Lesson video

Hello there, my young philosophers and theologians.

My name is Ms. Marx and I'm going to be your religious education teacher today.

Today we're going to be thinking about living well in a pluralist society.

What does it mean to have a pluralist society and how can we live well together with different types of people and different identities?

And this is all part of our unit thinking about identity, religion and belief, where we are now and what the future might hold.

So when you're ready, let's go.

So by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to formulate a reasoned argument to support a viewpoint on how to live well in a pluralist society.

So let's start with our key terms.

Cultural religion.

A form of religion where someone identifies with the religion not through beliefs or practices but as a cultural identity.

Pluralism and pluralist.

The belief that many different religions, beliefs, and ways of life can coexist equally in one society.

Secularism.

The principle that religion and beliefs should not influence how society or government is run.

Values.

Principles or beliefs that guide how a person thinks, behaves, and understand what matters in life.

So look out for those in today's lesson.

So our lesson today will have two sections, "Exploring the future of religion and belief" and "What could be the future of religion and belief?

" So let's start with our first section, "Exploring the future of religion and belief.

" So we love to look at the census data, don't we?

To see what's happening with religion and belief in this country.

And the census of 2021 of England and Wales data shows us how people affiliated with religious groups or none.

And we've got here that of the religious groups that people affiliated with, Christian was the largest, but that wasn't like the majority of the country 'cause it's still less than 50% of the country, but it's the largest religious group that we've got here and other religions are also featuring in the data, aren't they?

What do you think this census data would look like in the future?

What would change?

What would stay the same?

So if we had the census of 2031 or 2041, what do you think it would look like?

Pause the video and have a think.

You could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, let's think about that a little bit more.

What do we think the future holds for religion and belief in Britain?

Alex, Sofia, Lucas, and Aisha are talking about the future of religion and belief in the UK.

Alex says, "I think that labels and causes are becoming as important as religion.

" And Sofia says, "I think that values are what bring people together more than religion.

" And Lucas says, "I think the UK will become more secular over time and less religious.

" Aisha says, "I think more cultural expressions of religion are being accepted.

" Do you agree with any of these in particular?

Why or why not?

Pause the video and have a think.

You can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, let's explore these a little bit more.

In many ways, religion and belief is changing in the UK and beyond and here are some of the factors impacting the future of religion and belief.

We've got values as the new religion, so the idea of Linda Woodhead that values is kind of replacing the function that religion had for us before.

We've got cultural religion as an identity, so it's not necessarily tied to beliefs and practices but more culture or traditions or family.

The idea of secularism and having religious freedom and pluralism in our society.

And then the idea of labels and identity, perhaps these are things people are more likely to associate with than different religions.

So let's think about identity and labels.

We're all born with certain immutable characteristics that don't change.

I was born on a certain day, my age will always be attached to that day.

That's not gonna change no matter if I dye my hair or I wear different clothes, is it?

These can influence how we see the world as well as how others perceive us.

And there are causes that people may identify with in their lives, and people can show they identify with these causes in a variety of way as well.

So some things I might be born with that are my immutable characteristics, and there's some things I might choose to have as part of me and my identity, things that I really care about.

And those causes that people identify with might be aligned with social, religious, and political ideas, so you do have that overlap with different religious ideas as well with those different causes that you might choose to associate with.

Let's look at an example.

We've got Tim who identifies with the cause of veganism and plant-based diets, and he says, "I work at a vegan cafe with my parents and I really like having it as a social space that others can come to to taste vegan food, learn more about a plant-based lifestyle.

I believe that more people having a plant-based diet would help the environment more, although I know that other people may not agree with me.

I like to share what veganism is for me and my family through running the cafe and holding different events where all are welcome.

" Could Tim's example show us something about the future of religion and belief?

Pause the video and have a think.

You could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Could veganism be seen as a religion or could it replace religion in some way in the future?

I wonder what you think.

What about this idea that values are replacing the function that religion had before?

This is an idea from Linda Woodhead who's a sociologist of religion.

Her research shows us that there's been a significant increase in those who do not have a religion in the census data.

Linda Woodhead has studied this group and found that many of them connect over values rather than religious beliefs.

She argues that values perform the function of religion in today's society.

So it's not necessarily replacing a religion or becoming a new religion, but the function that religion had before.

If you remember, she's a sociologist, so she's looking at, what was religion doing for society before and people?

Values are now doing that.

So for example, they give people a purpose in life that they might have had for religion.

Now their values give them that purpose.

Help people feel connected, give moral guidance, and that's what religion used to do for people in the past.

So those people who are nones on the census, those things that religion did in the past for people, they're now connecting through and doing through values that they might share with others.

Not everyone agrees with this, that values will replace what religion has done for us in the past.

Here's Faith.

Faith is a Christian and she says, "I don't think that values will be able to replace religion completely in the future, as my life is shaped around my beliefs, not values.

My belief in God and Jesus as His son will always be more important to me than any values can be.

Also, when I worship God, I sense God is near me and loves me, and that isn't something that values can give.

" Could Faith's example show us something about the future of religion and belief?

Pause the video and have a think and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

So maybe values won't be able to fully replace what religion has done because there's still something more perhaps from what Faith has spoken about here, that connection she feels to God or feeling that God is near her.

Will that be able to be replaced by values?

I'm not sure.

Let's do a quick check before we move on.

Which academic put forward the idea of values as the new religion?

Was it Julian Baggini, Linda Woodhead, or Ninian Smart?

Which one?

Pause the video and a have a go, we'll see how you've done in a moment.

Well done, it was Linda Woodhead.

Also, when we're thinking about the future of religion and belief, we can think about cultural expressions of religion, and the Identity Triangle can help us with this.

Some people identify as a religion without believing the core beliefs or doing the core practices of the religion.

So here this Identity Triangle might be down towards family or country and not so much up towards belief and someone believing the core beliefs of that religion.

There's other reasons why they identify as part of it.

They may call themselves cultural or secular members of that religion.

Cultural Christianity, secular Judaism.

Many more people state they're Christian than attend churches in England and Wales, so that's a piece of evidence for us that they're not necessarily going to church but they do say that they're Christians.

There's something other than like going to church which makes them feel that they're Christian.

There are many people who identify as secular or cultural Jews.

And the Identity Triangle can help us explore this, that it's not just beliefs that inform someone's sense of identity but there are other aspects, and could that help us think about the future of religion and belief?

Let's look at an example.

Mat is an example of a cultural Christian.

And he says, "I don't think you have to believe all the core teachings of religion to identify with it.

My dad is an African vicar, but I don't believe in God as described in the Bible.

I do think there's a higher spiritual power that's guiding humans to be better.

I like the teachings of Christianity about caring for others that my family have showed to me.

There's more to Christianity than the beliefs set out in the Bible.

" Could Mat's example show us something about the future of religion and belief?

Pause the video and have a think and you could talk to the person next you or talk to me.

Do you think we'll have more expressions of cultural religion in the future?

Cultural Christianity, secular Judaism?

I wonder if that's the way that the future of religion and belief will go.

What about secularism and the future of religion and belief?

Secularism is the idea there should be a separation between religion and the state, so here we've got, you know, a separation, a wall between church and the state.

To a certain extent these ideas have been embraced in UK law.

Secularism allows freedom of religion and conscience without a state religion where all religious groups can be equal.

Some states have embraced the ideals more than the UK, for example, France.

Let's look at an example here.

Not everyone agrees that the UK should fully embrace secularism.

Ria says, "Of course I believe everyone has the right to choose and follow any religion they want, but I like the fact that my son's school has good Christian basis with assemblies and songs that show this.

It teaches him Christian morals that align with our family morals, as we are a Sikh family.

I wouldn't like to have religion removed completely from schools.

" So even though Ria is not Christian, she quite likes the fact that her son's school has that kind of Christian emphasis there of certain songs and assemblies that are done.

Could Ria's example show us something about the future of religion and belief?

Pause the video and have a think, and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Perhaps there's something about religion and belief that people really like to have as a feature of schools and life in the UK, so it won't disappear completely.

Let's do a quick check before we move on.

What title was given to this shape in front of us?

What was the title?

The something triangle.

Pause the video and have a go and we'll see what you come up with in a moment.

Well done, it was the Identity Triangle.

So let's do a practice task before we move on.

We've heard the views of several characters so far in us exploring the future of religion and belief together.

For each view, give an explanation or a piece of evidence to support it.

Tim said, "I support veganism.

" Faith says, "I do not think values will replace religion.

" Mat said, "I'm a cultural Christian.

" And Ria said, "I do not want schools to be fully secular.

" So for each of them write a piece of evidence or an explanation for the view that they've given.

Pause the video, have a go, we'll see what you've done in a moment.

Well done, so great thinking.

So your answers may look something like this.

Tim said, "I support veganism.

" And the evidence or explanation is Tim works in a vegan cafe and he thinks more people should become vegan to help with the world's environmental issues.

Faith said, "I do not think values will replace religion.

" Faith is a Christian who believes that religion gives more to her than values can, as her beliefs, Jesus is God's son and His death and resurrection, are core for her, more than values can be.

Mat says, "I'm a cultural Christian.

" Mat doesn't believe in the idea of God as described in the Bible but does follow many of the teachings his Christian family taught him.

And Ria says, "I don't want schools to be fully secular.

" Ria is Sikhi and likes the fact that her son's school has a strong Christian influence and ethos as many teachings align with her own about care for those in poverty and equality.

Well done.

So onto our second section then, "What could be the future of religion and belief?

" Alex, Aisha, Sofia, and Jacob are part of Oak Debaters, the debating club at their school, and each week they have a statement to debate in favor or against, and this is the motion, and here they are ready for debating club.

They've decided to debate the future of religion and belief for this term.

This is their topic for the whole term.

What would be a good motion to debate for this thing?

What would be a good juicy statement that they could really have a good argument over?

"This house believes that," what?

Pause the video and have a think.

You could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

What could you come up with as a good motion for them to debate?

Well, Alex, Sofia, Lucas, and Aisha suggest these different motions.

Alex says, "This house believes that labels for our identity do more harm than good for us as society.

" Sofia says, "This house believes that values have replaced the functions of religion today.

" Aisha says, "This house believes that traditions and culture are more important than belief for religions.

" And Lucas says, "This house believes that as a pluralist society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" I wonder which of these you would find the most interesting to debate.

Pause the video and have a think and you can pick the one you think would be most interesting.

Well, the Oak Debaters choose to debate Lucas' statement today.

The motion is, "This house believes that as a pluralist society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" Jacob and Sofia will argue for the statements, so they're gonna agree with the house, there should be more secularism in the UK to be truly pluralist.

Aisha and Alex are going to argue against the statement that no, it doesn't need to embrace more of ideas of secularism in the UK to be a pluralist society.

Before we move on, let's just check.

What word is missing from the motion the Oak Debaters are debating this week?

"This house believes that as a something society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" What word is missing?

Pause the video and have a go, we'll see what you've got in a moment.

Well done, it was pluralist, one of our key terms.

So we said Jacob and Sofia are arguing for the motion and here they are at their podiums.

Jacob says, "Secularism means there could be true freedom of religion in a state, as all religions are treated equally in the law.

People have the freedom to choose to follow any or no religion.

" And Sofia says, "As a pluralist society, we should aim to have a secular government where no single religion is favored.

In the House of Lords, there are 26 seats reserved for Anglican bishops and not for other religious groups.

" Are you convinced by these points?

What would you argue back if you were on the against side?

Pause the video and have a think and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, let's have a see at what the against side argues.

Aisha and Alex are arguing against the motion and they say, Aisha says, "You don't have to have a secular state to respect all religions.

The history of the UK was shaped by religion and Christianity is an important part of the culture.

A pluralist society can respect that.

" And Alex says, "A pluralist society would allow religious expression and secularism could go against this.

In other secular states, religious garments are forbidden in schools, for example.

" Are you convinced by these points?

What do you think the for side would argue back to them?

Pause the video and have a think, and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, during the debate, the teams raise questions to challenge each other's position and sort of to tease out and have their debate with each other, and Alex decides to challenge Jacob.

"How can secularism give true freedom of religion when it limits the public expression of religion, Jacob?

" What do you think Jacob's gonna say back?

You could pause the video and have a think and talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, Jacob says, "In a pluralist, secular state, all people are free to express their religion however they want in their private life and communities.

That's what religious freedom means.

" So here we've got that limit of, where does the public become the private and where does my right to express my religion infringe on someone else's right to not have to sort of have it expressed at them?

Do you find Jacob's rebuttal convincing?

Do you find it convincing what he said, that you can have that freedom as long as it's in your private life and your own communities?

What do you think?

Pause the video and have a think, who has won the point out of these two?

So, others have a chance to question too.

During the debate, teams raise questions to challenge each other's position.

Sofia challenges Aisha.

And Sofia says, "What evidence do you have that UK culture is still shaped by Christianity?

" What do you think Aisha's going to respond to that?

Pause the video and have a think, and we'll see what you come up with in a moment.

Well, Aisha says, "The school calendar.

Bank holidays are around Christian festivals, Christmas and Easter as examples.

Christianity is the religion most people said they were in in the census and Parliament starts each day with Christian prayers.

" Hmm, do you think that means that the UK is still shaped by Christianity in terms of its culture?

Do you find Aisha's rebuttal convincing?

Who would win the point out of those two for you?

Pause the video and have a think.

You can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Okay, so I wonder which side of the debate has won out for you.

Let's have a think again about some of these points.

We've seen there can be points given for and against the motion, "This house believes as a pluralist society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" Give one reason why someone may agree with the statement.

Hmm, I'm gonna say because secularism allows all religions to be treated equally.

So over to you.

Give one reason why someone might disagree with the motion.

Pause the video and have the go.

We'll see what you come up with in a moment.

Well done, secularism can prevent public expressions of religion.

Well done.

So now let's do another practice task to see what we've learned then.

Our motion is, "This house believes that as a pluralist society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" Which side of the debate would you argue if you were in the Oak Debaters club?

So here's your podium, what would you argue?

Maybe you've got podium in your room, in your classroom, and you can stand up there and give your side of the debate.

Which side would you argue?

Choose the side you want to argue for and prepare the points for your speech.

You could think about, you could preempt the questions the other side might give to you.

You could be doing this in a group or as a whole class as well.

You may wish to run the debate within your classroom or within a small group of friends.

So pause the video and have a go, we'll see what you come up with in a moment.

Well done, some great debating there.

So our motion is, "This house believes as a pluralist society, the UK should embrace secularism more.

" And your speech may include the following points.

If you were arguing for the motion, secularism treats all religions equally, so this supports a pluralist society.

Secularism protects non-belief as well as belief.

Secularism could help avoid religious conflict.

Religion can still be important in someone's life but not in the government's rules.

Or maybe you argued against the motion.

Religion shaped UK history and culture and shouldn't be erased.

Secularism can feel anti-religious.

A pluralist society should allow religious expression in the public sphere.

Shared faith traditions can bring communities together rather than separate them out.

And I wonder which side of the argument you find the most convincing.

So let's summarize everything we've learned today, living well in a pluralist society.

The 2021 census shows us that England and Wales are multi-religious countries.

They could be said to be pluralist societies where religions are accepted and there's freedom of religion.

There's questions raised about the future of religion and belief from identity and labels, values as the new religion, cultural religion and secularism as a desirable way of life.

And there are arguments for and against each of these factors and the impact on the future of religion and belief in the UK.

So well done for your hard work today and I hope to see you again soon.

Bye-bye.