Semester elective for eleventh and twelfth graders. The counter-cultural upheaval of the sixties altered our sense of what it means to be religious. As a result, many believe organized religion has forfeited its role as the purveyor of authentic religious experience. In its place, Americans have begun a quest for a sense of religiousness that speaks directly to the individual. We will study the events, trends and writings that are creating an American religion of our own.
Semester elective open to eleventh and twelfth graders.
Images of Jesus have shaped our vision of what we think it means to be a Christian. We will tackle this enigma by outlining Jesus' historical ministry, his death on the cross, and the post-resurrection events. This inquiry will entail careful readings in both canonical and extra-canonical accounts. Included will be the study of the Dead Seas Scrolls, the Nag Hamadi Gnostic Library, and recent archeological findings. In the end, students will be challenged to develop their own image of Jesus.