New
New
Lesson 2 of 5
  • Year 10

Values as the new religion

I can explain what Linda Woodhead means by values as the new religion and state to what extent I agree or disagree.

Lesson 2 of 5
New
New
  • Year 10

Values as the new religion

I can explain what Linda Woodhead means by values as the new religion and state to what extent I agree or disagree.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Linda Woodhead is a British sociologist of religion.
  2. Her work includes tracking changes and trends and considering their implications for religion and society.
  3. She has determined that people are now aligning by values more than organised religion.
  4. Organised religion contains a way of living that may also mean followers are aligned by value as well as religion.

Keywords

  • Function - what something does; in sociology what does the institution do for members of that society

  • Linda Woodhead - British sociologist of religion

  • Nones - people who say they have “no religion” on surveys such as the England and Wales census

  • Values - principles or beliefs that guide how a person thinks, behaves, and understand what matters in life

Common misconception

That Linda Woodhead argues values are a new religion, and the same as a religion.

Linda Woodhead argues that values are replacing the function of religion by giving purpose, meaning, guidance and community to people, but not that they are becoming 'religions'.


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

Students could conduct a wider survey of their friendship groups beyond the classroom to see if they align on certain values together.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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.
Which of the following is most likely an unchanging characteristic?

favourite sport
Correct answer: eye colour
job role

Q2.
A person’s date of birth is a fact about them.

Correct Answer: permanent, Permanent

Q3.
Which example shows others perceiving someone based on their characteristics?

someone buying new clothes
Correct answer: someone being judged for their accent
someone changing their hairstyle

Q4.
Life often shape the causes someone supports.

Correct Answer: experiences, Experiences

Q5.
What can identifying with a cause reveal?

their eye colour
their favourite sport
Correct answer: their social or political values

Assessment exit quiz

5 Questions

Q1.
Match each keyword to its meaning:

Correct Answer:function,what something does

what something does

Correct Answer:nones,people who say they have “no religion” on surveys

people who say they have “no religion” on surveys

Correct Answer:values,principles or beliefs that guide how a person thinks and behaves

principles or beliefs that guide how a person thinks and behaves

Q2.
Linda Woodhead is a British of religion.

Correct Answer: sociologist, Sociologist

Q3.
Which example shows religion losing influence?

Correct answer: fewer people following religious rules
more people attending church
increased prayer in schools

Q4.
Linda Woodhead argues that have become a new religion for some people.

Correct Answer: values, Values

Q5.
Which function of religion might values struggle to replace?

encouraging personal opinions
Correct answer: offering rituals and communal worship
providing current news