Investigating Non-religious Worldviews
The second volume in the ‘Investigating Worldviews’ series gives students an opportunity to explore non-religiousness, to clarify what it means to them and see how it can influence the lives of individuals and communities.
Along with extensive additional material online, this book includes original research into what helps teenagers to find meaning and rich data about non-religious teenagers’ views on life after death. Research from the ‘Understanding Unbelief’ project examines unbelief as just one dimension of non-religion, indicating that religion and non-religion are entangled in how people make sense of the world; portraits and interviews from the same project provide personal stories. Examples of organised non-religious worldviews, such as forms of Humanism and Sentientism, are shared. Classroom study of these offers opportunities for students to explore the relationship between religion and non-religion in ways that also draw attention to students’ own worldviews.
Select a topic to explore resources
- Essential data on the Nones in the UK
- Using the mixing desk to explore teenage worldviews
- Exploring humanism as a non-religious worldview
- 'Lives of Unbelief': portraits by Aubrey Wade
- What do non-religious teenagers think about the idea of life after this life?
- Non-religious worldviews: jigsaws of belief
- Investigating a non-religious worldview: what is sentientism?
External links: sources for data explored in infographics in section 1 of the book
- ExternalCensus 2001: Religion in the UK, 2004 Edition
- ExternalCensus 2011 ‘Full story: What does the Census tell us about religion in 2011?’
- ExternalCensus 2021: Religion in England and Wales
- ExternalCensus 2021: Religion by age and sex in England and Wales
- ExternalThe Nones: who are they and what do they believe? (Theos, 2022)
- ExternalEuropean Social Survey 7 (2014) and 8 (2016) reported in Bullivant, S. ‘Europe’s Young Adults and Religion’
- ExternalADAC 2019 Across Disciplines, Across Cultures: Understanding Unbelief report
- ExternalBritish Social Attitudes - Religion (NatCen 2019)
- ExternalYouGov Death Study 2021
- ExternalYouGov Death Study 2021 full data tables
- ExternalFaith Matters, 2013 (survey results)
- ExternalThe Changing Global Religious Landscape (Pew Research Center 2017)
eResources
- ExternalBackground numbers for resource 1.1 in book: Nones in England and Wales and beyond
- ExternalStudent survey: religious/non-religious
Member Only Content
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Student pages
- InternalNones in England, Wales and beyondNones in England, Wales and beyond
- InternalWhat can data tell us about beliefs of UK Nones?Investigating Non-Religious Worldviews Part 2 RE resource for schools, exploring humanist and secular ethics. Ideal for fostering understanding of diverse perspectives.
- InternalInterpreting the data: three kinds of Nones"Investigating Non-Religious Worldviews" Part 3 RE resource for schools, exploring secular perspectives and ethics. Ideal for promoting critical thinking and inclusivity.
External link
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Student pages
- Internal
My worldviewMy Worldview RE resource. A structured learning tool for exploring personal beliefs, values, and worldviews. - InternalDigging deeper: worldview case studiesCase studies exploring various worldviews, enhancing critical understanding in RE.
External links
- ExternalUnderstanding Humanism
- ExternalHumanists UK
- ExternalHumanist Heritage
- ExternalHumanist Ceremonies
- ExternalHumanists International
- ExternalHumanists UK speaker network
- ExternalThe Amsterdam Declaration (Humanists International)
- ExternalAssisted Dying: survey, carried out by NatCen on behalf of My Death, My Decision - survey headlines
- ExternalAssisted Dying: survey, carried out by NatCen on behalf of My Death, My Decision - survey breakdown
- ExternalLife for African Mothers
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Student pages
- InternalExploring humanism as a non-religious worldviewInsights into humanism as a worldview.
- InternalInfluential organisations: Humanists UKOverview of Humanists UK's influence.
- InternalHumanism in actionExamples of humanism applied in society.
External links
- ExternalAubrey Wade's website
- ExternalAubrey Wade’s ‘Lives of Unbelief’ project
eResources
External links
eResources
- ExternalNon-religious teenage views on life after life
- ExternalNon-religious funerals: sample orders of service
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Student pages
- InternalNon-religious teenage views on life after lifeNon-religious teenage views on life after death.
- Internal
Non-religious funeral celebrant: case studyCase study on non-religious funerals.
External links
- ExternalUnderstanding Unbelief project (University of Kent)
- ExternalDavid Herbert and Josh Bullock (2020) 'Reaching for a new sense of connection: soft atheism and "patch and make do" spirituality amongst nonreligious European millennials', Culture and Religion, 21:2
- ExternalDavid Herbert and Josh Bullock (2022) ‘The Diversity of Nonreligion: Meaning-Making, Activism and Towards a Theory of Nonreligious Identity and Group Formation’.
- ExternalBullivant et al, 'Understanding Unbelief Rome report' (St Mary's University 2019)
eResources
- External ‘Soft atheism’ among European millennials: features and explanations (
- ExternalExamples of ‘hard atheism’
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Student pages
- InternalJigsaw of beliefsJigsaw activity for exploring beliefs in religion.
- InternalSoft atheism’ among European millennialsInsights into soft atheism among European millennials.
External links
- ExternalJamie Woodhouse’s Sentientism website
- ExternalScottish Animal Welfare Commission report: sentience in cephalopods.
- ExternalDefinitions of sentience
- ExternalWhat is sentience and where is it found? (The Humane League)
- ExternalCambridge Declaration on Consciousness
eResources
eResources
- InternalJamie Woodhouse, sentientistInsights from Jamie Woodhouse on sentientism and its ethical implications.
Select a topic to explore resources
Essential data on the Nones in the UKUsing the mixing desk to explore teenage worldviewsExploring humanism as a non-religious worldview'Lives of Unbelief': portraits by Aubrey WadeWhat do non-religious teenagers think about the idea of life after this life?Non-religious worldviews: jigsaws of beliefInvestigating a non-religious worldview: what is sentientism?
External links: sources for data explored in infographics in section 1 of the book
- ExternalCensus 2001: Religion in the UK, 2004 Edition
- ExternalCensus 2011 ‘Full story: What does the Census tell us about religion in 2011?’
- ExternalCensus 2021: Religion in England and Wales
- ExternalCensus 2021: Religion by age and sex in England and Wales
- ExternalThe Nones: who are they and what do they believe? (Theos, 2022)
- ExternalEuropean Social Survey 7 (2014) and 8 (2016) reported in Bullivant, S. ‘Europe’s Young Adults and Religion’
- ExternalADAC 2019 Across Disciplines, Across Cultures: Understanding Unbelief report
- ExternalBritish Social Attitudes - Religion (NatCen 2019)
- ExternalYouGov Death Study 2021
- ExternalYouGov Death Study 2021 full data tables
- ExternalFaith Matters, 2013 (survey results)
- ExternalThe Changing Global Religious Landscape (Pew Research Center 2017)
eResources
- InternalBackground numbers for resource 1.1 in book: Nones in England and Wales and beyond
- InternalStudent survey: religious/non-religious
Member Only Content
Student pages
- InternalNones in England, Wales and beyondNones in England, Wales and beyond
- InternalWhat can data tell us about beliefs of UK Nones?Investigating Non-Religious Worldviews Part 2 RE resource for schools, exploring humanist and secular ethics. Ideal for fostering understanding of diverse perspectives.
- InternalInterpreting the data: three kinds of Nones"Investigating Non-Religious Worldviews" Part 3 RE resource for schools, exploring secular perspectives and ethics. Ideal for promoting critical thinking and inclusivity.
External link
Member Only Content
Student pages
- Internal My worldviewMy Worldview RE resource. A structured learning tool for exploring personal beliefs, values, and worldviews.
- InternalDigging deeper: worldview case studiesCase studies exploring various worldviews, enhancing critical understanding in RE.
External links
- ExternalUnderstanding Humanism
- ExternalHumanists UK
- ExternalHumanist Heritage
- ExternalHumanist Ceremonies
- ExternalHumanists International
- ExternalHumanists UK speaker network
- ExternalThe Amsterdam Declaration (Humanists International)
- ExternalAssisted Dying: survey, carried out by NatCen on behalf of My Death, My Decision - survey headlines
- ExternalAssisted Dying: survey, carried out by NatCen on behalf of My Death, My Decision - survey breakdown
- ExternalLife for African Mothers
Member Only Content
Student pages
- InternalExploring humanism as a non-religious worldviewInsights into humanism as a worldview.
- InternalInfluential organisations: Humanists UKOverview of Humanists UK's influence.
- InternalHumanism in actionExamples of humanism applied in society.
External links
- ExternalAubrey Wade's website
- ExternalAubrey Wade’s ‘Lives of Unbelief’ project
eResources
External links
eResources
- InternalNon-religious teenage views on life after life
- InternalNon-religious funerals: sample orders of service
Member Only Content
Student pages
- InternalNon-religious teenage views on life after lifeNon-religious teenage views on life after death.
- Internal Non-religious funeral celebrant: case studyCase study on non-religious funerals.
External links
- ExternalUnderstanding Unbelief project (University of Kent)
- ExternalDavid Herbert and Josh Bullock (2020) 'Reaching for a new sense of connection: soft atheism and "patch and make do" spirituality amongst nonreligious European millennials', Culture and Religion, 21:2
- ExternalDavid Herbert and Josh Bullock (2022) ‘The Diversity of Nonreligion: Meaning-Making, Activism and Towards a Theory of Nonreligious Identity and Group Formation’.
- ExternalBullivant et al, 'Understanding Unbelief Rome report' (St Mary's University 2019)
eResources
- Internal ‘Soft atheism’ among European millennials: features and explanations (
- InternalExamples of ‘hard atheism’
Member Only Content
Student pages
- InternalJigsaw of beliefsJigsaw activity for exploring beliefs in religion.
- InternalSoft atheism’ among European millennialsInsights into soft atheism among European millennials.
External links
- ExternalJamie Woodhouse’s Sentientism website
- ExternalScottish Animal Welfare Commission report: sentience in cephalopods.
- ExternalDefinitions of sentience
- ExternalWhat is sentience and where is it found? (The Humane League)
- ExternalCambridge Declaration on Consciousness
eResources
eResources
- InternalJamie Woodhouse, sentientistInsights from Jamie Woodhouse on sentientism and its ethical implications.
