Formal Lesson Plan:

Reading
Religion
Bruce Lawrence

Objectives: Students will learn the names, believers, founders, building names and basic
beliefs of six of the major world religions.

Prerequisites: Students need to know general ideas of religion.

Level: Low Intermediate

Duration: 2 hours

Materials:
Intro to World Religions
Religion cards
Religion texts:
Animism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Empty chart

Set up: cut up pieces of each religion’s sheet, have intro sheet and empty chart for each
S, have one copy of the six religions to give to six different groups

Anticipated problems:
Some students will not have much interest in religion, so T should encourage them to
understand religion’s influence on their own culture.
Some groups might finish early so have them read their religion sheet in detail and
underline words they do not know.
Warm up:

<General Qs>
T: What did you do on the weekend?
Ss: Various answers
T: Did anyone go to church/a temple?
Ss: various answers

<Specific Qs>
T: What religion are you?
Ss: Various answers
T: Are your parents religious?
Ss: various answers

<Anecdote>
Yeah, when I was young, I went to church, but as a teenager, I got into some real trouble
and started to go a bad way. But then I had a real turn around and I became a strong
Christian. I rejected so many things in my own culture: drinking, seeking for a good job,
buying a house, etc. I became a missionary and I started travelling the world. Then I came
back to Canada and went to university and studied anthropology and religious studies.
Then I found I had been very narrow in my thinking. I realized that God must be much
bigger and wider than I thought he was before.

<Pre-reading>
Here is a short text about world religions. (Hand out Intro sheet)
Let’s read this together. (T reads first and others read in a circle one ‘S or ‘P at a time.)

Teaching:

<Vocabulary I>
T: So, what are some of the world’s major religions? (write “Religion” on board
Ss: Christianity/Buddhism/etc. (write the six major religions as Ss give them)
T: So if you believe in Christianity, what are you called? (write “Believer” on board)
(T elicits the rest of the headings)

<Vocabulary II>
T: So how do you ask “Believer/Building/etc”?
(T elicits these or similar Qs)

I Religion Believer Building Founder Symbol Basic beliefs

Animism II What do Where do Who is the What is the What are the
Hinduism you call a they founder of symbol of basic beliefs
Buddhism person who worship? Buddhism? Buddhism? of
Judaism believes in Buddhism?
Christianity Buddhism?
Islam
Main Activities:

I Collecting Data & Reading

<Instructions & example>

T: You are going get into six groups and choose one religion from the ones on the board.
(Let Ss get into groups and choose one of the religions through “rock, paper, scissors”)
Now you are going to collect all the information related to your religion.
For example, if I choose “Buddhism” I have to get the cards for Religion, Believer,
Building, Founder, Symbol, and Basic Beliefs.
(T passes out the cards randomly; some Ss might get 2)
Sometimes it will be hard to figure out which card belongs to which religion, but try your
best.
OK? Collect!

OK? Finished? Are you sure you got the right information?
To be sure here is a text on your religion. I want you to read it and make sure you got the
right information. Pay attention to the underlined words.
(T passes out religion sheets to respected groups)
(Ss read and make corrections if needed; T circulates and explains any unknown words)

II Filling in the chart

<Instructions & example>

T: OK, now that you know about your own religion, it’s time to learn about all the others.
Here is a chart which has all the categories on it. I want you to go around to the different
groups and write down the information they give you. And you fill up your chart.
For example I want to know about Buddhism, so I go to Sherpa’s group and I ask about
“believer”. How do I ask?
(T reviews how to ask and then passes out one Empty Chart to each S)
OK? Go!

<closure>
T: OK, Lilly, What do you call a person who believes in Buddhism?
Chun Lok, Where do they worship?
(fill up the chart on the board)

Wrap up

<Review Qs>
(T chooses a few religious words and asks review Qs)
What does … mean?
Can you use it in a sentence?
<Common errors>
What’s the difference between a “Christian” and “Protestant”?
What’s the difference between “Christian” and “Catholic”?

Contingency plan
Have students read the histories of religion out loud and underline difficult words.
Or do discussion Qs

Homework
Easy: Use five words from our vocabulary list in a sentence.
Difficult: Write a paragraph describing your religion.
 An Introduction to the Study of World Religions
The earliest known evidence of human religion is from Homo Sapiens
Neanderthalensis from around 100,000 years ago, and religion
continues to be a very influential aspect of modern human lives.

Today, there are numerous challenges and problems faced by humans

from every possible background, location and social class. Every day
people must face issues of health, safety and mortality. It is because of
these daily challenges that religion continues to exist. Religion is the
universal tool for explaining things which we do not understand.

Although there are countless religions, each different from the other,
they all serve the same purpose. Each answers questions which all
humans seem to be programmed to ask: Why are we here? What
happens when I die? How shall I live my life?

Religion helps us to transmit our values from one generation to another,

and influences the way we interact with the natural environment. It
teaches us how to see ourselves in light of the universe and gives
purpose and meaning to life.

With our global society, it is likely that in your lifetime you will meet
people from every corner of the planet. Understanding the religious
beliefs of these people is one of the many steps which humanity must
take in order to prosper together in peace.
Religion Believer Building Founder Symbol Basic beliefs
Animism

Hinduism

Buddhism

Judaism

Christianit

Islam
Religion Believer Building Founder Symbol Basic beliefs
Animism Animist None None totem spirits
souls
shamans

Hinduism Hindu Temple None Lily reincarnation

ohm caste
karma
Brahman
nirvana

Buddhism Buddhist Temple Sidharta The The Buddha

Godhama, Buddha
the Buddha The 4 noble truths
The eightfold path
Theravada
Mahayana

Judaism Jew Synagogue Moses The God

Star of Moses
David Torah
Messiah

Christianity Christian Church Jesus Christ The Jesus

cross Mary
Christmas
Easter
Bible

Islam Muslim Mosque Mohammed The star Koran

and Mohammed
crescent Allah
moon Five articles
Five pillars
 Basic Beliefs of Animism

In anthropology, animism can be considered to be the oldest form of

religion on Earth. So, there is no real founder. It is defined simply as
belief in the existence of spirits which can live in objects, people, or by
themselves. It dates back to the earliest humans and continues to exist
today in modern shamanism. It is characteristic of aboriginal and native
cultures, yet it can be practiced by any animist who believes in
spirituality but does not proscribe to any specific organized religion. So,
animists do not need any special building. The basis for animism is
acknowledgment that there is a spiritual realm in which humans can
participate. Humans possess souls which have life apart from bodies
before and after death. Also animals, plants and stars have spirits.

Animistic gods often are immortalized by mythology explaining the

creation of fire, wind, water, man, animals, and other natural earthly
things. Although specific beliefs of animism vary widely, similarities
between the characteristics of gods and goddesses and rituals practiced
by animistic societies exist. The presence of shamans (holy men or
women), visions, going into trances, dancing, sacred items, and sacred
spaces for worship, and the connection felt to the spirits of ancestors
are characteristic of animistic societies.
 Basic Beliefs of Hinduism

Hinduism is based on the concept of reincarnation, which states that

human and animal spirits come back to earth to live many times in
different forms. They belief that souls move up and down a hierarchy
depending on the behaviour they practiced in their life. Good or bad
behaviour produces karma. They have a caste system, which states that
each individual deserves to be in the social class they were born in. A
person is born into the highest class because they built up good karma
in a past life, and a person is born into poverty and shame because of
misbehaviour in a past life. Hinduism dates back to the Aryans in India
in 1500BC, therefore is it so old, it has no single founder.

Hindus believe in merging with Brahman (or the ultimate reality), finding
immorality, and reaching Nirvana (the peaceful escape from the cycle of
reincarnation).

The many religious documents include the Vedas (religious writings)

and the Upanishads (108 sacred teachings).

The Hindu paths to salvation include the way of works (rituals), the way
of knowledge (realization of reality and self-reflection), and the way of
devotion (devotion to the god that you choose to follow). The worship of
gods occurs in temples. If the practitioner follows the paths of these
ways, salvation can be achieved.
 Basic Beliefs of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama was born the son of a wealthy landowner in

northern India around 560 B.C. In order to achieve spiritual peace, he
gave up his wealth and became known as the Buddha, or "the
enlightened one". Buddhists worship in temples with statues of him.

The Four Noble Truths

The First is the existence of suffering. Birth, death, disease and old age are painful. Not
having what we desire is painful and having what we do not desire is also painful.
The Second is the cause of suffering. It is the craving desire for the pleasures of the
senses, for happiness and prosperity in this life and in future lives.
The Third is the ending of suffering. To be free of suffering one must extinguish this very
craving, so that no passion and no desire remain.
The Fourth leads to the ending of all pain by way of the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path

The first step is Right Views: believe the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
The second is Right Resolve: renounce the pleasures of the senses; do not harm.
The third is Right Speech: Do not lie, slander, abuse anyone, or indulge in idle talk.
The fourth is Right Behaviour: Do not destroy any living creature; take only what is
given to you; do not commit any unlawful sexual act.
The fifth is Right Occupation: Earn your livelihood in a way that will harm no one.
The sixth is Right Effort: Abandon any evil qualities from you, and strive to acquire and
perfect good qualities in you.
The seventh is Right Contemplation: Be observant, contemplative, and free of desire.
The eighth is Right Meditation: When you have abandoned all sensuous pleasures, all
evil qualities, both joy and sorrow, you must then enter the four degrees of meditation,
which are produced by concentration.

Theravada Buddhism is in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam,

etc.). They have four main books: Tripitaka (Three Baskets), Vinaya
Pitaka (discipline basket), Sutta Pitaka (teaching basket) and
Abidhamma Pitaka (metaphysical basket).

Mahayana Buddhism is in Northeast Asia (China, Japan, Korea, etc.).

They have no clear limits as to what should be admitted as scripture, so
thousands of writings on the topic have been admitted.
 Basic Beliefs of Judaism

Judaism is a monotheistic religion which believes that the world was

created by a single, all-knowing God, whose Torah (or Law) for human
behaviour was revealed to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sainai.
Jews, or Jewish people, read the Torah and worship in synagogues all
over the world.

Statement of Faith
1. The Creator has made, does make, and will make all things.
2. The Creator is our God, who was, and is, and will be.
3. The Creator is not a body, and that He is free from all the properties of matter.
4. The Creator is the first and the last.
5. People must pray only to the Creator.
6. All the works of the prophets are true.
7. Moses was the chief of the prophets
8. The Torah that was given to Moses is the Law.
9. This Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be any other Law.
10. The Creator knows every action and thought of men and the children of men.
11. The Creator rewards those that keep His commandments and punishes those that
transgress them.
12. The Messiah will come to the Jews as the final prophet of God.
13. There will be a revival of the dead.

Three Branches of Judaism

These are the three branches of Judaism which form the framework for
the type of lifestyle and beliefs of Jewish individuals:

Orthodox-
Traditionalists who observe most of the traditional dietary and
ceremonial laws of Judaism
Conservative-
Do not hold to the importance of a Jewish political state, but put more
emphasis on the historic and religious aspects of Judaism
Reform-

The liberal wing of Judaism, culture and race oriented with little
consensus on doctrinal or religious belief
 Basic Beliefs of Christianity

The central figure in Christianity is Jesus (or the Christ), a Jew who
came into this world to a virgin named Mary. His birth is celebrated at
Christmas, in churches and cathedrals with hymns and gift giving. He
was not only man, but also the son of God and lived his life without sin.

During his lifetime, Jesus performed many miracles and spoke to many
people about his father in heaven. He was arrested for claiming to be
God's son and was hung on the cross by the Romans at age 33.
Christians believe that the suffering and death upon the cross which this
sinless man endured paid for the sins of all mankind, and because of
Jesus' actions, salvation can be achieved by anyone who believes in
him.

Following his death, Christians believe that he rose from the grave
(celebrated at Easter) and returned to the earth, appearing to his
followers and telling them of the kingdom of God. He also promised his
disciples that he would return one day to bring all believers with him to
that heaven, to enjoy eternal life in the presence of God.

Christians can read of the life of Jesus, as well as his ancestors in the
only Christian holy text, the Bible. It consists of the Old Testament
(which is also considered sacred to Judaism and Islam) and the New
Testament. The Old Testament tells of the lives of Jews and others who
lived before Jesus, who had been promised a messiah, or saviour, by
God, and were waiting for him. This text contains many stories about
people demonstrating faith in God and also provides historical
information about the era. The New Testament is unique to Christianity,
for it centers around the figure of Jesus and his effect on the world.
Christians believe that Jesus is the one that the Old Testament foretold,
so instead of looking for a messiah, they await the return of Jesus so
that he can take them to heaven.
 Basic Beliefs of Islam

The basis for Islamic doctrine is found in the Qur'an (Koran). It is the
scripture of Islam, written by Muhammad and his disciples as dictated
by the Angel Gabriel. It alone is infallible and without error. For Muslims,
the Qur'an is the word of God, and he carrier of the revelation of
Muhammad, the last and most perfect of God's messengers to mankind.

There are five articles which all Muslims are expected to believe:

1. God. There is one true God and his name is Allah.

2. Angels. Angels exist and interact with human lives. Each person has two angels
who record his actions; one records good deeds, the other bad deeds.
3. Scripture. There are four inspired books, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of
David, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Qur'an.
4. Prophets. God has spoken through numerous prophets: Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Muhammad is the last and greatest.
5. Last Days. On the last day those who follow Allah and Muhammad will go to
Islamic heaven, or Paradise. Those who do not will go to hell.

There are five pillars of faith which are duties each Muslim must
perform.

1. Creed - One must state, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the
Prophet of Allah." publicly to become a Muslim.
2. Prayer - Prayer must be done five times a day within the mosque.
3. Almsgiving - Muslims are legally required to give one-fortieth of their income to
the needy.
4. Fasting (Ramadan) - During the holy month of Ramadan, faithful Muslims fast
from sunup to sundown each day.
5. Pilgrimage - Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least
once in their lifetime if they are able.

A sixth religious duty associated with the five pillars is Jihad, or Holy
War. This duty requires that if the situation warrants, men are required
to go to war to defend or spread Islam. If they are killed, they are
guaranteed eternal life in Paradise.
 Discussion Questions

1. Are you a religious person? Why or why not?

2. Why do you think religion exist?

3. Is it getting more or less popular? Why?

4. Do you think religion will disappear? Why or why not?

5. What is the oldest religion?

6. Do you think religion is helpful or harmful to society? Why?

7. There are many religions, but these six are the biggest? Why?

8. What is the basic difference between Eastern and Western religion?

9. other

10. other