All around our world, people have various beliefs and values that come from their family, religion/faith, community, relationships, environment, holy books, mentors and life experiences. To be effective international communicators, it's important to know our identity and where other people are coming from. We need to understand (and notice/be aware of) how Beliefs and Values strengthen people and relationships. Many people feel that religions divide people, but to get to know and serve people and communicate better, we need to do some inner work and learn to express, explore, and be aware of our own beliefs and values. Then we also need to listen, respect and learn from others who may have differing beliefs and values. If we share our beliefs with each other clearly and respect those who are different, we will live healthier, more peaceful and compassionate lives, function better in society and in the global village, perform better at work and school, and we might even be able to avoid or prevent conflict, war, and miscommunication. Let's discuss these precious religion, faith, and values topics with great respect because even though they are often overlooked or misunderstood but evident in every conversation.
Assignment: Pick one of the seven options below to reflect on your webpage about belief, values, faith, and religion.
BELIEFS
Option 1: Explore two Belief essays (audio and written) of famous and everyday people on the famous National Public Radio radio show:This I Believe. You can look for themes such as Love, Parenting, Education, Compassion, Friendship, Giving, Peace, Mistakes, etc. What is the person's belief, how did they get it, how did they explain it, and how do they practice it? Do you have the same belief or a different perspective as them?
Option 3 Listen to one Conversation on StoryCorps website. Hear how English Speakers from various walks of life interview each other in a mobile recording studio(camping car). Some people talk to their children about war or the 9/11 attacks, others are in the hospital interviewing their grandparents, and others talk about their love for each other and relationships.
Browse for a theme you like. Click on a Conversation and click on the Transcript to see the words of the conversation. As you listen to the conversation, think and reflect on some of these questions on your webpage.
What belief or value do they talk about? How do you know it is important to them and a central part of their lives? Notice any heirlooms or pictures or items they mention or show in the picture and describe why it is important to them. How did you feel to hear their intimate conversation showing their strong relationship and trust with each other? Do you admire them for their belief/values? Do you have a similar person you were thinking of while listening? If you could interview someone in the Recording Studio like this, who would you interview and what story would you get them to tell which shows their belief/value? How did you feel when you listened to this conversation? Did you think about your own beliefs/values?
One other option is to listen to/watch a TALK TO ME conversations from Huffington Post which is a new program of children interviewing their parents and asking them questions about their values and beliefs.
What belief or value do they talk about? How do you know it is important to the parents and what they want their children to learn? How do you know the value or belief is a central part of their lives? Notice any heirlooms or pictures or quotations or proverbs they mention and describe why it is important to them. How did you feel to hear their intimate conversation showing their strong relationship and trust with each other? What did you like most about the conversation? Do you admire them for their belief/values? Would you want to interview your parent like this? What story, value, or belief do you think they would tell you to get them to tell which shows their belief/value? Why don't you try it now!? How did you feel when you listened to this conversation? Did you think about your own beliefs/values?
Option 2: Click Through the Photograph Galleries and comment on your website about 3 Images. You can look at the World Religions PhotoLibrary which list the various world religions or the Newspaper article link with 10 photos. On your webpage, write answers to these questions: What can you learn from these photos? What is something new you saw or learned about people and their beliefs, rituals, and values? Did you have any personal discoveries? Any Surprises? What object or food or custom did you learn about from one religion? Any commonalities/similarities? What would you like to ask the people in the photo?
Dr. Bene Brown is a famous motivational speaker and author because she speaks about what most people are afraid to speak about. She speaks/writes honestly about her mistakes and how she sees amazing value in Shame, Empathy, and Vulnerability. Watch to one of her TED speech videos and read the transcript/subtitles while you watch. Write on your webpage your answers to these questions: What is the one value she is talking about? What examples does she give of how this value is good for our lives/her life? Do you agree with her? Why or Why not? What advice does she give? How did you feel? What was an important quote from her speech you liked the most? Have you had similar experiences and values as her? If you could give a TED talk on a Value/Belief you have, what would it be? What examples from your life experiences/stories would you give?
Hailey Bartholomew created a project photographing things she was grateful for each day. Watch the video about her journey and belief of Gratitude. Look through the collection of photographs and also look through similar projects of Haileys (speeches, books) and look at projects of those of other people have started because of Hailey.
Write on your webpage answers to these questions: Why did Hailey start the project and how did she get the idea? How has the project helped her? Would you do something like this? Do you know someone like Hailey who influenced other people and encouraged them by sharing their belief/value? What are three things you would take pictures of that you are grateful for and Why? Would you ever do a project like this about a different value you have such as LOVE, peace, joy, compassion, nature, understanding, kindness, language? Explain some things you would take photographs of for that project and why.
John Hwang is a friend of the teacher's and a well-respected photographer and nurse. In his free time, he takes photographs and befriends homeless people on the streets (Skid Row) of Los Angeles. Look at the images and read some stories of homeless people on the street. Look at the biography of John. Write on your webpage answers to questions:
What do you think about John's idea of photographing and befriending people on the streets? What does John belief in? Pick three people and look at their photographs/ stories. What do the people in the pictures and stories belief in? How did they come to believe this? Could you do something like John is doing? Do you know what it would feel like to be homeless or poor? What values or beliefs would you carry with you or would help carry you and help you if you lost everything and had to live on the streets? Where could we find people in need like this in your country? How could we help them? What values or beliefs would you share with them or what values and beliefs could they share with you? If you could ask John or the homeless people one question, what would you ask them?