1. What religious festivals do you know? Which days, if any, are religious holidays in your country?
2. Do they ever require you to give something up? Have you ever given something up for a fixed period of time?
3. Who is the most prominent religious leader in your country? What other worldwide religious leaders do you know?
4. Do your heads of religion make pronouncements on public life? How are these pronouncements received? Do you listen?
5. Who could persuade you to give up TV and mobile phone use for a weekend?
Read article here: Lent
6. Does the article (especially its headline) accurately reflect Pope Francis's position? Does the author have his own agenda here? What is it?
7. Do you agree with the following? Why?
a) "It's only right that the church should move with the times, and involve itself more with social media."
b) "Social media should be renamed 'anti-social media', as it would more accurately reflect its nature."
8. Do you think it is a good thing that religious/spiritual leaders have a presence on social media? Is their message weakened by the hostility/salaciousness of other people's messages?
9. Who is the most civic-minded person you know?
10. Who do you admire most on social media: someone who sticks to their guns despite controversy, or someone who admits to making a mistake, and is ready to learn?
11. How do you strike the right balance between righteous behaviour and righteous anger when online?
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Situation
You have been appointed chief moderator by your local church/mosque/temple for its new online platform. Explain your policies to a local journalist (your teacher), who is curious to know how you will balance the 'Wild West' of the internet with your pastoral duties.
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Discuss quotes
“It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.”
- Abraham Lincoln
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
― Ambrose Bierce
“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.”
― Brian Tracy
“Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.”
― Lou Holt
Student Handout PDF: Lent