KS3 Religion - Religion in Modern Britain

Study revision notes for KS3 Religion - Religion in Modern Britain

KS3 Religious Studies — Religion in Modern Britain Study Pack

Year group: 7–9 | Subject: Religious Studies / RE | Curriculum area: Religion and Society

Overview

Britain today is one of the most religiously and culturally diverse societies in the world. Walk through any major city and you will see churches and mosques, synagogues and mandirs, gurdwaras and Buddhist centres. You will hear the call to prayer and church bells. You will find halal butchers and kosher bakeries. You will meet people who pray five times a day, people who attend church at Christmas only, people who keep Shabbat, and people who describe themselves as having no religion at all.

At the same time, Britain has a long Christian heritage — an established Church of England, Christian ceremonies embedded in national life, and a majority of the population still identifying as Christian in recent decades, though this majority has been declining. By 2021, less than half the population of England and Wales identified as Christian, and over a third described themselves as having no religion.

This study pack explores what "modern Britain" looks like in terms of belief and non-belief, how different communities live and contribute, what freedoms and challenges exist, and how a diverse society can live together with mutual respect.

Important note: This is a sensitive and sometimes debated topic. This pack aims to be balanced, factual, and respectful of all viewpoints — religious and non-religious alike.

1. Key Concepts

Term	Definition
Diversity	The presence of many different types, views, or identities in a community
Pluralism	A society in which many different religious and non-religious views coexist and are respected
Secular	Relating to non-religious matters; a secular state is neutral on religion
Secularism	The view that religion should be kept separate from public/political life
Worldview	A comprehensive way of understanding the world, including beliefs about meaning, value, and how to live
Atheist	A person who does not believe in God or gods
Agnostic	A person who holds that whether God exists is unknown or unknowable
Humanist	A person who bases their values on human reason and wellbeing, not religious belief
Census	An official survey of the population, including questions about religion
Interfaith	Involving two or more religious traditions, working together or in dialogue
Community cohesion	The building of strong, positive relationships between different groups in society
Identity	The sense of who you are — including religion, ethnicity, nationality, family, and personal values
Protected characteristic	A quality the law protects from discrimination (includes religion or belief)
Chaplaincy	Religious support offered in hospitals, schools, prisons, and the military
Multicultural	Containing many cultures; recognising and valuing cultural diversity

2. Religious Diversity in Britain — Census Data

2.1 Census 2021 Data (England and Wales)

CENSUS DATA TABLE (2021 — England and Wales):

Religion identified    | % of population
———————————————————————|—————————————————
Christian              | 46.2%
No religion            | 37.2%
Muslim                 | 6.5%
Hindu                  | 1.7%
Sikh                   | 0.9%
Jewish                 | 0.5%
Buddhist               | 0.5%
Other religion         | 0.6%
Not stated             | 6.0%

(Source: ONS Census 2021 — figures used for educational purposes)

2.2 Interpreting Census Data

Students should interpret census data carefully:

"Christian" on a census ≠ regular churchgoer: Many people tick "Christian" because of background, culture, family tradition, or baptism — not active practice
"No religion" ≠ always atheist: Many people with "no religion" may believe in a God or spiritual reality but not identify with a specific faith
Trends: The proportion identifying as Christian has fallen significantly since 2001 (when it was 71.7%). "No religion" has grown substantially.
Regional variation: Religious diversity is concentrated in urban areas; rural Britain remains more homogeneously Christian or non-religious

Data interpretation questions:

What percentage of people identified as having no religion in 2021?
How does the 2021 figure for Christianity compare to 2001? What might explain this change?
Is it accurate to say "Britain is a Christian country"? What evidence supports and challenges this claim?

3. Major Religious Communities in Britain

3.1 Christianity

Approximately 27.5 million people (46.2%)
Church of England is the established church — the monarch is head of state and head of the Church
Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, and many other denominations
Active churchgoers are a minority — perhaps 1–2 million weekly
Christianity shapes much of Britain's cultural heritage: church architecture, school RE, public ceremonies

3.2 Islam

Approximately 3.9 million people (6.5%)
The largest non-Christian religion in Britain
Communities in many cities: London, Birmingham, Bradford, Leicester, Manchester
Mosques serve not only worship but education, welfare, and community support
British Muslims come from many ethnic and national backgrounds — Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Arab, East African, and many others

3.3 Hinduism

Approximately 1 million people (1.7%)
Significant communities in Leicester, London, and other cities
Diwali widely celebrated; mandirs active community centres

3.4 Sikhism

Approximately 500,000–600,000 people (0.9%)
Predominantly in England; significant communities in Birmingham, Southall, Wolverhampton
Gurdwaras deeply embedded in local community life; langars played important role in disaster relief

3.5 Judaism

Approximately 270,000 people (0.5%)
Jewish communities in Britain date back centuries (Jewish people were expelled in 1290, readmitted in 1656)
Significant communities in London (Golders Green, Stamford Hill), Manchester, Leeds

3.6 Buddhism

Approximately 275,000 people (0.5%)
Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan traditions present
Appeal to both traditional Buddhist communities and British converts

4. Non-Religious Worldviews

4.1 "No Religion"

Over a third of England and Wales identifies as having no religion. This does not mean they are all:

Atheist (actively believe God does not exist)
Agnostic (unsure or believe it cannot be known)
Anti-religious (opposed to religion)

Many people with "no religion" may believe in something spiritual without identifying with a religion, or may simply not have thought much about it.

4.2 Humanism

Humanism is the best-organised non-religious worldview in Britain. Humanists believe:

Human life has value and meaning without God or religion
Reason, empathy, and evidence are the best guides to living well
Ethical decisions should be based on human wellbeing
Humanist ceremonies (weddings, funerals, naming days) are growing in Britain

Humanists UK campaigns for secular education, humanist ceremonies to have legal recognition, and the removal of the legal requirement for daily collective worship in schools.

5. Religion in Public Life

5.1 Schools

Religious Education (RE) is compulsory in state schools; its content reflects local community (agreed syllabus)
Faith schools: Church of England, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and other faith schools exist alongside non-faith schools — controversial in some quarters
Collective worship: legally required in state schools; supposed to be "broadly Christian" — rarely enforced strictly; debated

5.2 Hospitals and Healthcare

Chaplaincy: religious and non-religious chaplains in hospitals, prisons, and the military
Patients' religious needs (diet, prayer time, dress) must be respected
Some healthcare debates involve religious ethics (e.g. end-of-life decisions, blood transfusions)

5.3 Ceremonies and Public Life

The Coronation includes Christian religious ceremony
Parliament opens with Christian prayer (though this is debated)
Bank holidays include Good Friday and Christmas Day
Remembrance Sunday has strong religious character but is also civic

5.4 Religion and Charity

Religious organisations are among Britain's largest providers of charitable services:

Food banks (Trussell Trust — founded by a Christian; many faith-run)
Homeless shelters (Salvation Army; many faith organisations)
Citizens Advice; Prison Fellowship; CAFOD; Muslim Aid; Jewish Care
Gurdwara langars providing food during floods, COVID, and other crises

6. Interfaith Work and Community Cohesion

Interfaith work involves different religious communities and non-religious groups working together:

Example	What it involves
Inter Faith Network	National body facilitating dialogue between religious communities
Local interfaith forums	Groups where religious leaders and communities meet
Shared social action	Foodbanks, homelessness projects, environmental work done together
Commemorations	Holocaust Memorial Day; shared Remembrance
Dialogue events	School visits, speakers, open days between communities
Social cohesion projects	Youth work; community events bringing different groups together

Why does interfaith work matter?

Reduces misunderstanding and stereotype
Builds trust between communities
Models the kind of mutual respect that pluralism requires
Shows that faith differences need not mean hostility

7. Challenges and Debates

7.1 Religious Symbols and Clothing in Public Life

Situation	Religious practice	Legal position in Britain
Hijab/niqab in schools	Some Muslim women cover their hair	Schools may set uniform policies; courts have generally allowed hijab
Sikh turban and kara	Articles of faith for Khalsa Sikhs	Legal exemption exists for turbans; kara allowed in most schools
Cross necklace	Christian expression	Workplace rules on jewellery may apply; case law is complex
Jewish kippah	Orthodox Jewish head covering	Generally permitted; debated in some contexts

Principle: British law requires "reasonable accommodation" for religious practice unless it conflicts with the rights of others. This is a complex area where courts have sometimes had to balance competing rights.

7.2 Prejudice and Discrimination

Islamophobia: Hate crimes against Muslims have risen; stereotypes persist in media
Antisemitism: Has increased in recent years across Europe including Britain; Holocaust denial; conspiracy theories
Anti-religious prejudice: People mocking or attacking religious believers
Prejudice against non-religious people: In some communities, being non-religious can bring social pressure

All of these are unacceptable. British law protects people from discrimination and hatred on grounds of religion or belief — including non-religious belief.

7.3 Debates About Secularism

Position	Argument
More secularism	All religions should be treated equally; the state should not favour Christianity; faith schools are divisive; compulsory collective worship is inappropriate
Less secularism	Britain's Christian heritage is worth protecting; religion contributes enormously to civic life; secularism can itself become an ideological position
Pluralist approach	Many voices should be heard; neither religious dominance nor anti-religious secularism is the answer; respectful coexistence

Important note: "Secular" is not the same as "anti-religious." A secular state can still value religion and allow it to thrive in public life.

7.4 Media Representation

Religious communities are often stereotyped in media:

Islam frequently associated with terrorism or extremism in some outlets
Christianity sometimes portrayed as backward or hypocritical
Non-religious people sometimes portrayed as amoral
Students should critically evaluate media representations

8. Distinguishing Religion, Culture, Ethnicity, and Nationality

IDENTITY OVERLAP DIAGRAM:

        Religion
       /         \
Ethnicity    Nationality
       \         /
          Culture

These overlap but are NOT the same:
- A British person can be Muslim
- An Arab person can be Christian
- A Jewish person may be secular
- Sikh identity has both religious and cultural dimensions
- Not all South Asians are Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh

Why this matters: Conflating religion with ethnicity is a form of prejudice. For example, Islam is not an Arab religion — the majority of Muslims worldwide are not Arab. Assuming someone is Muslim because they are South Asian is stereotyping.

9. Source Extracts

Source Extract 1 — Census Data

(See section 2.1 above for the data table)

Questions:

Which religion showed the greatest decrease compared to 2001 data?
What does the 37.2% "no religion" figure suggest about modern Britain?
Can you claim from this data that Britain is a "Christian country"? Justify your answer.

Source Extract 2 — Interfaith Scenario

The local interfaith forum had arranged a community meal. A Jewish woman arrived with home-made challah. A Sikh man had brought food from the langar. A Muslim family had cooked biryani. A humanist had brought fruit and cheese. A Christian pastor brought cake. They sat together for two hours, shared food and stories, and agreed to run a joint food bank project. "We don't agree on everything," said the pastor, "but we agree on this."

Discussion questions:

What does this scenario show about what different communities can share even when they hold different beliefs?
What does the humanist's presence suggest about the inclusivity of interfaith work?
Why might "we don't agree on everything but we agree on this" be an important principle in a diverse society?

Source Extract 3 — Media and Stereotype

A newspaper headline read: "Muslim teenager arrested in terror plot." A religious studies teacher asked his class: "What does this headline do to your thinking about Muslims?" Students noticed: it named the religion but wouldn't have named another religion in the same way. It described one person's action but implied something about an entire community.

Questions:

What is the problem with this kind of headline? What assumption might a reader draw?
How could the same story be reported without stereotyping?
What is the difference between reporting a fact and creating a stereotype?

10. Key Vocabulary Table

Term	Definition	Example in context
Diversity	The presence of many different types, views, or identities	Britain's diversity includes Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists, and many non-religious people
Pluralism	A society where many different views coexist and are respected	Pluralism means you don't have to agree with all beliefs to respect those who hold them
Secular	Non-religious; a secular state is neutral on religion	A secular school RE curriculum includes non-religious worldviews
Secularism	The view that religion should be kept separate from political/public life	Some secularists argue that faith schools are incompatible with a secular state
Worldview	A comprehensive way of understanding the world including beliefs about meaning and value	Humanism and Christianity are both worldviews, though one is religious and one is not
Atheist	A person who does not believe in God	An atheist bases their ethics on reason and human experience
Agnostic	A person who believes whether God exists is unknown or unknowable	An agnostic may participate in religious ceremonies without holding firm beliefs
Humanist	A person who bases values on human reason and wellbeing, not religion	British Humanists celebrate life events with ceremonies based on meaning without God
Census	An official population survey	The 2021 census showed that less than half the population identified as Christian
Freedom of religion or belief	The right to hold, change, and practise beliefs	Freedom of religion or belief is protected in the Human Rights Act
Discrimination	Treating someone unfairly based on who they are	Refusing to employ someone because of their religion is discrimination
Prejudice	An unfair opinion about a group without evidence	Assuming all Muslims are extremists is prejudice based on fear and ignorance
Stereotype	A fixed, oversimplified image of a group	Saying "all religious people are intolerant" is a stereotype
Interfaith	Involving two or more different religious traditions	An interfaith forum brings religious leaders together to work on community issues
Community cohesion	Positive relationships between different groups	Community cohesion is built by shared activities, dialogue, and respect
Integration	The process by which communities participate in and contribute to wider society	Integration does not mean giving up your identity — it means participating fully
Multicultural	Containing and valuing many cultures	Britain is a multicultural society with communities from across the world
Identity	The sense of who you are	Religious identity may be one of many aspects of a person's identity
Protected characteristic	A quality the law protects from discrimination	Religion or belief is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010
Chaplaincy	Religious and pastoral support in hospitals, schools, prisons	Hospital chaplains support patients of all faiths and none

11. Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Britain is either wholly religious or wholly non-religious	Britain is diverse — both highly religious communities and significant non-religious populations coexist
Secular means anti-religious	Secular means non-religious in character or neutral with respect to religion. A secular state can welcome and support religious communities
"No religion" always means atheist	Many people with "no religion" may believe in something spiritual; others are genuinely atheist. The category is diverse
Religious identity is the same as ethnicity	Religion and ethnicity are different. A British person can be Muslim; an Arab can be Christian. Conflating the two is stereotyping
All members of a religion have identical political or moral views	Within every religion there is enormous diversity of political view, moral opinion, and social attitude
Non-religious worldviews should not be in RE	The legal requirement in England and Wales is to teach "religious and non-religious worldviews." Humanism and secular ethics are legitimate parts of the subject
Media stereotypes about religion are harmless	Repeated stereotypes shape public perception and contribute to discrimination, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of religious hatred

12. Exam-Style Questions

Multiple Choice

1. According to the 2021 census for England and Wales, what percentage identified as having no religion?

A) 6.5%
B) 20%
C) 37.2%
D) 46.2%

(Answer: C)

2. What does "pluralism" mean?

A) A society where only one religion is permitted
B) A society where many different religious and non-religious views coexist and are respected
C) A policy of forcing religious groups to become secular
D) A type of Christian theology

(Answer: B)

3. What is "interfaith" work?

A) All religions becoming one
B) Different religious and non-religious groups working together or in dialogue
C) Teaching about religion in schools
D) Religious ceremonies in public buildings

(Answer: B)

4. What is a worldview?

A) A window in a place of worship
B) A documentary about religion
C) A comprehensive way of understanding the world, including beliefs about meaning, value, and how to live
D) A secular political philosophy

(Answer: C)

Fill in the Blank

A person who does not believe in God is called an __________. (Atheist)
A person who holds that whether God exists is unknown or unknowable is called an __________. (Agnostic)
The official survey of the UK population that includes questions about religion is called the __________. (Census)
The presence of many different types of people and views in a community is called __________. (Diversity)
Working positively between different religious and non-religious communities is called __________ work. (Interfaith)

1-Mark Questions

Name one non-religious worldview that should be studied in RE. (Humanism)
What does the census data show about the fastest growing group in terms of religious identity in England and Wales? (No religion / non-religious — growing to over 37%)
What is chaplaincy? (Religious and pastoral support offered in hospitals, schools, prisons, and the military)

4-Mark Questions

Question: Explain two ways in which religious communities contribute to public life in modern Britain.

Model answer:

Firstly, religious organisations run some of Britain's most important charitable services. Food banks, homeless shelters, and community support services are frequently run by faith groups — the Trussell Trust (food banks) has Christian roots; the Salvation Army provides shelter; Sikh gurdwaras provide langar to anyone in need. These contributions serve the whole community regardless of the recipient's belief.

Secondly, religious communities provide education and cultural heritage. Faith schools (C of E, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh) educate significant proportions of British children. Religious buildings — cathedrals, mosques, temples, synagogues — are often historical, cultural, and community landmarks. Religious music, art, literature, and ceremony are woven into British life.

Question: Explain two ways in which media representation can create or reinforce stereotypes about religious groups.

Model answer:

Firstly, some media outlets tend to link particular religions to negative stories — for example, reporting crimes by Muslim individuals with an emphasis on their faith while not doing the same for other groups. This creates a mental association between a faith and harmful behaviour that does not reflect the community as a whole.

Secondly, entertainment media sometimes portrays religious people as backward, hypocritical, or fanatical. These portrayals rarely reflect the real diversity of religious life. When students only encounter these images, they may form inaccurate views of millions of ordinary believers — leading to prejudice without any real engagement with actual religious communities.

Extended Writing Question

Question: "Britain should be described as a secular society." How far do you agree?

Arguments in favour:

Less than half the population identifies as Christian (2021: 46.2%) — declining
Over a third identify as having no religion
Many people are non-practising even if they identify with a religion
The state (courts, Parliament, education) functions largely independently of religious law
Freedom of religion (and no religion) is legally protected

Arguments against:

Britain has an established Church; the monarch is head of the Church of England
Parliament opens with Christian prayers; bank holidays include Christian festivals
Faith schools educate hundreds of thousands of children
Religious communities are deeply embedded in social life and charitable service
Over 60% still hold some religious identification

Balanced conclusion: Britain is neither straightforwardly religious nor simply secular. It is a complex, diverse society with a religious heritage, significant practising communities, and a growing non-religious population — best described as pluralist and diverse rather than neatly secular or religious.

Data Interpretation Task

Use the census table in section 2.1.

What percentage of the population identified as Muslim in 2021?
Which religious group showed the greatest percentage alongside Christianity?
Suggest one reason why the "No religion" figure grew so significantly between 2001 and 2021.
A politician says: "England and Wales is a Christian country." Evaluate this claim using the data.

13. Revision Checklist — "I Can..." Statements

I can define diversity, pluralism, secular, worldview, atheist, agnostic, and humanist
I can describe what the 2021 census showed about religious identity in England and Wales
I can name and briefly describe at least five religious communities in modern Britain
I can describe at least three ways religious communities contribute to public life
I can explain what interfaith work is and give at least one example
I can explain the difference between religion, ethnicity, culture, and nationality
I can describe one debate about religion in public life in Britain
I can explain what Islamophobia and antisemitism are
I can explain what freedom of religion or belief means
I can interpret census data carefully, avoiding oversimplification
I can correct at least three common misconceptions about religion in modern Britain
I can use at least ten key vocabulary terms accurately in written answers
I can write a balanced judgement about whether Britain should be described as a secular society

End of Religion in Modern Britain Study Pack

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