Listening to the sacred

Since 2009, the Seine-Saint-Denis County Council has been backing “la Culture et l’Art au Collège (CAC)”. This project is based to a large extent on the presence in class for several weeks (40h) of an artist or scientist whose mission is to engage the students in a process of research and creation. 

Tutor: Brigitte Bleuzen/ socio-anthropologist

Project manager: Mathieu Marion

Objectives: 
How do religions begin? What do they talk about? Does studying what people believe help us understand society? Why do Hindus and Buddhists believe in several gods? What are the similarities between the three religions of the Book? Why do we sing in church? What is aïd el kebir? What are the rituals for each stage in life?

Workshop:
To answer these questions and many others, F93 gave the class anthropological tools for studying religions through the ages and in different countries. We devised a series of surprising activities on the subject of birth rites.

After looking at birth rites from an anthropological point of view in various cultural areas (shamanist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian), the pupils began their fieldwork. As trainee anthropologists they carried out two field studies using the tools proper to this discipline (especially at the La Courneuve registry office for civil baptism records and the church of St Lucien at La Courneuve for Catholic baptism records). They then questioned their own families about the rituals and festivities surrounding their own births.
In class discussions they pooled their personal experiences and different views on the subject.

Outcome:
The pupils distributed a 36-page booklet, printed in 200 copies, to the school community and the partners of the project. Based on the pupils’ field notes and classwork, the booklet echoed their experience of the project.

Outings:
- VISIT TO THE CHURCH OF LA COURNEUVE. OBSERVATION OF THE CHRISTENING RITUAL.
- LA COURNEUVE TOWN HALL, MEETING WITH AN OFFICIAL TO DISCUSS CIVIL BAPTISM.
- VISIT TO THE MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY ON THE THEME OF RELIGION.

Participating school:
- Class (6th1 SEGPA), Collège Politzer, La Courneuve.

Photo: PIERRE ANTOINE
Graphisme: BIBLIS DUROUX