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
Humans are sacramental people by nature. Whether we are exchanging wedding rings, lighting memorial candles, or breaking bread together, symbols express human experience when words alone are inadequate. This course reflects on the universal language of symbols, the power of ritual, and the grace of sacraments. It will include a study of the seven sacraments as well as the “sacraments” all around us. Students will examine ancient and modern rituals and develop rituals of their own. They will experience different styles of prayer and assist with planning and implementing school liturgies. They will discover symbols as mirrors of who we are and sacraments as pathways to discovering the divine and the human in ourselves and in the world.
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Philosophy (1 credit for Religious Studies, or Social Studies elective)
Philosophy deals with the great questions of human existence. What gives human life meaning? How do we come to know? What are the characteristics of the moral life? Does a God exist? This course explores the efforts of philosophers of Western civilization to answer these and other questions and allows the students to delve into the process of answering many of their own philosophical questions.
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Where Is God When It Hurts? A Theology of Human Suffering (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
Why do bad things happen to good people? That haunting question has inspired entire books and endless human soul searching. This course presents a theology of human suffering by addressing key questions that have absorbed philosophers and theologians down through the ages: Why do we suffer? How can a loving God allow evil to afflict us? Why does human suffering seem so randomly and unfairly distributed? How do we cope with the pain of living and still have faith? The course will include perspectives on human suffering from the great world religions, major schools of philosophy, and from the Christian perspective of the paschal mystery.
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The Challenge of Relating: Living the Law of Love (0.5 credit; half block, 1 semester)
God is Love! So reads the memorable line from the first letter of John in Scripture. That love comes to us primarily through our experience of relating to others. This course examines the gift of love as it is experienced in the major relationships of human life: faith, family, friendship, romantic love, etc. It will study the nature of love, the role of relating in human existence, and the power of love to transform our lives. The obstacles to relating will be addressed as well as skills essential to developing better relationships: communication, forgiveness, conflict management, etc. Both the challenging ideals of divine love and the often fragile experience of human relating have a great deal to teach us about ourselves, others, and God.
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