Teaching about the Catholic Church?

[colin]

This is a question for my Catholic friends out there (I imagine the question might bring out the ignorant Catholic haters too...which I am not)

I am a junior high history teacher. For the last 15 years, I have taught about The Catholic Church during The Middle Ages. The Church, of course, was a powerful influence in all areas of society back then.

If you were teaching my class, how would you teach this information in a way that did not encouragage students to conclude only negative things about the Church?

13-year-olds often see things in black and white terms, and when I cover The Reconquista, Crusades, and Inquisition (and later the Galileo and Martin Luther trials), some students begin to judge the church TODAY in negative ways (or feel weird about their own Catholic faith).

I have a deep respect for the Church, and I think this respect is obvious to the students. Again, how could you teach the truth and yet remain fair and positive? Peace.

[turingschild]

Point out that the printing press was in the hands of Protestants, and the Spanish records we have deciphered so far indicate that the Spanish clergy was actually far less horrific than government types even in Spain. And England and France had their share of horrors, we just don't hear about them because of that printing press problem.

But don't believe me. Do your own research. It's out there.

[xeno's daughter]

Hmm I'm not sure. I see your problem.

[StoryJunkie]

I do not envy you your position.
First, I'd ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. I guess that's a given. Also use your resources, like apologetics or the local priest. The others gave pretty good answers for the rest. Once in a while you'll get students who ask razor sharp questions. But I liked that one who answered with reminding the kids about the times that those people lived in. There was no mass media, there was no studies in psychology. There was no democracy. People were guild members, there were SUCH strict rules for them that anyone caught stealing a certain argyle sock pattern was PUT TO DEATH!!!! There were slaves there were servants there was horse buns piled in the streets. There was no sewer systems. People had very peculiar ideas about how babies were formed. They believed in "humours" and did not understand lead poisoning.

Putting it in context always helps. Perhaps playing some music from that era would help too. They had "estampie" and jongulars, troubadours etc who went from town to town. There was the very real danger of barbarians who could come in at any time and steal rape and pillage your town. Times were harsh. Then the plague came, not once, but twice. Almost 2/3's of Europe was devastated.

Oh yeah, and no one mentions that Catholics were persecuted even then. That they worked the land really grated on the nerves of the local pagans. (wasn't that the Albigensian heresy? IDK I'm starting to get out of my league here....

Maybe show them a video of Cadfael. I really liked that series. It may be a tad too grown up for 13 year old though.

[The Intellectual]

Teach them about the reason why the Catholic church is here....JESUS!

And tell them about the church today, the tradition, bishops, the priesthood, Ect.

=)

[Frankie]

well i'd say make it clear that in a lot of places back then, the Church became an institution that was largely controlled by the governing forces, like kings, and clergy members had a hand in a lot of governmental decisions.

but also make it clear that the Church as an institution is completely different from the faith of Christianity. compare it to some other religions - like the difference between Judaism and Zionism, or terrorism and Islam.

also, don't make people feel too bad about Martin Luther. Luther was a good guy and all, but after that Protestants really had it in for Catholics. still do. bring up the witch hunts for Catholics in England, and the persecution of Catholics by the KKK and in the Holocaust. it really puts everything in perspective.

you could also bring up the fact that His Holiness John Paul II officially apologized for everything the Church did wrong.