Studying Good and Evil
This volume in the Challenging Knowledge in RE series brings a multidisciplinary approach to the RE classroom to study good and evil. Methods from the disciplines of religious studies, sociology, theology and psychology consider how good and evil features in people’s lives. The book and downloadable sheets provide a suite of resources on prayer from which you can select two or three to create a half-term unit of work.
The Ofsted RE Research Review 2021 suggests RE should equip students with methods for testing the knowledge presented in the classroom. This book supports this by offering different evidence and methods with:
- source materials and teachings from religious traditions
- quantitative and qualitative data on the extent, effect and content of prayer
- specific analytic models that can be applied to the purpose and content of prayer more broadly.
Select a topic to explore resources
- Diving in: studying good and evil
- Why are humans good and evil? Diverse voices
- Using philosophy and theology to study good and evil
- Philosophy investigator file
- What is evil? How can we decide?
- How helpful is philosophy in thinking through the problem of evil?
- How do we know what is good?
- Existential philosophies: wrestling with good and evil, life and meaning
- Good and evil in the philosophies of Asia
- Theology investigator file
- How have Christians understood good and evil through the ages?
- Key Christian voices on the problem of suffering
External links
- ExternalEssential RE: Good and Evil (ed. Stephen Pett, RE Today 2016)
- ExternalDraft Resource Religion and Worldviews in the Classroom: developing a Worldviews Approach, Stephen Pett, REC 2022
- ExternalOfsted Research Review series: Religious Education (2021)
eResources
Member Only Content
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Pupil pages:
- Internal
Diagnosing the human condition Part 1 (CKRE vol 6 p. 5)Examines human nature and morality, exploring why humans are good or bad, with insights from philosophy and theology. - Internal
Diagnosing the human condition Part 2 (CKRE vol 6 pp. 6-7)Continues exploring human morality with case studies, ethical dilemmas, and reflections on societal values in RE studies.
External links
- ExternalOnline images, to support Activity C on p. 10 - example source: Google Arts and Culture
- ExternalWill Buckingham’s philosophy website: Looking for Wisdom
- ExternalWhy is there suffering by Bethany Sollereder (2021 Zondervan)
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Kierkegaard
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Nietzsche
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Sartre
eResources
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- InternalInvestigator files: Philosophy extendedPhilosophical insights for RE educators.
eResources
- External5.2 ‘Evil or just wrong’ Game board, supports Step 2 on p. 14 of book. Use with cards from p. 15 (Resource 5.1)
- External5.3 How evil? How do you judge? Scenarios, supports Step 3 on p. 14 of book: on cards for use with game board (Resource 5.2)
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- InternalHow evil? How do you judge? Game cards with scenariosGame cards for discussing moral dilemmas.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- Internal
How helpful is philosophy in thinking through the problem of evil? (CKRE vol 6 p. 16)Examination of philosophy's role in addressing the problem of evil. - Internal
Do theodicies work in the real world? (CKRE vol 6 p. 17)Explores the effectiveness of theodicies in explaining real-world suffering, prompting critical thinking in advanced RE students.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- Internal
How do we know what is Good? (CKRE vol 6 pp. 18-19)Exploration of moral concepts and how we determine what is good.
External links
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Kierkegaard
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Nietzsche
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Sartre
eResources
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- InternalExistential philosophiesExploration of existential philosophies and their relation to concepts of good and evil.
eResources
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- Internal
Existential philosophies (CKRE vol 6 pp. 20-21)Resource on existential philosophies for deeper understanding in RE. - InternalExistential philosophiesExploration of existential philosophies and their relation to concepts of good and evil.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages
- Internal
Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 6 pp. 26-27)Exploring theological interpretations of good and evil, moral dilemmas, and human purpose through faith.
eResource
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages
- Internal
Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 3) (4.1)Exploring the theological perspectives on environmental ethics, stewardship, and moral responsibility. - Internal
Investigator files: Religious studies (CKRE vol 2 pp. 30-31)Introducing academic approaches to religious studies, covering comparative analysis and theological frameworks. - Internal Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 6 pp. 26-27)Exploring theological interpretations of good and evil, moral dilemmas, and human purpose through faith.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil pages:
- Internal
Key Christian voices on the problem of suffering (CKRE6)An exploration of Christian perspectives on suffering, providing theological insights and encourages aging resilience in faith.
Select a topic to explore resources
Diving in: studying good and evilWhy are humans good and evil? Diverse voicesUsing philosophy and theology to study good and evilPhilosophy investigator fileWhat is evil? How can we decide?How helpful is philosophy in thinking through the problem of evil?How do we know what is good?Existential philosophies: wrestling with good and evil, life and meaningGood and evil in the philosophies of AsiaTheology investigator fileHow have Christians understood good and evil through the ages?Key Christian voices on the problem of suffering
External links
- ExternalEssential RE: Good and Evil (ed. Stephen Pett, RE Today 2016)
- ExternalDraft Resource Religion and Worldviews in the Classroom: developing a Worldviews Approach, Stephen Pett, REC 2022
- ExternalOfsted Research Review series: Religious Education (2021)
eResources
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- Internal Diagnosing the human condition Part 1 (CKRE vol 6 p. 5)Examines human nature and morality, exploring why humans are good or bad, with insights from philosophy and theology.
- Internal Diagnosing the human condition Part 2 (CKRE vol 6 pp. 6-7)Continues exploring human morality with case studies, ethical dilemmas, and reflections on societal values in RE studies.
External links
- ExternalOnline images, to support Activity C on p. 10 - example source: Google Arts and Culture
- ExternalWill Buckingham’s philosophy website: Looking for Wisdom
- ExternalWhy is there suffering by Bethany Sollereder (2021 Zondervan)
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Kierkegaard
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Nietzsche
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism – School of Life clips on YouTube: Sartre
eResources
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- InternalInvestigator files: Philosophy extendedPhilosophical insights for RE educators.
eResources
- Internal5.2 ‘Evil or just wrong’ Game board, supports Step 2 on p. 14 of book. Use with cards from p. 15 (Resource 5.1)
- Internal5.3 How evil? How do you judge? Scenarios, supports Step 3 on p. 14 of book: on cards for use with game board (Resource 5.2)
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- InternalHow evil? How do you judge? Game cards with scenariosGame cards for discussing moral dilemmas.
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- Internal How helpful is philosophy in thinking through the problem of evil? (CKRE vol 6 p. 16)Examination of philosophy's role in addressing the problem of evil.
- Internal Do theodicies work in the real world? (CKRE vol 6 p. 17)Explores the effectiveness of theodicies in explaining real-world suffering, prompting critical thinking in advanced RE students.
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- Internal How do we know what is Good? (CKRE vol 6 pp. 18-19)Exploration of moral concepts and how we determine what is good.
External links
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Kierkegaard
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Nietzsche
- ExternalIntroductions to existentialism (as also referenced in Section 3) – School of Life clips on YouTube: Sartre
eResources
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- InternalExistential philosophiesExploration of existential philosophies and their relation to concepts of good and evil.
eResources
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- Internal Existential philosophies (CKRE vol 6 pp. 20-21)Resource on existential philosophies for deeper understanding in RE.
- InternalExistential philosophiesExploration of existential philosophies and their relation to concepts of good and evil.
Member Only Content
Pupil pages
- Internal Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 6 pp. 26-27)Exploring theological interpretations of good and evil, moral dilemmas, and human purpose through faith.
eResource
Member Only Content
Pupil pages
- Internal Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 3) (4.1)Exploring the theological perspectives on environmental ethics, stewardship, and moral responsibility.
- Internal Investigator files: Religious studies (CKRE vol 2 pp. 30-31)Introducing academic approaches to religious studies, covering comparative analysis and theological frameworks.
- Internal Investigator files: Theology (CKRE vol 6 pp. 26-27)Exploring theological interpretations of good and evil, moral dilemmas, and human purpose through faith.
Member Only Content
Pupil pages:
- Internal Key Christian voices on the problem of suffering (CKRE6)An exploration of Christian perspectives on suffering, providing theological insights and encourages aging resilience in faith.
