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SavannahYear 8
← Religion & Worldviews
Religion & WorldviewsEthics: right, wrong and reasons25 min★★ difficulty

Religious and Humanist answers compared

About a third of people in England and Wales now record no religion. Comparing a religious and a non-religious worldview carefully shows where they genuinely differ and where they largely agree.

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Compare religious and non-religious worldviews

Key learning points

  • • What Humanists say
  • • Where the real difference lies
  • • Comparing fairly

This lesson at a glance

  • 25 minutes
  • 16 parts to scroll through
  • 4 quick checks
  • Marked quiz at the end
  • Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

religiousnon-religiousworldviewshumanistsdifference

Scroll down — the lesson carries on below

Part 1 of 16 · Discover6%
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Watch & discover

Part 1 of 16

Watch first

Religious and Humanist answers compared

An English teaching video on this topic from ClickView. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.

In a nutshell

Compare religious and non-religious worldviews

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Learning cycle

Part 2 of 16

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · What Humanists say

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

3

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 16

Learn

What Humanists say

Humanism is a non-religious worldview. Humanists hold that this life is the only one we know we have, that morality comes from human reason and compassion rather than revelation, and that evidence should decide factual questions. Most also value meaning, ceremony and community — Humanist weddings and funerals exist.

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Explore the idea

Part 4 of 16

Learn

Where the real difference lies

The difference is usually about the source of authority, not the content of the ethics. 'Treat others as you would want to be treated' appears in Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Confucian and Humanist thought. Whether that principle comes from God or from human reasoning is the genuine disagreement.

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Quick check

Part 5 of 16

Quick check

Humanism is

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Quick check

Part 6 of 16

Quick check

Religious and Humanist ethics most often differ over

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Reset break

Part 7 of 16

Pause

That's sitting 1 of 2 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now
8

Learning cycle

Part 8 of 16

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Comparing fairly

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

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Explore the idea

Part 9 of 16

Learn

Comparing fairly

Pick one question — Why be kind? What happens after death? Who decides what is right? — and set out what each worldview says, with evidence, before comparing. Avoid presenting either side as obviously silly; an examiner can tell.

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Quick check

Part 10 of 16

Quick check

Which is a fair comparison sentence?

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Quick check

Part 11 of 16

Quick check

'Treat others as you would want to be treated' appears in

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Explore the idea

Part 12 of 16

Worked example

Worked example

Question 'Why be honest?' A Christian may answer that humans are made in God's image and honesty respects that, pointing to the commandment against false witness. A Humanist may answer that trust is what makes society work and dishonesty causes harm, pointing to how quickly a community breaks down without it. Both defend honesty; they differ on where the duty comes from.

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Challenge round

Part 13 of 16

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

14

Challenge round

Part 14 of 16

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

Humanism is a non-____ worldview.

____ hold that this life is the only one we know we have, that morality comes from human reason and compassion rather than revelation, and that evidence should decide factual questions.

The ____ is usually about the source of authority, not the content of the ethics.

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Mastery quiz

Part 15 of 16

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Religious and Humanist answers compared

4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

  1. 1. Humanism is

  2. 2. Religious and Humanist ethics most often differ over

  3. 3. Which is a fair comparison sentence?

  4. 4. 'Treat others as you would want to be treated' appears in

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Lesson round-up

Part 16 of 16

Lesson round-up

Ready when you are

Quiz score

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Games

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Points this lesson

0

Best run

0 in a row

Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?

Ask Luna

Do the work

Your written work for this lesson

This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.

Source

Two teachings on forgiveness

In Christian teaching, Jesus is asked how many times a person should forgive. He answers not seven times but seventy-seven — meaning forgiveness should not be counted at all. The Lord's Prayer links the two directions together: forgive us as we forgive others.

In Islamic teaching, one of the names of God is al-Ghaffar, the Ever-Forgiving. Muslims are taught that God's mercy is greater than any wrong a person can do, and that those who pardon others are closer to God than those who take revenge.

Both traditions distinguish forgiving from forgetting. A person may forgive and still expect justice, and may seek safety from someone who has harmed them.

Original paraphrases written for Good Learning Co.

Reading questions

  1. What does each teaching say about how far forgiveness should go?
  2. Explain how a believer might use one of these teachings after being hurt by a friend.
  3. "Forgiving someone means letting them off." Give two views on this and say which is stronger, with reasons.

  • Reading and response

    Reading

    Read the lesson text again — especially any scripture, story or quotation — then write what it teaches and how a believer would use it.

    2 paragraphs (PEE)

  • Extended writing

    Writing

    Answer the lesson's big question as an exam answer would: a clear view, a reason, a teaching or example as evidence, and a different view weighed against yours.

    250–350 words

  • Belief in your own words

    Writing

    Explain what this belief means and give one example of how it changes what people do.

    8–10 sentences

  • Different views

    Writing

    Write two different views on this question and say which you find stronger, and why.

    2 paragraphs

  • Symbol or belief diagram

    Diagram

    Draw the symbol, place of worship or idea from this lesson with labels explaining what each part means, then photograph it.

    1 labelled drawing

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