New
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Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 10

Evaluating the dimensions of religion

I can evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of Ninian Smart’s dimensions in the study of religion.

Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
  • Year 10

Evaluating the dimensions of religion

I can evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of Ninian Smart’s dimensions in the study of religion.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Smart's dimensions of religion can be applied to theistic and non-theistic worldviews.
  2. Smart also applied the dimensions to secular worldviews, e.g. nationalism.
  3. There are strengths and weaknesses to his approach.
  4. One main criticism is that the dimensions present a reductionist view of religion.

Keywords

  • Dimensions - for Smart, these are the different aspects or parts that make up a religion

  • Reductionist - a criticism that something is being shown in too simple a way; ‘reduced’ down

  • Secular - not to do with religion or religious ideas/beliefs

  • Worldview - the way someone understands, interprets and inhabits the world

Common misconception

That Smart believed the dimensions were all that was needed to study religion and no other discipline or approach.

For Smart, these were a starting point, a 'way in' to studying religions and that other disciplines and approaches were still needed for a full understanding.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Evaluating the dimensions of religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Humanism has not been covered in this lesson. Students could research Humanism and see if or how it displays the dimensions and to what extent.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

5 Questions

Q1.
Traditionally, theology and philosophy asked ...

how to perform rituals
Correct answer: whether religious claims are true
how many religions exist

Q2.
Ninian Smart promoted a study of religion.

Correct Answer: secular, Secular

Q3.
A phenomenological approach focuses on ...

converting people
proving religion false
Correct answer: studying religion as experienced

Q4.
Understanding experience builds ...

Correct Answer: empathy, Empathy

Q5.
Which is one of Smart’s dimensions?

Correct answer: ritual
economic
political

Assessment exit quiz

5 Questions

Q1.
Match each keyword to its meaning:

Correct Answer:dimensions,different aspects or parts that make up a religion

different aspects or parts that make up a religion

Correct Answer:reductionist,a criticism showing something to be too simple

a criticism showing something to be too simple

Correct Answer:secular,not to do with religion or religious ideas/beliefs

not to do with religion or religious ideas/beliefs

Correct Answer:worldview,the way someone understands and interprets the world

the way someone understands and interprets the world

Q2.
Why did Ninian Smart create the dimensions?

to promote one faith
to replace religion
Correct answer: to compare religions through shared aspects

Q3.
Ninian Smart used as a secular example.

Correct Answer: nationalism, Nationalism

Q4.
One strength of Ninian Smart’s model is that it ...

Correct answer: provides a structured way to study religion
promotes one faith
removes diversity

Q5.
One criticism of Ninian Smart's model is that it is ...

Correct Answer: reductionist, Reductionist