In this resource students explore and reflect on six different approaches to, or models of, secularism identified by sociologist of religion and secularism, Jacques Berlinerblau, including their strengths and weaknesses. Students can consider how very different approaches to the questions that secularism raises can come about from similar starting principles. They compare these models to the guarantees of freedom of belief in the Human Rights Act and Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Politics | Citizenship | Religion & Belief Education

• What different types of secularism are there?

Basic

Students should demonstrate they can:

• Compare and contrast a range of approaches to secularism.
• Offer a viewpoint on the positives and negatives of different approaches to secularism, drawing on basic source material.

Advanced

In addition to the basic learning outcomes, students should demonstrate they can:

• Offer a viewpoint on the positives and negatives of different approaches to secularism, drawing on contemporary examples and outside knowledge.
• Extrapolate from the source material how a range of approaches to secularism would impact on social issues involving religion and the rights of others.