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Religion Matters

Religion Matters

Webpage managed by Tim Hall, Ph.D. focused on K-16 education for #religiousliteracy, #religiousdiversity, #religiousfreedom, #globalcompetence

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Educator Resources

General Policy Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in Schools

 

  • American Academy of Religion: Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K-12 Schools
  • American Academy of Religion: Religious Literacy Guidelines for College Graduates
  • First Amendment Center: Finding Common Ground
  • National Council for the Social Studies: Position Statement on the Study about Religions in the Social Studies Curriculum
  • National Council for the Social Studies: Religious Studies Companion Document to the C3 Framework
  • Society of Biblical Literature: Bible Electives in Schools A Guide
  • Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Schools

Teaching about Buddhism

  • Armstrong, Karen, Buddha
  • Gethin, Rupert, The Foundation of Buddhism
  • Keown, Damien, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction
  • Michie, David, Buddhism for Busy People: Finding Happiness in a Hurried World
  • Mitchell, Donald, Introducing the Buddhist Experience 
  • Tenzin, Chogel, The Life of the Buddha
  • The Dalai Lama, An Introduction to Buddhism
  • The Pluralism Project at Harvard University webpage, Introduction to Buddhism
  • Yetunde, Pamela Ayo and Cheryl A. Giles, eds. Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism can Teach us about Race, Resilience, Transformation and Freedom

Teaching about Christianity

 

  • “A History of Christianity,” Written by Diarmaid MacCulloch, 2009
  • The Bible and its Influence: The Bible Literacy Project
  • Religious Literacy Project: Christianity
  • Crash Course: Christianity
  • National Geographic: Christianity 101
  • National Geographic: Protestant Reformation
  • Owen Chadwick, A History of Christianity
  • Linda Woodhead, Christianity: A Very Short Introduction

Teaching about Hinduism

 

  • HAF Hinduism 101
  • Learn about Hinduism and Karma/Have a Little Faith
  • Introduction to Hinduism (Oprah’s Belief Series)
  • Sarah Conover, Katha Sagar: An Ocean of Hindu Wisdom for Every Age
  • Phil Goldberg, American Veda
  • “Sanjay Superteam“ Directed by Sanjay Patel, 1995
  • Religious Literacy Project: Hinduism
  • Sabrina D. MisirHiralall, Confronting Orientalism: A Self-Study of Educating Through Hindu Dance
  • Sabrina D. MisirHiralall, Hinduism through Dance: YouTube Channel

Teaching about Islam

 

  • WHFUA – World History for Us All website
  • Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs – Knowledge resources on five major world religions and religious issues in world today.
  • Unity Productions Foundation – Documentary films and teaching resources on Islam.
  • NEH/ALA Bridging Cultures Bookshelf – Support materials for learning about Muslim societies and religion over time.
  • Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies
  • Islamic Networks Group (ING) – Lessons for world religions/history
  • Crash Course: Islam, Quran, and the Five Pillars
  • National Geographic: Mecca
  • Religious Literacy Project: Islam
  • K-14 Education Outreach: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies Georgetown

Resources for Teaching about Ramadan

  • “Fact Sheet on Ramadan” with reference to websites and children’s/teen activities that you can use in your teaching
  • 21 Children’s Books about Ramadan and Eid – find read-aloud stories online!
  • PBS Column: How teachers can support students during Ramadan
  • We are Teachers: 9 Ways to Support Students During Ramadan
  • Resources for teaching about Ramadan and Eid from Teaching Tolerance
  • 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Ramadan (ABC News)

Teaching about Judaism

 

  • George Robinson, Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs
  • Raymond Scheindlin, A Short History of the Jewish People: From Legendary Times to Modern Statehood
  • Doris Bergen, The Holocaust: A Concise History
  • Rabbi Sacks on the Mutation of Antisemitism
  • Religious Literacy Project: Judaism
  • “Fiddler on the Roof,” Directed by Norman Jewison, 1971.

Teaching about Sikhism

 

  • The Kaur Foundation
  • Sikh Kid to Kid – Student-friendly site on Sikhism
  • Eleanor Nesbit, Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction

Textbook Resources for the PK-5 Classroom

 

  • Mary Pope Osborne, One World, Many Religions
  • Laura Butler, A Faith Like Mine
  • Huston Smith, The Illustrated World’s Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions
  • Tanenbaum: Recommended Reading for Preschool & Elementary Students
  • Religion Matters: Textbook Resources for the PK-5 Classroom

Textbook Resources for the 6-12 Classroom

 

  • Karen Armstrong,  A History of God: the 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
  • Jeffrey Brodd, World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery
    • highly recommended as 9-12 classroom textbook
  • Jeffrey Brodd, Primary Source Readings in World Religions
    • highly recommended as 9-12 classroom textbook
  • Christopher Dawson, Progress and Religion: An Historical Inquiry
  • Christopher Dawson, Enquiries Into Religion and Culture
  • James Fieser, Scriptures of the World’s Religions
  • Richard Holloway, A Little History of Religion
  • Amir Hussain, Roy C. Amore, and Willard Gurdon Oxtoby, A Concise Introduction to World Religions, 3rd Edition
  • Philip Jenkins, Crucible of Faith: The Ancient Revolution That Made Our Modern Religious World
  • Jacob Neusner, Religious Foundations of Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
  • Philip Novak, The World’s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions
  • Huston Smith, The Illustrated World’s Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions
  • Huston Smith, The World’s Religions

Key Texts on Teaching about Religion in the Classroom

Professional Development on Teaching about Religion in the Classroom

 

  • Freedom Forum Institute: Religious Freedom Center – Free online professional development on teaching about religion in the classroom.
  • Religion and Public Life .ORG – A clearinghouse of professional development on religious literacy, diversity, and freedom 
  • World Religions Through Their Scriptures @ EdX – Examines the function of religion in historical and contemporary societies through religious scripture traditions. (Free)
  • Harvard Divinity School: Religion and Public Life – Offers a variety of professional development opportunities for educators including a summer institute.

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