World Religion Students Expand Horizons with Video Conference

“The first unit of the World Religion course is titled ‘Dialogue,’” explains Theology Teacher Mr. Chris Howe. “This course is not principally about what different religions believe or how they pray. At its most fundamental level, it is about how to build relationships of trust and respect among different peoples.”

The video conference encouraged students to enter into dialogue about the ways in which they experience wealth, poverty, inequality and charity and what questions these experiences raise for them and their communities. 

Dialogue Facilitator Seán Rose supported the students in developing connections so that they could grapple with challenging questions such as:  “Are there tensions between material and spiritual wealth, or can both be held together?” and “Are all acts of charity motivated by noble intentions?” 

The goal of the experience was for students to encounter new perspectives that they can then use as a resource to deepen their thinking about the significance of the complex topics of wealth, poverty and inequality. 

Through the Generation Global initiative, teachers transport their classes across the world in a single afternoon. Online and through video conferences, students interact directly with their peers around the world, engaging in dialogue around issues of culture, identity, beliefs, values and attitudes. Learn more at https://generation.global/.