Teacher’s notes

Definitions
Religion
“a complex of beliefs and practices which point to a set of values and an understanding of the meaning of existence” High Court of Australia, 1983
Religion
“the quest for the values of the ideal life, involving three phases, the ideal, the practices for attaining the values of the ideal, and the theology or world view relating the quest to the environing universe” Macquarie Dictionary, Third Edition, 1997 
Denomination
Many of the main religions have different branches which are called denominations. 
eg Christianity is a religion which has many denominations including Lutheran, Society of Friends, Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, Coptic, Church of Christ.	

Class discussion comparing and contrasting the various religions

Possible prompt questions
1.	Do all religions recognise a God? 
2.	If yes, what are the characteristics of the God? 
3.	If no, what if anything is worshipped?
4.	When and where did the religion originate? How did it spread?
5.	Do any of the religions have common roots? e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam 
6.	What are the main beliefs of the religions? e.g. creation, end of the world, life after death, reincarnation
7.	What are the main practices?
i.	Do the believers pray or chant?
ii.	To whom do they pray? 
iii.	Where do they pray?
iv.	How often do they pray?
v.	Are there dietary restrictions?
vi.	Are there dress rules?
8.	Are there different gender roles?
9.	Do older people command greater respect?
10.	Does nature, the land and the sea have special significance?