Step 1. This step entails placing two overheads for the students to see. Students are asked to consider, which of the following, they either value or devalue, according to the overhead. It is important that you are familiar with the definition of some of the concepts such as lust. My students did not know the difference between lust, sexual attraction and love.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE?(You feel these are important ideals which people should live up to and abide by in order to make society a better place and a happy one)
| PARENTS | MODESTY | DICTATORSHIP | HELPING THE POOR |
| SACRIFICE | FREEDOM OF CHOICE | PURITY OF WORD | BLASPHEMY |
| TELEVISION | HITLER | PEACE | HELPING THE SICK AND DYING |
| VIOLENCE | PORNOGRAPHY | MURDER | STORIES |
| SEXUAL VIOLENCE | SATANIC CULTS | HONESTY | PARTIES |
| MERCY | THE WORK OF MOTHER TERESA | FAIR GO | SWEARING |
| DISHONESTY | ALCOHOL ABUSE | ||
| COMFORTING THOSE IN PRISON | CHILDHOOD | FREEDOM | TRUE FAMILY TIES |
| DISCRIMINATION | HATRED | FAMILY | CHILDREN |
| LIES | INNOCENCE | ALCOHOL | RACISM |
| LACK OF LOVE | SIN | FRIENDSHIP | EQUALITY |
| POVERTY | PROSTITUTION | HOMELESSNESS | GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS |
| HELPING OUT A FRIEND | PROMISCUITY | TRUSTING SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT | WAR |
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU DE-VALUE? ( You discourage people from choosing to live this way or behave in this way or believe in these things. The world would be better without these things)
| VIRGINITY BEFORE MARRIAGE | THE CHURCH | TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT JESUS | HATRED |
| THE WORK OF THE CHURCH FOR THE POOR | REVENGE | FIDELITY TO SPOUSE | BETRAYAL |
| BELIEF IN CHRIST | THE WORK OF MOTHER TERESA | LUST AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOVE | PARENTS' CONCERN FOR YOU |
| VIOLENCE | THEFT | CHILD ABUSE | PROMISCUITY |
| FORCING ABORTION ON A PARTNER WHO HAS BECOME PREGNANT | FORGIVENESS | SELF CONTROL | DRUG USAGE |
| A MOTHER DECIDING NOT TO ABORT HER CHILD | COMMITTING ADULTERY | TEACHERS' CONCERN FOR YOU | SOMEONE GIVING UP THEIR LIFE TO SAVE ANOTHER PERSON |
| MYSTERY | IMAGINATION | FREE WILL | COMMUNICATION |
This activity serves to highlight a contradiction in what the constructed controversy exercise indicated and in what they truly value.
Step 2. Students take another look at what they have circled. ( You will find a few kids who will be difficult and say that 'The Church' should go or something else. They clearly state that because they seek to be difficult. They may even justify it by saying 'Well, the Church seeks to brainwash etc." Don't worry about this. Explain to them we are considering the Church at its best. Ask the student again; Do you truly think that we need to get rid of the Church because it is dangerous? Ask the students who would agree, in sincerity. The vast majority of my students indicated the Church should stay and that love is more important than lust, for example.) Ask them to interpret the data. I explained to my students that their responses indicated that they are in fact, very Christian minded, even though they may hate to think so. This was a shock to some of them as it places Christianity in a very positive light and shows them that the best in human values are part of Christianity. (The results of this activity are kept so that you may show them the difference in values they indicated during the Constructed Controversy technique and the overhead exercise)