Attend a worship service completely unfamiliar to you, and write on one of the following topics. Do not simply make a list of religious activities, but explain what you saw on the basis of the lectures or of your own research. Be sure you understand the components of the service and its ritual. If you do not have any religious background, choose one of the religious services below and write about how it compares to what you think a religious service should involve (especially in light of the lectures). Ask yourself the question: What are the religious rituals and services trying to communicate about the religion? Do one of the following: EITHER: Attend a Jewish celebration of Purim (3/17) or a Shabbat (Sabbath) dinner or prayer service (any Friday night/Saturday morning). Write a thank-you letter to the presiding rabbi or leader, describing what you saw, what your experience of the event was, relating the event to anything similar in your own life or what you heard in class. Compare it with other religions’ rituals and beliefs you know of from class lectures. This letter ought to be two pages long, reflecting your own personal thoughts. Give some explanation of what you saw. OR: Attend a Christian worship service in a tradition that is not your own, especially if you have Christian identity. For example, if you are Catholic, then you attend something Protestant or Orthodox. If you are Protestant, you attend something Orthodox or Catholic, etc. Write a two-page report describing the rituals and devotions of the service; compare them to other religious rituals and devotions you are familiar with. Try to relate your paper to the way this service observes the liturgical calendar (especially Lent if observed). Why do they do these rituals? Does the service conform to your expectations? Why or why not? OR: Attend a Friday mosque service or participate in a Ramadan fast-breaking meal and do an interview with one of the participants there concerning their experience and interpretation of the events you witnessed. Compare the mosque service to other services you are familiar with. Give an explanation for their rituals. Again, try to attend something different from your own background if you are already Muslim.
