Download Profiles - WordPress.com

Senior Religious Education
Year 11 Semester One
A Study Guide for
Chasing God
We are about to follow the most
elusive and most controversial figure in
recorded history. Known about in every
country of the world and hotly debated
in every language under the sun, no one
has been so passionately argued about
or so fiercely defended.
For many people, a belief in God
is a significant aspect of their life
experience, defining their individual
identity and their search for meaning.
Such a belief allows people to
explain the nature of existence
and the purpose of human life.
It guides people’s personal and
communal behaviour and plays an
important part in maintaining and
shaping cultures. Three-quarters
of the world’s population believe
in a Higher Power, yet there is no
universally accepted concept of this
mysterious being. Chasing God offers
a contemporary and challenging
exploration of religious belief.
Through interviews with religious
leaders from diverse faiths, scientists,
atheists, anthropologists and
the devout, Chasing God offers a
provocative discussion of God’s place
and purpose. The documentary takes
us to places of worship where people
of faith invoke the divine. These
scenes of belief are juxtaposed with
scenes of unrest and destruction
that allow the filmmakers to explore
whether God is still relevant in
today’s harsh world.
Mini-inquiry package for Religion and Life
1
Teacher Notes
‘Chasing God’ is a documentary in 6 sections preceded by an
introduction. In the DVD version each section can be selected separately
from a menu.
Introduction
1. God: a relentless search
2. God: reality or imagination
3. God: a most controversial role
4. God: up close and personal
5. God: a slippery character
6. God: the final piece / peace
A mini-inquiry has been designed for each section.
The use of the documentary and the inquiry package is at the teacher’s
discretion. The material will be enhanced by expository lessons,
discussions, guest lectures and writing. Wider reading and research will
be beneficial and is encouraged. Whole class activities which stimulate
interest through debate or which allow the sharing of information are also
encouraged.
The DVD runs for 52 minutes. It is suitable for secondary students. It is
exempt from classification but the distributors recommend a G rating.
The following table indicates how the DVD links to the Catholic Content
Catholic Content for Units 1A and 2A
People search for meaning and purpose in life

People seek, sense and think about God

All people are capable of being religious

Genuine religious experiences affect people
Catholics believe that the search for meaning finds fulfillment only by
knowing and relating to God

The human heart finds fulfillment in God

Conscience is the source of true religious yearnings
Catholics believe that God continuously reaches out to all people

People discover God through creation and the goodness of others

People discover God through awareness of personal mystery

People find and express their religious search through religions

Christians enter into a dialogue with other religions

The Church helps people develop their experience of God
Sections
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2, 5, 6
4, 6
4, 5, 6
1, 3, 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
4, 5, 6
1, 5, 6
Credits
Many of the questions have been taken from the Australian Teachers Of
Media on-line study guide written by Katy Marriner. This can be accessed
as a pdf at: http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/2395132651.html. Permission has
been given to use this material. The ATOM website and Education Shop
website are listed below. Access these websites for more film resources.
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
http://www.theEducationShop.com.au
2
Profiles
The following prominent leaders represent atheism, anthropology, religion,
science and meditation. The interviews were filmed on location in India, Israel,
Palestine, Italy, U.S.A. and Australia.
Anthropology Richard Heinberg, San Francisco, U.S.A. (Award-winning
Author and Lecturer)
Atheism
Phillip Adams, Sydney, Australia. (Broadcaster, Columnist,
Commentator, Awarded Order of Australia in 1987)
Buddhism
Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Dharamsala, India. (Senior Teacher at
the Dalai Lama Temple and International Lecturer on Tibetan
Buddhism)
Cardinal Francis Arinze, Vatican City, Europe. (President of
the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue)
Christianity
Padre Enzo Fortunato, Assisi, Italy. (Spokesman for the
Franciscan Order)
Reverend Rowena Curtis, Melbourne, Australia. (Pastor of
the Baptist Church)
Hinduism
Shri 1008 Jagadguru Dr. Chandrashekhar Shivacharya
Mahaswamiji, Varanasi, India.
Islam
Imam Sheikh Yahya Safi, Sydney, Australia. (Imam of Lakemba
Mosque and Director of Da’wah and Fatwah office)
Judaism
Rabbi David Rosen, Jerusalem, Israel. (Director of the AntiDefamation League)
Meditation
Dadi Prakashmani & Dadi Gulzar, Mount Abu, India. (Chief
Administrators of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual
University, Recipient of the International Peace Messenger
Award from the United Nations)
Professor Ian Johnston, Sydney, Australia. (Associate
Professor, School of Physics, The University of Sydney)
Science
Sikhism
Gyani Puran Singh Ji, Amritsar, India. (Spiritual and temporal
head of the Sikhs at the Golden Temple)
Sufism
Sufi Sheikh Abdelsalaam Menasre, Nazareth, Israel /
Palestine. (Sufi of the Quiderit Order)
3
Before viewing the documentary
Task:
1.
Research one or more belief system or discipline from the list on the
previous page and share your information with the class.
2.
Research the number of adherents for each group:
a) In the world
b) In Australia
Introduction
Narrator: We are about to follow the most elusive and most controversial figure
in recorded history. Known about in every country of the world and hotly
debated in every language under the sun, no one has been so passionately
argued about or so fiercely defended.
The very existence of this figure has never been proven even
though people seek a higher power in some way, every hour of every day,
somewhere on the planet.
Task:
Watch the introduction but beforehand, read questions below. You may
need to watch the introduction more than once in order to collect the
information to adequately answer the questions.
1. Comment on the pronoun used for ‘God’ by each of the speakers in the
introduction.
2. A ‘generalisation’ is a sweeping statement such as ‘everybody believes
in love.’ What generalisations are made by the narrator in the
introduction?
3. Seven religions are shown at prayer. Arrange the religions, Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Meditation and Sikhism in the
order in which they first appear (this could be a whole class exercise).
4. The following statements about God are made in the introduction. What
claims best describe your understanding of God? Do you disagree with
any claim?? Are there any that are difficult to understand?
• There are some things he can do that we cannot do
• He is beyond human comprehension.
• There are diverse ways of relating to him.
• I felt that he is my friend.
• He might not exist at all.
• He never experiences sorrow.
• Whoever searches for him, will find him.
• He must be dead.
http://www.theage.com.au/tv/Documentary/Chasing-God-4200503.html
4
1 God: a relentless search
Narrator: Nothing has baffled us human beings more than the meaning of
life.
Focus Question: Why do people look for God?
Task:
Make notes of the reasons offered by the religious leaders and experts
interviewed in this section. A table like the one below could be useful.
Francis
Cardinal Arinze
Professor
Johnstone
Ian
Rabbi David
Rosen
Dadi Gulzar
Phillip Adams
Questions
1. Based on the views of several religious leaders, why do people look
for God? (short paragraph)
2. Should we chase God or should we let God chase us? What do you
think would be the consensus of the religious leaders above?
5
2 God: reality or imagination
Narrator: According to a worldwide religious census, there are
approximately four-and-a-half billion people, living today, who believe in
a Higher Power.
Focus Question: Is God real or imagined?
Task:
1. List the perspectives on both belief and doubt expressed by:

Rabbi David Rosen (Judaism)

Giani Puran Singh Ji (Sikhism)

Sheikh Yahya Safi (Sufism)

Phillip Adams (Atheism)

Professor Ian Johnston (Science)

Gese Sonam Rinchen (Buddhism)
The speakers
appear in the order
shown here.

Draw up a table for
notes like the one
on the previous
page.
2 Belief can be labeled as unquestioning belief, belief with reservations,
elective believing or cultural believing. Use internet or print sources to
define each type of belief.
3. Individuals may express belief in many ways. Religions commonly
have the following elements as ways to express belief:
Formal statements of belief (creeds)
Myths and other stories
Sacred texts and other religious
writings
Oral and written codes of behaviour
Sacred signs and symbols
Sacred spaces
Sacred people
Sacred time
Rituals,
Social structures
Religious experience
As a class generate examples for each of these
Questions:
1. What factors influence belief in God?
2. How is belief affirmed?
3. How is belief challenged?
4. How is belief expressed in worship (as demonstrated on the
DVD)?
5. How does belief in God shape the growth and transformation of
communities (start with the school community)?
6
3 God: a most controversial role
Narrator: Throughout history and still now, atheist and believers alike
have questioned God’s apparent indifference. Their voices may be
varied but their questions are the same: Where is God now? How can
He or She let this happen? These are some of humanity’s most
persistent and heartfelt questions.
Focus Question: Why does God let bad things happen?
Task:
Atheist Phillip Adams contends that if God was real He (or She)
would intervene to prevent human suffering. Rabbi David Rosen and
Cardinal Arinze contend that humans cause the suffering because
they do not use their God-given freedom properly. Listen to their
arguments and note any points made by the other speakers. The
order of appearance is as follows (some appear more than once):
Phillip Adams (Atheism)
Rabbi David Rosen (Judaism)
Francis Cardinal Arinze (Christian)
Gese Sonam Rinchen Buddhism)
Shri 1008 Jagadguru Dr Chandrashekhar Shivacharya Mahaswamji
(Hindu)
Sufi Sheikh Abdelsalaam Menasre (Sufi)
Reverend Rowena Curtis (Christian)
Phillip Adams (Atheism)
Richard Heinberg (Anthropology)
Dadi Prakashmani (Meditation)
Richard Heinberg (Anthropology)
Phillip Adams (Atheism)
Questions:
1 What is meant by ‘free will’?
2 How can God’s presence be seen in the ways people work to
challenge inhuman and unjust conditions?
3 Is it wrong to depend on God in times of great need?
7
4 God: up close and personal
Narrator: In the end the existence of a Higher Power is either a
universal truth or a mass delusion. In the absence of any veritable
proof, what we are left with are personal experiences.
Focus Question: How is the existence of God experienced personally?
Task:
Listen to the personal experiences of God by the following and note
those whose experience has been one God’s direct intervention (eg.
being protected from death):
Sufi Sheikh Abdelsalaam Mensare (Sufi)
Dadi Gulzar (Meditation)
Giani Puran Singh Ji (Sikhism)
Padre Enzo Fortunato (Christianity)
Pastor Rowena Curtis (Christianity)
Dadi Prakashmani (Meditation)
Iman Sheikh Yahya Safi (Islam)
Francis Cardinal Arinze (Christianity)
Phillip Adams (Atheism)
Gese Sonam Rinchem (Buddhism)
Questions:
1. Are personal experiences enough proof of God’s existence?
2. Religious people have a sense that there is something beyond the
ordinary experiences of life and that this something gives purpose
to life. Give one example of this from the personal experiences to
which you have listened.
3. Consider all the personal experiences of God you have heard and
give a summary statement of what these tell you about God’s
revelation.
Narrator: But others have simply given up on God.
4. Listen to Phillip Adams’ story of giving up on God. What do you
think is Adams’ understanding of revelation (how God is revealed)?
8
5 God: a slippery character
Narrator: This Higher Power is depicted in as many different ways as
imagination will allow. From a bearded old man, to an all-seeing eye
in the sky, to a simple, living point of light. As yet there is no one
universally accepted image of God.
Focus Question: What does God look like?
Task:
1. Listen to the perceptions of God’s identity made by the following
speakers (appearing in the order given). Show by a tick next to the
speaker’s name those statements that agree with your perception of
God’s identity. Show by a cross those statements you don’t agree
with and show by a question mark those you are not sure about.
Phillip Adams (Atheism)
Reverend Rowena Curtis (Christianity)
1008 Jagadgura Chanrashekhar (Hinduism)
Rabbi David Rosen (Judaism)
Iman Sheikh Yahya Safi (Islam)
Professor Ian Johnston (Science)
Dadi Gulzar (Meditation)
2. Richard Heinberg
presents a theory of how
belief in one God
(monotheism) developed.
Complete the pyramid
diagram shown in the
DVD.
3. The DVD illustrates the
different names for God on a
large jigsaw. These names
include, Shiva, Yahweh,
Supreme Soul, Ram. Add to
the list.
Question:
Reverend Rowena Curtis says, ‘I think it would be very difficult for
it not to be the same One.’ How can one God satisfy all the
different perceptions of different religions?
9
6 God: the final piece
Narrator: For thousands of years in thousands of ways we have
searched for the truth about God and despite times of confusion and acts
of humanity God remains alive in the consciousness of human kind
continually inspiring hope for our future.
Focus Question: What would convince people of the existence of God?
Task:
Listen to the comments of the following people on their hopes for the
future:
Richard Heinberg (Anthropology)
Rabbi David Rosen (Judaism)
Shri 1008 Jagadguru Dr Chandrashekhar (Hinduism)
Rabbi David Rosen (Judaism)
Dadi Gulzar (Meditation)
Reverend Rowena Curtis (Christianity)
Questions:
1. The DVD asks, ‘How will God make and appearance at the end of
time?’ What answers do the religious leaders and experts have in
common?
2. What would convince Richard Heinberg of the existence of God?
10
Comments on Chasing God
Taken from http://www.teachers.tv/video/23961
Task:
Read the comments on the video and respond to the questions that follow
each comment.
Submitted by spaceman11 on January 6, 2008 - 20:59.
Good resource for year 11 after their Mock exam, in order to clear their minds a bit about
Believing in God - a rather hard and unthinkable subject for some of them...
The only think I still wonder about in relation to this video is the Christian approach to this
subject, which I don't think was exploited and researched to its best.
But thanks for creating it, as it's a very good starting point of a debate!
Questions:
1. What is ‘rather hard and unthinkable’ about ‘Believing in God’?
2. What do you think the commentator meant by ‘…the Christian approach
… which I don’t think was exploited and researched to its best.’?
3. ‘…it’s a very good starting point of a debate.’ What would you see as the
question for a debate?
I enjoyed this and think it
Submitted by Jo Pearce on January 12, 2008 - 17:07.
I enjoyed this and think it is a useful resource for schools. I wonder if the atheists were a bit
outnumbered!
Question:
1. What do you think is the case for more atheists to be represented?
A bit too pro-faith
Submitted by Ricardohos on January 20, 2008 - 11:33.
Not a bad resource on the topic. I found myself wishing there had been far more on the other side
of the fence. Reeling off pro-faith clips in stuccato fashion doesn't make them any more persuasive
as arguments, and it would have been good therefore to hear much more from non-theists, or
perhaps those who have lost faith in God - there were only occasional flashes of them. Some of
the treatment of topics like suffering was also trite. Theodicy is not simply about human evil and
freedom, and a complex topic ended up reduced to soundbites.
The music is particularly irritating. Tinkling away in the background in order, presumably, to make
one feel the numinous it was so over-done, and so inappropriately applied, that in the end it made
me feel the whole programme was manipulative. Which it isn't, really. It's not at all bad. It's just
that it could have been a lot better.
11
Questions:
1. Who or what is ‘…the other side of the fence…’?
2. In a video called ‘Chasing God’ is it unreasonable to have mostly ‘…profaith clips…’? Comment.
3. Did you feel manipulated by the background music? If so, how?
Chasing God and the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
Submitted by bkwatch on May 5, 2008 - 18:57.
Chasing God is a service device of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University made by
followers who pictures feature about and whose deceased leader enjoys a flattering market
placement amongst other religious leaders.
The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University are not a recognised university and have
accreditation at all. They are a high demand and specifically millenarianist new religious
movement whose teachings are based on mediumistic channelled messages from a spirit entity
they believe is the God of all religions.
Amongst those teachings are the belief that time exists in a 5,000 year identically repeating cycle,
the first half being a heaven on earth reserved entirely for its followers and that dinosaurs existed
2,500 years ago when "The Fall" of humankind happened and earth became a hell. Specifically,
they believe that their yoga practise is bring on an imminent and desirable "Destruction" of
humanity in which more than 6 Billion will die and the continents sink in order to make for a
heaven for 900,000 of its faithful followers.
Their practise is not a classical Hindu practise and involved engage one's mind, body and wealth in
a relationship with that channelled entity which they call BapDada.
Chasing God is a typical and well polished marketing piece used by the BKWSU that otherwise
could have made a reasonably good light documentary. Central to its teachings is that all other
religions are partial and incomplete memories of its practises and "Knowledge", the mediumistic
message that are closely protected.
The BKWSU has issued a number of false predictions of "Destruction" including; WWII, 1950,
1976, mid-1980s and Year 2000 whilst continuing to accrue property and considerable wealth. £1
to 2 Million per year in the UK alone.
They charity was allegedly set up to "alleviate poverty".
Questions
1. Prior to reading this comment, did you have the impression that ‘Chasing
God’ was ‘a service device’ for one particular religious group?
2. Having now read the comment do you think that ‘Chasing God is a
typical and well polished marketing piece used by the BKWSU…’?
Comment.
12