Your Life in Christ
Chapter 1 – The Gift of Being Human
PRAYER
OPENING
· Only one class rule…RESPECT
o Respect for the Church and its building
o Respect for each other – this is a safe environment where we can all share our views and opinions without ridicule
o Respect for the teachers
o Respect for themselves and other students
LESSON
· Various surveys report some disturbing and shocking facts concerning the moral state of our country:
o Only 13% of adults in America believe all Ten Commandments are meaningful and need to be obeyed today
o 25% of those surveyed said they would abandon their families for $10 million
o 47% of more than 20,000 middle school and high school students stole something from a store in the past 12 months
o 80% of the top students in the country have cheated on schoolwork in the past year
o Each year retailers lose $26 billion due to theft, translating into $400 per person annually
o Every day in America, more than 2,500 children witness the divorce or separation of their parents
o Approximately 1,000 unmarried teens become mothers
o 500 adolescents begin to use illegal drugs
o Of 15-24 year olds, every day 13 commit suicide and 16 are murdered
These findings point out that our society is lacking in morality. How can we improve this? It’s important that we realize that our free choices and our actions form who we are. Our character is at the very heart of our self-chosen moral identity.
· Ask yourself these questions:
o If I found a wallet containing $1,000, would I return it to its owner? Would I want it returned to me if I lost it? (i.e. The Golden Rule)
o If I were an employer, would I hire me?
o If I were a parent, would I be proud to have a child like me?
· Ask students to agree or disagree with the following statements, according to a Christian concept of the human person. Allow some discussion.
o Governments should spare no expense in searching for a cure for AIDS.
o People have the right to own handguns to protect themselves against crime.
o A rapist deserves the death penalty.
o It is okay to cheat on income tax forms as long as a lot of money isn’t involved.
o I have to love you. I don’t have to like you.
· Discuss the story Two Horses (attached).
ACTIVITIES
· Use the handout (attached): What’s Right? What’s Wrong? Do not share individual answers, but instead discuss why we chose as we did and if our parents will agree with our choices. Teachers should complete the handout as well.
· Use the handout (attached): Self-Examination on the Cardinal Virtues. This is only for private reflection and answers should not be shared. However, there should be a group discussion about what we find most challenging about these virtues.
ACTIVITIES (continued)
· Social Contract: Using the description of human nature and the specific conditions set out below; prepare a Social Contract (form included).
Description of Human Nature and Conditions:
o You live in a society where people have no real connection with each other.
o Humans are entirely self-interested beings.
o Humans are entirely self-sufficient beings.
o Humans live in a “state of nature’. This means they live separate and apart from each other, using their own abilities and skills to survive. There is a general state of lawlessness, however, and periodically one person will invade and kill other people to obtain their land or resources.
o In order to decrease the harshness of the state of nature, you have come together with other humans to make an agreement with each other (or a “social contract”) to prevent mutual destruction.
· Social Covenant: Using the description of human nature and the specific conditions set out below; prepare a Social Covenant (form included).
Description of Human Nature and Conditions:
o You live in a society where people share a real connection with each other because of their mutually shared dignity, rational soul, human nature, and origin from and creation in the likeness of God.
o Humans are committed to respecting the inherent, inviolable, and inalienable dignity of other people.
o Humans live in an interpersonal community and are mutually dependent on one another.
o The goal of this human society is to promote harmony in the common good of all. The “common good” is defined as the sum total of all social conditions that allow every person to reach his or her ultimate fulfillment as a human being.
o In order to achieve this better, you come together with other humans to record in writing the elements of your social covenant.
Two Horses
Just up the road from a home is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. However, if one stops the car – or is walking by – one will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing, but close observation will reveal something even more amazing. Listening closely, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.
As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is…trusting that she will not lead him astray.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are like the blind horse, being guided by God and those whom He places in our lives. Other times, we are the guide horse, helping others see God.
What’s Right? What’s Wrong?
In today’s pluralistic society, it is very difficult to get people to agree on what is right and what is wrong, what is moral and what is immoral. Judge where you stand on each statement according to the scale below.
1 = Strongly Agree; 2 = Agree; 3 = Not Sure; 4 = Disagree; 5=Strongly Disagree
Statements / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5There is never a good reason to lie.
Cheating on tests or quizzes, even if the teacher is unfair and everyone else is doing it, is always wrong.
Abortion is a great assault on innocent human life and can never be justified.
It is wrong for a rich country to engage so vigorously in an arms race when it has so many poor people in its midst.
Outside of marriage, it is wrong to engage in sexual intercourse and the actions leading up to it.
People have an obligation to worship God even if they don’t feel like it.
Given the efficiency of today’s justice systems, it is virtually impossible to justify capital punishment.
It would be dangerous and imprudent to lower the age for legalized drinking of alcohol.
It is wrong to assess or judge a person by the color of their skin.
Pornography – both soft and hard – debases human sexuality. It should be outlawed.
Self-Examination on the Cardinal Virtues
How well do you practice the following virtues?
PRUDENCE (sound judgment) / Very Well / Well / Needs WorkI respect learning and I am open to new ideas.
I reflect on past mistakes before acting.
I can recognize goodness, truth, and beauty when I see it and I can pick out what is evil, false, and ugly.
JUSTICE (fairness towards others)
I both acknowledge and respect the rights of others.
I do my duty, honor my promises and follow through on my commitments.
I respect the reputation of others, refrain from gossip and rash judgment and give others the benefit of the doubt.
FORTIUDE (courage)
I am able to put up with inconvenience, disappointments and setbacks.
I am willing to face problems and obstacles and refuse to run away from them.
I am my own person and make strong efforts to overcome peer pressure, especially when others want me to do wrong.
TEMPERANCE (self-control)
I can say “no” to myself and wait for rewards and gratification.
I enjoy in moderation the pleasure of food, drink, entertainment, sports and the like.
I am an actor rather than a reactor. For example, I respect rude people rather than returning nastiness to them.
SOCIAL CONTRACT
(page 1 of 2)
This agreement hereby is entered into by and among all interested human beings (hereinafter, the “Social Contract”) this the _____ day of ______, ______as follows:
WHEREAS, ______
______
______
THEREFORE, in consideration of these recitals, and in further consideration of the mutual agreements set forth below, the parties, each intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. Distribution of Wealth (e.g., Equally? According to each person’s contribution? According to each person’s abilities (or merit)? According to each person’s needs? Will there be welfare or assistance to those in need?):
______
______
______
______
______
2. How Decisions Will Be Made (e.g., By equal vote? By equal vote after discussion? By a benevolent central authority? Will the special interests of minorities be considered or protected?):
______
______
______
______
______
SOCIAL CONTRACT
(page 2 of 2)
3. Rights (What rights will people have, if any, and how far with they extend?):
______
______
______
______
______
4. Duties (What obligations to other people will each individual have, if any, and how far will those obligations extend?):
______
______
______
______
______
Scenarios:
5. ______
______
______
______
6. ______
______
______
______
SOCIAL COVENANT
(page 1 of 2)
This covenant hereby is entered into by and among all human beings (hereinafter, the “Social Covenant”) this the _____ day of ______, ______as follows:
WHEREAS, ______
______
______
THEREFORE, in consideration of these recitals, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties covenant as follows:
1. Distribution of Wealth (e.g., Equally? According to each person’s contribution? According to each person’s abilities (or merit)? According to each person’s needs? Will there be welfare or assistance to those in need?):
______
______
______
______
______
2. How Decisions Will Be Made (e.g., By equal vote? By equal vote after discussion? By a benevolent central authority? Will the special interests of minorities be considered or protected?):
______
______
______
______
______
SOCIAL COVENANT
(page 2 of 2)
3. Rights (What rights will people have, if any, and how far with they extend?):
______
______
______
______
______
4. Duties (What obligations to other people will each individual have, if any, and how far will those obligations extend?):
______
______
______
______
______
Scenarios:
5. ______
______
______
______
6. ______
______
______
______
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