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Religion
The Religion Department of La Salle College High School encourages and promotes the philosophy of the school as a Catholic High School. St. John Baptist de La Salle's ideals and example animate the religious education program at La Salle.
To paraphrase St. John Baptist de La Salle: God our creator not only gives us our very human nature, but God also desires that we come to know what is eternally true and valuable. True knowledge of God and the meaning of faith is revealed to us through Jesus Christ and the Church. So the study of Religion is important because it provides us with true knowledge about God and the light of faith. This knowledge and light are the means through which the world will be transformed to be in conformity with the will of God our creator.
- 102 Catholic Identity – Freshman (required) – 1 credit/full year
This course provides the ninth grader with creative and analytical skills helpful for promoting success in subsequent religion courses at La Salle. This course presents Roman Catholic rituals, beliefs, and lifestyles in a manner which is informative and challenging. Through the use of Scripture, classroom activities, and reflection, the student will deepen his understanding of the
following topics: faith, sacraments, prayer, the Bible, morality, saints, and church history. Contemporary challenges to Catholic identity such as consumerism and sexual permissiveness are
also presented. Students will be given a foundational introduction to the life and work of St. LaSalle and the Christian Brothers.
- 104 Sacred Scripture – Sophomore (required) – 1 credit/full year
This course is an examination of the contents of both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, the origins of the written word, and the forces at work in the world of the Israelites and early Christians. Students learn important themes in the Bible such as creation, covenant, prophecy, sin and redemption. The course promotes a deeper understanding of Jesus through a study of his
parables, miracles, and sayings in the New Testament. In addition, the course explores how current students at La Salle can discern and live biblical values.
- 106 Christian Morality – Junior (required) – 1 credit/full year
This course examines a number of topics that are integral to the rich Roman Catholic tradition of the moral life. Centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the course explores such topics as law, sexuality, the commandments, honesty, freedom and responsibility, the act of conscience, the honor due to God, the nature of sin and reconciliation. The course presents a method for moral
decision-making as it challenges students to examine and pattern their lives in the light of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.
- 114 Christian Lifestyles – Senior (elective) – .5 credit/semeste
This course examines various Christian lifestyles, attempting to meet the needs of older adolescents, as they approach the most important decisions of their lives, the choice of their
vocation, their unique calling in life. The four lifestyles include single life, the priesthood, the religious life (such as the Christian Brothers), and Christian marriage. The student investigates the impact that these vocations have in the Roman Catholic Church and in society. The students study Pope Paul VI’s encyclical, Humanae Vitae, as well as the Catholic Church’s teachings on the sacramental dimension of marriage, interfaith marriages, annulments, and the preparations necessary for a Catholic wedding. Reflective papers on the various lifestyles and the preparation of a one-year budget, which focuses on the economic demands of single and married life, contribute a practical aspect to the course.
- 130 Prayer – Senior (elective) – .5 credit/semester
This course provides the students with a knowledge of the importance of formal, informal, and liturgical prayer in the Roman Catholic Christian community along with an understanding and realization of the importance of prayer in their own lives. The students are encouraged to see prayer as it is connected to the realization of their communion with themselves, God, and the
Christian community.
- 150 World Religions – Senior (elective) – .5 credit/semester
Students study the world’s great religions, including Hinduism, Zen, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Islam. Sacred works, rituals, and the prayer life of these different faiths, as
expressed today and in the past, are studied. These major religions, as well as Roman Catholicism, are investigated in terms of their representations and interactions in a pluralistic American society. Course material, lectures, and presentations are consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, respecting the varieties of religious expression, while also advancing essential Catholic teaching and practice.
- 160 Lasallian Spirituality and Service – Senior (elective) – .5 credit
This course examines the relationship between Lasallian Spirituality and service to the poor through education. Two aims of the course are: 1) understanding the practical spirituality of St. John Baptist de La Salle as being the presence and action of God in relationship to others; and 2) practicing this spirituality by fulfilling a course service requirement of fifteen hours in an educational ministry. Course work includes selected readings, on line research, reflective writing, and class presentations.
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