Lesson

Warm Up

Recite this prayer from the Monty Python film, The Meaning of Life:

O Lord,
Ooh you are so big
So absolutely huge
Gosh, we’re all really impressed down here, I can tell you.

Listening Zone

Read and listen to the conversation.

Abdul: Mrs Brown, someone came to the door today. He wanted me to join his religion. He said he was a Moron.
Mrs Brown: Well, that was honest of him, Abdul. But I expect he said Mormon.
Abdul: Oh, yes, he did. I told him I already had a religion, but he said mine was false and only his was true. Of course, I laughed, because I know mine is the only true one.
Mrs Brown: Indeed.
Abdul: According to the man, an angel told the founder of his religion about a book written on gold plates. Every year he visited the book and translated parts of it. The angel then took the plates away. Isn’t that silly? How could anyone believe such a thing?
Mrs Brown: Yes, it’s strange what people believe, Abdul. And what about your religion? How did that start?
Abdul: Er, that was different. Look, I’m going to the pub now.
Mrs Brown: See you later!

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Language Spot

Mark all the regular past simple forms with an R and all the irregular ones with an I. Then write out the base form for each verb. Then hop around the room chanting them, or something.

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Practice Pod

Moses is a major prophet of at least three religions. What sort of person do you think he was? Read this story from the Bible (Numbers 31).

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Exact vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites—after that you will be gathered to your people.” So Moses sent them to the war. They fought against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed every male.

The Israelites took the women of Midian captives along with their little ones, and took all their herds, all their flocks, and all their goods as plunder. They burned all their towns that they had inhabited and all their encampments.

But Moses was furious with the officers of the army. Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? ... Now therefore kill every boy, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man. But all the young women who have not had sexual intercourse with a man will be yours.”

Now answer these questions:

1. Who told Moses to punish the Midianites?
2. Who did the Israelites kill and who did they take captive?
3. Why was Moses angry?
4. Why were the virgin girls spared?

See the whole story in Lego at The Brick Testament! (Just click on the picture.)

Speaking

1) What chance do you think Moses or God would have had in front of the International Criminal Court? Role-play their trial for war crimes.

2) A balloon debate. All of the passengers will be thrown out of the balloon except one. You must argue for your favourite religious founder or prophet to be saved.

Example: I think the Baha’u’llah should be thrown out, because he is an evil heretic.