Religious Studies

Grades: 9
Credit: 5 units

In the first semester, students will cover the essential beliefs of Catholic Christianity by analyzing the creed of the Catholic faith. By looking at the creed line by line, students will discuss a range of topics including: God, creation, human nature, sin, salvation, and the sacraments. This course will also introduce the Salesian Spirit of Don Bosco, and the four pillars of the Salesian school: home, playground, church, and school.

Grades: 9
Credit: 5 units

In the second semester, students will discover and discuss the stories of the Old Testament. The semester will begin with the Bible and its origins, the historical foundations, and its spiritual message. After learning several Biblical stories, students will teach these stories to local grade school children using public speaking skills they learned throughout the year.

Grades: 10
Credit: 5 units
UC/CSU Approved

This course will examine New Testament literature from a critical, historical and theological perspective. The course will study the life and thought of the early church as reflected by the authors of the four gospels. The early Jesus movement in its social and historical setting will be covered. Ethical ramifications and moral implications of the New Testament and the early Christian church in today's society will be examined.

Grades: 10
Credit: 5 units
UC/CSU Approved

This course presents an overview of the history of Christianity and the Church, especially in light of its profound influence on the world. The message of Jesus and the actions of the Church in the past 2,000 years that shaped western civilization are explored. The course gives students a deeper awareness of the present age by reflecting on the past, and a better understanding of how to respond to contemporary problems and events by focusing on the cyclic action of history.

Grades: 11
Credit: 5 units
UC/CSU Approved

The Ethics course examines the question at the heart of human behavior: “What is right and wrong?” The course first explores various philosophical ethical traditions, and then reviews Christian ethics. While dealing with deep philosophical theories, the course will consistently involve self-reflection and application to our lives. This reflection will provide not only intellectual development, but also moral and spiritual formation.

Grades: 11
Credit: 5 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

This Social Justice course presents a Catholic perspective regarding many issues related to justice in our world today. The general goals of this course are to increase student awareness of justice issues, develop critical thinking skills on specific issues, challenge social responsibility, create a sense of solidarity, and learn to act on behalf of justice.

Grades: 12
Credit: 5 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

In the World Religions course, students are introduced to the major religions found in the world today: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Students will identify differences and similarities between religions. Textbooks, articles (newspaper and magazine), and videos are used in the course. Students are taught through lecture, discussion, group work and group presentations. By understanding world religions, students will be able to better understand the people and cultures in which they are found.

Grades: 12
Credit: 5 units

The goal of the Senior Synthesis course is for students to reflect on their daily lives and their relationships with others through the lens of their Salesian education. Through discussion, reflection activities, and the creation of a Senior Synthesis project, students will examine family and friendship, relationships, self identity, effective communication in relationships, and life vocations. The Senior Synthesis Project will be presented to other students in Faith Families.

Grades: 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Comparative Religions Honors will study the fundamental beliefs, practices, spiritual, and moral insights of some of the world’s most prominent religions and philosophies (Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Ancient Greek philosophy, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity). CRH will also cover some of the world’s primal and indigenous religions. This course is interdisciplinary in that it will employ skills and content learned in history, literature, geography, and religion. Aside from complex readings and texts, students will analyze cultural phenomena, artworks and artifacts, social and institutional patterns and traditions. This course differs from World Religions in its workload, expectations of work quality, and comparative methodology.
Prerequisites: Students should have: 1) an A in all religion courses; 2) a minimum overall GPA of 3.75; and 3) recommendations from religion teachers. Teacher recommendations will be obtained by the department chair.