Defining religion
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why religion may be hard to define and apply one way that scholars have found to define it.
Key learning points
- It can be difficult to define religion.
- Several scholars have constructed their own definitions.
- The Three B's is one framework to classify religions.
- Lived experience of religion may not not align with these definitions.
- One way to study religion and worldviews is social science.
Keywords
Behaviour - how someone acts, the things they do
Belief - an acceptance that something is true without having to have proof. The verb of belief is believe
Belonging - being part of something bigger than yourself
Religion - a set of attitudes, beliefs and practices. People who follow a religion are known as religious
Ritual - a way of doing something with the same actions in the same way, each time
Common misconception
Religions are always to do with belief in a God or gods.
Not all religions have a belief in God or gods. For example, Buddhism does not have beliefs in God or gods.
Teacher tip
Students can use different examples of religions to show the Three B's depending on their prior knowledge.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which religion has a belief that Jesus was killed and rose again after death?
Q2.Which of these religions has Siddhartha Gautama as an important founder?
Q3.Which of these buildings might a Muslim go to pray in with other Muslims?
Q4.What name is often given to a being that created the entire universe and is all powerful, all loving and all knowing in religions?
Q5.What could we call a deep and meaningful question that doesn't have a straightforward answer?
Q6.What term is this definition for: "A person's way of understanding, experiencing and responding to the world"?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the Three B's is missing from the list? belonging, behaviour and ...
Q2.Which of the Three B's could these activities be related to?
Q3.Which term means a way of doing something with the same actions in the same way, each time?
Q4.What do social scientists use to back up their claims about religion?
Q5.Which of these statements is most accurate about defining religion?
Q6.Which two of these statements are most accurate?
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Defining religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Defining religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Psychology: is our brain designed to believe? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.