OSAMA BIN EVERYWHERE: THE MANY FACES OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

4. Objective: To explore whether religion unites or divides people (RE, Peace Education, Citizenship)

Introduction

Explain that you want the class to think about the ways in which people can be brought together by religion and the ways in which religion separates them. Make it clear (including in faith schools) that you will value and respect the perceptions of children of all religions, including those with no faith.

Show the children the film – or at least the first part of the film.

Activity

Divide the class into groups of four or five students, trying to achieve a mix of ethnic and religious backgrounds in each, if this is possible and appropriate to your school. Give each group a card with a pair of true but contradictory statements or genuinely held beliefs on them, such as:

• 'Love your neighbour' is one of the main teachings of most of the world's religions.
• Many of the world's conflicts are between people of different religions who find it impossible to live close to each other.

• People should keep their religious views to themselves.
• People should try to convert others to their religious beliefs.

• The world would be a more peaceful place if there were no such thing as religion.
• The world needs religion to teach people how to live peacefully together.

Tell each group to discuss the statements on their card. They should appoint one person to take notes of the main points of the discussion. The groups should be asked to think not just about whether they agree or disagree with one statement or the other but about the impact of the statements on how people behave towards each other.

Plenary

Ask the note-takers to report on the main points of the discussion in their group. Open this up into a wider discussion about whether religion is more likely to unite people or divide them, asking the students to justify their points with examples from real life.