Training Example 1: Understanding Islam and Muslims in Britain

Session 1: Understanding Muslims

An overview of Muslim belief and practice with the stress on listening to the Muslim in front of you. Explores the history of Muslim responses to modernity and the diversity of philosophical, theological and political thought.

Session 2: Exploring Islam in Britain

Moves beyond the stereotypes to explore the variety, geography and demography of Muslim communities in Britain.  The session raises some of the issues facing these communities and how they might affect the church.

Session 3: Christians responding to Islam

What concerns Christians about Islam and the presence of Muslims? A discussion and assessment of the spectrum of Christian responses to Islam in Britain from confrontation to conciliation, ideology to pragmatism.

Session 4: Christians engaging with Muslims

The final session looks at the challenges of multicultural coexistence and the implications of shared social action in addition to how the church might approach dialogue and the sensitive issues of evangelism and the pastoral care of converts.

Example 2: Religious Literacy and the World Today

History - Religion, empire, state and revolution

Modernisation and (de-)secularisation

Secularisation or Secularism?

Defining religion:

  • Pairs discussion

Religion and worldview

Religion and the fathers of sociology:

  • Max Weber - What does religion mean to people?
  • Karl Marx - What role does religion play in ‘the struggle’?
  • Emile Durkheim - How does religion help structure society?

Religion and international affairs

  • Pairs - Identify the event

Religion and complexity

  • Video – Which is the real believer?

Religion and politics

  • Groups - Case studies