Religions Around The World

Religions Around The World is an All Ages Award from the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Council.

# Activities

*To earn the Religions of the World patch:*
(all grade levels must complete activity #2)
Girl Scout Daisy: Complete 5 activities
Girl Scout Brownie: Complete 6 activities
Girl Scout Junior: Complete 7 activities
Girl Scout Cadette: Complete 8 activities
Girl Scout Senior & Ambassador: Complete 9 activities

Historically, Girl Scouting has been committed to diversity and a rich tapestry of religious beliefs is reflected in the Girl Scout membership. Our organization continues to be enriched by members of all faith groups. Through this patch program, girls will participate in activities that explore the beliefs and practices of several of the world’s religions. Although it is not comprehensive, the patch program can serve as a great starting point for girls to Discover more about their own faith and beliefs, Connect with other girls and community members of different faiths, and Take Action to encourage others to have a better understanding of the world’s religions.

*Note to Troop Leaders: Religious information is considered a sensitive issue. Be sure that families are aware of the activities the troop is conducting. It is recommended that a Sensitive Issues permission slip is completed before working on this patch program. Sensitive Issues permission slips are located in the Resource Center or at http://www.girlscouts-swtx.org/gssa/Forms.asp?SnID=1450293616*

**GSSWT RELIGIONS AROUND THE WORLD PATCH ACTIVITIES**
1) Talk to two people who practice a religion different from yours. Discuss some things that are the same and different between your practices and theirs.

Identify a common theme(s) between the different religions.
How can learning about different religions help you appreciate differences in others?
Think about and discuss ways that religious customs have had an impact on local culture, families, the community, etc.
2) Attend a service, ceremony or celebration for a religion that is different from yours. The Spring Program/Training Guide lists several Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath events during the month of March. You may choose to attend one of these events. You can also visit a church service of a friend who practices a different faith than your own, or something else you or your troop decides.
3) Research information about a religious holiday that is different from yours. Complete one activity related to that holiday such as make a craft or learn a song.
4) Learn about one of the following traditions or activities. Find out what faith(s) participate in the activity or tradition you chose and discover how the activity relates to the faith that practices or celebrates that tradition?
• Ritual Walking
• Burning of Incense
• Meditation
• Deity Offerings
• Tattooing
• Ritual Dress
• Prayer Flags (or other types of prayer aides)
• Offerings to ancestors
5) What does it mean to say grace (a blessing over food)? Are all blessings sung? Are there different times during a meal when a blessing might be said? Discover how 3 different religions bless their food.
6) Go for it with food! Many faiths have food traditions and/or dietary restrictions. Learn about some of these traditions and create a snack or meal around the food traditions of one religious group.
7) Create a calendar that lists as many religious holidays, from at least 3 religious traditions, that you can find.
8) Research religious recognitions at P.R.A.Y’s web site www.praypub.org. Find out if there is a special Girl Scout award for your religion. Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas often sponsors “Interfaith Day of Discovery” a program listed in the Program/Training Guide. You may choose to attend one of these programs to find out more about the religious awards of your faith or research the awards on your own.
9) Candles are used in Girl Scout ceremonies and in many religious ceremonies. Find two religions that use candles and describe why candles are used. Consider making candles for use in your troop’s Scouts Own ceremonies.
10) In the Hindu tradition there are 7 schools of yoga, each uses a different technique. Explore one yoga technique.
11) Help organize and/or attend an event to promote world peace and religious tolerance. Invite all denominations to participate. (This activity is highly encouraged for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors.)
12) Find out the many names for God from various religious perspectives. Why might there be so many names?
13) What role does dance play in different faiths? Learn a dance from a different religion or other tradition than your own.
14) A koan (ko-än) is a puzzling, often paradoxical statement or story, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening. One famous koan is, "Two hands clap and there is a sound; what is the sound of one hand?" Learn more about koans and try writing one yourself.
15) Some people choose a career within a religion. Select one religion and find out what careers are available. Try to interview someone who has chosen a career within a faith community. Find out how they came to choose their career? Find out the qualifications, education and/or training necessary for the career.
16) What does the Girl Scout Promise mean to you when it says “to serve God?” Write a journal entry or plan a Scouts Own based upon your reflections.
17) What is the Blessings of the 4 corners of the Earth found in Some Native American Traditions?
18) Identify on a map at least 3 Holy or Sacred sites from at least 2 different religions.
19) Research, identify, and compare symbols of different religions. Girl Scout Daisies should find 3 symbols, Brownies and Juniors 5 symbols, Cadettes 7 symbols, Seniors and Ambassadors 10 symbols.

What is similar or different about the symbols?
Do the symbols have any similar or shared meanings?
How did the symbol come to be represented in the faith?
20) Some religions follow a lunar calendar and others follow a solar calendar. Find out the difference between a lunar and solar calendar and identify one religion that uses each calendar.
21) Think about and discuss ways that religious customs have had an impact on local culture, the arts, the environment, medicine, politics, etc. (This activity is highly encouraged for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.)
22) What holiday traditions does your family celebrate? Do they relate to your faith?
23) Helping others, feeding the homeless or taking care of sick people are common concepts in many religions. In your own tradition, how do you respond and reach out to others? With your family, plan and take action on a project that puts your faith into action. (For example; adopt a family at the holidays, volunteer in a soup kitchen, or make cards for people in the hospital. Contact your own faith institution for ideas and activities that benefit the community.)
24) Research at least one example of a war fought on religious grounds. Reflect upon how religious differences can result in conflict and how you can play a part to educate and understand the differences that make us all unique. (This activity is highly encouraged for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors.)

*For information such as price, availability, etc. or to order patches, contact the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Council Shop in San Antonio at (210) 349-2404 or (800) 580-7247, extension 244. Six weeks advance notice required for orders of 100 or more patches.*

# External Links

http://www.girlscouts-swtx.org/images/gssa/ResourceCenter/PatchUpdates/ReligionsAroundtheWorldPatch\_requirements\_Jan09.pdf
http://www.girlscouts-swtx.org/images/gssa/ResourceCenter/PatchUpdates/ReligionsAroundtheWorld\_InfoPkt\_Jan09.pdf