8th Grade Religion
Welcome to 8th Grade Religion!
The curriculum for 8th grade religion is an overview of New Church teachings. Many 8th graders are beginning to ask more nuanced questions about how these teachings connect to what they think and feel. As this is the final religion class at BACS, we hope these students will leave this school with an understanding of how New Church teachings could help to form their own personal faith and moral compass.
Contact Information
Rev. Jeffrey Smith
215-947-4086 extension 209
School Pastor and 8th Grade Religion : https://brynathynchurchschool.org/about/new-church-education/
Informal Service Pastor: https://brynathynchurch.org/worship/informal-family-service/
Schedule
Tuesday 9:15-10:00 – 8th Grade Girls Religion
Tuesday 11:45-12:30 – 8th Grade Boys Religion
Thursday 11:00-11:45 – 8th Grade Girls Religion
Thursday 11:45-12:30 – 8th Grade Boys Religion
Curriculum
An overview of the curriculum can be found here: https://brynathynchurchschool.org/programs/curriculum-k-8/eighth-grade/
These are the units in 8th Grade Religion:
- Unit 1 – The Five Churches
- Unit 2 – Key New Church Doctrines (God, Providence, Freedom, the Word, the Spiritual World, Spiritual Life)
- Unit 3 – Charity, Judgement, Forgiveness
- Unit 4 – Relationships
- Unit 5 – Comparative Religions
An overview of New Church teachings can be found here: https://newchurch.org/get-answers/spiritual-concepts/
Special Events
In January the 8th grade students participate in a special Religion Assembly during chapel by reenacting one of the spiritual experiences that Swedenborg wrote about in his Writings.
As part of the Charity Unit, the 8th grade students get a hands-on experience of practicing charity by engaging in a community service project such as picking up trash, cleaning a neighbor’s yard, or cooking meals for neighbors. This is usually a highlight of the year for 8th grade religion students.
