World Religions

What is religion?

Belief is a state of the mind when we consider something true even though we are not 100% sure or able to prove it. Everybody has beliefs about life and the world they experience. Mutually supportive beliefs may form belief systems, which may be religious, philosophical or ideological.

Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. Many religions have organised behaviours, clergy, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, congregations of laity, regular meetings or services for the purposes of veneration of a deity or for prayer, holy places (either natural or architectural), and/or scriptures. The practice of a religion may also include sermons, the commemoration of the activities of a god or gods, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. However, there are examples of religions for which some or many of these aspects of structure, belief, or practices are absent.

Religions and other belief systems in our environment have an influence on our identity, regardless of whether we consider ourselves religious or spiritual or not. At the same time, other parts of our identity, our history, and our approach to other religions and groups considered "different" will influence how we interpret that religion or belief system.

Extract from Council of Europe COMPASS manual for human rights education with young people

"

As we grow in our consciousness, there will be more compassion and more love, and then the barriers between people, between religions, between nations will begin to fall. Yes, we have to beat down the separateness.

Ram Dass

"

Programme ideas

Squirrels

Finding out about world religions

There are some really nice things you can do with Squirrels to help them develop a greater understanding of why we believe in ourselves, others, and religion. Try these activities either in small groups or as a whole section:

  • Share and talk about people who are important to them and why.

  • Learn songs or dances from different religions

  • Take part in a party for a religious festival

  • Listen to stories from different religions

Remember, this is not about converting to a religion, but to learn about religions and the people who believe in them.

Beavers, Cubs & Scouts

Interacting with different communities

One way to understand faith or culture is to step into someone else's shoes and visit the place they practice it.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/interacting-with-different-communities/

Beavers & Cubs

Part of the Family

Host a The Jungle Book-themed Scout’s Own to explore different types of families and what it means to be a part of them.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/part-of-the-family

Faith Feathers

Explore how a member of a world religion puts their faith into action, and create faith feathers for a paper bird.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/faith-feathers/

Cubs

Where am I?
Play a guessing game with a faith-focused twist to help you decide which place of worship you'd like to visit.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/where-am-i/

Scouts

Festival Display

Make an annual festivals display board showing festivals across the different faiths practised in our country. The Scouts might need to do some research first, so you may need to gather up some books, magazines, posters and other resources for them to use. You'll also need display materials and objects to be included in the display. Scouts might want to make the display interactive - you can do this easily by having things like flip-up question and answer cards, feely boxes, and spaces where readers can leave comments or ideas.

Explorers

Collect and debate

Hold a debate, 'Why do some people have religious beliefs and what differences might these make to their lives?

Ask Explorers to collect current news cuttings for a month or more on the topic of religion (they could ask family and friends to help). Explorers can then use them to make a display or scrapbook. Let the unit analyse them to see what topics they related to e.g. education, legal, appearance and dress issues, political correctness, racial, blasphemy, faith schools, international, family matters, events and festivals etc). Is it good news? bad news? fair, objective reporting? Debate: Are the media a creative or destructive force in interfaith harmony? Do they reinforce prejudice and stereotypes or do they celebrate religious diversity?

Badge links

World Faith

(Cubs, Scouts)

(My) Faith

(Beavers, Cubs, Scouts)

Let's Celebrate Squirrels

Team Leader

(Cubs)

(My/Our) World Challenge

(Beavers, Cubs, Scouts)

interfaithweek.org

Inter Faith Network UK

Fun & Games

Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs

Shavout Celebrations

Celebrate the Jewish festival of Shavout, which usually falls in May, with one of the following activities:

  • make plaited challah loves

  • make a shelter outside decorated with natural objects

  • make a table decoration using flowers and fruits.

Cubs

Party Planning Pandemonium

Can you match the item or tradition to the celebration? Learn about religious festivals in this fast-paced game.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/party-planning-pandemonium/

Scouts and Explorers

Religion Quiz

Hold a quiz about different faith traditions and beliefs. You can find quizzes at Education Quizzes - https://www.educationquizzes.com/ks2/religious-education/ or if your Scouts have their phone with them, you could go in teams to play quizzes on Kahoot - https://kahoot.it/


Feed my beliefs

Have a go at making and trying a range of different foods linked to different faith traditions. Make sure you include food allergies in your risk assessment. There are lots of ideas at All About Cuisines - https://www.allaboutcuisines.com/festive-recipes/religious