BRINGING BIG IDEAS TO LIFE: MEDIUM TERM PLANNING
The bridge between the Big Idea and the substantive knowledge is the topic-related question.
Schools should interpret the following ‘pupils know and understand’ sections in relation to the religions / worldviews they have chosen to teach for this age-group. These decisions will reflect the national legal requirement and any local or denominational requirements.
Topic-related Questions and Learning Objectives for Ages 14-18
BI 4: MAKING SENSE OF LIFE’S EXPERIENCES: AGE-RELATED BIG IDEA FOR AGES 14-18
Some claim that consciousness is the distinguishing feature of being human and speak of human ‘spirituality’. Some people regard their spirituality as the inner personal dimension of being religious, while others see themselves as spiritual rather than religious because they do not identify with traditional religious institutions or beliefs. There are also people who do not identify with religion or spirituality. Membership of groups with whom they share beliefs, values and traditions often gives people a heightened sense of awareness, mystery, identity and belonging, and brings about a transformation in their lives.
| Topic-related question | Pupils know and understand: |
| 1. What is meant by ‘human spirituality’? | i. contrasting theories, religious and non-religious, about the nature of human spirituality. |
| 2. What do people mean when they say that they have had a spiritual experience? | i. contrasting accounts of spiritual experience: a. numinous (e.g. Isaiah; Rudolph Otto) b. conversion (e.g. Angulimala; St Paul; Davey Falcus) c. visions (e.g. Teresa of Avila; Muhammad receiving the Qur’an) d. voices (e.g. Muhammad and the angel; Jesus’ baptism) e. mystical experiences of unity with the divine or the universe or truth (e.g. St John of the Cross, Sufism, Hindu ascetics, forms of Buddhist meditation) ii. non-religious spiritual experience (e.g. feeling part of a greater whole, nature mysticism). |
| 3. Can we believe accounts of spiritual experiences? | i. arguments against spiritual experiences being ‘real’ ii. arguments in support of spiritual experiences iii. arguments for experience being a source of authority. |
EXEMPLAR(S) OF THIS MEDIUM TERM PLAN
(Word Download) EXEMPLAR 1: Strange & Mysterious
TRANSFERABLE QUESTION
Can all claims to religious experience be explained by psychology or neuroscience?