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Curriculum
Religion and Philosophy
Graduation Requirement:
Three semesters of electives,
one
of which must be a course in
Scripture.
One of the three elective
courses must focus on the origin
and significance of the writings
that compose the two major
ethical and religious systems
which influence Western
traditions: Judaism and
Christianity. During the junior
or senior year, students may
elect an introductory course in
philosophy; this course refines
the students’ familiarity with
and competence in philosophical
and ethical methods of inquiry,
analysis, and expression.
BIBLE AS LITERATURE I - OLD
TESTAMENT
(one semester)
This course surveys the History
of Israel, acquainting students
with the structure and narrative
of the Hebrew Bible. We
examine the formation of the
Israelite nation, Covenant
Traditions, the Development of
the Monarchy, and the History
of the People to the Exile. This
course requires outside reading
of the Biblical text and parts
of an additional text book.
An elective course for Upper
School students.
This course fulfills the
scripture requirement.
BIBLE AS LITERATURE II - NEW
TESTAMENT
(one semester)
Biblical Literature II is a one
semester course designed for a
multi-religious classroom
community. Students will explore
the
content, context, and
interpretation of the Gospels,
Acts, and
selected Epistles. Discussions
will focus on various literary,
historical and theological
interpretations of the text. The
basic
tenets of the Christian faith
will be highlighted through
looking
at the Apostles’ Creed. This
course requires outside reading
of
the Biblical text and parts of
an additional text book.
An elective course for Upper
School students.
This course fulfills the
scripture requirement.
WORLD RELIGIONS
(one semester)
This course focuses upon the
role of religious belief and
ritual
behavior in the shaping of human
self-understanding. Special
attention is directed toward the
way in which Hinduism,
Buddhism, Confucianism and
Taoism employ stories (not just
in their telling but also in
their representation and
enactment)
in order to portray what they
imagine to be profoundly true
about human experience.
Please note: Field trips are a
required component of this
course.
Prerequisite: Bible as
Literature I or II.
An elective course for students
in grades ten through twelve.
PHILOSOPHY
(one semester)
The purpose of this course is to
provide an introduction to the
nature of philosophical and
ethical reasoning. This will
primarily be accomplished
through 1) a historical survey
of
western philosophical thought
and 2) the study of ethical
cases.
During the course of the
historical survey, students will
engage
the major thinkers and schools
of philosophical thought that
have shaped western culture.
Figures such as Plato, Aquinas,
Descartes, and Sartre will be
introduced. Examples of the
various
schools of thought that will be
examined include monism,
dualism, rationalism, neo-platonism,
existentialism, and
postmodernism.
This course furthermore seeks to
develop the
student's moral compass and
faculties through the study of
major moral issues confronting
our society today. Examples of
issues we may discuss include:
abortion, reproductive
technologies, animal rights,
world poverty, and war.
Throughout
both components of this class, a
special emphasis will be placed
on the cultivation of the
student's own ability to reason.
Prerequisite: Bible as
Literature I or II.
An elective course for students
in grades eleven and twelve.
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