1. Comprehension
Sunday in Hope
Explain how the author tries to show the close link between Christian faith and social conventions by referring to:
the number of church activities on a Sunday
church attendance
clothes
the contents of the pastor's sermon.
2. Discussion
1. How do religious activities and experiences in your country differ from those in the Connecticut Mutual Life Report on American Values in the 1980s?
Religious Activities and Experiences
How frequently do you do each of the following?
Number of Feel that God loves you Respondents
How does the church attendance in Hope compare with the figures in the chart above?
Interpret the statistics on religious beliefs. What strikes you most when you compare religious beliefs in the different parts of the world? Carry out an opinion poll in your class and compare the results with the figures in the chart.
|
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS |
|
| |||
|
|
U.S. |
Western |
Latin |
Africa |
Far |
|
|
|
Europe i |
America |
|
East |
|
"Do you believe |
in God?" |
|
|
| |
|
Yes |
94% |
78% |
96% |
95% |
89% |
|
No |
3% |
16% |
3% |
2% |
6% |
|
Don't know |
3% |
6% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
|
"How important |
to you |
are your |
religious beliefs?" | ||
|
Very important |
56% |
27% |
62% |
73% |
76% |
|
Fairly important |
30% |
32% |
18% |
13% |
13% |
|
Not too important |
8% |
26% |
11% |
7% |
9% |
|
Not important |
5% |
13% |
7% |
4% |
2% |
|
Don't know |
1% |
2% |
1% |
3% |
|
Engage
in prayer
Attend religious services
Have something you call a religious experience
41%
3
4%
Participate in a church social activity
37% i 38%
Encourage others to turn to religion
43%
Listen to religious broadcast
Frequently
Occasionally
3. Analysis of a Speech
I Have a Dream
Martin Luther King says that his dream "is deeply rooted in the American dream." What does the American dream mean to him?
Quoting from the Bible (Isaiah 40,4), King proclaims that his dream will come true as a result of the revelation of God's glory. How does he combine this religious conviction with his political hopes?
This speech has been called a masterpiece of rhetoric. Listen to the speech and have a closer look at the rhetorical devices which King uses.
The most striking device is repetition. Give examples and explain the effect on the audience.
When he contrasts injustice and oppression with justice and freedom, he uses the device of antithesis. Find more examples.
224 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP
Show
how he draws his images from
nature and religion.Describe the interaction between the speaker and his audience. Would you agree that the speech leads to a kind of hymnal climax?