Christian attitudes to racial prejudice
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain some of the issues surrounding racism and explore Christian and other respones to them.
Key learning points
- Racism exists both at the individual and systemic levels, with multiple causes, and persists despite laws against it.
- There is an ongoing debate about the fairness of positive action.
- Humanism teaches equal respect and rights for all races based on reason and rejects racism.
- Christianity has historic links to slavery, colonialism and segregation, with some using the Bible to justify them.
- Martin Luther King drew on his faith to fight racism, and today Christians see the Bible as calling for equality.
Keywords
Discrimination - actions that come from prejudice attitudes
Equality - belief that everyone is equal in value and worth
Positive action - supporting underrepresented groups by encouraging applications from ethnic minority candidates in fields where they are underrepresented
Racism - prejudice, discrimination or hostility directed at someone based on their race, ethnicity or skin colour
Common misconception
Racism only exists when someone deliberately says or does something hateful.
Racism can also be unconscious, indirect or systemic. It includes things like biased policies, underrepresentation, microaggressions and privilege.
Teacher tip
You may want to show video footage of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches at protests.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What is prejudice?
Q2.Discrimination happens when prejudice leads to unfair or actions.
Q3.Which teaching supports equality in Christianity?
Q4.Many Christians believe everyone is equal because they are made in the of God.
Q5.Why do some Christians oppose same-sex relationships?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term to its meaning.
actions that come from prejudice attitudes
the belief that everyone is equal in value and worth
hostility towards someone based on their race or ethnicity
Q2.Racism can be both individual and , and can continue despite anti-racism laws.
Q3.What is “positive action”?
Q4.Some Christians in history used the to wrongly justify slavery and racism.
Q5.Racism can include unconscious bias, underrepresentation, and , which are subtle, everyday slights.
Q6.Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by ...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Christian attitudes to racial prejudice, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Christian attitudes to racial prejudice, 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 Issues of Human Rights unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.