Lower Secondary Religious Education

Religious Education Lower Secondary

The only Religious Education series to cover every topic across all six major religions in the Caribbean including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Rastafari Movement and Revivalism.

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Tessa Bernard (Jamaica) • Liam Gearon (UK) • Jill Morris (UK) • Kenneth Runcie (Jamaica) • Colinnet Wiltshire-Brown (Jamaica)

Worship

Identity

Stewardship

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is explored in Book 1

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Author team:

is explored in Book 2

is explored in Book 3

S e c t i o n 1: i n t r o d u c i n g r e l i g i o n

C H A P T E R 1: A n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o r e l i g i o u S e d u c At i o n

The doctrinal dimension

cultural developments

Figure 1.5 Groups of friends and family may include several religions.

CLASS DISCUSSION Think about the community you live in. How much do you know about your neighbours and their beliefs? Can you think of one way to show religious tolerance towards someone whose religious views are not the same as yours?

Through RE, our sense of cultural identity is developed by: learning about the histories of different religious groups in the Caribbean and how they have contributed to island life learning how culture and religious beliefs help people to form their own identities learning how these are expressed through the arts, such as music, visual art and dance.

Almost all religions have a set of doctrines – which are the key ideas and beliefs that make up a religion. Doctrines are drawn from sacred texts or holy books, such as the Bible for Christians or the Qur’an for Muslims (Figure 1.6). Doctrines are very important – some will say fundamental – to a religion, because they explain the rules of the religion to their followers. This helps them to better understand the characteristics of the God or gods they are worshipping.

RE shows how religious diversity enriches our region and acts as an inspiring background for questioning and developing our own beliefs and values (Figure 1.5).

The narrative dimension

Learning about other people’s religious beliefs The Caribbean is a diverse region whose people hold a range of religious views, traditions and beliefs. It is very important to know about our own beliefs and also to listen to and understand those of our friends, families and neighbours. If we have a better understanding of others’ beliefs, we are less likely to dismiss issues that may be important to others. As a society, we can then begin to overcome prejudice. Learning about other people’s religious beliefs in RE encourages tolerance, respect, integration and a stronger sense of community.

C H E C K YO U R L E A R N I N G 1 2 3 4

How does RE help develop our sense of self-worth?

Name one way RE can help to develop our moral selves.

Name two things that help a person form their identity.

What is one benefit of having an understanding of other people’s religious beliefs?

Figure 1.6 Doctrines are found in religious holy books.

W H AT D O YOU T H I N K? Think of the most recent religious or solemn ceremony you attended. What was the occasion, and how did taking part in the ceremony make you feel? Find out from the person sitting next to you if they have attended a similar ceremony. If so, how was their experience similar or different from yours?

The nature of religion

Apart from the doctrines, the sacred texts of a religion also contain stories, accounts and myths to explain creation, and tell a history of the religion and the lives and experiences of important characters or early believers.

Depending on the religion, some stories are passed on orally from one generation to another. For many people, this narrative dimension of religion appeals the most, because they believe these stories provide truth and answers to ultimate questions. Many people find that reading or listening to these stories helps them to feel closer to their God or gods, while others are inspired to become better people.

The ritual dimension Rituals, or ceremonies, are another important aspect in religion. Rituals can be performed or observed to mark: a holy or special event in a religious calendar, such as Easter for Christians, Ramadan for Muslims or Diwali for Hindus a major life event, such as the birth, coming of age or death of a person an exceptional circumstance, such as after a natural disaster or a sudden death occurring in a community.

Each religion has its own special rituals to bring its followers together.

These may be done in public or private. Rituals can include visiting a holy building, reciting sacred texts, praying to and praising the deity (for example, in the form of singing, clapping hands or moving the body in a particular way), fasting, eating special food, adding special decorations in a home, or wearing special clothes.

The emotional dimension

When we discuss religion, sometimes it may seem easier to focus on the differences between the major world religions rather than their similarities.

Taken separately, each religion seems to have its own set of beliefs and rituals, which its followers will claim are unique. However, billions of people practise one form of religion or another and there are some aspects, or dimensions, of religion that appeal universally to human beings. The following section introduces some of these dimensions.

Humans have powerful feelings and need to express emotions such as joy, sadness, hopefulness, excitement, anger, worry, awe and gratitude at different times. For many people, religion – especially its ritual dimension – provides a way to experience and express these emotions. For example, by attending a wedding, we can express and share our feelings of joy with one another.

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Each religion is examined in detail by topic, so students are given the opportunity to develop an understanding of the beliefs and practices of each different religion.

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Caribbean examples and scenarios allow students to actively explore what they have learnt and apply it to real-world situations, developing their analytical skills.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

KEY BENEFITS:

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Student’s Book 1

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Activities and class discussion exercises reinforce topics while assessment questions stimulate thinking and independent analysis.

Key concepts and important terms are highlighted throughout and indexed for ease of use, as requested by teachers.

Is it always dangerous to form an opinion of someone from what they look like or what they wear?

Student’s Book 1

DID YOU KNOW? For Christians, the Bible explains how they should use their talents and not waste them in ‘Parable of a Talents’ in the Gospel of Matthew (25:14-30).

Student’s Book 1

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