The Least of These - Student handbook - SAMPLE

WRITTEN BY KRISH DHANAM AND ANDREW E MATTHEWS

Published 2024 by CEP

Copyright © Andrew E Matthews 2024

This resource is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without permission of the publisher.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

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Written by: Krish Dhanam and Andrew E Matthews

Design: Rachel Aitken

All images from the film used with kind permission of The Skypass Group. Other images: Shutterstock.

To be used with The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story by Krish Dhanam and Andrew E Matthews

handbook

Story is the language of the heart.

Story as a medium reflects the interconnectedness of all reality, to a lesser or greater degree.1 Well-told stories that reflect the truth of reality can move us and inspire us, thereby influencing culture (what we do) and making a difference in society.

With a story such as The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story, which is based on actual events, we wanted to provide an opportunity for you to engage not just your heart, but your mind also. These lessons give you the chance to discover the ideas, values and truths that each of us hold (consciously or unconsciously) and those held that resulted in the events (both tragic and inspiring) that took place in India in 1999 and which, in turn, inspired the film.

The episodes are meant to be paused so that you can think about, and hopefully discuss with others, some answers to the questions presented. When you spot the ‘pause’ icon, stop, think, brainstorm, discuss. Don’t worry if you can’t come up with clear answers to the questions.

There are no ‘right’ answers at this point, and experienced philosophers struggle with some of the questions we’ll look at in this unit.

Our purpose here is to get us thinking about what we believe and what we take for granted, and how those things influence our actions and choices in life.

We hope you enjoy the process of discovery!

‘WHAT YOU SEE AND HEAR DEPENDS A GOOD DEAL ON WHERE YOU ARE STANDING.’

–THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW BY CS LEWIS2

Krish Dhanam, Business Evangelist

Andrew E Matthews, Educator & Screenwriter

2.

1. McKee, R 1998, Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, Methuen, North Yorkshire.

Lewis, CS 1955, The Magician’s Nephew, The Bodley Head, London.

WHAT IS TRUTH? (PART 1)

—LESSON 1

KEY POINT Different ‘truths’ (world views) influence how we interpret what is right or wrong and therefore what actions we take, as well as our interpretation of reality.

0:00—4:45

‘What is truth?’

Therefore Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice’. Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:37–38, NASB1995).

After you’ve watched a little of the first episode, you’ll be asked to think about the following three questions. Try to take a little time to discuss them or brainstorm so that you get into the process.

1. What is the view (that is, ‘truth’ for that person) that considers the killing of Graham Staines as acceptable, perhaps even beneficial?

USEFUL PHRASES - EXPLOITATION MUST BE STOPPED - WEAK GOVERNMENT - WE ALL DIE - SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST - AN EYE FOR AN EYE

2. What is the view (or truth) that considers the killing of the boys, Philip and Timothy, as acceptable?

3. What are some possible views that consider these killings to be unacceptable?

USEFUL PHRASES

- MURDER OR KILLING IS WRONG - VIGILANTISM

- CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT - THE LAW - PROTECTION OF THE WEAK - ANARCHY

4. Over to you. So, was it wrong to kill? Why? Why not?

KEY POINT The vast majority of people consider it ‘wrong’ to kill children. In fact, all people consider something ‘wrong’, which shows that we all have a moral principle.

4:45—7:38

‘All human beings are religious’

‘When considering doing something that we feel would be wrong, we tend to refrain. Our moral sense does not stop there, however. We also believe that there are standards “that exist apart from us” by which we evaluate moral feelings. Moral obligation is a belief that some things ought not to be done regardless of how a person feels about them within herself, regardless of what the rest of her community and culture says, and regardless of whether it is in her self-interest or not … Though we have been taught that all moral values are relative to individuals and cultures, we can’t live like that.’

—Timothy Keller 1

5. Do you agree with what Keller is saying about ‘moral obligation’? Select the opinion that most aligns with yours.

I have no moral obligation to anyone other than me.

It is up to everyone to determine their own sense of morals and obligations.

There are moral values that exist independently of me. I don’t know where they come from, but I believe they exist.

My morality comes from God. I try to live by that.

I feel a sense of moral obligation to my friends and family, but no-one else really.

6. Keller says there are standards ‘that exist apart from us’. What do you think of this idea? Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?

1. Keller, T 2008, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

146–147.

7. If truths are universal, as Keller argues, why then are there differences between cultures? Does this suggest that truths are not universal and each culture decides?

8. Could a standard ever change over time? Or is Keller suggesting they don’t, that they are somehow eternal? What could possibly make a standard change?

, Dutton, New York City, pp.

KEY POINT Every human being is ‘religious’, that is, we all interpret our experience of reality through a philosophy or set of beliefs, whether we are aware of it or not. Something acts as ‘God’ for you.

From ancient times up until today, most people have believed in God. For many, their sense of morals and duty comes from what they believe about that ‘god’.

9. What is God?

10. How would you describe God?

7:38—9:50

‘How does the Bible describe God?’

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?

IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD MENTIONED IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES. ARE THERE ANY IMPLIED CHARACTERISTICS OR CHARACTER TRAITS?

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’

Deuteronomy 30:11 (NIV)

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.

1 John 4:8–9 (NIV)

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Isaiah 1:18 (NASB1995)

‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord

God has always existed and is the first cause of all that is material.

9:50— end

‘What do we think of God?’

REFLECTION

11. Consider how similar your concept of God is to the Bible’s concept of God. Write down any key differences or concepts from the Bible that you find difficult to accept.

12. We started today with the following statement: ‘Different “truths” (world views) influence how we interpret what is right or wrong and therefore what actions we take, as well as our interpretation of reality’. While we haven’t finished our thinking about ‘truth’, consider whether you think this statement is true. If not, what part of the statement would you change, and why? If you agree with the statement, can you think of examples from your own life where you have seen this in action?

Well, that’s the end of the first episode, but as Krish said, we’ll need to think about the concept of truth a little more.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel like you have answers yet. You may come to some conclusions by the end of this process; you may not. Either way, we believe you will discover something worthwhile.

Just as we did.