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.

This twelve-word crossword-puzzle, with Teacher's Notes and Helpful Hints, is designed to reinforce or revise the main Key-Words for the GCSE Religious Studies topic Matters of Life and Death. This resource includes * 2 versions of the crossword, * Teacher's Notes which include answers and hints - and a * Helpful Hints sheet which you may use to aid differentiation or as the alotted time is nearly up - to speed up completion. Ideal for use as a Starter Activity, part of a lesson introducing the Key Words, extension activity on this topic, homework or revision.

The Bible is a complex document. The very word means a library of books. What is it’s origin, how were the books chosen and when, Where does the Story of Creation appear and what genre of writing does it belong to? How do different Christians choose to interpret the Bible and why? Before we can even start to ask The Great God-Question, we need to ask all these questions and more. What is the relationship between Science and Religion. Exploring the God Question will help us understand. This is just the first slide in a series - exploring the God Question from different angles and religious perspectives. Who knows, it could even become another book!

In process - so far just the first crossword. Supporting files will be added soon.

Crossword using the Key Words and more from the old Unit 8: Religion and Society Based on a Study of Christianity and at Least One Other Religion Section 8.1: Religion: rights and responsibilities. While the spec has changed, the words found here are important to understand. My crosswords aid learning and revision of important concepts and words found at GCSE Level in RE. This one is also relevant for Citizenship and PSHE.

This 13-word Community Cohesion crossword, with Teacher's Notes and Helpful Hints, is designed to reinforce or revise the main Key-Words for the GCSE Religious Studies topic 1.4 Community Cohesion. This resource includes * 2 versions of the crossword, * Teacher's Notes which include answers and hints - and a * Helpful Hints sheet which you may use to aid differentiation or as the alotted time is nearly up - to speed up completion. Ideal for use as a Starter Activity, part of a lesson introducing the topic, extension activity, homework or revision. In addition to the required Key-Words, a small number of additional words relating to this topic have been included.

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew - Luke’s version is on a Plain - contains a distilation of Jesus’ teaching. It is focussed on Love. I am a Religious Education Specialist teacher - so when anyone reinforces their words with a quote from any scriptural source - from any of the religions - alarm bells sound for me. I have a very dear friend - Sri Akarshana - who gives daily Youtube videos to inspire and educate. I love the way he brings together the inner and the outer world, spirituality and materialism. But this morning he used a reference to The Sermon on the Mount - and I was inspired to investigate…

New Year Resolutions? Meditation, Conscious Breathing, Mindfulness and A Gratitude-Attitude. Part of an article I wrote for an online magazine about turning failure into success. The full article is shared as a paid resource for £5.00. There is a lot of material here to help in reducing stress, building resilience and increasing happiness - tried and tested, practical strategies which you can fit into your day. Since I retired I switched from teaching RE to working in Health and Wellbeing. I am keen to serve my wonderful colleagues. - so here is the first part free… A New Year has begun. Lots of people are talking about New Year’s Resolutions. The opportunity to make a fresh start is important – but it is not just restricted to New Year’s Day. Each day offers us the opportunity for a new beginning. Stress My work is all about reducing stress, building resilience and increasing happiness. I have developed a unique programme I call ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness’ which was in face to face workshops before 2020 but is now online. Most people know that a lot of stress is related to the thoughts we hold in our mind. Conscious Breathing is a strategy which gives our mind something positive and powerful to focus on. It is with us all the time. The outside situation may still be stressful. We may not be able to reduce the causes of our stress, but with this simple exercise, our mind can become our friend and ally instead of our chief tormentor. It’s like having an umbrella on a rainy day. The rain is still falling but we are not getting wet. In this case it is the mental exercise of consciously taking our mind away from our fears or negative mental chatter and directing it instead to our breath, then choosing to make our breath gentle, slow and deep. When we do that, our brain does not perceive the situation we are in as so alarming or dangerous anymore so stress is reduced and happiness increases. When we are in danger, our brain releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare us for fight and flight. This is called the Stress response. If we are in physical danger, it prepares us for immediate action. But if the source of stress is not physical – and keeps recurring, these hormones build up and can cause both physical and mental illness. That is called Chronic Stress and is one of the biggest causes of ill-health in the world today. But by using conscious breathing, because we have calmed our mind, our brain stays quiet. No stress response. Risk of Chronic Stress - eliminated. Feelings come and go Like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor. Thich Nhat Hanh

How to use Failure as a Springboard to Success What are your New Year Resolutions? Meditation, Conscious Breathing, Mindfulness and A Gratitude-Attitude. Powerful Strategies to Reduce Stress, Build Resilience and Increase Happiness. An experience on New Year’s Day inspired me to write an article for the online Magazine Elephant Journal. It is quite a comprehensive reflection on New Year Resolutions and what life is all about. One of the nicest responses I have had so far is an email from an American Coach and Educationalist. She writes - Your article is wonderful and so inspiring! I am working on a talk right now, and many of the ideas, quotes, and stories helped me think more clearly about what I’d like to say. It’s so easy to get caught in the net of horridness - due to the goings-on in the US right now… Part of my long response was this - My friend - thank you for the lovely response. I can hear your voice when I read your writings. It warms my heart each and every time. Thank you for the shared love and concern for our country. I pray that all will be well, that justice will survive, and that those responsible will pay for their wrong-doings. You may use my words for a testimonial - happy to help in any way. Thank you for the suggestion of James Corden - I love him and I will watch. Be well, get back to your news only in small doses, and keep doing the great work! Our world needs YOU! Big hugs, Regina Regina Carey, M.Ed. Empowerment Coach & Passion Instigator

The Easter Story - from The Last Supper to The Ascension The accounts from the Four Gospels are Aligned to highlight key events. I use this with KS3 or KS4. Dividing the class into groups, each group has one key event or episode from the story to turn into a short Drama. Each group performs their episode in sequence. I need to check this resource is complete and accurate but with Easter around the corner, I will share it now. years 4 to 6 in Primary school can use a similar approach but in their case, the teacher will need to create a simple outline from the Gospels which the children can then enact or read in sequence.

DurgaMata is a specialist Religious Education Teacher and a serious Spiritual Aspirant. She began practising meditation and mindfulness more than ten years before she qualified as a teacher, and she viewed teaching as part of her Spiritual Sadhana or Spiritual Journey. In this book she shares her strongly spiritual philosophy which informs everything she does. Her approach to life is heart-centred, an opportunity to grow in love and oneness. For her, teaching is an opportunity to see, love and serve what she calls God in the hearts of everyone. The God Question is one of the most challenging topics which we cover in Religious Education and DurgaMata shares some of her struggles and triumphs in the stories she shares here. There are some profound and moving poems and stories written by her pupils and a host of practical mindfulness strategies which you can enjoy. in addition to the stories, each page features an inspiring quotation, mounted on a colourful photograph from the world of nature. You are welcome to print these out and use for displays in your classroom and around the school.