Exploring Diverse Worldviews

Theme: Baha'i, Jain and Pagan

This volume in the Exploring Religion and Worldviews series offers excellent starting points for studying three diverse religious traditions less commonly studied: Baha’i, Jain and Pagan.

Drawing on community members’ voices, data, case studies, stories and teachings the book supports pupils to develop three pillars of knowledge: substantive knowledge, ways of knowing and personal knowledge.

For each tradition the book provides core introductory background information. The materials centre on the perspectives of people from each community drawn from surveys carried out in 2026. Contributors describe matters of central importance to them and the impact of their worldview on everyday life.

The Baha’i section gives pupils opportunities to explore ideas of community worship and sacred space. In the Jain section pupils encounter vivid accounts of festivals and of how Jains practise ahimsa  ̶  non-harming towards all creatures. They explore Jain stories alongside philosophical and ethical questions. The Pagan section focuses on identity and on the relationship between Pagans and the natural world including the ways festivals mark the cycle of the year.

Suggested activities show different ways to use the materials with younger and older pupils. These help teachers use examples from these diverse worldviews to enrich thematic units on, for example, worship stories festivals and environmental issues.