British band Bastille give a pop sermon with new song Doom Days

A sermon is a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible. You might have heard the word sermon before when studying the Sermon on the Mount from the Bible. In Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5-7 there are lots of catchy quotes such as:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 – useful when discussing Christian attitudes to war and conflict)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10 – useful when discussing Christian reactions to persecution)

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. (Matthew 5:39 – useful when explaining that Christians like to forgive, be reconciled and not fight back)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 – useful when explaining how and why Christians pray)

This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” (Matthew 6:10 – useful as the chapter continues with a version of the Lord’s Prayer)

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2 – useful to explain that humans shouldn’t pass judgement on others, that is the role of God in the afterlife)

But let’s get back to Bastille’s new song Doom Days. There are a couple of swear words in this song, used as adjectives, and the topics sung about are for teenagers or older. The band’s frontman Dan Smith explained: “We wanted [the song] to be really direct and talk about trying to find escapism from our modern anxieties – phone addiction, porn addiction, fake news addiction, climate change denial (to name a few)… turns out there was a **** load to talk about so I wrote about 50 verses for it and then we somehow managed to cut it down to this. Hope you like it,” he added. “Ultimately it’s about switching off for the night.” 

When you look at the lyrics you can see why it was described by one journalist as being a pop sermon:

When I watch the world burn
All I think about is you
When I watch the world burn
All I think about is you

There must be something in the Kool-Aid
Cruising through the doom days
God knows what is real and what is fake
Last couple years have been a mad trip
But how’d y’all look so perfect?
You must have some portraits in the attic

We’ll stay offline so no one gets hurt
Hiding from the real world
Just don’t read the comments ever, ever
We ****ed this house up like the planet
We were running riot
Crazy that some people still deny it

Think I’m addicted to my phone
My scrolling horror show
I’m live-streaming the final days of Rome
One tab along, it’s pornographic
Everybody’s at it
No surprise we’re so easily bored

Let’s pick the truth that we believe in
Like a bad religion
Tell me all your original sins
So many questionable choices

We love the sound that our voice makes

Man, this echo chamber’s getting loud…

Original Sin – In traditional Christian teaching, original sin is the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God when they ate a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

Echo chamber – We talked about in class recently when students’ homework was to read or watch some news stories and identify moral or natural evil. It describes an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered. There is often a risk of creating an echo chamber when you only read news online as you only click on news stories which you want or enjoy reading, and ignore the ones which might challenge your thinking.

 

Golden Rule Day April 5th 2019

This week the RS teachers are going to be wearing golden lanyards for our ID badges and students will be hearing and seeing the golden rule displayed around school. You may have heard of the Christian Golden Rule from the book of Matthew 7:12 in the Bible:

^“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

People paraphrase it as meaning ‘Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.” We had already decided to really focus on the Golden Rule this week and have only now discovered that there is actually a Golden Rule Day which happens to be on Friday 5th April. A freaky coincidence!

Last week British comedian and TV presenter Joe Lycett called on people to apply the Golden Rule if people have questions about gender and sexuality. Joe requested that people be “compassionate” when dealing with those who are unfamiliar with LGBT concepts as things are pretty complicated and change so quickly that some people might honestly just needs things explaining.

The great thing about the Golden Rule is that it appears in loads of different religions.

At school we will be really making sure students understand the Christian and Muslim Golden Rules as we need those for GCSE examinations. The Muslim teaching is from a Hadith of the prophet Muhammad PBUH: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” There are similar ideas in the Qur’an too.

The rock band Biffy Clyro have a song called The Golden Rule, which also references a Silver Rule. The silver rule inverts the golden rule to become: “Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.” The silver rule has some obvious weaknesses, as it only requires a person not to harm others, and doesn’t make a person act with particular kindness or compassion. A song which really hones in on the Golden Rule is by Nature Jams; and though it might be a bit Primary School, it might stick in your head for an exam!

“I fell in love with optimism” Dave

Have you ever been listening to a song on the radio whilst driving somewhere and even when you get to your destination you don’t get out of the car but just sit there, spellbound by a new song, one you’ve not heard before, but you’re desperate to hear all of it. Even if you’re in a rush you don’t turn off the radio, and just sit there, enjoying a new sound. And you know, once you’ve got a second, you’re going to buy/ download the song and find out more about the singer/ band. Well here he is, Dave.

The amazing song Black (there are some swear words in the lyrics) has a video with Stormzy and Raheem Sterling and lyrics which push you to reflect on race and identity:

“Black is distant, it’s representin’ countries that never even existed while your grandmother was livin’
Black is my Ghanaian brother readin’ into scriptures
Doin’ research on his lineage, findin’ out that he’s Egyptian”

The London rapper Dave had his breakthrough released EP ‘Game Over’ in 2017 and achieved chart success with the Fredo collaboration ‘Funky Friday’ that reached the number one spot in the UK singles chart in October 2018. Topping that, Dave’s song ‘Question Time’ was named best contemporary song at the 2018 Ivor Novello Awards.
Now his debut album Pyschodrama is out on 8th March. An interview with the Guardian about his debut album gives you an insight into his childhood and a glimpse into his obvious interest in politics with reference to human rights, the NHS and Brexit.

“God made you” Letitia Wright

When Letitia Wright won the Rising Star award at the BAFTA’s she thanked God in her speech. She said, “A few years ago I saw myself in a deep state of depression and I literally wanted to quit acting. The only thing that pulled me out of it was God, my belief, my faith and my family, and an email from Bafta asking me to become part of the Bafta Breakthrough Brits.”

Later her in speech she said, “I want to encourage young people. You don’t have to be young, you can be any age, but I want to encourage you – anyone going through a hard time… God made you and you’re important, there might be some of you here who might be going through a hard time. I just want to encourage you and God loves you. Just let your light shine. And the category I’m in… this means so much to me, you guys all inspire me. All of you have inspired me so much, so God bless you, thank you, Jesus thank you, thank you.”

Letitia saying that God made us reminds me of quotes for the GCSE Religious Studies…

Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’.  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

90 year old anti-racism pioneer

Roy Hackett has given a really interesting interview to the BBC about his life as an anti-racism protestor. The 4 and a half minute interview gives a glimpse into events such as the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 which we taught our students during Black History Month.

Probably the most famous person to have fought against racial prejudice however is the American Martin Luther King Jr. He was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott. This started through a simple act of defiance when a black woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger when ordered to do so by the bus driver. She was later arrested. Through death threats, multiple arrests, and several attempts against his life, Martin Luther King Jr was consistent in his application of the Biblical principles, taught by Jesus to:

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

When looking at Christianity and racism you can use some of these key teachings:

• The parable of the good Samaritan – everyone counts as your ‘neighbour’ (Luke 10: 25-37)
• ‘God created man in his own image’ (Genesis 1:27)
• ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. The world, and those who live in it.’ (Psalm 24:1)
• ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.’ (Romans 13:1)
• ‘Your body is a temple of the holy spirit… it is not your own’ (1 Corinthians 6:19
• ‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged’ (Matthew 7:1)
• ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7:12)
• Example of Jesus; He spoke to and helped anyone (Canaanites, tax collectors, lepers, women), but chose only men as his disciples
• ‘Every human being created in the image of God is a person for whom Christ died. Racism is an assault on Christ’s values and a rejection of his sacrifice.’ World Council of Churches
• ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Galatians 3:28)

Baptism or Christening

The BBC headline today read:

Prince Louis christening: George and Charlotte seen with brother for first time

Whereas in the second sentence of the article it stated: The 11-week-old was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace.

So what is the difference? To be honest there is no difference between a christening service and a baptism service. Some Christian denominations will use the word ‘baptism’ and some the word ‘christening’. The moment when a child has water poured or wiped on their head is the actual baptism and is at the heart of the service. You could say that babies are baptised during a christening service just as couples are ‘married’ during a ‘wedding’ service. In Religious Studies lessons we learn that christening refers to the naming ceremony (to “christen” means to “give a name to”) where as baptism is a sacrament in some Christian denominations.

The two hymns which were sung by the congregation in today’s Christening were hymns O Jesus, I Have Promised and Lord of All Hopefulness. Hymns and music are often used by Christians in their worship. From the first verse of O Jesus, I have Promised you can see why it was chosen at a Christening:

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my Guide.

Whereas Lord of All Hopelessness has a clever pattern with each verse ending with a different part of the day: break of the day; noon of the day; eve of the day; and end of the day.

 

Important Sites of Religious Pilgrimage

A BBC travel article in 2012 named 10 must-see pilgrimage locations around the world. You might have heard of the pilgrimages before, or simply learnt the famous religious story in class and can now discover how a village or town in 2018 can allow a religious person to feel closer to their faith by visiting a place written about in their holy books.

Lumbini
Location: Rupandehi, Nepal
Religion: Buddhism
Significance: birthplace of the Lord Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Buddhism has interesting ideas which we can reflect on when thinking about whether we are at fault for our suffering and if we should take care in our actions so not to harm others or ourselves.

Vatican City
Location: surrounded by Rome, Italy
Religion: Catholicism
Significance: home of the Pope and centre of the Roman Catholic Church. Currently Pope Francis is the man at the Vatican! He often brings to the world’s attention things we learn about at school, such as Christians being persecuted and the need for Christians to pray for them; how Christians should show mercy and compassion to refugees like the Rohingya Muslims; and that if you are fasting during Lent you should still be kind to others to be a truly just Christian.

Wittenberg
Location: Saxony, Germany
Religion: Protestantism
Significance: birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. It was here in Wittenberg that the monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of  Castle Church in 1517. Unfortunately during the Seven Years’ War, much of Wittenberg was destroyed, but Castle Church was rebuilt in the 1800s and the text of Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses was inscribed into the church’s front doors. Inside the church you will also find Luther’s tomb. There are some great Martin Luther raps; film clips; animations; and mini documentaries you can watch or sing along to to help you remember the facts!

 

Western Wall
Location: Jerusalem, Israel
Religion: Judaism
Significance: the holiest of Jewish sites. The Western Wall made headlines in May 2017 when the US President Donald Trump visited it and prayed there, and female journalist were kept in a penned off area behind male colleagues. It is a place where awe and wonder fills Jewish pilgrims minds and hearts.

Spontaneous Pop Star Heroics

Liam Payne pulling his friend from a burning balcony; Pink comforting a young girl mid-concert and stopping a fight that had broken out in the audience; and Justin Timberlake administering the Heimlich manoeuvre on his friend choking on a peanut. These are all stories of pop starts who might be some people’s heroes for their musical abilities, but have proven themselves to be heroes in emergency situations too.

Muhammad Ali: watch and learn

In today’s lesson where students had to decide who is the biggest hero, Mother Teresa or Muhammad Ali, the latter was a clear winner. Below are some documentaries and films which will provide you with a heaps of information and inspiration from the great man himself.

• Muhammad Ali – The Whole Story (1996): This is a six hour series which covers the whole of Muhammad Ali’s life.
• When We Were Kings (1996): I watched this for the first time at University as part of  a film festival and the documentary transfixes you with the heat and passion of boxing. It covers the infamous 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ between Ali and George Foreman in Zaire in 1974. The focus is, naturally enough, the aging Ali, who was thought at the time to have little chance of beating Foreman yet his ‘rope-a-dope’ strategy –pretending to be in more trouble than you actually are, and cunningly wearing your opponent down in the process – proves devastating.
• Ali (2001): Will Smith who is most famous for the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Men in Black stars in this biopic that chronicles ten years in the life of Cassius Clay, from 1964, when he took the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, to 1974 and the Rumble In The Jungle with George Foreman. In between, there are the wider issues of Ali’s controversial opposition to the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector, his conversion to Islam, his banishment from boxing and his initial return against Joe Frazier.
• The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2013): This is an American PBS documentary which focuses on Ali’s life outside the ring. A lot of times is given of course to his refusal of the Vietnam draft and the legal and professional problems it caused him (he faced prison, was stripped of his heavyweight title and had his boxing licence suspended for four years).
• I am Ali (2013): This documentary is just about Ali as a man. There isn’t the focus on Ali as a boxer like other films or documentaries. It shows him as a warm-hearted family man through lots of  audio recordings Ali himself  in the ‘70s.

Other short clips about Ali are worth watching to learn more about this hero:

1. BBC News reporting on his death
2. Inside Story by Al-Jazeera
3. Muhammad Ali Obituary by the New York Times
4. The last US President Obama gives a tribute to Ali 
5. BBC Sports Personality of the Century

Parliament is more Diverse

While a lot of talk after Britain’s General Election last week has been on the Conservatives special friendship with the DUP, or the Labour Party making big increases in the number of MPs they have in Parliament, there has also been some quiet appreciation of how diverse Parliament is finally becoming.

• 45 out of the 650 MPs openly define themselves as being LGBT
• In 2015 there were 41 MPs from ethnic minorities and now there are 52
• In 2015 there were 191 female MPs and now there are 208 women MPs who’ll sit in the House of Commons
• There are no specific figures on MPs with disability
• In 2015 only 43% of MPs were educated in the comprehensive system (i.e. not private and not selective) but that has increased in 2017 to 51% (this is compared to 88% of the UK population who received comprehensive education!)
• Notable firsts are the first female Sikh MP, a blind MP and an MP with a richly diverse international heritage

 

Exodus: Gods and Kings

Questions to consider when watching the film:

1. How did you react to the film’s visuals, especially the effects which were used to create the battles, plagues, and the ancient setting? What did these effects contribute to the story, and to your experience of the film?
2. Did anything particularly strike you or surprise you about the film’s portrayal of its historical setting? Does the story’s basis in real history affect your reaction to the film at all? The history behind the story is a matter of some dispute amongst scholars. Some doubt whether such an exodus ever occurred. Many more recognise it as historical but there is some dispute between two different possible dates (and, as a result, which Pharaoh was involved)
3. How did you feel about Moses and his relationships with the other characters? What did you feel were the main turning points for Moses’s own emotional journey? How has he changed by the end of the film?
4. Why do you think Moses initially holds the view that gods exist, but don’t intervene in human history? What might be appealing about this idea, both to Moses and to people today? How and why does Moses change his mind?
5. What might be appealing about a belief that gods are invented by people to fulfil their own needs or desires? How is this idea explored in the film? Is this a good or bad reason for rejecting a belief in God?
6. How does Exodus: Gods and Kings explore the idea that ‘those who crave power are the least fitted to exercise it’? What are the consequences of Ramses’ belief that he is a god, and what might this imply about human nature? To what extent do human beings control our own destiny, and to what extent are we subject to forces more powerful than us? The idea of humans as powerful beings in control of our own destiny became prominent in Western thought during the Age of Enlightenment – a cultural movement beginning in the late 17th Century which argued for reason over tradition and paved the way for a belief in scientific endeavour as a replacement for the religious quest.
7. How does the film weigh the suffering caused by the plagues against the suffering caused by the actions of Ramses? What questions does it raise about the nature of the God who sent the plagues? What might you want or expect an all-powerful and all-loving God to do in the face of human evil and suffering?
8. What was particularly striking or surprising about the portrayal of God in the film? Why do you think the filmmakers chose to represent God in this way? To what extent is it possible to describe or represent God? Many films throughout Hollywood’s history have featured portrayals of God. While some films seek to make the figure of God human and relatable – or even to play him for comic effect – others aim to create a sense of awe and mystery. The challenge faced by filmmakers might cause us all to consider how God might reveal himself to us.
9. Why does the film draw out the distinction between ‘fighting’ with God and ‘wrestling’ with God? What is the difference between these and how is this represented by the differences between Ramses and Moses? What might it mean for us, in our own lives, to wrestle with God?

A great way to quickly get up to speed with the film is to watch either the trailer or a short review of the film by damaris media (scroll down to the 3rd video called faith and gods).

A snapshot of the main world faiths

The video series My Life, My Religion has a really simple format: a child explains how their faith affects their life. You could watch these videos in Year 7 and easily understand them, but they are also useful for students doing their GCSE as a form of revision.

There are thirty minute Christian, Muslim, Jewish,  Hindu and Sikh videos.