REL 120 CCC San Diego Religious Diversity Project

Part 1

Alternate Assignment

Due to the current Covid 19 restrictions which include social distancing, an alternative assignment has been created. Please see the link for details on the assignment. 

If you choose to do the alternative assignment, please turn it in using the submit assignment in module 12.3 (That is where you are right now.)

Link to Alternate Assignment

Activity Report Page #2

• Instructions

Please upload the file. Remember to save the file as a .doc or a .docx.

• If you need a copy of the activity report file, here it is.

Christianity

Bayview Baptist Church (Christianity: Baptist); San Diego, CA 92114

Bethel Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church (Christianity: AME); San Diego, CA 92102

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Christianity: Roman Catholic); San Diego, CA 92115

College Avenue Baptist Church (Christianity: Baptist [General Conference America]); San Diego, CA 92115

First United Methodist Church of San Diego (Christianity: Methodist); San Diego, CA 92108

Foothills United Methodist Church (Christianity: Methodist); La Mesa, CA 91941

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Christianity: Roman Catholic); El Cajon, CA 92019
• Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana (Christianity: Presbyterian [USA]); San Diego, CA 92102
• Mission San Diego de Alcalá (Christianity: Roman Catholic); Mission San Diego, CA 92108
• New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (Christianity: Baptist [Progressive]); San Diego, CA 92113
• Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Coptic); Solana Beach, CA 92075
• George Antiochian Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox); San Diego, CA 92105
• St. George Serbian Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox [Serbian]); San Diego, CA 92117
• St. Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Greek); El Cajon, CA 92022
• St. John Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church (Christianity: Pre-Chalcedonian, Armenian); San Diego, CA 92116
• St. John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Russian); San Diego, CA 92105
• St. Luke Catholic Church (Christianity: Roman Catholic); El Cajon, CA 92019
• St. Michael Chaldean Catholic Church (Christianity: Chaldean Catholic); El Cajon, CA 92020
• St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Russian); SanDiego, CA 92104
• St. Paul’s Cathedral (Christianity: Episcopal/Anglican); San Diego, CA 92103
• St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral (Christianity: Chaldean Catholic); El Cajon, CA 92019
• St. Pius X Catholic Church (Christianity: Roman Catholic); Jamul, CA 91935
• St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Greek); San Diego, CA 92103
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ (Christianity: Pentecostal, Church of God in Christ); San Diego, CA 92114
• Our Lady of Kazan Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity: Eastern Orthodox [Russian]); San Diego, CA 92105
• Santa Sophia Church (Christianity: Roman Catholic); Spring Valley, CA 91977
• Shadow Mountain Community Church (Christianity: Baptist [Independent]); El Cajon, CA 92019
• Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Christianity: Lutheran, ELCA); La Mesa, CA 91941
• Skyline Wesleyan Church (Christianity: Wesleyan); La Mesa, CA 91941
• The Anchor Church (Christianity: Pentecostal); San Diego, CA 92105
• United House of Prayer for All People (Christianity: Pentecostal); San Diego, CA 92114
• Islam
• Afghan Community Islamic Center — Masjid Al-Tawheed (Islam: Sunni) San Diego, CA 92126
• Imam Ali Masjid (Islam: Shi’ite); Lakeside, CA 92040
• Islamic Center of San Diego — Masjid Abu Bakr (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92111
• Islamic Educational Center of San Diego (Islam: Shi’ite); San Diego, CA 92127
• Masjid Al-Ansar (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92105

Masjid Al-Madina Al-Munawara — Kurdish Community Center (Islam: Sunni); El Cajon, CA 92022

Masjid Al-Rribat Al-Islami (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92115

• Masjid Noor (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92105
• Masjid Usman (Islam: Sunni); Lemon Grove, CA 92945
• Masjidul Taqwa (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92101
• Muslim American Society, San Diego Chapter (Islam); San Diego, CA 92126
• Muslim Community Center of Greater San Diego (Islam: Sunni); San Diego, CA 92129
• Bahai
• San Diego Baha’i Center (Baha’i); San Diego, CA 92111
• Part 2 Final Essay Exam
• Instructions
• Below are six different essay questions, one for each of the last five modules. (Module 8 has two essay questions.)
• Make sure you answer each question.
• Each question has at least one or two parts. Make sure you answer the whole question. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me using Canvas email. If it is urgent, then please call me at 619 890 0009, and leave a message. I will return your call as soon as possible. 

Upload your essay answers

In this section, you will upload your answers to the essay questions for the midterm exam. They should have been sent to you via email, but if you didn’t receive them, they are also below.

• The answers can be uploaded between Thursday, July 27 at 5 am and Sunday, August 6 at 11 pm. 

Spelling and Grammar

Please make sure you answer all the questions to the best of your ability. Remember that spelling and grammar count. You are allowed to have a few minor errors, but you should write your answers in standard academic English with very few if any spelling or grammar errors. 

Cheating/Plagiarism

Please do not cheat in any manner. You are not allowed to merely cut and paste answers from the internet or any book. Do not copy from other students or get the answers off one of those “Help Websites.” The standard rules apply that if I find out that you have cheated you will receive a zero on the exam. 

Citations

You must produce original work. You may use paraphrases and quotes but quotes should be kept to a minimum. 

Make sure you cite any quotes or paraphrases. If you use an author used in the class, you merely need to provide the name and page number. However, if you use any other author than the ones used in the class, please provide a full reference at the bottom of the essay. 

More information is given about these requirements in the Judaism question below.

As a final warning, please remember that I have Google too and I know how to highlight and do a search. Please don’t copy and paste and expect to get away with it. Every semester I catch a few students (including the Summer 2023 midterm) and they receive zeros. Make sure you cite your sources. Thank you. 

Final Exam Essay Questions

Judaism

Briefly explain how the following three concepts in Judaism have influenced the Jewish People.

God is One (Monotheism)

God is the creator of the Universe, and

The Covenant between God and the Jewish People.

You should have at least one paragraph for each part (God is One, God is the creator of the universe, and the Covenant between God and the Jewish people), and each paragraph should be between 3 and 10 sentences long.

As a hint, it might help you to look at what Huston Smith has to say about Judaism.

As you may have noticed, this exam is take-home and you have full access to the books and, more importantly, the World Wide Web.

Hence, this warning.

You may use examples from Neusner’s or Smith’s book, or another source (such as a newspaper, magazine, Google News, etc…,) however, you should provide a full reference for any source you use, except the assigned books (Smith, Neusner, Prothero, etc.) Please give the name and page number of any reference in an Assigned reading.

• Please use the MLA format for references. 

Here is a link to MLA Citation Machine.

• MLA Citation Machine
• Please make sure you give a reference for any source you use. Please don’t plagiarize.
• (100 words minimum total, 25 points possible.)
• Christianity Question One

First, what is Catholicism?

• Write a short essay (a few paragraphs are fine) where you give the four or more characteristics that you think best describe Catholicism. 
• You should explain what each characteristic is and why it is an essential part of Catholicism. 

As a reminder, an “explanatory essay is all about presenting a neutral view on the set topic by providing analysis from research. Its primary goal is to present a lucid explanation as to why things happened the way they did” (“How to Write…”)

• For more information about explanatory essays, see the link.

Explanatory EssayLinks to an external site.

• Second, please give one criticism of Catholicism and whether you agree or not.
• Please make sure you give a reference for any source you use. Please don’t plagiarize.

(100 words minimum total, 25 points possible.)

• Christianity Question Two

The different Christian denominations have different interpretations of how to interpret the Bible. Catholicism (both East and West) say that it is important but not as important as the Church’s hierarchy and its doctrines. Protestantism claims that the Bible alone is all that is needed for salvation.

• Which do you agree with and why?

Give an argument about which denomination you agree with and why. One to two paragraphs are fine, but more can be written if you wish. 

As a reminder, an argument (e.g. to argue) is when you provide evidence (statements) that support a conclusion, hypothesis, or thesis statement. 

• Please make sure you give a reference for any source you use. Please don’t plagiarize.
• (100 words minimum, 25 points possible.)

Islam

First, briefly explain the five pillars of Islam.

• Second, argue which pillar you think is the most important (to you).

As a reminder, an argument (e.g. to argue) is when you provide evidence (statements) that support a conclusion, hypothesis, or thesis statement.

• Please make sure you give a reference for any source you use. Please don’t plagiarize.
• (100 words minimum, 25 points possible.)
• Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

Explain how the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) are a restorationist church.

• You should make sure to use the following concepts

Apostolic Succession

• the Great Apostasy

Revelation (in Mormonism)

the Bible (how it was lost or changed)

Other concepts may be used if needed.

• Please make sure you give a reference for any source you use. Please don’t plagiarize.
• (100 words minimum, 25 points possible.)
• Secular Humanism

First, would you consider being a Secular Humanist? Why or why not?

Write a short argument (one to three paragraphs) where you give your reasons why you would consider being or not being a Secular Humanist.

• Second, write an argument (one to three paragraphs) about which is the best belief system/religion to you, that we have studied in this course. 

Do not pick Secular Humanism as the best belief system/religion. Please pick another belief system/religion.