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Webinar Series 2015 Secular world views How to handle non-religious views in the classroom. 4.00pm - 4.45pm Thursday 18 th June 2015 http://www.interfaithexplorers.com/webinars. www.interfaithexplorers.com. Supported by UNESCO
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Webinar Series 2015 Secular world views How to handle non-religious views in the classroom. 4.00pm - 4.45pm Thursday 18th June 2015 http://www.interfaithexplorers.com/webinars
www.interfaithexplorers.com • Supported by UNESCO • Helps pupils understand the world around them & respect cultural and religious diversity • Offers high quality cross-curricula resources to use with pupils at Key Stage 2 and those embarking on their Key Stage 3 transition • Supports core personal and social skills development as well as self-directed, exploratory learning • Promotes universal core values & the development of ethical thinking • Designed to compliment RE and PSHE teaching, alongside citizenship education
Webinars • Support teachers in their work around interfaith dialogue and RE; as well as PSHE and Citizenship learning in schools • Offers a space for teachers to come together and think about issues arising from classroom practice in these areas
Webinar Presenters • Claire Clinton • An experienced teacher within EYFS, Primary and Secondary education • She has over 20 years of classroom experience, and 16 years of advisory work at a national and local level • For the past 8-years has been the Religious Education Advisor for the London Borough of Newham • Paul Kaufman • Legal expert, chair of the East London Humanist group and member of the British Humanist Association; • Regularly undertakes school visits to discuss Humanism with pupils.
Session objectives • Demonstrate how secular world views support interfaith activities between pupils; • Understand the benefits of using secular world views in interfaith discussions with pupils; • Provide teachers with ideas to use in the classroom.
Secular world views in the UK • In 2011 England wales census results 25% of people said they had ‘no religion’
What are secular world views? “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people… the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than… religion.” Webster’s Dictionary
What is humanism? • Humanists: atheists who emphasise that they believe in human thought and action • Atheist: someone who does not believe in God • Agnostic: someone who does not believe that the existence of God can be proved or disproved • Secularism: a description of how a system runs without reference to God • Secular humanism is a comprehensive, non-religious life stance incorporating: • A naturalistic philosophy • A cosmic outlook rooted in science • A consequentialist ethical system (taken from: www.secularhumanism.org)
What do Humanists believe? • Anyone can live a good life without a religious belief • Humans just have one life to live, and should therefore make the most of this life • The world can be improved through logical thought and empathy • It is not good enough to be a happy human, rather we should also try to think of ways we can make everyone's life happy
Can you have morality without religion? • You don’t have to believe in God to know right from wrong • The best way to live is in a way that makes everyone happy • Live by the golden rule: ‘treat others the way you would like to be treated’
The Ten Commitments • Altruism • Caring for the world around us • Critical thinking • Empathy • Ethical development • Global awareness • Human rights • Peace and social justice • Responsibility • Service and participation Taken from ‘What is Humanism? By M. Rosen
Benefits of using secular world views in the classroom • It is an inclusive approach • It encourages empathy towards different ways of understanding the world • It challenges pupils to consider different answers to the same question, therefore making pupils think more critically
Classroom discussions about secularism • Go to the teachers resources section of the www.interfaithexplorers.com • View videos of Christians, Jews and Muslim people talking about their key beliefs, • Ask pupils to consider what someone who doesn’t believe in God would say about the belief/value • Use speculation skills • Using same, similar and different questions between religions and humanist beliefs
Useful resources • British Humanist Association website: • http://humanism.org.uk • www.humanismforschools.org.uk • Books: • ‘What is Humanism? How do you live without god?’ • Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young, £13.99 (ISBN: 9780750287739) • ‘The Young Atheists’ Handbook • Alom Shaha, £12.99 (ISBN: 101849543119)
Wrap up Any questions?
Contact us For further information about the webinar series and how Interfaith Explorers can support you visit: www.interfaithexplorers.com or contact Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Chief Executive Maimonides Interfaith Foundation rokhsana@maimonides-foundation.org