Thursday 7th January – RE
This term our learning is based around the topic, “How is Christianity expressed through the arts?”
Today’s lesson explores the meaning of the word “spiritual” and what this might mean to different people.
Your first task, before we do anything else, is to write your own definition about what the word “spiritual” means to you. Do not worry if you are not sure, just think about what the word sounds like it might mean. People tend to interpret this word in different ways and often disagree on exactly what it means, so do not worry about being wrong! You should post your definition now – we will come back to these later in the term. It may well be that you change your mind during the term!
Then you should watch the video using the link below. This explains to you that being spiritual does not mean that you must have a faith or religion, and shows how people use the arts to be spiritual.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkdk382/articles/zjqcf4j
The video ends by saying that being spiritual doesn’t have to mean being religious. It says that being spiritual is to do with our human spirit and how things make us feel. Being spiritual is to do with our thoughts and beliefs. It can be a wonderful and natural response to beauty. So whatever you believe, you can use art, music, poetry and stories to share your feelings and ask questions about life and what it all means.
Which of the works of art below do you like? Which of them give you a spiritual experience? Why is this? What do you like about it? How does it make you feel? Write about your thoughts below.
This should take 45 minutes.
I like number 4 because it’s people hugging because they might not of seen them for long time or saying goodbye to someone or a start of friendship
Having the best time together and never want to leave each over
Hello Rihanna
You make some really good points. I like the idea of a piece of art reminding us of the value of friendships.
Which of these pictures would you happily hang on your wall?
Mr Bushell
I would hang on my wall number 4
People often buy pictures and artwork because of how it makes them feel when they look at it.
The hugging is a good one because they are hugged spiritually so it means they are protecting
Hello Samuel
That is a lovely idea. I like the idea of a picture making us feel protected and reminding us to protect others.
Did you like any of the others?
Mr Bushell
I like no2 the most because the painting shows the 2 sides of evil and good, that I think is it.
Hello Franek.
Read Timur’s comment about picture 2. He says the same as you but goes into a bitt more detail. Do you agree with him?
Mr Bushell
spiritual: spiritual is your feelings
Yes, I would agree. This is definitely part of being spiritual.
Mr Bushell
I like 1- Because it is just like that everything you are doing id=s controlled by your hands and feelings including you mind.
How does it make you feel?
Mr Bushell
My favourite painting is number 2, because one side has alot of colours and the other side has dark colours. bright colours mean happiness, fun, enjoyness and dark colours are sadness, depression, anxious, scared and alot more stuff. And the painting shows a good side of the world and a bad side of the world. And on the bad side there might be broken buildings, Alot of rubbish, dying trees, bad graffiti everywhere. Also on the good side there is Beautiful trees, nice grass, clean lakes, clean parks and roads mabye even clean metros, healthy people and other good stuff.
Hello Timur
That is a cracking response! I love the idea of a painting that reminds us of both the better and more sad parts of our world. This perhaps reminds us of our responsibility to look after each other and our world.
Mr Bushell
I think spiritual means calm, happy thoughts.
Number 6 because it looks like space and I like space. It doesn’t make me feel anything but I like the colours, which is what made me pick it. They are happy colours.
Hello Cody
Yes, I would agree. Spiritual can definitely be calm and happiness.
Number 6 is lovely. I would say it has made you feel something as you refer to the colours as being “happy”. This means that it has probably made you feel happy!
What other things are good for our happiness and make us feel calm?
Mr Bushell
I think that the hugging one is spiritually protecting by hugging
Wow again Samuel!
How great that by seeing a hug within a picture it can make us feel protected.
You are turning into our spiritual expert!
Mr Bushell
I think spiritual means when your happy calm and relaxed.
I like painting number 6 because it shows you 2 sides of the world the good side of the world and the bad side of the world and not every where is happy and joyful there are some places moody and where there is a lot of anger and no love.
Terrific points Talal!
I like what you say about the importance of seeing the good and bad sides of the world, and how important this is to our own spirituality.
How do you think people in parts of the world where there is war make themselves feel spiritual?
Mr Bushell
The hands helps us know that we we are safe sometimes
Great point Samuel! How amazing that such a detail in a picture can make us feel like this.
I think spiritual means the way people feel about different things like happy sad and angry
I really like number 2 as it shows how a persons mind can be split to follow different paths depending on feelings one being nasty and one being nice
This is a really interesting point Finlay.
Would you say that feeling spiritual is more to do with being happy or angry?
Mr Bushell
It can be both a person can feel a angry spirit sometimes and a happy spirit other times about what’s happening in life
True. We can feel both angry and happy.
Hopefully we look to feel spiritual in a happy and positive way!
Mr Bushell
spiritual mean emotions and feelings and I like number four becacause there hugging and conferting each other
Hello Madison
What kinds of emotions and feelings would you link to being spiritual?
A lot of people like number 4.
Mr Bushell
this makes me feel calm and refreshed
I think number 4 because it when people hug it shows a sign of happiness.
I think spiritual means calm and happy.
Hello Mia
Being spiritual can be to do with being calm and happy.
Do you think that a hug could show something other than happiness?
Mr Bushell
What I think spiritual means is peacefulness and deep in your thoughts.
These pictures dont make feel anything because of the bright colours and that doesn’t really let me go deep into my thoughts but my favourite one would be number 1 because being outside with the flowers and stuff makes me happy.
Wow!
This is a great response Ameera!
I agree that the word spiritual could involve peace and deep thoughts.
I love what you say about bright colours not being spiritual to you. We all have different things that make us feel like this and it is good to see that you are aware of what makes you feel different things.
I wonder if you could find a piece of art that does make you feel spiritual?
Mr Bushell
I think spiritual means everything would be peace and it relates to Christians
This is interesting!
Do you think that being spiritual only applies to Christians? Can anyone feel spiritual whatever their religion?
I agree that being spiritual is in some way to do with being peaceful.
Mr Bushell
I think a very spiritual image is 2 because there are one good side nature and love but then there is a different side which is fighting
Hello Isabelle
How do you think that the two different sides to this picture help to make it spiritual?
Mr Bushell
i think spirital means when someone is happy and has a good spirit in them
I think spiritual means when someone is happy and has a good spirit in them.
i choose number four because it reminds me of pride and joy together. when i see rainbows i think of pride, joy is the puzzle pieces because when people come together it makes joy.
I agree with everything you’ve said Lily!
I love the connection you make between puzzle pieces and people being together.
Mr Bushell
I like art picture number 4 and 6 because 1 of them has hugging which looks like friendship and the other is half the sun and half the moon connected and it’s kind of pretty.
I think number 6 gives me my spiritual experience because it’s like a good side against the bad and light verses dark.
I like that number 4 has hugging because it reminds me of all my friends.
Number 4 and number 6 make me feel like I’m relaxed 😌
Hello Hollie
This is a great response and shows some very caring thoughts.
Isn’t it amazing that a picture can make us feel like this?
Mr Bushell
I like number one the best, as it’s like god is holding the earth. Also I like it because of its creativity. It makes me happy as that is a joyful picture.
A lovely response Owen. Isn’t it great to think that a picture can make us feel like that?
Mr Bushell
I liked picture 1. and 4. I think 1 means caring for nature and our planet.
I liked 4 too and I think it means family and friendship.
I believe spiritual means calm and to be close to nature be happy open your mind be near family..
Wow!
Totally agree with everything you have said.
There are many adults who could listen to your attitudes towards things.
Mr Bushell
i like picture 1 because it reminds me of when my mum and dad say to me no matter what kyran if you always try your best and work hard things will fall into place and you will have the whole world infront of you in your hands the picture makes me happy so I chose that one