RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

​Contents
  1. Introduction to KS3 Religious Education
  2. The Major World Religions
    • 2.1 Christianity
    • 2.2 Islam
    • 2.3 Hinduism
    • 2.4 Buddhism
    • 2.5 Judaism
    • 2.6 Sikhism
  3. Ethics and Morality
    • 3.1 Moral Dilemmas
    • 3.2 Religious and Secular Ethics
    • 3.3 Human Rights and Social Justice
  4. Philosophy and Religion
    • 4.1 The Existence of God
    • 4.2 The Problem of Evil
    • 4.3 Life After Death
  5. Glossary of Key Terms
  6. Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
  7. Key Takeaways


1. Introduction to KS3 Religious Education
KS3 Religious Education (RE) introduces you to the beliefs, practices, and ethics of different religions and encourages you to think about philosophical questions. This booklet will help you explore the role of religion in society and develop your own views on important issues.
Discussion Question:
  • How do you think religion influences people’s lives and societies?


2. The Major World Religions
2.1 Christianity
Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and is the largest religion in the world.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • The Trinity: The belief in one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    • The Bible: The sacred scripture of Christians, consisting of the Old Testament and New Testament.
    • Salvation: The belief that through faith in Jesus, individuals can be saved from sin.
Activity:
  • Research a Christian festival, such as Easter, and explain its significance.
2.2 Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion that believes in Allah as the one true God and Muhammad as his final prophet.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • The Five Pillars: The basic acts of worship, including prayer, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
    • The Quran: The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
    • Sharia: Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith, guiding the moral and legal conduct of Muslims.
Quiz Question:
  • What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
2.3 Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and is practiced primarily in India.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • Dharma: The duty to live according to moral laws and ethics.
    • Karma: The belief that actions in this life will affect one’s future lives.
    • Reincarnation: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Discussion Question:
  • How does the belief in karma influence the way Hindus live their lives?
2.4 Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • The Four Noble Truths: The central teachings of Buddhism, including the truth of suffering and the path to its cessation.
    • The Eightfold Path: A guide to ethical and mental development in Buddhism.
    • Nirvana: The ultimate goal of Buddhism, a state of enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Activity:
  • Create a diagram of the Eightfold Path and explain each aspect.
2.5 Judaism
Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion, with a rich tradition of laws, customs, and festivals.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • The Covenant: The special relationship between the Jewish people and God, as described in the Torah.
    • The Torah: The central reference of the religious Judaic tradition, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
    • The Messiah: The belief in a future leader who will restore Israel and bring peace.
Quiz Question:
  • What is the Torah, and why is it important in Judaism?
2.6 Sikhism
Sikhism was founded in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak and is based on the teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus.
  • Key Beliefs:
    • The Oneness of God: Sikhs believe in one God who is present in all creation.
    • Equality: The belief that all people are equal, regardless of race, religion, or gender.
    • The Guru Granth Sahib: The holy scripture of Sikhism, considered the eternal Guru.
Discussion Question:
  • How do the principles of equality and service shape the Sikh way of life?


3. Ethics and Morality
3.1 Moral Dilemmas
Moral dilemmas are situations in which there is no clear right or wrong answer, and they require careful consideration of ethical principles.
  • Examples of Moral Dilemmas:
    • Lying to protect someone’s feelings.
    • Stealing to feed a hungry family.
    • Deciding whether to keep a promise when circumstances change.
Activity:
  • Discuss a moral dilemma with a partner and explain how you would resolve it.
3.2 Religious and Secular Ethics
Religious ethics are based on the teachings of a religion, while secular ethics are based on reason, experience, and universal principles.
  • Religious Ethics:
    • Christianity: Guided by the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus.
    • Islam: Guided by the Quran and the Hadith.
    • Buddhism: Guided by the Eightfold Path and the concept of ahimsa (non-violence).
  • Secular Ethics:
    • Humanism: Emphasises human well-being and reason as the basis for ethics.
    • Utilitarianism: The belief that the best action is the one that maximises overall happiness.
Quiz Question:
  • What is the difference between religious and secular ethics?
3.3 Human Rights and Social Justice
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to, while social justice refers to the fair distribution of resources and opportunities in society.
  • Human Rights:
    • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): A document that outlines the rights all humans are entitled to, such as the right to life, liberty, and education.
  • Social Justice:
    • Examples: Efforts to reduce poverty, promote equality, and ensure access to education and healthcare.
Discussion Question:
  • How do different religions view the concept of human rights and social justice?


4. Philosophy and Religion
4.1 The Existence of God
The existence of God is a central question in philosophy and religion, with different arguments for and against.
  • Arguments for the Existence of God:
    • The Cosmological Argument: The belief that everything that exists has a cause, and the ultimate cause is God.
    • The Teleological Argument: The belief that the complexity and order of the universe imply a designer (God).
    • The Ontological Argument: The belief that the very concept of God implies His existence.
  • Arguments Against the Existence of God:
    • The Problem of Evil: The question of why evil exists if God is all-powerful and good.
    • Atheism: The belief that there is no God or gods.
Activity:
  • Write a short essay explaining one argument for and one argument against the existence of God.
4.2 The Problem of Evil
The problem of evil is a philosophical and theological dilemma that questions how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent God can allow evil and suffering in the world.
  • Types of Evil:
    • Moral Evil: Caused by human actions (e.g., war, murder).
    • Natural Evil: Caused by natural events (e.g., earthquakes, diseases).
Quiz Question:
  • What is one way that religious believers explain the existence of evil?
4.3 Life After Death
Different religions and philosophies have various beliefs about what happens after death.
  • Christianity: Belief in heaven and hell, where people are rewarded or punished based on their faith and actions.
  • Hinduism and Buddhism: Belief in reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into a new body based on karma.
  • Atheism: The belief that there is no life after death, and consciousness ends with death.
Discussion Question:
  • How do beliefs about life after death influence the way people live their lives?


5. Glossary of Key Terms
  • Atheism: The belief that there is no God or gods.
  • Dharma: The moral law and duties in Hinduism.
  • Eightfold Path: The path to enlightenment in Buddhism, consisting of right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
  • Humanism: A philosophy that emphasises human values and the importance of reason and ethics without relying on religious beliefs.
  • Karma: The Hindu and Buddhist belief that a person's actions in this life will affect their fate in future lives.
  • Nirvana: In Buddhism, the ultimate state of liberation and freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth.


6. Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
  1. What are the sacred scriptures of Christianity called?
    • a) The Torah
    • b) The Quran
    • c) The Bible
  2. What is the central belief of Islam?
    • a) Reincarnation
    • b) The Five Pillars
    • c) The Eightfold Path
  3. Which religion is associated with the concept of Nirvana?
    • a) Hinduism
    • b) Buddhism
    • c) Sikhism
  4. What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
    • a) A religious text
    • b) A philosophical argument
    • c) A document outlining the rights of all humans
  5. What is the Teleological Argument for the existence of God?
    • a) The belief that the complexity and order of the universe imply a designer
    • b) The belief that everything that exists has a cause
    • c) The belief that God does not exist
Answers:
  1. c) The Bible
  2. b) The Five Pillars
  3. b) Buddhism
  4. c) A document outlining the rights of all humans
  5. a) The belief that the complexity and order of the universe imply a designer


7. Key Takeaways
  • KS3 Religious Education introduces you to the beliefs, practices, and ethics of different religions and encourages critical thinking about philosophical questions.
  • Understanding different religious and ethical perspectives helps you develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world.
  • Regularly reflecting on the concepts discussed in RE will help you form your own views on important ethical and philosophical issues.
Final Thought: Religious Education is not just about learning facts; it’s about exploring deep questions and understanding how different beliefs and values shape our world