This inquiry unit demonstrates one way that two key ideas: CW People express their spirituality in various contexts within and beyond Christianity and CC Christians pray, worship and celebrate the sacraments can be drawn together to provide the framework for a rich learning experience.
Working from the idea that humans are by nature spiritual and searching for connections and meaning, students explore Christian worship which is multifaceted and is the means by which Christians express their spirituality, making connections with God and others. Students explore how various cultures and people express their spirituality, reflecting on what they do and do not identify with. The film ‘Avatar’ introduces students to ideas about ritual and the links to spirituality especially in terms of the concepts of connectedness and meaning. Ideas about God and the nature of reality, as well as ethical questions, are raised in the film. Following on from this, students explore rites & rituals in Australian culture and possibly in a range of religions as they wrestle with coming to an understanding of humans (themselves) as spiritual. In preparing students for leading a student chapel service, students visit the chapel and chaplains are involved in teaching students about the symbolism and the meaning of the altar, font, communion etc. Group work and leading the service is the culmination of the unit.
Author: Stephanie Maher
Issue date: 12 Oct 2011