Description:
Dare to Know is a 28-session curriculum designed for
Unitarian Universalist high school religious education
classes (9th to 12th grades). Throughout the curriculum
are recommended readings related to each session topic,
generally consisting of novels suitable for high school
readers.
Dare to Know exposes youth to a broad range of
ideologies (or "isms") about the nature of existence and
the purpose of life. Specifically, Dare to Know introduces
students to major tenets of Humanism as expressed in the
Humanist Manifesto II, written in 1973. It is important to
explore and understand Humanism since Humanists and
Unitarian Universalists generally share many viewpoints.
In addition to comparing and contrasting Humanism and
Unitarian Universalism, sessions explore:
-- a wide range of Western philosophical concepts and
schools of thought, particularly focusing on the works of
modern philosophers;
-- the lives and words of specific individuals who are
exceptional examples of Humanists and freethinkers; and
-- techniques of futures research and thinking that will
support a futurist point of view.
Dare to Know is designed to be taught either as a full year
of 28 sessions, or as five independent modules of five to
six sessions each. In this way, churches with traditions
of high school religious education classes can use Dare to
Know as a full-year curriculum. Those churches just
starting a high school class for the first time, or
reinvigorating one that has been dormant can ease the youth
into the notion of a religious education class by taking
one module at a time. While the modules are best used in
the order presented, churches may feel free to adapt the
curriculum to their specific needs and the desires of the
youth.
Specific session topics included in Dare to Know are:
MODULE ONE -- Origins of Humanist Thought
Session 1 The Role of Myths and Gods
Session 2 A History of Humanism
Session 3 The Nature of Ethics
Session 4 The Limits of Relativism
MODULE TWO -- The Tools of the Humanist
Session 5 Knowing Yourself: Psychology and Behavior
Session 6 Being Skeptical
Session 7 Using Reason
Session 8 Pursuing Knowledge: Journalism and the Media
Session 9 Using Technology: The Impact on the Individual
Session 10 Using Technology: The Impact on Society
MODULE THREE -- Humanism and Social Relations
Session 11 Shaping Your Own Destiny: Existentialism
Session 12 Inherent Worth: What Rights Does the Individual Have?
Session 13 Civil Versus Community Liberties
Session 14 Sexuality and the Humanist Ideal
MODULE FOUR -- Humanism, Politics, and Economics
Session 15 The Use of the Democratic Process
Session 16 The Separation of Church and State
Session 17 The Distribution of Societal Resources
Session 18 Equality for All
MODULE FIVE -- Humanism and the World
Session 19 One Nation, One World
Session 20 Violence, War, and Terrorism
Session 21 Promoting Economic Justice
Session 22 Our Role in Nature
Session 23 What Will the World Be Like?
-uujeff_219 (Thursday, January 17, 2002 at 16:41:37 (EST))
