Curriculum Detail

Browse La Salle Academy's Curriculum

Religious Studies

  • Faith, Science, and Reason

    This course will explore the intersection of religion and science to see how they are not at odds with each other but how they complement one another. Students will evaluate the epistemological claims of science and theology, investigate the views of the original and modern atheists, such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, discover the basis for a rational faith through the Church’s teaching on evolution, Aquinas’ Five Proofs for the Existence of God, the problem of evil with an all-good God, and the contributions of renowned Catholic scientists. Students will be challenged to understand and reflect how different aspects of their education and faith are integrated.

  • J.R.R Tolkien and the Catholic Imagination

    Hailed as one of the greatest authors of the modern world, J.R.R.
    Tolkien was heavily influenced by his Catholic worldview. Although
    his major works are saturated with Christian themes, he made it absolutely clear that they were not allegorical by any means. This course will allow students to explore Tolkien’s major works: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. The objective is to encourage literary wonder through exploring Tolkien’s Catholic imagination and garnering appreciation for fantasy literature.

  • Religion I (.1)

    An Introduction to Religious Studies

    This course is designed to assist students in experiencing and understanding questions about themselves, others, and God through the Catholic Christian tradition. Students will explore faith as a journey and a response to God’s unique call for each individual.  A study of the life and mission of our founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, will serve as an introduction to the Lasallian community. An overview of the foundational elements of the Catholic faith such as the Trinity, the Paschal Mystery, the Church, the Liturgy and Sacraments, and Moral Formation, including human sexuality, will be examined in light of their roots in Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

  • Religion I (.2)

    This course is designed to assist students in experiencing and under- standing questions about themselves, others, and God through the Catholic Christian tradition. Topics include: faith, religion, God, Jesus, Church and sacraments. Students will also examine sexuality from a Catholic Christian perspective. The course’s fundamental assumption is that human sexuality is a gift from God, a share in God’s very life, meant for relationship, and life-giving covenantal love.

  • Religion I (.2B)

    This course is designed to assist students in experiencing and under- standing questions about themselves, others, and God through the Catholic Christian tradition. Topics include: faith, religion, God, Jesus, Church and sacraments. Students will also examine sexuality from a Catholic Christian perspective. The course’s fundamental assumption is that human sexuality is a gift from God, a share in God’s very life, meant for relationship, and life-giving covenantal love.

  • Religion II (.1)

    Semester One: The Hebrew Scriptures
    This semester course aims at fostering a better understanding of Judaism and the Hebrew scriptures. Topics include literalism and contextualism, tradition history, and various examples of Biblical literature (Torah, prophetic books, wisdom literature, etc.) This survey emphasizes God’s self- revelation and the call to covenantal commitment.

    Semester Two: The Christian Scriptures
    This course provides students with a deeper understanding of the Christian scriptures with an emphasis on God’s invitation to discipleship. Questions such as “Who is God?” and “Who is Jesus Christ?” are probed as the literature of the New Testament is surveyed.

  • Religion II (.2)

    Semester One: The Hebrew Scriptures
    This semester course aims at fostering a better understanding of Judaism and the Hebrew scriptures. Topics include literalism and contextualism, tradition history, and various examples of Biblical literature (Torah, prophetic books, wisdom literature, etc.) This survey emphasizes God’s self- revelation and the call to covenantal commitment.

    Semester Two: The Christian Scriptures
    This course provides students with a deeper understanding of the Christian scriptures with an emphasis on God’s invitation to discipleship. Questions such as “Who is God?” and “Who is Jesus Christ?” are probed as the literature of the New Testament is surveyed.

  • Religion III (.1)

    Personal and Social Morality

    This full-year course provides students with an introduction to the Catholic tradition’s basic principles regarding moral decision making. Correct formation of conscience is emphasized. Topics include: con- science, character, and issues related to personal morality (respect, honesty, etc.) and to social morality (racism, poverty, justice, etc.). Students are challenged to examine ways of resolving conflict, attitudes toward violence and war, and other matters, all in light of the gospel call to be peacemakers as disciples of Jesus Christ.

  • Religion III (.2)

    Personal and Social Morality

    This full-year course provides students with an introduction to the Catholic tradition’s basic principles regarding moral decision making. Correct formation of conscience is emphasized. Topics include: con- science, character, and issues related to personal morality (respect, honesty, etc.) and to social morality (racism, poverty, justice, etc.). Students are challenged to examine ways of resolving conflict, attitudes toward violence and war, and other matters, all in light of the gospel call to be peacemakers as disciples of Jesus Christ.

  • Sport and Spirituality

    This course examines the intersection of sports and spirituality. Students will explore and evaluate sports experience as a medium to engage with and connect more deeply with the Sacred. Students will come to understand how sports can help to provide meaning to life in a similar way that religion does. Special attention will be given to the Christian tradition with topics including but not limited to: rituals, traditions, community, suffering, hope, morality, and social justice.

  • Theology, Scripture, and the Arts

    Over the past two millennia Christian architects, composers, film directors, musicians, painters, sculptors and writers have attempted to express their faith and belief in God through various artistic media. This course will explore the artist’s expression of faith through masterworks of art, literature, music and film. Several dozen masterworks will be studied in their historical, social and religious contexts. For each work of art, students will look to Scripture to examine how artists were inspired by particular biblical passages and how modern-day Christians draw on these works for spiritual inspiration. By taking this class, students will be able to appreciate the role of the arts as an important tool for deepening Christian devotion, a vehicle for expressing one’s faith in an invisible God through tangible and symbolic art forms, as well as a method for teaching Scripture, morality and the doctrines of the Catholic faith

  • Women of Faith

    This course examines the unique contributions of female figures in the
    history of Catholicism. By reading primary sources of women’s writing
    and secondary scholarship about their lives, students will explore the
    role of women in the church and how they have impacted and will con-
    tinue to impact society. Special focus will be given to how women have
    challenged the status quo and forged new paths in pursuit of justice.
    Students will reflect on the lives of these women in order to take a look
    at their own experience of faith and spirituality.

  • World Religions

    This semester course provides a survey of the origins, beliefs, values and practices of the major Christian traditions and non-Christian religions. Differences and similarities of systems of belief and worship are explored in order to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the student’s own faith and that of others.

  • World Religions (.1)

    This semester course provides a survey of the origins, beliefs, values and practices of the major Christian traditions and non-Christian religions. Differences and similarities of systems of belief and worship are explored in order to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the student’s own faith and that of others.

Faculty

612 Academy Avenue, Providence, RI 02908  Phone: 401-351-7750
La Salle Academy is a high school rich in history and grounded in the person and teachings of Jesus and the Catholic faith, which are core to the school's life and culture. The De La Salle Middle School provides a strong holistic foundation for students to transition into high school. The high school and middle school provide students of diverse ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds, a community to foster growth in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s ideals of faith, service, and community.