Outline for Religion Research

Youth actively do research on the different faiths they visit using the following tool:

Outline for Religion Research

Please use these questions as a guide to assist you in finding out as much information as you can about each topic. You will present your research to the class the following week so that we may all be more informed as we visit other places of worship. Make sure you don’t research the same topic two times in a row. Remember that all web sites are not there to present information on religion without bias. Be careful with the places you pick to gather your information!

1. How does this faith view God or divinity? (example: the trinity in Catholicism of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost)
2. What are the core beliefs of this faith? (example: Pillars of Islam, Noble Truths of Buddhism, UU Principles)
3. Is there a Holy book (s)?
4. What are the rituals of this faith? (ex: lighting the Chalice in UU, Incense, prayer 5 times a day only facing East)
5. Who is the leader of this faith? (ex: Pope, Prophet, Reverend, Bishop, Rabbi)
6. What is the history of how this faith came to be? Has there been any reformation?
7. Questions we might ask when we visit this faith.
8. What is the role of youth in this faith? When do youth assume a more responsible role in this church? (ex: COA for UUs, Bar Mitvah for Jewish boys)
9. What are the expectations for youth in this faith? (ex: trip to Israel for Jewish youth, mission for Mormon youth)
10. What are the gender roles/expectations in this church?
11. What are the financial obligations of the membership?
12. How do you become a ________________? (Catholic, UU, Buddhist, etc…)
13. Global perspective. How does this faith fit into the world? How many are there in the world?
14. What is the political influence of this organization in the community, nation, world?
15. In what way is this religion important?
16. What happens after death? (Heaven, Nirvana, worm food, reincarnation) How does the congregation view death?

After we visit each place of worship we will try to go out for a snack of some kind and talk about the experience we just shared. Be thinking about what you liked or didn’t like about your experience at this place. Why would a youth want to go to this place of worship repeatedly? What did it offer that would engage your curiosity? How does it compare to the experience of your faith?