New
New
Year 11
AQA

Freedom of religious expression

I can explain what freedom of religious expression means and why it is important in society.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Freedom of religious expression

I can explain what freedom of religious expression means and why it is important in society.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. You have the right to follow, change or reject religion or belief.
  2. This right is protected by international law (UDHR, Article 18).
  3. Religious expression includes symbols, prayer, speech and rituals.
  4. Censorship can protect or limit beliefs depending on how it’s used.
  5. Extremism can lead to hate or harm, so freedom may be restricted.

Keywords

  • Censorship - when an authority such as the government or a media company controls or limits what people can see, read, hear or say

  • Extremism - holding radical views that reject others’ rights or promote hatred

  • Freedom of religion - the right to freely practise religion without discrimination or punishment; e.g. being allowed space or time to pray in the workplace

Common misconception

Freedom of religious expression only protects religious people.

This freedom includes non-religious views and protects everyone’s right to think freely and speak respectfully.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Freedom of religious expression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use an artefact or image that shows religious expression, for example, a prayer mat or rosary. Compare this with a story of someone choosing not to take part in a religious activity (e.g. opting out of collective worship). This helps students see how expression can look very different.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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5 Questions

Q1.
Human rights are based on the idea of inherent and fairness.
Correct Answer: dignity, Dignity
Q2.
When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted?
1775
Correct answer: 1948
2011
1918
Q3.
Not everyone receives rights equally due to and injustice.
Correct Answer: discrimination, Discrimination
Q4.
Which of the following Christian values supports human rights?
Isolation
Greed
Correct answer: Justice
Q5.
Why is it important to respect the rights of others?
To avoid accountability
Correct answer: So everyone can live fairly and safely
To avoid rules

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Match each word to its correct meaning:
Correct Answer:Censorship,when there are limits on what people can see, read, hear, or say

when there are limits on what people can see, read, hear, or say

Correct Answer:Extremism,holding radical views that reject others’ rights or promote hatred

holding radical views that reject others’ rights or promote hatred

Correct Answer:Freedom of religion,is the right to freely practise religion without discrimination

is the right to freely practise religion without discrimination

Q2.
What does the right to reject religion mean?
Correct answer: You don’t have to follow any religion if you don't want to.
You can force others to reject it.
You must hide your beliefs.
Q3.
Which document protects the right to freedom of religion?
Bill of Rights
Magna Carta
Correct answer: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Q4.
Why is religious expression important to protect?
To make everyone similar
To control people
Correct answer: So people can express their identity and beliefs
Q5.
Freedom of religious expression includes beliefs.
Correct Answer: non-religious, Non-religious