Lesson video

Hello, welcome to this RS lesson on different religious views about freedom of religious expression.

My name's Mrs. Rawbone, and I'm going to be working with you today.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain Christian teachings and responses to freedom of religious expression, censorship, and extremism.

Keywords that we'll be using today are freedom of religious expression and persecution.

Freedom of religious expression is the right to freely practise religion without discrimination or punishment.

For example, being able to freely attend your place of worship or being allowed the space or time to pray in the workplace.

Persecution is facing hostility and ill-treatment.

For example, some religious people face punishment and death for practising their faith.

Today's lesson will form two parts.

We'll be looking at Christian teachings on the freedom of religion and Christian responses to the freedom of religion.

So let's get started on Christian teachings on the freedom of religion.

Freedom of religious expression means being able to practise and share your religion without fear of discrimination or punishment.

It is protected by law in the UK under the Human Rights Act 1998.

It includes attending religious services, wearing religious symbols, speaking about your beliefs, and living according to your faith.

Not all countries grant freedom of religious expression.

This data shows the number of countries in which people from different religions were harassed in the years 2017, 2019, and 2021.

I'd like you to look closely at the data.

Which religious believers received the most harassment? Take a moment, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So, well done if you spotted that it was Christians.

Christians reflect on issues such as those surrounding freedom of religious expression by consulting sources of authority, including the Bible, church teachings, church leaders, and fellow Christians, Christian ethical theories such as natural law and situation ethics.

They might also use their conscience and apply reason which they see as God-given gifts.

They may interpret the sources differently or emphasise one more than another.

The Bible is a source of authority and wisdom for Christians when considering freedom of religious expression.

"You are the light of the world.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

So Jesus seems to be saying that Christians should share their faith openly, as a good example.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13.

This seems to suggest that freedom is a gift from God, but it must be used to serve others not to cause harm.

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18.

Christians should use their freedom in ways that maintain peace and harmony.

So which Biblical teaching suggests Christians should share their faith in order to be a good example to others? Is it A, "Let your light shine before others, that you may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven," from Matthew 5:16.

Is it B, "Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love," Galatians 5:13? Or is it C, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone," Romans 12:18? So take a moment, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So, well done if you put A, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds." This clearly suggests that Christians should share their faith in order to be a good example to others.

All Christian denominations support freedom of religious expression.

The Catholic Church teaches that religious freedom is a fundamental human right, grounded in the inherent dignity of every person.

According to Dignitatis Humanae from Vatican II, people must never be forced to act against their conscience in matters of faith.

And this is echoed in paragraph 2106 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that "The human person has a right to religious freedom." The Methodist Church teaches that freedom of religious expression is a key part of respecting human dignity and promoting justice.

People should be free to follow their conscience and express their faith without fear or coercion.

The report "Called to Love and Praise," emphasises the importance of religious liberty and the church's commitment to tolerance and dialogue in a pluralistic society.

Evangelical Churches teach that freedom of religious expression is essential, as true faith must be chosen freely and live publicly.

The Evangelical Alliance supports this through its religious and Liberty Commission by engaging with government, defending Christians facing restrictions, and providing guidance to churches on expressing faith both respectfully and lawfully.

True or false? Most Christians believe people have a right to freedom of religious expression.

So take a moment, pause if you need to have a think, as well about why.

Come back when you are ready to check your answer.

The answer is true.

Well done if you got that correct, but why is this true? It's true because God gave everyone freedom and the ability to choose their own beliefs.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the human person has a right to religious freedom.

Jun is answering this question, explain two reasons why religious believers support freedom of religious expression.

I'd like you to help him develop each of his points in the table below.

His first point is that one reason Christians support freedom of religious expression is because God gave people freedom.

And you're going to develop it by saying, "This means that individuals should be able to.

." And His second point, another reason why Christians support freedom of religious expression is because people should live peacefully.

And you're going to develop that with, "No one should prevent.

." So take your time, pause the video to complete the first task.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said for Point 1, "One reason Christians support freedom of religious expression is because God gave people freedom.

That this means that individuals should be able to choose their own beliefs without being forced." And for the second point, "Another reason why Christians support freedom of religious expression is because people should live in peace." You could have developed it with, "No one should prevent anyone else from expressing their beliefs." Well done if you managed to develop both of these points.

For the second part of our task, I'd like you to help Jun support one of his points with a source of belief in teaching and explain its importance.

So we've already looked at the points and the development.

So, for the first point about God giving people freedom, you could either use the source, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says.

And then explain its importance by saying, "Showing that no one can be.

." Or you could choose to support the second point about freedom of religious expression is about people living in peace by using the source Romans 12:18, which says.

And then, explaining its importance by saying, "This encourages Christians to.

." So take your time, remember to choose just one of those and to develop its importance as well.

Come back when you are ready to check your answer.

Let's have a look at what you could have said.

So the first point about God giving people freedom, you could have said, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in paragraph 2,106, 'The human person has a right to religious freedom, showing that no one can be forced to act against their beliefs." Or if you chose the second point that it's about people living in peace, you could have used Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

And this encourages Christians to support freedom of religious expression as it promotes peace." Well done if you manage to develop one of those points.

For the second part of our lesson, we're going to be looking at Christian responses to the freedom of religion.

Christians generally support the freedom of religious expression and strongly object to the persecution of Christians and those of other faiths.

Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide are organisations that advocate for freedom of religious expression, and support persecuted Christians.

Open Doors supports persecuted Christians in over 70 countries.

It works in areas affected by religious extremism, helping Christians respond peacefully.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, known as CSW, investigates human rights abuses and lobbies governments and the UN.

It offers legal support and protection to victims of religious persecution.

Louise, who is a Methodist, explains how she supports freedom of religious expression.

She says, "I support Open Doors because they help Christians who are persecuted for their faith, particularly in countries like North Korea, where they risk imprisonment and death just for owning a Bible.

I contribute by donating and praying for persecuted Christians.

Asher, who attends a Pentecostal Church explains how he supports freedom of religious expression.

Asher says, "I support Christian Solidarity Worldwide because they stand with persecuted Christians like Leah Sharibu, a young Nigerian girl who was kidnapped by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce her faith.

As well as donating money, I pray for Leah and others like her.

I'd like to check your understanding by asking you to name one Christian organisation that supports the freedom of religious expression for persecuted Christians around the world.

So take a moment, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check your answer.

You could have said either Christian Solidarity Worldwide or Open Doors.

Well done if you managed to remember either of those organisations.

Most Christians strongly oppose religious extremism.

Freedom of speech must be balanced with responsibility.

The right to freedom of speech and to express religious or non-religious beliefs is on one side of the balance, but on the other side, we have a responsibility to use that speech wisely, truthfully, and with respect for others.

Extremism fails to fulfil this responsibility because it uses speech or actions to spread hatred, fear, or violence, rather than truth and love.

Charlie, who is a Baptist Christian, is explaining why Jesus' words in the Great Commission require freedom of speech when it comes to expressing religious beliefs.

"Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20.

Charlie says, "Christians must be able to share their beliefs openly to obey Jesus' command.

Without it, they couldn't fulfil their mission." Charlie goes on to explain that freedom of speech must be balanced with responsibility.

He says, "Supporting freedom of speech doesn't mean Christians support extremism.

Ephesians 4:15 teaches us to speak the truth in love.

We are called to be peaceful and not to force beliefs or cause fear.

So extremism goes against Jesus' teaching and the Spirit of the Great Commission." In general, Christians support censorship for Christians curbing extremism, for example, by preventing hate speech or incitement to violence is a good thing.

Sometimes Christians would oppose it, but that might be if it unfairly silence its religious views or it prevents them from sharing the Gospel.

When would a Christian be most likely to support censorship? A, when religious speech causes offence to others? B, when someone expresses a different belief about God? C, when speech encourages hatred against a religious group? Or D, when someone says, "Religion shouldn't be taught in schools." Take a moment to think about your answer.

Pause if you need to, and then come back when you are ready to move on.

Well done if you put C.

It would be when speech encourages hatred against a religious group, because, of course, Christians are told to share and speak with love.

For practise, I'd like you to consider the statement, "Freedom of religious expression is essential for a fair and just society." Decide whether most Christians would agree with these points and explain why.

So we have A, freedom of religion prevents persecution and promotes peace.

And B, religious freedom means there should be no censorship of extremist ideas.

So take your time, pause the video, think back over what you've learned and whether a Christian would agree with the statement, and why.

You could have said, for the first point, "Freedom of religious expression prevents persecution and promotes peace." Most Christians would agree because it reflects belief in free will and dignity and supports peace as taught in Romans 12:18, which says, "Live at peace with everyone." And for B, Freedom of religious expression means people can promote any belief without restriction, even if it causes harm.

You could have said, "Most Christians would disagree and would accept censorship of extremist ideas because they believe freedom should not be used to harm others.

And Ephesians 4:15 teaches them to speak the truth in love." So, well done if you managed to reflect accurately whether a Christian would agree or disagree with each statement, and to explain why.

In today's lesson, we have learned that freedom of religious expression is a God-given right based on free will and dignity.

That Christians believe they should be free to share their faith as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:16, to "Let your light shine before others." That Christians reject extremism, which spreads hatred and violence, going against teachings like Romans 12:18, "To live at peace with everyone." That Christians oppose persecution, organisations like Open Doors and CSW work to support persecuted Christians.

And that freedom of speech must be used responsibly.

Christians may support censorship to prevent harm and reduce extremism, but not if it unfairly silences faith.

Thank you very much for all of your hard work today on this lesson on freedom of religious expression and different views about it.