Religious_Education_Book 4_Pilot

Religious Education Book 4



Introduction Religion helps us to be better people and to live harmoniously with everyone around us. In this multicultural, multi-religious, ever-changing world that we live in, it is important for all of us to learn about the many faiths that make society so rich and varied. This pilot is an initiative by Gateway College to help young learners understand the principles and practices of some of the major faiths of Sri Lanka and the world. Books in this series Religious Education – Book 1 Religious Education – Book 2 Religious Education – Book 3 Religious Education – Book 4 Religious Education – Book 5



Contents Chapter 1 – Relationships Chapter 2 – Birth and Beginnings



Religious Education Book 4 Relationships Every day you meet different people. You might talk with them and interact in many ways. Sometimes you would learn and play together. At other times you need to work with each other. Religion teaches you how to get along with everyone you meet and how you should treat others. All faiths talk about relationships: Sometimes with those of your own age; with those younger or older; or with all living things. 1

Religious Education Book 4 You learn about relationships at home; in school; at work; And everywhere you go! 2

Religious Education Book 4 As children, something you should feel happy to know is that all religions think that children are very important! I There are many hadiths that show Muslims that the s Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was very fond of children l and even said that mosques should ring with the sound a of children. Furthermore, Islam makes special mention m of children without parents and reminds Muslims that they should be cared for. The Islamic tradition tells parents how to treat children from the time they are born and as they grow up. 3

Religious Education Book 4 When a Muslim child is born, it is important to give him or her a good name. And as children grow up they should always be fed and clothed and protected. Children deserve love and respect and affection from parents and parents should treat all their children equally in all things including when giving gifts. Children should Did you know? In Jewish families, be educated says the Quran and parents and children should be provided for until they are responsible for grow up. each other as a way of honouring God. Parents are seen as partners in God's creation of each human being, so to honour one's parents is to honour God. In the same way, to disrespect, or hurt one's parents is to do so to God. In return, children should love and respect their parents and listen to them. Children should also look after their parents as they grow old and make sure that they have everything they need. 4

Religious Education Book 4 Family relationships are not just between parents and children but also between other family members. Husbands and wives should treat each other well and siblings should always take care of each other. In fact for Muslims the idea of brotherhood moves beyond the boundaries of their homes to include the community as well and treating everyone well is very important to them. This applies to all relationships, whether it’s with friends, or teachers or neighbours. In Islam, it is said that employers should treat their employees well; they should be kind to them and make sure they are paid on time. In return people should be loyal to those they work for and always do their best. Relationships are about those people are connected with and those they feel closest to. It is important for 5

Religious Education Book 4 Muslims to remember that Allah is even closer to them than the vein in their neck (as is said in Surah 50 verse 16). This is because He is always present in the lives of Muslims and they can speak to Him directly (Surah 2 Verse 186) Therefore, a Muslim’s relationship with Allah is one that they should always honour. Christians too believe that they have a special C relationship with God and that they can turn to Him h for anything no matter how big or small. r Christians should not i worry about anything but s instead should tell God all t i their needs and thank a Him for all that He has n done for them. i A well-known story from t the Bible tells us how y much Jesus loved children. Once Jesus left Galilee and headed to Jerusalem. At one place He stopped to answer some questions from people. During this time some parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus, but the disciples turned them 6

Religious Education Book 4 away. Jesus saw this and called the children to Him and blessed them. (Luke 18:15-17) Jesus said to the disciples “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to them” This shows how much Jesus cared about children and this is the very reason that parents and other adults should treat children with kindness and care and teach them about the love of God. In return, the Bible says that children should take care of their parents. In fact, ‘Honour your father and your mother’ is the fourth commandment. From this children should understand that they must at all times love and respect their parents. Christians should always love and care for their family members: as parents and children, as brothers and sisters and when they grow up, as husbands and wives. 7

Religious Education Book 4 Friends too have a very special place in a person’s life and should be treated well. In Proverbs (27:10) it is said that a person should never to turn their back on their friends and also to go to one’s neighbours in times of trouble. This shows that Christians should take care of one another as members of one community. In the same way, they should honour their teachers because they teach good things and train others to be like them. (Luke 6:40) And one day when children grow up and start working, they should remember to do their work honestly and with all their heart, because Christians are not only working for another person but for God. So everyone a person meets while they are working should be treated well too! 8

Religious Education Book 4 B Such qualities are often taught by one’s elders as the u next story taken from the Buddhist tradition will d show. d Once when the Buddha was residing in the h Jethawana viharaya he came across a young man i worshiping the 6 directions early in the morning. s m The Buddha asked him why he was doing so. The young man (who was named Singala) said; ‘my father on his deathbed asked me to do so and I do this every day to honour his request.’ The Buddha told him that the real 6 directions people should worship are not North, South, East, West and so on, but six relationships symbolised by them. 9

Religious Education Book 4 The six directions East - Parents and children South - Teachers and students West - Husband and wife North - Friends and companions Down -Employers and Employees (workers) Up - Religious Teachers (Clergy) and Lay people. Buddhists know that they should honour these relationships in different ways. In fact there are 5 duties that each group should do for the other. For example, whenever students meet their teachers they should greet teachers respectfully and learn all that they teach; and in turn, teachers should teach students well and ensure their safety. Husbands and wives should take care of each other; and friends should always be helpful and loyal to all their friends. It is the duty of 10

Religious Education Book 4 employers to look after their employees and for the clergy to teach goodness to all. The Singalovada Sutta (which is where the lessons taught to Singala are found) also reminds that children honour and support their parents and that parents must always take care of children. Love and kindness towards children is something one can also learn from the story of Sunita, a small boy who used to work as a sweeper around the temple. This boy was ill treated by society. The Buddha showed him kindness and took him away from his difficult life and ordained him as a priest. 11

Religious Education Book 4 H The importance given to children can be found in the i Hindu tradition as well. Hindus can choose which form n of a deity (child or adult) they worship based on their d sense of connection to the deity. And some Hindus u choose to worship the child deity Murugan who is the i son of Shiva and s Parvathi. m Did you know? In Sikhism family life Family is an important unit to Hindus is seen as the best and the many different relationships way to live. But while within a family can be understood by one should love one’s the stories of the Gods and Goddesses family and take care of themselves. them, Sikhs believe that one shouldn’t One such story is about two sons of become too attached to them. Their religious book, the Guru Granth Sahib says that a person should be a little detached, just like how a lotus grows in the water but doesn’t really touch the water. Shiva and Parvathi – Ganesh and Murugan. Siblings love one another; but sometimes they feel competitive too! 12

Religious Education Book 4 Once, Lord Shiva received a very special mango which would give knowledge and wisdom to the one who ate the whole mango. He couldn’t decide which son to give it to, so he and Parvathi set a competition. The mango would be given to the son who went around the world thrice and came first. Murugan whose vehicle was a peacock took off at once; but Ganesh didn’t. He knew that he wasn’t as fast and besides that, his vehicle was a mouse! Ganesh thought a bit and walked around his parents three times. When Murugan came back he asked for the fruit, but Ganesh said that it should be given to him because his parents are his whole world and it was he who finished the race first. This story shows the love and respect children should feel towards their parents because they care for their 13

Religious Education Book 4 Children always and do the right thing by them. Having a family, marrying and becoming a parent is the second ashrama or stage of life for Hindus. And a part of how Hindus honour family relationships is by elders teaching children about Hinudu traditions and beliefs.The relationship between a student and a teacher is also very special as the Guru-Shishya tradition has been there since the time of the Vedas. While in the olden days this relationship was a very formal and ritual; today it is seen more in the way students respect and listen to their teachers as teachers in turn teach all they know and guide their students to lead a better life. As children grow up all that they learn about how to treat others will become a part of all their relationships whether it is with friends or classmates or colleagues at work. 14

Religious Education Book 4 In this chapter you have learned about the many different relationships that are a part of daily life and what the different traditions say about them. Fill in the chart below with one thing that can be done to honour a relationship. Child parent/ guardian Sister/ Sister/ brother brother Friend Friend 15

Religious Education Book 4 Student Teacher Employee Employer Customer Salesperson Lay Religious person leader 16

Religious Education Book 4 Relationships are about caring for others even more than people care for themselves. The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) saw the decay around him and chose not only to be different, but to teach the whole community how to lead virtuous lives. Towards the end of the war between the Suras and the Asuras, Lord Shiva drank all the poison himself in order to spare everyone else. The Bodhisatva could have attained Nirvana alone; but he thought of all living beings and walked the path that meant he became a Buddha and a teacher of others. Jesus took upon all the sins of the world and sacrificed Himself on the cross for the wellbeing of all the world. In all religious traditions, there are examples of honouring relationships above and beyond one’s own self. 17

Religious Education Book 4 Each and every person belongs to a larger community and are connected with many people. It is very important for people to look after each other. Teachers help students; students help teachers. Parents look after children; children do the same in return. Friends and siblings look out for each other at all times and support each other in good times and bad. Strangers look out for one another on the road; in public transport; in shops and hospitals and banks. The municipality workers help by cleaning the streets; everyone should do their part by not throwing litter on to those same roads. The Earth gives everything people need every day. It is every person’s duty to look after the Earth every day. All relationships work both ways. 18

Religious Education Book 4 Never take more than you can give back. Always give knowing that you will receive love and consideration in return. Looking after each other is the basis of all religious traditions. For everyone to be safe and well and happy it is important that those around you are safe and well and happy as well. To receive respect; you must give it first. To receive care you must first offer it in your turn. 19

Religious Education Book 4 Birth and Beginnings Janith was very excited. His little sister was coming home soon! His mother had gone to hospital and he couldn’t wait for her to come back with the new baby. He wanted to decorate the new room for the baby. Can you help him? Draw the things you would like to add. Wasn’t it fun to add furniture and decorations to the room? 20

Religious Education Book 4 All these little things are important when a new member is welcomed to a family. Every baby is a blessing to the world and anything new deserves a good start. That’s why when a child joins a new school, a new year begins or a baby is born there are customs that are followed according to the different traditions. B In some Buddhist families it is customary to take a u newborn to the temple. Often when Buddhists begin d something new: whether it is to go to school or start d a job, they go to the temple. During such occasions a h Buddhist monk will recite i pirith as a blessing to s remind those participating m of the teachings of the Buddha. This helps Buddhists to start something new with good thoughts and good intentions. Sometimes when Buddhists move into a new house they organise a pirith recitation in the house. Often family and friends attend such simple ceremonies and this togetherness acts as a blessing to all. 21

Religious Education Book 4 Christians often hold a Baptism or Christening C ceremony of a newborn. On this occasion, holy water is h sprinkled on the child’s forehead to symbolize r dedication to God and i the baby is given a s name. In some families t the Baptism ceremony i takes place when the a child is a little older. n i When Christians begin t y Did you know? something new, they sometimes go to church to receive blessings. In many Christian Often when Christians move into a traditions, an new house, the Father of the important beginning is church come to bless the house. the Confirmation and First Holy Communion In all these occasions, prayers are where a Christian said to show gratitude to God for remembers the Last the good things people have Supper of Jesus Christ received and to seek His blessings and of Him dying on the as they move forward. cross for mankind. Through this a Christian’s relationship with Christ is strengthened. 22

Religious Education Book 4 I In the Islamic tradition, when s a baby is born the Adhan is l whispered into the baby’s a right ear. These words include m the name of Allah, the creator, and a declaration of faith. Another custom associated with birth is Tahneek. This ritual is performed soon after birth by rubbing a small piece of softened date or a little honey into the baby’s palate. Did you know? When Muslims begin new things they remind themselves that In the Muslim everything they do is in the service community, it is of Allah and must be done with traditional, but not good intentions. Sometimes required, for parents Muslims say a Sunnah prayer on to shave the hair of such occasions to seek blessings their newborn child on from Allah and to show gratitude. the seventh day after birth. The hair is weighed, and an equivalent amount in silver or gold is donated to the poor or the parents may donate money for the value of the silver or gold. 23

Religious Education Book 4 H When a baby is born in a Hindu household, there are i certain rituals that can be performed. Hindus value n the traditions of their elders and these can change d from one family to another. u i One of these traditions is to invite the Hindu priest s to the house on the 3oth day after a baby is born to m bless the baby. Sometimes, at the same time the baby’s ear is pierced and the baby’s head is shaved. Learning letters is an important beginning for Hindus and the first time a child writes a letter, it is at the Kovil on Vijayadasami, the 10th day of Navarathri. When starting something new, such as a music class or a new job, Hindus look for an auspicious time to begin it. Hindus believe that this will bring success to the good thing they have started. 24

Religious Education Book 4 When Hindus move into a new house they often boil milk as a custom and on occasions such as birthdays or before an exam they often make pongal or milk rice and also go to the Kovil. Going to the Kovil and doing pujas help them to connect with the gods and goddesses that they worship and to receive blessings for new beginnings. 25

Religious Education Book 4 From these examples taken from the four main traditions followed in Sri Lanka, you see that the birth of a baby and starting something new are of great significance in a community and celebrated by all. Think of some traditions of birth or beginnings followed in your family or community that you have participated in. Can you list down a few? Ask your friends what traditions they follow and list those down as well. Traditions our family Traditions my friend’s follows family follows 26

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