Year 9 - Religious education
Coptic Christianity: Desert Fathers and Mothers
Christianity: how have the experiences of the Global South shaped it?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will examine how Christianity has been challenged by, and adapted to, cultures and the experiences of the Global South. Focussing on Africa and South America, pupils will look at theologians and practices that have emerged and the challenges they have made.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the features of the Coptic church and the impact of Desert Fathers and Mothers.
Key Notes
- The Coptic church in Egypt is one of the most ancient Christian churches. Tradition says it was started by St Mark.
- The Desert Fathers and Mothers were people who chose to live a life as hermits and ascetics in the desert.
- The life of St Antony was hugely influential on important figures in western Christianity such as St Augustine.
- Figures such as Desert Fathers and Mothers help us understand the diversity of Christian worldviews better.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Coptic: belonging to part of the Christian church which began in Egypt
- monasticism: a religious practice of withdrawing from the world to pursue spiritual devotion
- monk: a religious man living in spiritual discipline and seclusion
- ascetic: someone who lives simply, giving up comforts to focus on growing spiritually
- hermit: someone who chooses to live away from other people often in a remote place
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Christianity spread from the Middle East to Europe and that is where the most ancient forms of Christianity began.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
The Coptic church in Egypt is one of the most ancient Christian churches. Tradition says it was started by St Mark. The Desert Fathers and Mothers were people who chose to live a life as hermits and ascetics in the desert.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Coptic'
belonging to part of the Christian church which began in Egypt.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Christianity spread from the Middle East to Europe and that is where the most ancient forms of Christianity began. Correction: The Coptic church shows that Christianity had spread to the continent of Africa many centuries before the impact of colonialism.
More Lessons In This Unit
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