Lesson
Title: Expressions of the Final Judgement in Islam and Christianity
Name: Steve Kachadorian
School: Damascus High School
Grades taught: 11th and 12th grade
Grades appropriate: High School, College, and Adult.
Disciplines: Comparative Religions, Medieval History,
AP European History, and Modern World History
Disciplines appropriate: Comparative Religions
Duration: one 45 minute class period
Big idea: Expressions of religious faith in the Renaissance
Essential Learner Outcomes:
Goal 2 -- Peoples of the Nation and the World. The student will demonstrate
an understanding of the history, diversity, and commonality of the peoples
of the nation and world, the reality of human interdependence, and the
need for global cooperation through a perspective that is both historical
and multicultural.
Lesson Objectives:
- The student should be able to compare and contrast the ways the Day
of Judgement is characterized by Islam and Christianity.
- The student should be able to analyze primary source readings from
both religions.
- The student should be able to identify common and different aspects
of art works regarding the Day of Judgement from a Christian and Islamic
perspective.
Abstract: The two common shared physical experiences
among all humans are birth and death. It can be an unnerving truth, but
a truth that all people must come to terms with at some point. Religions
manifest this anxiety through stories of the end of the world and what
is beyond. Whether it be the great battle between the gods and the giants
from Norse mythology, the cataclysmic end of the world on December 23,
2012, as foretold by the Maya, or the Book of Revelation from the New
Testament, religions have offered a version of the end to their followers.
Islam and Christianity stand today as the two largest religions. To study
their versions of the Day of Judgement offers the students an opportunity
to read primary sources (the Bible and the Koran), analyze art, and see
the similarities and differences of the two religions. Also, it does so
by appealing to a universal curiosity of what lies beyond.
Lesson Components:
Motivation: At the beginning of the class, ask students to list similarities
and differences between the Christian and Muslim religions. Similarities
will include the monotheistic belief, common prophets in the religions,
common creation stories, common values, etc. Differences will include
the divinity of Jesus (Christians believe it, Muslims don’t),
etc. List answers on the board.
Modeling/Guided Practice: Explain to the students that Islam and Christianity
share a similar version of a time when all souls are judged. The faithful
would be rewarded and the wicked would be condemned. Distribute copies
of Handout 1 and Handout 2 (Islam’s and Christianity's versions
of the Day of Judgement). Read both sections with the students, and
afterwards make a Venn Diagram showing commonalities and differences
of the two readings. Have students copy into their notes.
Independent Practice: Distribute Handout 3 to students (Day of Judgement-Islam)
and Handout 4 (Weyden’s Last Judgement). Have students partner
together and discuss common themes and differences. After 10 minutes,
have students report to the class their thoughts and opinions, making
a chart on the board for everyone to copy and use for the assessment.
Assessment: Students should complete a 5 paragraph essay that addresses
this question -- “Compare and contrast the ways Islam and Christianity
view the Day of Judgement.”
Materials/Resources:
- A copy of Rogier van de Weyden’s Last Judgement. The teacher
can easily locate this on the internet by searching Google.com’s
images with keywords “Last Judgement Weyden”. Teacher can
photocopy or put on powerpoint.
- A copy of Islam’s Last Judgement. No image is available on
the internet that I have been able to find, but the picture is available
on page 15 of the book Dreaming of Paradise: Islamic art from the collection
of the Museum of Ethnology, Rotterdam, 1993.
- Copies for students of Koran’s excerpts regarding Judgement
Day.
- Copies for students of Bible’s excerpts regarding Judgement
Day.
Plans for lesson assessment: The essay will be used
as an assessment to see if the students understood the similarities and
differences between the two religions regarding the Judgement Day.
Keywords: Islam, Christianity, Judgement Day.
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