1. Problems with belief
Aim: To understand the problems and benefits associated with belief and young people.
Goal: To understand how religion can help a person find their meaning in life.
PLTS: Team worker

2. Religious belief in a secular society…
What are the problems of believing in religion in a secular society? ?

3. Keywords... Generation Gap
A difference between the views of young people and their parents.
Marginalisation
The social process of becoming or being isolated and left out
Peer Pressure
Influence exerted by friends on each other
Secular
Not religious

4. Issues for Religious Young People
There are a number of issues that may affect the wellbeing, beliefs and behaviour or a religious young person in Britain today.
Such as...
Generation gap
Marginalisation
Peer Pressure

5. Record your ideas in a spider diagram.
Generation Gap…
Used to describe the differences between the views of young people and their parents or elders.
This difference is usually down to different experiences, beliefs, opinions, habits and behaviour between age groups.
Team Task
Different interests in music, fashion and celebrities between generations can add to the generation gap. How many others things can you think of that may add to this gap?
Record your ideas in a spider diagram.

6. Music Fashion Politics Sex Drugs
Technology
Politics
Sex
The Generation Gap
Behaviour
Drugs
Attitudes to
Your culture
The importance
Of religion

7. Marginalisation…
Anyone who doesn’t fit into the ‘normal’ behaviour for any age group may be marginalised.
Marginalisation may include being teased or left out.
(For example, if a young person goes to Bible study on a Sunday morning whilst all their friends go to a Sunday football club, they may feel left out or marginalised.)

8. Peer Pressure….
This is the influence exerted by people of the same age to change a person’s attitude or belief to be the same as the group.
The person receiving this pressure may not want to do what the group is doing (e.g. Smoke, have sex before marriage, take drugs).
Peer pressure is not always negative; it can be a positive thing. (e.g. If you are friends with a group of hardworking, high achieving people, then you might be influenced in a positive way to do the same. This may improve your life.)

9. Positives of being religious in a secular society?
Use the following keywords to come up with ideas for why it might be a good thing to be religious as a young person.

10. Keywords...
Empowerment
An individual having the right to make their own choices and act on them.
Purpose
The goal of life and the reason for living
Brotherhood
People of similar beliefs regard themselves like brothers.

11. Empowerment and Purpose…
People have the right to choose to be religious (this is empowerment)
Those who wish to be part of a religion are encouraged to do so.
Those who get involved in religion may discover answers to their purpose in life and an explanation of why we are here.
Spirituality leads many people to believe they understand the mysteries of life. It may give their life an aim.

12. Brotherhood…
Belonging to a faith allows people to feel that they belong to a community or worldwide religion.
In Islam, this is known as brotherhood.
Wherever they go, they are likely to meet brothers and sisters of their faith.
There is an immediate bond between them because of the beliefs they share.

13. Key word quiz….
How many of the key terms can you remember? Write your answers on a piece of paper.
Guess the Key Term
Not religious
Feeling a sense of belonging with other like-minded people
The social process of being left out
Having the right to make your own choices
A difference in the views of young people and their parents.

14. Homework
‘Religion helps a young person find a real purpose in life.’ Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your opinion (6 marks) Complete some research on Richard Dawkins and his view on Faith schools