Observing a Worship Service: Reflection Questions for Field Trip

Record your thoughts and impressions before the trip

Record your thoughts, feelings, fears, assumptions and possible biases before the upcoming trip. Indicate the location of the temple you went. Include a short description of the service, record your thoughts, feelings and impressions of it.

What are the distinctive features of that religion?

How is the divine perceived by the followers?

What did you learn about this particular religion by observing the service? Reflect on your learning experience.

What did you learn about this religion that could not be learned from our textbook? Why was it interesting /relevant to you?

Reflect on theological and cultural features of the faith that you have observed. How does this worship ceremony compare or contrast with the one you attended in the past (any religious tradition).

What questions would you ask someone who claims that faith system as their own? Did you speak with anyone there? Please do speak to someone regarding the subject matter, develop and record your questions (at least 2) and someone’s answers.

Based on what you already know about the faith, how does this belief system compare or contrast with your own worldview?

Did you have any personal biases or assumptions about the faith before coming to the service? How do you think this learning experience has changed your perception of this faith? You may find that you need to write somewhat more than 4-6 pages to answer all questions thoroughly. Marks will not be deducted for going beyond the suggested word limit.

Write an answer on one of the two reflection questions that you feel more strongly about or more interested in exploring more in depth. • Compare and contrast Polytheistic vs Monotheistic theoretical forms of religious expression.

Discuss whether monotheism is a natural progression from polytheism or a radically new worldview.

What is so different about having one God from having a pantheon of gods headed by a superior god? 

What Christian beliefs and values are similar or different to those found in other religions, notably Judaism and Islam? Discuss. It is said that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believers are all children of Abraham and that they worship the same God. In what way (s) is this statement true? Are there ways in which it can be considered false? Please explain.

Make a field trip to a house of worship of any of Eastern or Western religions that we have been studying in this course (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam ) and that is located in Toronto or Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Please choose a religion (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity or Islam) and the house of worship that is not one to which you already belong. You are not to attend a funeral or wedding or other event in fulfillment of this assignment. You must attend a worship service. Please be aware that not all worship services are open to the public and you might be required to make advance arrangements to attend. This assignment is concerned with your perceptions and feelings towards the faith you are to observe. Experiencing another religion first hand will give you a new perception – enjoy, reflect and critically evaluate your learning experience.