Humanities

Applied Practices of Mindfulness will explore and train students in mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and mental habits derived from contemporary research in positive psychology. The religious historical roots of yoga and meditation will also be examined as a way to understand current developments and practices. Every class is designed for students to engage in a succession of mindfulness practice training, seeking to enhance mental stability, self-awareness, compassion, and positive mental states. Students will be asked to commit to a regular practice of meditation as a way of discovering for themselves the human experience of awareness, presence, and self- compassion. The course will also take an in-depth and critical look into the research supporting mindfulness and other contemplative practices that support positive mental states and well-being.

Activities

• Students should be dressed and prepared to engage in regular seated meditation and movement based mindfulness practices.
• Through this course, students will complete and be certified in the .b (dot B) program through the Mindfulness in Schools Project.
• During the Yoga unit, there may be a nominal fee for advanced yoga training with professional yoga instructors certified to teach yoga to teenagers.

Biblical Explorations is an engaging introduction to the Bible as religious literature and as a faith document for Christians. Various biblical stories and characters will be explored both in their original historical and cultural context as well as in their relationship to the overarching metanarrative of the Bible. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on the nature of spirituality, especially in relationship to their own worldview and personal development.

Christian Apologetics:Asking the Big Questions gives students the opportunity to be grounded in the logical reasons for belief in the Christian faith. We would explore and evaluate the evidence for Christianity. Questions we’ll consider include:

• Why do Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead? What is the evidence? Can it be trusted?
• Can the Christian worldview coexist with modern science?
• How can the existence of suffering be compatible with the Christian view of an all-powerful, all-knowing and loving God?
• Is the Bible trustworthy?

This new course focuses on specific areas of discussion and study to enable students to better appreciate the intellectual case for the Christian worldview. Students of all faiths or no faith are welcome to join.

Comparative Religions explores both major and minor world religions through a series of inquiries and investigation in big questions such as: What is religion? How are religions born? Why do religions change or die? Is religion more violent or peaceful? Are all religions basically the same? Do religions subvert or codify power? What is the future of religion? Students will also be encouraged to reflect on the nature of spirituality, especially in relationship to their own worldview and personal development.

(1 credit of English and 1 credit of Social Studies)

Humanities I is a foundational interdisciplinary program that studies the literature and modern history of four cultural regions: China, India, Africa and the Middle East. Students will explore each of these regions, share and discuss what they learn, and reflect upon their own cultural identities. Students will read a range of historically appropriate literary texts, and they will be introduced to the full range of writing skills that are demanded by higher-level studies in the Humanities.

(1 credit of English and 1 credit of Social Studies)

Humanities I in Action is an interdisciplinary course that aims to develop students’ social conscience concerning major social issues of our time. Through literary, philosophical, psychological, and indigenous perspectives, students identify their own worldview assumptions and beliefs. Students consider, for example, our fundamental human nature, whether society is progressing or declining, and our future relationship with the natural world. In addition, numerous outings in Hong Kong, including two camping trips, offer additional reflection on course themes. In the spring, students also carry out an independent community service project. This journey of social conscience helps students contemplate and enact a life committed to the common good.

Note: Students in Humanities I in Action are expected to participate in all the experiential learning activities on a number of Saturdays, including the two camping trips, and to spend time outside of class implementing their service project. An additional course fee (approx. $5500 HKD) is needed to cover the costs of these experiences.

(1 credit of English and 1 credit of Social Studies)

This course explores the multifaceted question: What does it mean to be an American? Students examine this question from multiple perspectives of class, race and gender as the country expands and develops from its pre-colonial beginnings. American ideals of democracy, equality, individual freedom, justice and prosperity are contrasted with American realities. The approach is an interdisciplinary one using historical documents, literature and film. Ultimately, the course challenges students, most of whom have limited exposure to American life, to think beyond stereotypes as they prepare for their experience at an American university. Along the way, they become better critical thinkers who can express themselves more effectively in their writing and speech.

(1 credit of English and 1 credit of Social Studies)

Humanities II in Action expands on students’ developing worldview, asking them to bring those concepts inward. How does the changes we make in ourselves affect our relationship with various communities like our class, HKIS, Hong Kong, the world? What is your obligation to yourself and to others? Students will use various lenses to inform our study - history, literature, sociology, psychology, religion, and the fine arts. Students will explore past and present social structures that will help you understand the contemporary world in which they live and, finally, students will look at themselves and their relationship to the community in order to understand needs beyond their own and continue to develop their ability to make a difference in the world. Most importantly, students will put those worldviews in action as they participate in multiple service opportunities and extended learning outings.

Units of Study

Universe of Obligation: Students will examine what it means to belong by introducing the idea of a “universe of obligation,” the term sociologist Helen Fein coined to describe the circle of individuals and groups within a society “toward whom obligations are owed, to whom rules apply, and whose injuries call for amends.”
Revolution and Reform: Students will explore the hopes and dreams of people who’ve hungered for political, social, and cultural change at different moments in history. In the context of the world, how does a dream for something better shape the way people live their lives socially, emotionally, and politically?
Genocide and Human Behavior: Students will research the societal factors that influence the way many people see themselves and others, explore the way that stereotypes can distort our perceptions of others, evaluate the human tendency to create “in” groups and “out” groups, looking at the way humans have created such groups throughout history on the basis of race and religion, among other factors.
Race, Justice, and Human Rights in America: Students will learn how literature and history help us to draw connections between historical events and the concurrent struggles for racial equality, how to contextualize that America was shaped by the institution of slavery and white supremacy, and how the universe of obligation can be used to help the nation shape new ideals.
Geography of Gender: Students will explore the concepts of gender and the body, gender and power, and gender and knowledge through a range of topics such as freedom and liberty, social movements, work and leisure, politics of social justice, intersectionality, violence, and visual culture and citizenship.

This religion elective aims to enable students to gain a better sense of life direction through a holistic exploration of their bodies, minds, and hearts. The starting point of this journey is the assumption that each aspect of the self - body, mind, and heart - has its own unique intelligence that it brings to bear in addressing the question of purpose in life. The class, then, consists in teaching about and training of each intelligence to bring it into greater sympathetic resonance with other aspects of the self. The training of the body asks students to find ways to improve their physical health; the training of the mind helps them to identify and understand their personality type; and training of the heart uses various spiritual practices to cultivate a more open, grateful, and empathic disposition. It is hoped that this intensive self-exploration will enable students to be more at ease with themselves and help them to better understand how they can lead a life of purpose and service to society.