Religion

Religion as a Force for Social Change

Textbooks provide us with a range of examples of ways in which religion can be used as an advocate to bring about great change in society ⎯ popular examples being used including Martin Luther King, the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and liberation theology in Latin America.

From this basis, ask students to consider the work that religious groups do in local communities to try and help society and/or bring about social change. Perhaps, for example, the only facilities for young people and children in the local area are run by religious groups (for example ‘messy church’)

Discover More Messy Church

This article provides within it a range of ways in which religion can act as an advocate for people and provide facilities at a local level, for example the number of leading hospitals in Southern India run by Christian groups:

Discover More Religion: A Force for Social Change and Advocacy

From this, students can research the work of organisations such as Christian Aid, Muslim Aid and the Salvation Army.


 

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