Axia College MaterialAppendix F

Impact Matrix Assignment

Directions: Assume that you are on the school board of your school district and you are tasked with the job of strategic planning for issues facing your district. Complete the matrix below to determine the potential response of each of the religious groups in your community. Use the attached links to research the basic moral and ethical principles believed by each group. Then determine how you believe each group will react to the issue based on what you find. Provide a brief justification for your answer. After completing the matrix, write a 300- to 500-word summary of the significant similarities and differences among the different religious groups.

Prayer in SchoolCreationism v.

Evolution

COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS GROUPS

Pro/Con

Justify your answer

Pro/Con

Justify your answer Pro/Con

Atheist

Con The use in school would be justifying a false dogma.

Con Teaching the philosophies of religion versus science ignores many other important doctrines that Atheist believes to be true.

Con

Buddhist

Pro & Con

The Buddhist would be pro prayer in school if the time was spent for meditation but would view Christian prayer in school as a con.

Con Buddhist would be against creationism since it is the belief of the Old Testament Bible.

Con

Baptist

Pro Baptist would agree to school prayer since prayer is important to their religion and way of life.

Con Baptist do not believe in evolution and would disapprove of evolution being taught to their children in school

Pro & Con

Catholic

Pro Catholics would agree to have Catholic prayer in school which is an important aspect of Catholic religion.

Con Catholic does not believe in evolution and would be against its teachings in school.

Pro

Protestant

Pro Protestants would agree to participate in any form of Christian prayer.

Con Depending upon the denomination some may be against this teaching while others may not mind.

Pro

Hindu

Pro & Con

Hinduism would benefit from meditation during school but would object to Christian prayer.

Con Hindu would be against the teaching of creationism of Christians

Con

Islam

Pro Muslims prefer prayer from the Koran which is often carried with them.

Con Most of the Koran is not of the traditional Christianity and Judaism teachings.

Con

Jehovah’sWitnesses

Pro Accepted if the form of prayer was of their religion.

Con Would be for the teachings of creationism and the falsifying of evolution.

Con Against the concept of an idol.

Mormon

Pro Only if the prayer followed the book of Mormon.

Con Believe in creationism but would be against teachings of evolution which is against the book of Mormon.

Pro Though Mormons have views on serving in the military they still pledge their allegiance to the country.

JudaismPro They often pray but

usually in a temple facing Jerusalem.

Con Agree with creationism but evolution is against the Torah.

Con Judaism is a religion from India that would not pledge their allegiance to America.

Remove the links listed below and replace them with your 300- to 500-word summary before submitting the assignment:

There are many similarities as well as differences between the numerous religions within the school neighborhood. According to the school issue impact matrix it is apparent that most religious individuals would be open to prayer in school as long as the prayer was pertaining to their religion. The only religious groups with some negative views on prayers were Buddhist and Hindu religions that instead of praying participate in times of meditation. Being that there are so many different religions and forms of prayer, prayer in school would not an appropriate option.

There was also a strong similarity in the views on teachings of creationalism vs. evolution throughout the religious groups. Every religious group believes in the creationalism through some form whether it be God, Torah, or simply through the process of rebirth. None of the religious groups are followers of evolution and would most likely disagree with teaching their children about evolution.

There was a large difference in the views on studying women’s rights in the Middle East. Some religions were in agreeance with women’s rights and were willing to discuss the topic while some religions had similar beliefs to the current Middle Easy views on women’s rights. Those religions against women’s rights would not want their young girls to experience the equality of women and grow up with the perspective that they are equal to men.

There were also many differences in opinion regarding the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many religions that pray to God would agree to the saying of the pledge of allegiance along with the reference to God. There were some more conservative religious groups that though they believe in God they felt as though the pledge of allegiance was an idol of the country which would be against the Bible. On the other hand, religions that do not pray to God were disturbed by God’s reference in the allegiance.

All of the religious groups were against the starting of a gay or lesbian support group except for the small few that felt that God loves all individuals and they should too. The strongest views against the gay and lesbian support group are the Bibles reference to homosexuality being against God’s will. The bible specifies man and woman which are not possible with gays and lesbians. A few of the religious groups would be against the support group but would ignore their views and allow individuals to be who they are.

For the majority, interracial racial relationships were okay. Most religious groups do not refer to the individual’s race as much so as their religion. Many religions prefer relationships with individuals of the same religion. The religions that prefer individual to stay within their own race and religion are those that are more conservative religions such as Judaism where it is even viewed as unnatural to live outside of Israel.