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Friday, December 3, 2010

World Cultures Question #7

Consider all of the people that we have talked about in class this year...


What have you learned so far this year about the way people think and act (not their outward appearance or image) all around the world?


What tendencies or sinful temptations are all humans susceptible to?


Give specifc examples from classroom discussion.
Andres Escobar

U.S. History Question #7

"Bleeding Kansas"

Was John Brown a hero or a villain? Pick a side of the argument and make a case.

Why?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

World Cultures Question #6

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:7-10 

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:16, 17


Answer the following questions with a parent...
What is the "prosperity gospel"? (use the internet to find the answer)

Does God call us to suffer or prosper?

What is the proper Biblical mindset towards prospering? 

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

U.S. History Question #6

"It is the weak man who urges compromise, never the strong man."
"All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter."
"The compromise will always be more expensive than either of the suggestions it is compromising."

When is compromise healthy? When is compromise dangerous?

Friday, October 22, 2010

U.S. History and World Cultures Question #5


“…for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference--so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.” - Frederick Douglass


One of the darkest blemishes in American history is the stain left by slavery. Slavery survived in America for over 200 years. How could it have lasted so long in a country that claimed to be Christian. In fact, there were some Christian leaders, such as R.L. Dabney (Stonewall Jackson's chief of staff and chaplain), during the time of slavery in America that failed to acknowledge the evils of slavery because it was so engrained in Southern culture.

Discuss the following questions with a parent and give both of your answers...


What practices or ways of life are present in our culture today that we generally accept and never really think twice about that are actually an abomination to God?

Why is nothing done to stop them?

Should something be done?


Friday, October 8, 2010

World Cultures Question #4

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."-Winston Churchill

Answer the following questions with a parent...

What does a Biblical view of money and economics involve? Give Biblical truth and evidence in your answer.

How should Christians balance financial gain with keeping a proper view of money in mind?




U.S. History Question #4

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." -George Washington

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29


Should freedom of speech always be ensured or are there limits to free speech?

What are those limits?

Should an individuals desires and rights always be the priority or are there times when the greater good of the people should be the top priority?




Thursday, September 30, 2010

World Cultures Question #3

What a person achieves or accomplishes is more important than the way they conduct themselves.

Give some examples from American culture that prove the previous statement to be true.

Give evidence to why this statement is false.

U.S. History Question #3


"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

 

"The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain." -Aristotle
 
 
Which of the quotes do you think is a better model of how to live your life? Why?
 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

World Cultures Question #2

Discuss the following questions with a parent and respond in the comments section...



How much of your life is devoted to being entertained? Can you be entertained too much? Does the Bible say anything about entertainment?
 
 

U.S. History Question #2

James Madison once wrote, "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."

Discuss the following quote with a parent and answer the following question...

What does this quote mean?


Give an example of this concept in U.S. History or an analogy from your own life to illustrate this point.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

World Cultures Blog Question #1

Discuss the following question with a parent and record both your answers in complete sentences...

What is truly good about the United States of America today?


* Remember to honor God by giving your best effort on these questions.

U.S. History Blog Question #1

Discuss the following questions with one of your parents and record their answer and your answer...

What do you think the "pursuit of happiness" is?

What should that mean to you as a Christian?




* Remember to honor God by giving your best effort on these questions.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

U.S. History Question #13


As you consider and think about all of the people, events, ideas, and documents we have studied this year in U.S. History, answer the following questions...


What has suprised you the most about the history and people of the United States?

What has disappointed you the most about the people or events of the United States?


What person, idea, or event do you admire the most?

World Cultures Question #13


Consider all of the parts of the world we have studied this year in World Cultures...

In what ways are people from different parts of the world similar?

Give specific examples.

(Ssssshhhhhh! Don't tell anyone, but I may give extra credit for really good answers. It's the last blog of the year so I might just be generous.)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

U.S. History Question #12


"At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being."

Racism is nothing new. Racism has plagued different cultures all over the world and stained the pages of history throughout recorded history. Racism didn't wait for the modern world, nor has it faded with time. The Bible speaks of the hatred between the Jews and Gentiles, as well as the conflict between the Samaritans and Jews. Apartheid in South Africa seperated the blacks from the whites for several decades. The genocide of the Jews by the Nazis during World War II is well documented. America hasn't escaped the problem of racism either. From the time of the 3/5 Compromise at the Constitutional Convention through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 whites and blacks clashed in the United States.

Answer the following questions...

Why is racism so common around the world and throughout history?

Does racism still exist in America?

Will the issue of race ever be solved in America? Why or why not?

World Cultures Question #12


Imagine you have a friend that really needs help with something; it could be their school work, sports, or social life. You decide to help your friend with their problem because you are really good at whatever it is they need help with. After giving your friend help, they try to take your advice but they mess up and ruin all of the help you gave them. You continue to help over and over again, but they continue to mess up.


What should you do? Do you keep helping? Should you have even helped in the first place? Do you stop helping? How long do you help? Did your help actually hurt them? Can you actually help too much? What does the Bible say about helping others? Does the Bible say anything about helping someone too much?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

U.S. History Question #11


Ask a parent the following questions and record your answers and their answers in the comments section.


It is impossible to disagree with the fact that America was founded on the idea of government working for the people and not the other way around. This idea is common in many of our early foundational documents and was a consistent belief of our founding fathers and a commonly held conviction of many great leaders of our country throughout the 1800s and 1900s. One example comes from the Declaration of Independence when it says government gets "...their just powers from the consent of the governed". Another example of this idea being expressed is Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. In the Gettysburg Address Lincoln ends his speech talking about " a government of the people, by the people, and for the people".


Is our federal government currently acting like "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people"?


In what ways are United States' politicians working for the people?


In what ways are politicians not living up to their roles of representing the citizens of the United States?

World Cultures Question #11

Micah 6:8 : He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.



What does it mean to "love mercy"?



What are some practical examples from life of loving mercy?

Sunday, February 28, 2010

World Cultures Question #10


In Jon Krakauer's book Where Men Win Glory, Krakauer writes that in Muslim society "individual loyalty belongs foremost to the family and then- in rapidly descending order- to one's extended clan or tribe, one's ethnic group, and one's religious sect".

How are the loyalties of Muslim people different than those of the average American?

Are the priorities of Americans placed in different order?

What is missing in the Muslim hierarchy of loyalty that is common to many Americans?

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

U.S. History Blog Question #10


Matthew 7:3- "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"


1 Peter 3:8-"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."



For nearly a century Americans have debated the idea of whether the United States should be involved in affairs all around the world. Whether or not America should be isolated or not is a major issue and one American citizens, Presidents, and Congressmen have often struggled with and continue to battle in the history of our country. In various cases Americans were told that policing the world was a strategic and moral "must": we were "saving the world" and defending our own national security. In other cases people argue that America has enough of its own problems and should worry about its own domestic issues before it tells everyone else what to do.


Consider the verses from above and answer the questions below...


Should America act as the world's police and worry about the problems of other countries around the world?


Should America enforce its value on other countries or only worry about the problems inside the country?


Friday, January 22, 2010

World Cultures Question #9



In Lee Harris' book The Suicide of Reason the writer says the following:

The West (Western Europe, America, etc.) is eliminating the alpha males from our midst, and at a dizzyingly accelerating rate. But in Muslim societies, the alpha male is still alive and well. While we in America are drugging our alpha boys with Ritalin, the Muslims are doing everything in their power to encourage their alpha boys to be tough, aggressive, and ruthless. We are proud if our sons get into a good college; they are proud if their sons die as martyrs. To rid your society of high-testosterone alpha males may bring peace and quiet; but if you have an enemy that is building up an army of alpha boys to hate you fanatically and who have vowed to destroy you, you will be committing suicide.




Discuss the quote with a parent and then answer the following questions...

In what ways is the quote true? In what ways is the quote false?

Do you and your parent agree? Why or why not?

U.S. History Question #9


Hermann Goring, a Nazi leader, following World War II said:

Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policies, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship....Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to greater danger. It works the same way in any country.


What is the main point of this statement?

Do you agree with the statement? Why or why not?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

U.S. History Question #8


Discuss the following questions with a parent and record your answers...


How does the media (tv, internet, news stations, newspapers, commercials, etc.) try to scare people?


Why would the mass media be involved in trying to scare people?


Can you think of any specific examples of how the media may exaggerate things for their gain?


World Cultures Question #8


Record your answers and your parent's answers to the following questions...

What is "racial profiling"?

Should "racial profiling" be used in airport security?