I am uploading it for other RE teachers to share and perhaps discuss. The email is mostly about the importance of RE and the English Bacc but covers some other subjects too, I feel passionately concerned about the current threat to RE posed by its exclusion from the English Bacc so I am happy for others in Management and Governors etc to read this. And please never give up the fight.

the first article is from the BBC website and relates to the banning of Gay marriage in Anglican churches. I aim to add more. Please send me a pm if you have any good links.

A sweeping reflection on life which explores and celebrates the beauty and mystery of of our planet, introducing a range of concepts from different religions and world views. In art and music it may stimulate composition. The origins are in RE where the poem emerged from my struggle to get year 10 to engage with the question of God in a serious way - it was movingly effective - but I want to include the questions of suffering and evil and still struggle with this, to keep it a poem and not a book! I hope to publish eventually but do use it as a basis for discussion or creative response.

There are plans to sell off our national heritage forests. There is a growing campaign to stop it. This is a good project to involve all schools in as it has tremendous value as a cross-curricular subject and also relates to the health and well-being of the students, school, local and national community, As this falls within my remit as a Community Cohesion and Religious Education consultant I have collected some material on the subject and if any school would like an assembly or presentation to suit your age / sector / requirements I am available. Contact me on dcbluelotus@gmail.com.

Parts 1 - 4 are here. 3 also part 7 is up. parts 3, 4 and 7 are not yet finalised. see also Exploring Religion Conversation/Introduction - about 4 resources further on,145 slides you can use over 10 weeks, up to and including an 'activity&' each week. &';part 3 A Quest for Truth.' explores many concepts including science and religion and the great Eternal Questions + a section on poetry and symbolism with 10 selected poems. ? before or after part 4, the Religio / Relationships episode. This is a work still in progress and I would appreciate feedback.

I'm sharing this to give others who want to write some ideas. I have tried to cover as much as I can here - in my original letter of 28th May - which is probably too much - but others may like to take some of the points to use in their letters. Still no answer about RE and the Bacc so I'll continue to share any correspondence resulting from this email the MPs 'campaign.' It may be of interest to post 16 / KS4 Citizenship and RE Thanks DurgaMata

This is my favourite of all my sisters songs - and one of the earliest. She composed it at Christmas, in Bethlehem, in 1967 - where tourists pushed and shoved to get to the 'spot where Jesus was born&' and haggled over souvenirs - while snow fell on freezing streets and soldiers arrested her black African colleague and interrogated him three times that day. It is a powerful and moving meditation on the real meaning of Christmas. For the CD &';All Shall Be Well' original songs of peace, of winter and of Christmas, contact - 'Jill Slee Blackadder' <Jill.blackadder@btinternet.com>,

Songs by teacher Jill Blackadder - sheet music and CD from 'Jill Slee Blackadder' <Jill.blackadder@btinternet.com>, The song I've used most in RE here is &'It&';s Christmas, get cracking' which is a great and humorous way of introducing an exploration of the tensions between our pagan &'yule&'; festival of feasting and indulgence which celebrates the return of the physical sun - lengthening days and hopes of spring to come - in mid-winter and the Christian celebration of the arrival of the Son, the spiritual sun or Light of the World.

Continuation of my Meditation Blog. This started on 28th September in New York and ends on 30th October back in England. I have some notes in my diary which still need to be written up to include in this so I will add a few more files over the next few days. Some friends say I should edit the whole record and make it into a book!!! Well we will see about that.

Max files are 20. I just added a recent article (2014) and my own views + suicide by doubling up with another file. But there are many other important perspectives. Do give me a message about inspiring or helpful articles etc. so I can include them here too. The three autobiographical accounts are taken from the Courage website - testimonials section. I have listed most docs as 'guide&' to use as sources or extension material. However Jeremy Marks statement of apology is concise enough to use directly with KS4 classes and raises many interesting points. Lots on Euthanasia too.

lots of info and contact details for this conference. RE empowers our students, offering an opportunity to understanding themselves. others, society and the world we live in. RE opens minds and gets our young people thinking more deeply. It helps to create a good ethos in the school - an ethos that welcomes and celebrates diversity rather than fearing it. Good RE can also challenge the kind of attitude and behaviour which was exemplified in the riots and can lead to gangs and violence. Support RE. Take part in this conference!

Some info about Interfaith week and how it is being celebrated I'll add more later.

In response to a thread asking for suggestions of films about Islam, I suggest the 1970's film Message and the Bolywood movie My Name is Khan (2010) Responding to comments about East is East I give some background about the original play which was taken as the basis for the film but mutilated in the process. I hope to watch West is West and will review that when I do. Suggestion s of other films which explore or give insight into Islam and particularly British Muslim experience would be welcome. I will add any suggestions that other teachers may make.

Not been near internet for a few days, so here is a bit of the backlog In haste and best wishes for the second half of term. If you'd like me to come into school as a visiting speaker or to give any kind of support that might be helpful please send me a pm. I'm still giving my time free and just ask for travel expenses All the best DMC

This is a resource to get classes thinking about many things - the meaning of life, what makes people happy, travel, taking risks and safety, what is pilgrimage? what makes our lives fulfilled? who and what is important to us? Who are the Sufis and how do they fit into the wider picture of Islam and more...

This is a list of schools that teach the OCR Buddhism unit at AS / A'level. There is also a resource list. I will add to both of these as I get more info. The aim is to help those who are teaching this to present it in a lively and engaging way and prevent it becoming dry and boring. (This is in direct response to a request for help on the RE forum.)

articles and info relating to Religious Education and the effects of the Ebacc. Many MP's are on our side.

It's great to find inspiring figures to share with our classes - especially those which come from other religions and cultures than Western white Christian ones. This is a great one Supporters are putting his name forward for a Nobel Peace Prize. I feel this is absolutely justified and have created these files from info found about him on Wikki and his own website. The quote which appears on each page of his website is that 'no religion is higher than humanity' which I think would make a good addition to the wall of any classroom.

So far there are just some good youtube links here..... More resources now added. Do let me know if you know of any not included here and if you have any way of getting the Malcom Muggerage TV documentary Something Beautiful For God which I used to use in teaching. the resources I found include a film made about Mother Teresa's life in 2003 which is really good. This is my 100th resource and I am really happy that it is about such a special person.

One of the most respected and prolific of speakers and writers about religion and spirituality - Deepak Chopra is also quite a controversial figure because traditional science is not able to cope with his radical philosophy. He qualified as a convensional doctor but went on to explore other forms of healing. I include a biography from Wikki here which includes the controversy, and many good youtube links. There are lots more but this is all I have time to research at the moment. good material to use with GCSE or A'Level classes.