Violence, including violent protest
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what Christians and humanists believe about violence and violent protest.
Key learning points
- Most Christians agree that violence has a negative impact and should be avoided.
- Humanists generally oppose violence and do not support violence that is motivated by religious grounds.
- Humanists and Christians may accept violence for altruistic purposes.
- Jesus displayed righteous anger, where the goal is to restore to God's design and intention.
- Violent protest may be justified as righteous anger by some Christians.
Keywords
Violence - the use of physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill
Righteous anger - anger about something morally wrong, with the aim of making things right in a fair and just way
Altruistic - doing something to help others, even if it’s personally difficult, without expecting a reward
Common misconception
Righteous anger always leads to violent protest.
Many Christians and humanists believe righteous anger can be shown through peaceful actions like marches, speeches, or campaigns. Violence is only considered by some, and only in rare cases when all peaceful options have failed.
Teacher tip
You may want to consider including other real world examples of peaceful and violent protest.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do Christians often seek after conflict?
Q2.Christians forgive because they believe God will ultimately everyone.
Q3.What is the Fellowship of Reconciliation?
Q4.Which Beatitude inspires the Fellowship of Reconciliation?
Q5.Forgiveness also means avoiding the need for .
Q6.What miracle happens during Jesus’ arrest?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Christians believe that violence should be .
Q2.What type of violence do humanists particularly reject?
Q3.Christians and humanists may accept violence if it is for purposes.
Q4.When did Jesus show righteous anger?
Q5.Not all Christians violent protest.
Q6.Many Christians and humanists believe righteous anger can be shown through peaceful actions like .
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Violence, including violent protest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Violence, including violent protest, 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 4 religious education lessons from the Religion, peace and conflict unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.