Year 10 - Religious education
Evaluating the dimensions of religion
Belief: what is religion and does everyone understand it in the same way?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will consider the term religion and ask: what does it mean? Does everyone see it as the same thing? Ninian Smart's dimensions will provide one way in which religion has been classified. A case study of Japan and ethical veganism offer opportunities to question what is meant.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of Ninian Smart's dimensions in the study of religion.
Key Notes
- Smart's dimensions of religion can be applied to theistic and non-theistic worldviews.
- Smart also applied the dimensions to secular worldviews, e.g. nationalism.
- There are strengths and weaknesses to his approach.
- One main criticism is that the dimensions present a reductionist view of religion.
Vocabulary To Learn
- dimensions: for Smart, these are the different aspects or parts that make up a religion
- reductionist: a criticism that something is being shown in too simple a way; 'reduced' down
- secular: not to do with religion or religious ideas/beliefs
- worldview: the way someone understands, interprets and inhabits the world
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That Smart believed the dimensions were all that was needed to study religion and no other discipline or approach.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Smart's dimensions of religion can be applied to theistic and non-theistic worldviews. Smart also applied the dimensions to secular worldviews, e.g. nationalism.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'dimensions'
for Smart, these are the different aspects or parts that make up a religion.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: That Smart believed the dimensions were all that was needed to study religion and no other discipline or approach. Correction: For Smart, these were a starting point, a 'way in' to studying religions and that other disciplines and approaches were still needed for a full understanding.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Religious education guide library.