Class Plan 1: Introduction to World Religions Objective: To introduce students to various world religions and their beliefs about God and the image of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to share their understanding of religion and their personal beliefs about God.
2. Lecture: Provide an overview of major world religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
3. Group Activity: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different religion. Ask them to research and present the beliefs of that religion about God and the image of God.
4. Class Discussion: Facilitate a discussion on the similarities and differences in the beliefs about God and the image of God across different religions.
5. Reflection: Ask students to write a short reflection on how their understanding of religion and the image of God has evolved after learning about different world religions.

Class Plan 2: Sacred Texts and Interpretation Objective: To explore how different religious texts shape beliefs about God and the image of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to bring in a religious text or scripture from their own faith tradition and share a passage that describes God or the image of God.
2. Lecture: Discuss the significance of sacred texts in different religions and how they shape beliefs about God.
3. Reading Activity: Assign students excerpts from different religious texts that describe God or the image of God. Ask them to analyze the language, metaphors, and symbols used.
4. Group Discussion: Divide students into groups based on the religious texts they read. Have them discuss the similarities and differences in the descriptions of God and the image of God.
5. Creative Expression: Ask students to create a visual representation or artwork that reflects their interpretation of God or the image of God based on the religious texts they studied.

Class Plan 3: The Problem of Evil and God’s Nature Objective: To explore how different religious beliefs address the problem of evil and how it shapes their understanding of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Present students with different scenarios involving suffering and ask them to discuss how they think God would respond.
2. Lecture: Discuss the concept of the problem of evil and different religious responses to it.
3. Case Study: Provide students with real-life examples of individuals who have faced significant suffering. Ask them to analyze how different religious beliefs about God’s nature and the image of God influence their responses to these situations.
4. Debate: Divide the class into two groups and assign each group a different religious perspective. Have them debate how their respective beliefs about God and the image of God shape their understanding of the problem of evil.
5. Reflection: Ask students to write a reflection on how their own beliefs about God and the image of God influence their understanding of suffering and the problem of evil.

Class Plan 4: Gender and the Image of God Objective: To explore how different religious beliefs shape the understanding of God’s gender and its implications.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to discuss whether they believe God has a gender and why.
2. Lecture: Discuss different religious perspectives on God’s gender, including monotheistic and polytheistic traditions.
3. Reading Activity: Assign students readings from religious texts that describe God’s gender or use gendered language to refer to God. Ask them to analyze the implications of these descriptions.
4. Group Discussion: Divide students into small groups and have them discuss the impact of gendered language and imagery on their understanding of God and the image of God.
5. Creative Writing: Ask students to write a short story or poem that challenges traditional gendered representations of God and explores alternative images.

Class Plan 5: Atheism and Non-Theistic Beliefs Objective: To explore non-theistic beliefs and their perspectives on religion, belief, and the concept of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to share their understanding of atheism and non-theistic beliefs.
2. Lecture: Provide an overview of atheism, agnosticism, and non-theistic beliefs such as secular humanism and Buddhism.
3. Guest Speaker: Invite a guest speaker who identifies as an atheist or holds non-theistic beliefs to share their perspective on religion, belief, and the concept of God.
4. Panel Discussion: Organize a panel discussion with students representing different religious beliefs and non-theistic perspectives. Encourage respectful dialogue and exploration of different viewpoints.
5. Reflection: Ask students to write a reflection on how their understanding of religion, belief, and the concept of God has expanded after exploring non-theistic perspectives.

Class Plan 6: Religious Symbols and Iconography Objective: To explore the use of symbols and iconography in different religions to represent God and the image of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Show students various religious symbols and ask them to identify which religion they belong to and what they represent.
2. Lecture: Discuss the significance of symbols and iconography in different religions and how they represent God and the image of God.
3. Visual Analysis: Show students different religious artworks or images that depict God or the image of God. Ask them to analyze the symbols and iconography used and discuss their interpretations.
4. Group Activity: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different religious symbol or artwork. Have them research and present the meaning and significance of the symbol or artwork in relation to God and the image of God.
5. Creative Project: Ask students to create their own religious symbol or artwork that represents their personal beliefs about God and the image of God.

Class Plan 7: Religious Rituals and Worship Objective: To explore how religious rituals and worship practices reflect beliefs about God and the image of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to share their experiences with religious rituals or worship practices and how they connect to their beliefs about God.
2. Lecture: Discuss the role of rituals and worship in different religions and how they shape beliefs about God and the image of God.
3. Field Trip: Organize a visit to a local place of worship from a different religious tradition. Allow students to observe and participate in a religious ritual or worship service.
4. Reflection and Discussion: After the field trip, facilitate a discussion on how the observed rituals and worship practices reflect beliefs about God and the image of God.
5. Personal Reflection: Ask students to write a personal reflection on how their own religious rituals or worship practices connect to their beliefs about God and the image of God.

Class Plan 8: Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding Objective: To promote interfaith dialogue and understanding by exploring different religious beliefs about God and the image of God.

1. Warm-up Activity: Ask students to share a religious belief or practice that they find intriguing or would like to learn more about.
2. Lecture: Discuss the importance of interfaith dialogue and understanding in a diverse society and how it can deepen our understanding of different beliefs about God and the image of God.
3. Interfaith Panel: Invite representatives from different religious traditions to participate in a panel discussion. Encourage students to ask questions and engage in respectful dialogue.
4. Small Group Discussions: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different religious belief or practice to research. Have them discuss the similarities and differences in beliefs about God and the image of God across different religions.
5. Final Reflection: Ask students to write a reflection on how their participation in interfaith dialogue has influenced their understanding of religion, belief, and the concept of God.