Understanding the Middle East Preliminaries

Are you sick of boring disjointed facts about natural resources, geography, dates and statisitcs? Does most of what goes on in the world seem irrelevant to your life and concerns?

Then Valid & Relevant Social Studies is for you.

"Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things

are true,

whatsoever things

are honorable,

whatsoever things

are just,

whatsoever things

are pure,

whatsoever things

are lovely,

whatsoever things

are of good report;

if there be

any virtue,

and if there be

any praise,

think on these things.

- Saint Paul

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Preliminaries

Many authors have written about the Middle East conflict. They analyze, scrutinize, theorize and yes, even revise history. Some honest up-front authors will tell you they are not without bias. They claim that nobody is because in any research we have to make choices. And these choices are influenced by what we already know about the subject, however little that may be. In this exploration you will find that numerous questions are put forth with no simple answers. Valid & Relevant Social Studies does not claim to be without bias. As a Christian series you would expect this course to reflect a worldview consistent with the teachings of the Bible. So here we divulge to you some of our biases and beliefs that led to the making of this course.

History is written by the victors and usually doesn't reflect the perspectives of all parties involved.
The Bible is clearly an exception to this as the "victor" is not the family of Jewish scribes but the Victor is Christ and the Holy Spirit is the chronicler. His perspective is the only one we need.
History with hindsight has taught us that so called Christians used the Bible not to gain God's perspective but to justify their action or inactions. From the Crusades to modern day Aryan race supremacists in the Western world to cults like the "Lord's Resistance Army" in Northern Uganda, Satan has used this weakness in mankind to further his purposes.
The information fed to us by the News Media is not sufficient to make us well informed in part due to biases but mainly due to the "dailiness" required to keep viewers returning.*
Answers may not be simple or even knowable but the questions still need to be asked

Now a word about questions. It has been said that "When parents understand their role, they understand that they do not exist to answer every question their children have. Parents must help children discern the important questions, the life-giving questions. Christianity must do the same. Alan Jones says that priests 'are not so much people with answers as ones who guard the important questions and keep them alive.' the church exists to guard the important questions!"

- Michael Yaconelli in Dangerous Wonder: The Adventure of Childlike Faith

I would borrow from Pastor Yaconelli's idea by stating - When social studies teachers understand their role, they understand that they do not exist to get their students to memorize facts and dates or to learn to be politically correct. Social Studies teachers help their students ask the important, the essential, questions. Perhaps the babyboomers turned Christian educators know more than anybody what happens when you focus on the wrong questions. Remember "Values Clarification Class"? A good Christian Social Studies teacher will find the essential questions and keep them alive without compromising ( "clarifying" ) Biblical values.

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Paul's words to the Phillippian Christians to "think on these things" were penned in a time and place that did not have the tools and resources we have to actively seek out "these things" The average non-traveling Christian that lived before the 20th century indeed would "think on these things" as they presented themsleves. But we are presented with so much that we give up sorting it out or we assume, wrongly, that the important things we need to know will not get lost but will somehow make it to the front page. Some essential questions for the 21st century teacher of Secondary Social Studies are ...

"Where can one find these true, honorable, just...etc. things in our world of information overload?"

"Is it true that society is disintegrating and role models and heroes can only be found in history or fables?"

"Do we have to settle for Christian entertainers and sports figures for modern day role models? Or is there a better option?"

And the most important essential question of all,

"How do we learn and "think on these things" in a way that engages non-believers with respect and grace?"

For each V & R course the essential questions will be different, more specific and related to the topic, but you may find the ideas expressed by these questions will come to the fore now and again. It is our aim to keep Phillippians 4:8 as our directive in putting forth information to students.

It may not always be pleasant or easy. For example when learning about suicide bombers how would we apply Phil. 4:8? V&R would look for truth first of all and the truth is they are HOMOCIDE bombers. We would point out the INjustice, thereby elevating justice, we would point out that many disenfranchised people do what they do out of desperation, compromising their own values to justify their actions. And always V&R students will be pointed to the "peace makers" whatsoever nationality or religion they espouse. It may be controversial or challenging but for sure this course will be engaging, stimulating, informative and USEFUL to your future.

*For more on this read Why the News Makes Us Dumb published by InterVarsity Press.

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Introduction

We are working on making our courses available through WorldWideHomeSchool.com
( you would have access from any computer)
If you think this is a better option for you we will be happy to give you access to the course through that portal when it is ready if you return the CD. But don't wait! Get the CD now and explore this vital topic!