Aleksandra Peric, 3809997

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Religion and Society
Unit 1 Religion in Society
In Unit 1, at the start of term 1, Id like to develop 6 classroom activities that will refresh or
develop students knowledge about what religion in society represents. The lessons formed
will hopefully trigger discussions and class debates about religion in todays society.
Session Aim Student Activities Resources
1. Religion
(How it
shapes our
Identity)
To refresh
our memory
about
different
religions
around the
world and
how it shapes
who we are
as people.
As a starter activity, the class will brainstorm the
most common religions in the world and
who/what these religions believe in.
After this, PowerPoint slides will be shown with
the worlds most widely held religions.
(Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism). The
students will then write down some definitions
about these religions (what they are and where
they come from) and the most common traits
between them (ie. Narratives, symbols, ethics,
holy texts).
As a class, we will then proceed to discuss how
does your religion shape you life? Does it
explain
How you react to situations?
How you view different situations?
How you treat people?
How you view life's challenges?
The students will then need to respond to How
do you think being a religious person reflects on
a persons identity or your own?
Following this response, the students need to
research on their laptops world religions by
percentage and where they are mostly located
in the world?
Ie. About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the
largest Muslim country,

25% in South Asia, 20%
in the Middle East, 2% in Central Asia, 4% in the
remaining South East Asian countries, and 15%
in Sub-saharan Africa. There are about 1.41-1.57
billion Muslims, comprising about 21-23% of the
world's population, Islam is the second-largest
religion and one of the fastest-growing religions
in the world.


2. Beginning
of Religion
To
understand
how religions
At the start of this lesson, the students will
discuss what makes a religion? A definition will
go up on the Interactive White Board for the
Nielsen, N.C., 1993,
Religions of the
world 3
rd
edition.
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occurred and
common
characteristic
s they may
share.
students to copy down.
A religion is a belief system which includes
belief in something greater than human, which
is regarded with everence; this can be a God or
gods, it can be a state of spiritual transcendence
or enlightenment, or other esoteric spiritual
values.
We will then collectively as a class discuss how
does a religion start and what needs to be done
in order to register a religion.
A slide with answers will be up on the board
following the discussion which students will
need to copy down.
After this discussion and note taking, students
will then need to research using their laptops 4
different types of religions of their choice that
have a holy text and answer the following:
What is the main message of the text
trying to portray?
What is religion trying to portray?
Does it make you lead a better life or be
a better person?
Can the government of a country
implement religion as a law?
How does religion shape someone as a
person?
Students then need to compare these religions
to one another and find the most common
characteristics.


http://donsnotes.co
m/religion/buddhis
m-christianity.html

http://www.religiou
stolerance.org/budd
hism4.htm
3. Structures
and common
characteristic
s of a religion
To
understand
how a
religion is
structured
and its rules.
In this session, students will be continuing on
with the last part of the previous lesson and
looking at structures of religions and common
characteristics. They will need their laptops to
research this information wit the provided links.
Such questions will include:
Do religions have a hierarchy or an
organised structure or body? If so, list
the structure it goes in.
Why do certain rules or procedures have
to be set in order for the religion to be
successful?
Identify what is a holy day.
What is the purpose of holy days for
each religion?
Which common characteristics do
religions have?
http://donsnotes.co
m/religion/common-
characteristics.html

http://www.hierarch
ystructure.com/chris
tianity-religious-
hierarchy/
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How did religion begin?
Students will be given half an hour to research
this information and then share with the class.
Each student will be required give a different
answer.
Following this research, students will need to
identify where do religious people go to pray?
Ie. Church, mosque.
Why is this a significant part in a persons
religion?
4. Society
and Religion
To see why
society
depends on
religion to
function the
way it does.
In todays session students will explore that
religion is an important part of life for many
people. Even people who are not all that
religious by nature consider it to be important.
The question is why do they feel this way?
As a class, we need to discuss that the reason is
largely down to the belief that society needs
religion. As a society we benefit from our
collective religious beliefs. In fact there are
many people who would argue that we could
not function without religion. Students will
discuss why this is and take down notes.
The big question we will focus on is Why do
people need religion?
Students answers should include that:
Society needs religion is to regulate
behavior.
Most of the laws that we follow today
have their basis in religious teachings. *
There is considerable debate as to
whether or not religion is required to
make us good people but what is beyond
dispute is that the rules for what is
acceptable for society are largely based
on religion.
Without religion we would almost
certainly live in a different type of
society.
It can be debated whether it would be
better or worse but it would certainly be

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different.
After this discussion, students will be given the
opportunity to come up with 3 questions they
want to learn about religion and research it
using any sources they like. Whatever is not
finished in class, will need to be done for
homework and completed for next lesson.
5. Atheism To
understand
why some
people have
no belief in a
particular
religion.
Students in todays class will explore that a
belief in a god is fairly widespread, as the
majority of the world's people do believe in one.
However, a growing number of people are
rejecting this belief or having doubts. This is
particularly common in western countries, with
one notable exception. The growth in the
number of people who do not believe in god has
raised all sorts of questions about the future of
religion and its influence on society.
Students will be asked:
What is an atheist?
Answer they will need to copy down from a
PowerPoint:
An atheist is somebody who does not believe in
god. They are generally just as sure that god
does not exist as the most religious of people
are sure that there is a god.

The big question students will focus on today is:
What influences people to not have belief in
god?


6. Criticism of
Religion

To
understand
why people
criticise
religion.
Most people consider religion to be important,
but this does not mean that it is beyond
criticism. This criticism comes from many
different directions and is not limited just to
those who have no religious faith. There are
many people who believe the teachings of a
particular religion who still find grounds to
criticize it.
Students will be asked what can be some
possible criticism of religions?
Answers on the board which need to be copied
http://www.credong
.org/criticism-of-
religion.php
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down into students books will include:
One of the biggest criticisms of religion is
that they teach things that are clearly
not true.
This has become an increasing problem
as science has grown in importance.
It is now fairly well established for
example that most of what is taught in
the Bible is not correct from a scientific
standpoint.
That being the case it is hard for a lot of
people to take the other teachings of the
religion seriously.
Trying to reconcile religion and science is
something that many people have
attempted to do but virtually all
attempts have failed pretty badly.
a lot of what is taught is contradictory.
This is not just an issue between the
different religions but also within a single
religion. T
here are many stories and histories that
are part of all religions that contradict
other stories and histories that are part
of the same religion.
This will bring us to the end of the first 6 lessons
planned for unit 1 of Religion and Society.
Students will be told they need to read over all
their notes so far as they need to be familiar
with it to complete their assessment task which
will be an essay in next session.
7.
Assessment
In todays session students will be writing a SAC
on 1 of the following questions:

Students need to choose only ONE question to
discuss in their essay. The essay needs to be two
written pages. Approximately 600-800 words).




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References:

http://www.credong.org/on-atheism-and-agnosticism.php