Religious Studies

The Religious Studies Program is foundational for the process of Christian formation at Rockway. It is designed to introduce and lead students into an understanding and appreciation of the story of God's people. This story includes God's call and God's interaction with people in the Bible and in subsequent history. Religious Studies courses are mandatory for students up to and including grade 11. In grade 12 students have the opportunity to consider Christianity in relation to other religions and to explore various aspects of Christian thought ethics and history in their other courses. In all aspects of the program students intentionally and imaginatively retell rehearse and reinterpret the Christian Story so that it may become their own.

Grade 7 God Calls a People

Students in Grade 7 will explore the theme of “identity” within the framework of God calling a people in the Biblical story and in the church. They will be introduced to this theme through their study of Genesis the Psalms, and the life of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark. Through these stories they will seek to better understand the identity and character of God, of Jesus, of the people of faith and of themselves as individuals whom God calls.

Grade 8 God's People Walk in Faith

Students in Grade 8 will explore the theme of “faithfulness” within the framework of God calling a people in the biblical Story and in the church. Students will explore biblical understandings of covenant and law, righteousness and peace, grace and forgiveness in light of the call to be a witness of God’s kingdom to the nations. They will be introduced to the stories of the book of Exodus, the prophets of the Old Testament and to Jesus’ pointing to the inauguration of God’s coming kingdom in Matthew 5 and 6. In and through these biblical stories, students will grow to better understand what the call to faithful following of God’s way means in the Bible and for themselves.

HRE131 Religious Education: An Upside Down Kingdom

The Grade 9 Religious Studies course is an integral part of our Religious Studies curriculum (Grades 6 to 12). This course provides students with a resource-rich immersion experience in the “upside down” worldview or framing narrative of the Bible. Students will examine the letter of James and its understanding of values implicit in this guide to practical Christian living. Students will study the parables of Jesus in the context of the coming of the upside-down Kingdom of God. Students will develop biblical research skills, gain an appreciation for different cultures and historical contexts, see journal writing as an important part of their spiritual growth and learn how Christian values impact personal choices.  This course is a RMC requirement.

HRE231 Religious Education: History of the Christian Church

This is a course in the history of the Christian Church as seen through the lens of the early church vision. This vision focused on particular practices that defined the identity of the church. Students will examine these practices, how the early church used them, and how and why they changed through Christian history. Throughout the course we will look for echos of the early church in current church practice and try to find ways to reinvigorate the early church vision.

HRT3M1 World Religions: Beliefs Issues and Religious Traditions (University/College Preparation)

This course enables students to discover what others believe and how they live, and to appreciate their own unique heritage. Students will learn about the teachings and traditions of a variety of religions, the connections between religion and the development of civilizations, the place and function of religion in human experience, and the influence of a broad range of religions on contemporary society. This course also introduces students to skills used in researching and investigating world religions. MET Prerequisite: None.

Focus of HRT3M1 within Rockway's mission: This course examines the beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam from the perspective of the Christian Church (with half of our time being spent in the East and half in the West). These religions make unique claims which often differ with the Christian vision. Sadly, Christians have at times responded with hatred, mistrust, colonialism or violence. In this course, we aim to do better by understanding the hospitality modeled for us by Jesus. No matter what our disagreements, we are called to meet strangers as guests, try to understand who they are, and treat them as we would like to be treated - and as commanded by God throughout the Bible. To learn the world’s religions well, we need to focus on who God calls us to be as a Christian community.

HRE4O1 Encountering Faith

This course structures opportunity for Grade 12 students to engage faith questions and convictions integral to becoming persons of faith. It emphasizes an integration of students’ religious quest as they search for meaning in a post-modern world. Students will be introduced to foundational faith questions and assumptions and will investigate, analyze and discuss the vocabulary and understandings central to the Christian faith from a Mennonite-Anabaptist theological perspective. Using research, critical thinking and creative skills, students will be led to a shared and personal encounter with the heart of a lived Christian faith and be invited to a personal reflective response to the gospel.

Focus of HRE4O1 within Rockway's mission: Rockway is a Christian educational community within the Anabaptist Mennonite tradition. This course extends our school’s mission to integrate "sound academic learning with growth in character and faith together with a passion for peacemaking and service to God and all creation." It is our conviction that as students interact with one another and engage the Christian faith tradition, they are invited to encounter God’s grace for themselves. Such an encounter must provide space for students to pose honest questions central to their faith journey. Indeed, we believe that faith exploration sparks both wonder and a sense of mystery as student questions and inquiry are invited and honored. Students will benefit from a senior Religious Studies course designed to engage and challenge them at their growing edges, inviting them on and equipping them for a journey of lifelong learning, reflection and growth.

HZT4U1 Philosophy: Questions and Theories (University Preparation)

This course addresses three (or more) of the main areas of philosophy: metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy and aesthetics. Students will learn critical-thinking skills, the main ideas expressed by philosophers from a variety of the world’s traditions, how to develop and explain their own philosophical ideas, and how to apply those ideas to contemporary social issues and personal experiences. The course will also help students refine skills used in researching and investigating topics in philosophy. MET Prerequisite: Any University or University/College Preparation course in Social Sciences and Humanities English or Canadian and World Studies.

Focus of HZT4U1 within Rockway's mission: This course structures opportunity for Grade 12 students to engage faith questions and convictions integral to becoming persons of faith. It emphasizes an integration of students’ religious quest as they search for meaning in a post-modern world. Students will be introduced to foundational faith questions and assumptions and will investigate, analyze and discuss the vocabulary and understandings central to the Christian faith from a Mennonite-Anabaptist theological perspective. Using research critical thinking and creative skills students will be led to a shared and personal encounter with the heart of a lived Christian faith and be invited to a personal reflective response to the gospel.