Compare the crucifixion in Jesus of Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999)
with the description in Luke 23. What
are the clearest differences? What are
the clearest similarities?
Compare the crucifixion in Jesus of Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999)
with the description in Mark 15. What
are the clearest differences? What are
the clearest similarities?
Compare the crucifixion in Jesus of Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999)
with the description in Matthew 27.
What are the clearest differences?
What are the clearest similarities?
Carefully compare the Last Supper
in Jesus of
Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999) with the description in
Matthew 26. What are the clearest
differences? What are the clearest
similarities?
Carefully compare the Last Supper
in Jesus of
Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999) with the description in
Luke 22. What are the clearest
differences? What are the clearest
similarities?
Compare Exodus 1-3 with the
presentation of these same events in The Prince of Egypt. What are the clearest similarities and
differences?
Compare Exodus 1-3 with the
presentation of these same events in The Ten Commandments. What are the clearest similarities and
differences?
Compare Exodus 7-11 with the
presentation of these same events in The Prince of Egypt. What are the clearest similarities and
differences?
Compare Exodus 7-11 with the
presentation of these same events in The Ten Commandments. What are the clearest similarities and
differences?
How is "Klaatu" a Christ figure in the sci-fi
classic The
Day the Earth Stood Still? In what
ways is he most clearly Christ-like?
"Daniel" in Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal) becomes
a Christ figure even when not portraying Jesus. How is "Daniel" like Christ, especially with regard to
his interactions with and effects on others?
<This Canadian film is rated R. You must have a parent’s or guardian’s
explicit permission to view this film.
The film is in English and French; the French parts have subtitles.>
In what ways is Jack Nicholson's character in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s
Nest a Christ figure?
(Note especially the effect he has on others and his clashes with
authorities.)
Compare Jesus in the Gospel of Mark with the portrayal in Jesus of Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus
(1999). Provide at least three clear
differences and at least two similarities.
Compare Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 21.12-17 and 28 with
the portrayal in Jesus of Nazareth, The King of Kings, or Jesus (1999). Provide at least three clear differences and at least two
similarities.
Compare your experience of liturgy (a.k.a., the Mass) with
that of the worshippers in the movie The Apostle.
Present at least three points of similarity or difference. <This movie is
rated R for some violence. Get a
parent’s or guardian’s explicit permission to view this film.>
What does the New Testament actually say about Mary
the Magdalene? Do not just quote the
New Testament. Put your description
into your own words. She is mentioned
by name in Matt. 27.56, 61; 28.1; Mk. 15.40, 47; 16.1, 9; Lk. 8.2; 24.10; Jn.
19.25; 20.1, 18. Based on the Gospel
evidence, what kind of person does the Magdalene seem to have been?
Describe at least three things
that the Qur’an says about Jesus. How
does the Qur’an’s teaching about Jesus fit with what you understand to be
Christian teaching about Jesus? Do not
just quote the Qur’an, but do provide sûra (chapter) numbers. A hyperlinked index to the relevant verses
is online at http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html
According to the Stations of the
Cross, who is Veronica? (What does she
do and when?) In your own words,
summarize the story about Veronica in the Death of Pilate (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0812.htm). How does the account in the Death of Pilate fit with the account in the
Stations of the Cross?
In what ways is the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior similar to
the infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke?
When referring to the Gospels of Matthew or Luke, use chapter and verse
numbers. You only need to read through
section 7 of the Arabic Gospel of the
Infancy of the Savior (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0806.htm).
In what ways is the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior most
clearly different from the infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke? When referring to the Gospels of Matthew or
Luke, use chapter and verse numbers.
You only need to read through section 7 of the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0806.htm).
According to the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary 7-9 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0849.htm),
how did Saint Joseph come to become engaged to the Virgin Mary? What does this story show about Mary and
Joseph as people?
In your own words, describe the
circumstances of Mary’s conception and early childhood according to the Protoevangelium Jacobi or Proto-Gospel of James 1-7 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0847.htm). What does this story indicate about Mary as
a person?
In your own words, describe the
circumstances of Jesus’ birth according to Protoevangelium Jacobi or Proto-Gospel of James 18-20 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0847.htm).
How does this account match with the
stories of Jesus’ birth that you know?
In your own words, describe the
parts of Matthew and Luke’s infancy narratives that are mixed into the infancy
narrative in the Protoevangelium Jacobi or Proto-Gospel of James 21-22 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0847.htm).
When referring to the Gospels of
Matthew or Luke, use chapter and verse numbers.
In your own words, describe the
extraordinary miracles that occur in the Protoevangelium
Jacobi or Proto-Gospel of James 19-20 and
22 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0847.htm).
As described in the Apocalypse of Peter, Peter
has a vision of hell. In your own
words, describe (1) the kinds of sins for which people are being punished in
hell and (2) how the sinners are being punished in Apocalypse of Peter 20-30 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1003.htm).
Read some of the stories about
Thecla in the Acts of Paul and Thecla (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0816.htm). From these stories, describe how Thecla
could have been a model for other Christians.
In what ways did Thecla not behave as others thought she should?
As described in Chapters XIII
through XVI (= 13-16) of the Martyrdom
of Polycarp (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0102.htm),
how did the Romans try to kill Polycarp?
Why were they unsuccessful? How
did they finally kill Polycarp?
As described in the Apocalypse of Peter, Peter
has a vision of hell. In your own
words, describe several of the sins for which people are being punished in hell
in Apocalypse of Peter 20-30 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1003.htm). Which of these sins do you think is still
very common?
Read Chapter V of the Epistle of Mathētēs to Diognetus (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0101.htm).
Then, in your own words, describe some
ways that early Christians were similar to and different from non-Christians in
the Roman Empire. In what ways do you
think many Americans are more like the non-Christian Romans than the Christian
Romans?
Read Chapter V of the Epistle of Mathētēs to Diognetus (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0101.htm).
Then, in your own words, describe some
ways that you or Christians whom you know well are similar to and different
from the early Christians.
Read a version of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancythomas.html).
Give at least three examples to show
how the Jesus of this text is different from the Jesus you know from the
Gospels and Christian teaching. In what
ways does this Jesus resemble the Jesus you know from the Gospels and Christian
teaching?