Third Year Revision – Section B

Hello again third years!

I hope you are making good revision notes about Section A. As soon as you have finished Section A (today, please), you need to start revising Section BFoundations of Religion – Christianity.

Reminder – you should already have a revision copy for Religion.

Take about two or three days to read and study chapters 5 – 9, paying attention to key terms, definitions, key people/groups, key messages/teachings of Jesus, conflict he faced, his death and resurrection, faith in Christ.

Make detailed notes in your revision copy under the following headings:

  • The context of Jesus’ birth – map of Holy Land
  • The Roman Empire
  • Why the Jews and Romans did not get along
  • Messianic Expectation
  • Ancient Judaism
  • All political and religious structures:
  • Sadduccees, Zealots, Pharisees, Essenes, Sanhedrin, Tax Collectors
  • Temple
  • Synagogue

 

  • Evidence about Jesus
  • Sources of evidence:
  • The Bible, The Old Testament, The New Testament, Gospel, Evangelists
  • The three stages that led to the Gospels:
  • 1. actual events; 2. preaching of disciples (oral); 3. writing of Gospels (written)
  • From oral and writtten tradition
  • Difference between documents of faith and historical documents
  • Historical sources of evidence about Jesus (Josephus, Tacitus)
  • The four Gospel writers:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
  • Synoptic Gospels
  • How John’s Gospel is different

 

  • The Kingdom of God
  • What a parable is
  • Why Jesus used parables
  • Some parables in detail and the message Jesus was teaching
  • What a miracle is
  • Four types of miracle
  • Why Jesus used miracles
  • Some miracles and their powerful effect
  • Meaning and importance of table fellowship
  • Example of Zacchaeus
  • Meaning and importance of discipleship
  • The first disciples
  • Disciple/Apostle
  • Teaching of Jesus in the Beatitudes
  • Vocation:
  • Parents, teenagers, church leaders, individuals
  • Mission

 

  • Conflict with authority
  • Jesus and the Saduccees
  • Jesus and the Pharisees
  • The events of Holy Week:
  • When and why and how  Jesus entered Jerusalem
  • Cleansing of Temple
  • Teaching in the Temple
  • Judas’ deal
  • The Last Supper and why it was a meal in the Passover tradition
  • The arrest
  • The two trials
  • The humiliation
  • The Sations of the Cross
  • Those left behind
  • The Resurrection & the appearances – as told by the Gospels
  • Transformation & Presence

 

  • Events after the Resurrection
  • Ascension – meaning and significance
  • Pentecost – meaning and significance
  • Missionary work
  • The first Christian communities
  • Why it was a dangerous time
  • Martyrdom
  • St Stephen
  • The story of St Paul
  • Map of early Christian communities
  • How the ‘People of God’ were established
  • Different names and titles Jesus was known by:
  • Son of Man, Son of God, New Creation, Christ/Messiah

Make sure you know all the details of each of the bullet point headings above. Keep up with the revision. More bullet point headings for Section C will be posted on Tuesday. Please remind your classmates to look at the blog.

Good luck everyone. Your hard work will pay off.

Third Year Revision – Section A

Hello 3A1 and 3A2

I hope everyone had a happy and enjoyable Christmas. It is now time to start revising for the Mock Exams. Buy a new revison copy for notes that you will make for each section of the course.

Let’s start with Section A: Communities of Faith.

Take two days to revise this section. Read and study chapters 1 – 4, paying attention to key terms, definitions and case studies. Make detailed notes in your revision copy under the following headings:

  • Meaning of community
  • Types of community
  • Roles in community
  • Importance of co-operation, communication, sharing
  • Breakdown in communities

 

  • Communities at work such as communities of faith in Ireland
  • Trocaire
  • SVP
  • Commitment, Service, Vision, Leadership
  • Difference between needs and wants

 

  • Communities of faith and leadership
  • Showing commitment to religious beliefs
  • Example – Loreto Order
  • Meaning of mission
  • Meaning of denomination
  • Another example – Church of Ireland

 

  • Leadership: Authoritarian, Democratic, Free reign
  • Leadership in Church of Ireland
  • Leadership in Roman Catholic Church
  • Roman Catholic – Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Priests, Laity

 

  • Relationships between Communities of Faith
  • Ecumenism
  • Taize
  • Sectarianism
  • Key to solving sectarianism: Tolerance and more…
  • Interfaith dialogue – World Council of Churches & World Peace Day

 

Make sure you know all the details of each of the bullet point headings above. Start revising today. More bullet point headings for Section B will be posted on Friday. Please remind your classmates to look at the blog.

Good luck everyone. Your hard work will pay off.

Third Year Project – Reminder

Hello third years.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays. Here is a reminder about the Religion Project:

  • Deadline is 26th January.
  • Presentation format – in a scrapbook or folder.
  • Neat presentation is essential – title/cover page, suitable headings throughout, relevant and interesting pictures, charts, maps, timelines etc, neat handwriting or typed material (all in your own words), about 8 pages of written information, sources of information listed, a variety of sources eg interview a person, books (your own religion book and others), tv documenatries, a relevant film or novel, a visit to a relevant place, attendance at a relevant ceremony and so on.
  • Record all your efforts at obtaining information EVEN IF IT DID NOT WORK OUT AS PLANNED.

Best of luck with the research and writing. Happy Christmas to you all.

PS Check the blog again on 27th December (and tell your classmates) for a few study tips during the holidays. (Mocks are only around the corner!!!)

Christmas Blessings

To all students, staff, parents and the wider community associated with Gormanston College – may the blessings of Christmas be with youall and may the peace and joy of the Holy Family reign in your homes. Stay safe throughout the season, take care of each other, be kind and thoughtful to those you share your time with. Spare a thought for those who may struggle or even suffer during Christmas. May 2012 be a joyful and prosperous year. May God bless us all.

Advent Penitential Service

 

On Monday and Tuesday, the 12th and 13th December, we are having a Penintential Prayer Service for all the students of the College. Each religion class will be escorted by Fr Brendan to a prayer room in the Castle where he will conduct the service and invite them to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a very important opportunity to receive the grace of God in preparation for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Trip to Mosque

 

On Tuesday 29th November, all third years went on a trip to the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh. We were greeted by our host, Mr Ali Selim shortly after one pm. He took us into the hall and showed us pictures of three Islamic holy shrines. After the introduction, we took off our shoes and were invited into the mosque itself. We sat around in a neat square and listened to Mr Selim as he explained the significance of different items in the mosque. He told us the meaning of the word ‘Islam’ and a little bit about the five pillars of Islam. We then heard the call to prayer as a man sang words from the Quran right in front of us. We had to leave shortly after two as people were coming in to pray.

It  was a great experience and will prove very valuable for the Junior Cert Religion project and exam. Take a look at this very short slide show showing a few photos of our trip to the mosque.

Advent

Advent is a precious time in the Christian calendar. The four weeks leading up to December 25 are meant to be a period of expectant waiting, as we prepare ourselves for the miraculous arrival of our Saviour, in the form of a vulnerable infant born to humble parents.

The reality for most of us, though, is that these are anxious weeks of shopping and holiday planning leading up to a hectic Christmas Day. In the bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget what we’re waiting for.

Completely avoiding the Christmas onslaught may be impossible, but we can make an effort to maintain some connection to the spiritual foundation of this season. More to come…..