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As a word religion is difficult to define, but as a human experience it is widely familiar. The 20th-century German-born U.S. theologian Paul Tillich gave a simple and basic definition of the word: “Religion is ultimate concern.” This means that religion encompasses that to which people are most devoted or that from which they expect to get the most fundamental satisfaction in life. Consequently, religion provides adequate answers to such basic questions as What are the origins of the world? What is the meaning of human life? Why do people die and what happens afterward? Why is there evil? How should people behave?

Four centuries earlier the German reformer Martin Luther spoke in similar terms about God. He stated that to have a god was to “have something in which the heart trusts completely,” whether such a god was a supernatural being or something in the world like wealth, power, career, or pleasure. Putting Tillich’s and Luther’s definitions together, it is possible to see that religion does not necessarily have to be involved with shrines, temples, churches, or synagogues. It does not need complex doctrines or clergy. It can be anything to which people devote themselves that fills their lives with meaning.

The word religion comes from the Latin word religio , which to the ancient Romans represented all the unknown forces around them that inspired awe and anxiety. Their religion was based on establishing mutual trust between the divine and human in order to secure the benevolence of the gods and their help in mastering those unknown forces.

Monotheistic religions such as Judaism , Christianity , and Islam center on the belief in and worship of one, unique God. Virtually all other religions—including Buddhism , Hinduism , Daoism , Shinto , most of the indigenous religions of Africa and Oceania , and the religions of ancient Greece and Rome—have embraced some form of polytheism, or the belief in more than one deity. In some polytheistic systems, such as many of the traditional African religions, one God may be identified as the supreme creator. In others, such as Buddhism, the gods may be given less importance than a higher goal, state, or savior. God is considered to be the universe as a whole in pantheistic religions. Although these definitions may sound clear-cut, the world’s religions represent a wide and complex spectrum of beliefs that defy simple categorization.

Regardless of definitions, most religions (as the word is normally used) have certain elements in common. These include common rituals to perform, prayers to recite, places to frequent or avoid, holy days to keep, a body of literature to read and study, truths to affirm, leaders to follow, and ordinances to obey. Many have buildings set aside for worship, and there are activities such as prayer, sacrifice, contemplation, and perhaps magic.

Closely associated with these elements is personal conduct. Although it is possible to separate ritual observances from moral conduct, worship normally has implied a type of relationship with a god from which certain behavior patterns are expected to follow. A notable exception in history is the official state religion of ancient Rome, which was kept separate from personal commitment and morality.

The existence of religion is rooted in the fundamental human desire to try to understand the origin of the world, why there is death, or the answers to other basic questions. Within the world’s religions, explanations of such matters have been devised without the support of direct, empirical evidence, which means that acceptance of religion is based essentially on belief. Thus, all statements about God or the gods are statements of belief. The assertion that there is no God—atheism—also is a statement of belief ( see God ). In the case of religions based on supposedly historical events, interpretations of those events are accepted by believers as true, while nonbelievers may arrive at completely different interpretations. ( See also Adventists ; ancestor worship ; Anglican Communion ; Bahaʾi faith ; Baptists ; Buddhism ; Christianity ; Christian Science ; church and state ; Daoism ; Eastern Orthodox churches ; Eastern Rite churches ; ethics and morality ; Gnosticism ; God ; Hare Krishna ; Hinduism ; Islam ; Jainism ; Jehovah’s Witnesses ; Judaism ; Lutheranism ; Mennonites ; Methodism ; Moravians ; Mormons ; mythology ; Pentecostals ; Presbyterianism ; Protestantism ; Quakers ; Reformed Churches ; Revivalism ; Roman Catholicism ; Shakers ; Shinto ; Sikhism ; Unitarian Universalist Association ; Zoroastrianism and Parsiism .)

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Teaching About World Religions

Introduction

Religion gives individuals a sense of purpose and has been one of the most powerful forces in human history. Understanding various religions is understanding the values and beliefs that drive a group of people to act and believe the way they do. Therefore, teaching students about world religions is a significant task, as religious tolerance is the ideal result. By being able to comprehend how religion plays a role in the cultural identities of people all over the world, students will be less quick to judge others based upon their beliefs and more likely to embrace individuals of all faiths.

There are many resources available online for teaching about world religions. This topic can be a sensitive one, but when the right approach is taken, it’s an easy (and very important) one to teach!

Lesson Plans

• Academy 4SC : Find videos related to world religions at Academy 4SC, like The Ontological Argument: Existence as Perfection and Wisconsin v Yoder 1972 , among others. Teachers have access to resources like worksheets, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more included in each topic’s lesson plan. Explore Academy 4SC’s full library of applicable content under the tag World Religions .
• Taking a Closer Look at Religions Around the World : Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) has put together a lesson for educators teaching about world religions in order to promote religious tolerance. Learning about the history behind different faiths will help students to “better comprehend the reasons behind divergent national and international religious beliefs” and increase their “compassion and consideration for other people and faiths.” This lesson plan includes objectives, essential questions, materials, vocabulary, a suggested procedure, and an extension activity.
• Lesson Planning Ideas: The World’s Religions : education world provides information in mini-articles on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Baha’i. In addition, an outline on teaching about world religions in the classroom, including how to discuss diverse religions in the classroom, introductory information for students (which contains a pre-quiz of prior knowledge), discussion points and activities, an extension activity, and wrap-up/assessment options. This site is a great one to take a look at if you are looking to teach about religions that are less-widely discussed in the classroom!
• Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly – Access World Religions : PBS offers an abundance of resources from their television series Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly “to help students gain awareness and understanding of the diversity of religions and religious experiences, and the reasons for particular expressions of religious beliefs within a society or culture.” Resources include lesson plans and video clips on beliefs and practices, holidays and religious observances, religion in America, religious art and symbolism, and specific religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and more). 
• How to Teach About World Religions in Schools : This article starts off with discussing the negative consequences that can and have occurred if world religions, especially Islam, are taught in the wrong way in the classroom. The author then provides ten ways that teachers can include religion as part of their lesson plan, such as observing on field trips, having guest talks on religion, choosing textbooks and supplementary materials carefully, and being culturally sensitive to the religions practiced in your community.
• Teaching About Religion : neaToday published an article discussing how the State Board of Education and other associations recommend teaching about world religions, which includes utilizing primary sources and solely sticking to teaching facts about the belief systems of various religions. Information on the separation of church and state (the Pledge of Allegiance, Science-based Curriculum) and guidelines for teaching about religion are also provided. This piece is less about delivering facts on world religions and more about the concept of religion being taught in public schools in a neutral way.
• The Misplaced Fear of Religion in Classrooms : This article from the Atlantic focuses on the fear that many parents have about religion being taught in the classroom. After a quick introduction on the topic, the author interviews a woman who has had firsthand experience with feeling out of place in school because no one at her school with a Christian majority understood her Jewish faith. She contemplates whether her experience would have been different if her school had attempted to teach students about more than one religion. This article offers a new perspective on how students of various religions can be affected by their peers’ lack of understanding and the misplaced fears some adults have about religion being taught at their children’s schools.

Informational Sites

• World Religions Homework Help : This site has information on the six main religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism. The basic information provided on this page would be good for a webquest or to have students review for homework at their leisure.
• URI Kids – World Religions : The United Religions Initiative provides a quick introduction and information on Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other world religions and spiritual traditions. Details on how these religions began, their basic belief systems, and other facts related to their specific beliefs and values are included. For educators who are looking for a page of information to have their students look over before jumping into a lesson, this site is a good one to check out!

Teaching students about world religions may seem like a daunting task due to the controversy, but it is very important in order to promote a world of religious tolerance. The number-one thing to remember is that you are not trying to teach students world religions, but you are trying to teach them about world religions. Learning about the history and beliefs of religions is very different from promoting a specific belief system. Giving students the opportunity to gain an understanding of various religions will allow them to gain an understanding of the individuals who practice these religions. 

Additional Resources

• The Five Major World Religions : This video from Khan Academy about the five major world religions, which are Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, would be good to assign students for homework or as part of a classroom lesson plan. One of the most unique parts of this video is how it discusses the intertwined histories and cultures of these religions, rather than only teaching about them as separate entities.
• Resources | World Religions : The New York Times has put together a list of resources on world religions, including student opinion questions, learning network lesson plans, Times topics, and recent Times multimedia about religion and spirituality. A variety of different subject matters about world religions are discussed here, and reading or watching a few of the resources may help you when putting together a lesson plan.
• World Religions, Science, and Beliefs : The Pulitzer Center provides a two-part lesson plan on world religions, science, and beliefs. The lesson plan includes detailed directions and materials that will be key when prepping for the activities.

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Primary religious education resources

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With primary religious education resources from Tes, you have a huge range of teaching ideas and activities. Breathe new life into your religious education lesson plans for KS1 and KS2 with our unrivalled range of resources, materials and ideas, including: - World religions worksheets - Cultural activities - Games and flashcards And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Tes primary religious education resources will help give you fresh ideas for your lesson plans for Years 1 to 6. All Tes primary teaching resources are created by teachers, for teachers and have been successfully tried and tested in KS1 and KS2 classrooms.

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Christian Creation Story - Sequencing Cards

The Four Sights (Buddhism)

Revision Glossary : Christianity

RE KS1 Christianity unit of lessons

RE KS1 Christianity Easter story

RE KS1 Christianity place of worship belonging lesson bundle

Catholic Prayers - Holy Holy and Memorial Acclamation Lesson

Catholic Eucharist Lesson - Understanding that the Eucharist means being fed with Jesus.

Year 1 RE Enquiry 4: What does the cross mean for Christians?

Year 1 RE Unit of work for Enquiry 1: What do my senses tell me about the world of religion and beli

Year 1 RE Unit of work for Enquiry 2: How does a celebration bring community together?

Year 1 RE Unit of work for Enquiry 3: What do Jews remember on Shabbat?

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Religious Education (RE)

Religious education (RE) in primary schools is not part of the National Curriculum, but it is compulsory for all (maintained) primary schools to teach KS1 religious education  and KS2 religious education .

Non-denominational state schools, including academies and foundation schools, follow a 'locally agreed' RE syllabus put together by the local authority, reflecting the fact that Great Britain is traditionally Christian but taking into account the teaching and practices of other principal religions. Faith schools can devise their own RE syllabus in line with the teaching and practices of their religion or denomination. 

As well as information about how religion is taught in primary school, the Religious Education (RE) hub offers links to homework-help information about all the major world faiths : Christianity , Islam , Hinduism , Judaism , Buddhism , Sikhism , Confucianism and Shinto .

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Religion homework help for ks1 and ks2.

In primary school children are introduced to many different faiths. Religious Education (RE) aims to help develop pupils’ knowledge of the world's principal religious traditions and worldviews and promote tolerance and understanding.

TheSchoolRun's religion Homework Gnomes offer information, links, pictures, vidoes and activities about each of the world's major faith to help with at-home research and learning.

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