This document talks readers through a range of important topics, offering questions and activities at intervals for an interactive learning experience. Arising from concern about the rise in racism since Brexit and the fact that many in RE are non-specialists and may feel ill-equipped to explore complex and controversial topics like these I have drawn on my own experience of teaching RE to offer this resource. I aim to develop this, expanding it to introduce the major religions and adding illustrations, games and more related activities - but even in this form I hope RE teachers and teachers from many other subjects may find it helpful next term - especially with KS3.

Hi guys, I have been working with the Duke of Edinburgh team for the past two weeks, no access to computer or internet but a lot of great experiences with our fantastic students. We had three groups of four to six in a group and all succeeded in passing Silver - tremendous transcendence and experiences of going beyond despair, The weakest group ended up the best! This essay is an account of what I did when the minibus left, taking the students back to London. Hopefully inspire some discussion and reflection, As always, do give feedback. And have a great Summer Holiday.

based on Buddhist loving-kindness meditation, honed in class, good with all ages. Prepare it first by reading through aloud, adding pauses and extra detail to lengthen, reducing detail to shorten. In haste will add more later do give feedback please if you use DMC

1) an article relating to racism and religious intolerance. 2) about the Royal Christening/Baptism a compilation of articles and comments about them. 3) about spirituality being on the rise despite a decline in religious practice. 4) doing Church without God. A new atheist/secular movement bases its meetings on traditional church services. 5) Mo Ansar and Tommy of the EDL + documentary-link. I would appreciate any suggestions which you may find - to make this resource stronger and more useful.

Here is info about the Taise Community and how to take a group there. Certain weeks are specially designed for school groups. I have wanted to organise a trip to Taise for years. They recommend groups of age 15 and over to come for a full week. They ask for one adult per five students. So if you do plan to take a group and are short of adults, contact me! I'd love to come.

My sister Jill Blackadder is a teacher in the Shetland Islands. She has been writing songs since childhood. They are spiritual and inspiring. You can contact Jill to obtain sheet music and the CD by emailing her directly - 'Jill Slee Blackadder' <Jill.blackadder@btinternet.com>, 'God's Colours&' is particularly popular, relates to Community Cohesion and RE good for all ages. All Shall Be Well is a more solemn meditation on life - all profits from CD sales go to charity. please give feedback and rating if you use this

This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. The BBC celebrated this event with a special day during which significant passages were read. I did my best to download them all as they can be used as a great resource when introducing the Bible or teaching Christianity - especially GCSE and A level These files relate to the Old Testament. Do make a comment or give some rating if you use any of my resources as it helps me to know what is useful and others to find the resources they need.

All songs from CD 'All Is Well' by Jill Blackadder, Shetland Primary teacher. For CD and Sheet Music Email 'Jill Slee Blackadder' <Jill.blackadder@btinternet.com>, Christmas Spell uses the letters in the word Christmas to explore its theme, Peerie Doo (Little Dove in &'Shetlandese&';) is a counting song about the nativity. In 'Wha&'s faa&';n asleep by the Christmas Tree?' a family prepare for Christmas. These songs are sung by Shetland children and great with Primary + encourage discussion with older students.

This is a series of 14 slides depicting Jesus as Native American or Australian Aboriginal. It is in process as many images are not the right shape for a ppt slide so I will have to adjust them in Adobe. But it does give a great idea of the way that Christians everywhere think of Jesus as their Brother, as their Friend, His divine aspect is beyond the confines of one time or place, one nation or race.

copy of the article (Express 27th Nov 2011) which reported on starvation in Britain - over 100,000 people going hungry at the moment and the way that charities are giving food parcels to many of them. Also info about The Trussel Trust - one such charity, with contact details for London. Updated with four more links including an article from the Independent 16th Oct 2013. The use of Food Banks has tripled this year. Massive suffering is being caused by the gov'ts changes to the benefit system and increasing numbers trapped with low pay and cost of living rising.

An excellent article about the so called charity 'Operation Christmas Child&' and the way it is actually a cover for the most right-wing American Evangelism. Marketed to schools all over the UK, the gifts provided by schools for needy children around the world are sent with evangelical material and these leaflets are regarded as the &';real gift' by the organisation - which celebrates those who are converted to Christianity as a result. An article warning schools about the project but also a good one to use with older classes when exploring prejudice and Fundamentalism.

An overview of Quakers and some of the important issues that they take a stand on - Peace, Simplicity, The Environment etc. A great denomination to use to highlight the diversity that exists within one religion. Quakers also don't have the outer sacraments as they take the view that all of life is sacramental and the outer sacraments invite hypocrisy.

Sri Ramakrishna lived in the 19th Century. Here I have given some insight into those who recorded his message as well as a brief selection of quotations including where he explains how God can be both Infinite, Transcendent and Impersonal AND personal and finite. Another model he uses is of the waters of a lake. Travellers approach from different directions, passing through totally different terrains, but when they bathe in the waters the waters are the same. (Different religions are like the different journeys - but the goal of all is the experience of God.

Responding to comment about the Gospels being contradictory, my answer outlines some of the different ways of interpreting the Bible in general – Fundamentalist, Liberal and Conservative perspectives, applied to the story of Creation, the science/religion debate and the issue of Gay Marriage.

Some initial ideas for engaging our pupils with these two important topics. I will add to these but at least this will help you start thinking of ways to engage with your pupils' own life experience and be able to learn from what the religions teach about these subjects. just came on here to add a file and found this is not downloading! Not surprising then to have a bad rating. I will try to put this right.

The first file here tells the story of Jim Jones and his Temple which ended up in Guyana, with over 900 people dead. The second file is an excellent article about why RE is important. Next, The Nature of Love, can be used as a GCSE/post 16 revision aid. I include it here as it relates to what I have written about engaging students in the 4th file. The fourth file is an example of the way that good RE really can make a difference. Happy Christmas everyone.

Most of these relate to the conflict between Israel and Palestine - the 'Gaza Crisis&' of July-August 2014. A separate resource is being prepared relating to individuals and organisations which are working towards Peace and Reconciliation. please let me know of any resources you find that may help inform our classes about the conflict in the Middle East - aiming for a greater understanding of the issues underlying both sides of the conflict and pointing towards hope + enduring peace.

Hi Guys, I'm giving a workshop on this topic at a Teachmeet next week and they asked for resources that could be shared by participants afterwards. I have tried to think the subject through onto a Power Point and this is the result. I think it will be helpful and as always would love some feedback. I would use Tyger Tyger shining bright and selected poems and texts from different cultural and religious sources. So please send me a pm with some of those you find insightful. Thanks Love and Peace DurgaMata

selected sections from Elaine Morgan's website, related to the Aquatic Ape Theory which she championed in her book The Descent of Woman. Many features of human beings suggest that we evolved for many millennia as a shore-dwelling species, and are strongly adapted to living in water. this is related to the Story of Adam and Eve. Woman was tempted by the snake (male organ) and offered her apple (fruitfulness) Man took it. (when approaching from the back became difficult he had to take the fruit by force - ie rape is the original sin...

There are over 20,000 Christian Denominatins This first list gives some of the main ones. I will add to this with some basic info about them. I've added some diagrams showing the way that the denominations branched out from Catholicism and the denomination tree.