FRESHMAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE 1100)
FALL/SPRING SEMESTERS 2006-2007
Mr. Mulreany, S.J.

 

JESUS OF HISTORY, CHRIST OF FAITH

  

Course Description

Freshmen enter Xavier High School with diverse backgrounds both in terms of their respective religious traditions and their study and education in these traditions.  As a Jesuit high school in the Catholic tradition, Xavier seeks to establish a foundation of Catholic, Christian religious knowledge through a selective study of the sources of Christianity in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.  The course begins with a study of how stories give meaning to our lives.  We will then examine the story of God’s covenant relationship with Israel.  After we study the Hebrew Scriptures in light of the religious, cultural, and political forces that were in play during the historical development of Israelite religion and early Judaism, we will turn to a discussion of the political and cultural forces at work during the first century CE—the time period of Jesus’ life and of the writing of the New Testament.  Finally we will focus on the life of Jesus, as it is communicated in the Gospels.  Special priority and emphasis will be given to the synoptic Gospels, especially the Gospel of Luke.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

 

The New American Bible.  Fireside Study Edition. New York: American Bible Society, 1991.

Zanzig, Thomas.  Jesus of History, Christ of Faith (JHCF).  Winona, MN: Saint Mary’s Press, 1999.

 

SEMESTER SCHEDULE

First Semester

JHCF Chapter 1: Who is Jesus? Searching in the New Testament and Beyond

JHCF Chapter 3: The World of Jesus - History and Politics

Using Chapter 3 as a general framework, the students will study in more depth the following sections of the Hebrew Scriptures:

Creation and the Fall from Original Grace – Gen 1-3

Abraham and the Covenant – Gen 11:27-13:18; 15:1-18:15

            Abraham and Isaac – Gen 21:1-22:19

            Jacob and Esau – Gen 25:19-26:5; 27:1-30:24; 35:1-29

            Joseph – Gen 37:1-36; 39:1-47:31

Moses, the Exodus, and the Covenant at Sinai – Ex 1:1-17:16; 19:1-20:21; 23:20-25:22

            Joshua and the Judges – Josh 1:1-11; 3:1-4:24; 6:1-27; Judg 2:1-3:31

            David – 1 Sam 16:1-19:8; 2 Sam 2:1-32; 5:1-7:29

            Solomon and the Division into the Two Kingdoms– 1 Kings 1:1-3:28; 11:1-12:33

The Challenge of the Empires and the Response of Prophecy – Is 7:1-25; 11:1-

12:6; Jer 1:1-2:37; Is 40:1-48:22

 

Second Semester

JHCF Chapter 2: The Gospels - Central Sources for Understanding Jesus

JHCF Chapter 4: Daily Life in Jesus’ Time - Culture and Religion 

JHCF Chapter 5: The Mission Begins - Preparing the Way of the Lord

JHCF Chapter 6: The Kingdom of God - Proclaiming the Dream of Jesus

JHCF Chapter 7: Jesus Speaks - Sayings and Stories of the Kingdom

JHCF Chapter 8: Jesus Heals - Signs of the Kingdom

JHCF Chapter 9: The Cross - The End or a Beginning?

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS

 

The following materials are necessary for this class:

  • a notebook used only for religion;  
  • a folder for handouts, homework, quizzes;  
  • black or blue ink pens for work in this class.

 

COURSE WORK &ASSIGNMENTS

 

Expect the following assignments in this course:

  • nightly homework reading;
  • short quizzes and periodic larger quizzes;
  • daily note-taking based not only on what is written on the board but what is said;
  • homework and class assignments to be written in one’s notebook;
  • written homework assignments to be submitted on loose-leaf;
  • about two tests per quarter.

 

Assignments are posted on my website a few days in advance so check daily at http://faculty.xavierhs.org/mulreanyj/. 

 

Some homework assignments are written in the notebook, some are to be handed in.  Late assignments will incur an automatic 20% point deduction as a late penalty.  Therefore, the maximum grade on a late ten-point homework assignment is eight points.   Students are expected to take notes on their reading homework assignments.

 

The following heading is required for all homework assignments one must turn in. 

 

Name                                                                                                                                                                    Date

Religion 1100                                                                                                                                                        AMDG

 

Description of assignment (e.g. Questions 1-5 pg 145)

 

 

Absences

A student is responsible for keeping up with all assignments when he is absent.  Any homework that was due while a student was absent must be handed in at the first religion class back to school. 

 

While a student does not have to make up a quiz that he misses due to an absence, he must be prepared to take a quiz on the day he returns from an absence.  If the class has a test on the day one returns from a brief absence, one must take the test with the rest of the class.  If a student misses a test while he is absent, he must take the test within three days of his return.

 

In the event of an extended absence, exceptions are possible to the above policies.

 

Notebooks

Students are required to keep a religion notebook. Class notes and class work are to be written in the front of the notebook.  Notes on the homework reading and other homework assignments are written in the rear of the notebook unless otherwise instructed.

 

Class Participation

Students will be graded on class participation. Failure to come prepared for class, e.g. not having one’s pen or notebook, will result in a two point deduction from one’s quarter class participation grade. Similarly, talking in class or calling out answers rather than raising one’s hand will result in a two point deduction from a student’s class participation grade. Finally, notebooks will be periodically checked and graded to ensure that students are taking notes and completing classroom assignments.

 

GRADING POLICY

 

Each marking period, the instructor will calculate your grade as follows:

Class Participation:                                                 10%

Notebook:                                                              20%

Quizzes:                                                                  20%

Turn-in homework:                                                 20%

Tests:                                                                     30%

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

 

The best way to contact me is by e-mail.  I will check my e-mail account (mulreanyj@ xavierhs.org) every school night at approximately 8:00pm.  Please make sure that your name is obvious in your e-mail address or in the subject line, because I will delete e-mails with unrecognizable addresses.  In addition, parents may leave a message for me to contact them by calling the school at (212) 924-7900.  I will return calls within 24 hours.