The RE Podcast

Louisa Jane Smith

The RE podcast for students and teachers. read less
Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

Episodes

S14 E5: The One About Islamophobia
5d ago
S14 E5: The One About Islamophobia
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!1st February was National Hijab Day!  This episode is a detailed exploration of Islamophobia with Bismha Afzal, Schools Coordinator with Educate Against Islamophobia (EAI). We talk about what Islamophobia, what it looks like in modern Britain and how we as educators can tackle it. It is a whole school thing, not an RE thing so please share with your colleagues. Bismah referenced so many helpful resources. Here are the relevant links;Islamophobia: Muhammd Vs Adamhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38751307IHRC https://www.ihrc.org.uk/countering-islamophobia-through-the-development-of-counter-narratives/ Interesting leaflet by Tariq Modood about Islamhttp://www.tariqmodood.com/uploads/1/2/3/9/12392325/muslims_in_bristol_and_britain.pdfMuhammads last sermonhttps://www.iium.edu.my/deed/articles/thelastsermon.htmlRunnymede report (2017 one)https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61488f992b58e687f1108c7c/61bcd30e26cca7688f7a5808_Islamophobia%20Report%202018%20FINAL.pdfEAIhttps://eai.org.uk/APPG: Islamophobia definedhttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/599c3d2febbd1a90cffdd8a9/t/5bfd1ea3352f531a6170ceee/1543315109493/Islamophobia+Defined.pdfIAMhttps://www.islamophobia-awareness.org/Role of educators in tackling islamophobiahttps://www.osce.org/odihr/93497RE Hubs - School speakershttps://www.re-hubs.uk/get-involved/school-speakers/Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk
S14 E3: The One About Interfaith Week
24-01-2025
S14 E3: The One About Interfaith Week
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!Today's episode is a delightful chat with Stacey Burman and Carrie Alderton about all things interfaith.  And when I say all things, I mean ALL THE THINGS!The history and purpose of Interfaith Week and why it is so important.How we can get involved as a community a school and a teacher.Where we can go for resources.But also, how this is part of a bigger picture of Interfaith Education which should permeate schools, communities and RE classrooms? (Linking brilliantly to last weeks episode on Freedom Of Religion or Belief.)It's a really practical episode with lots of tips and ideas and places to go for supportAs part of the epsiode we hear from Alice who talks about all the amazing things she does for Interfaith week to give us some inspiration - get a notebook and make sure you are sitting down!Please let Carrie know anything you have done for Interfaith week and how it went, or maybe you have some ideas and want some support on this for future IFWs?  Similarly, if you have any stories about interfaith education you want to share, or need support / resources to improve how you do it, please get in touchEither contact me @therepodcast1 on X or @therepodcast on insta and bluesky or visit my website www.therepodcast.co.uk.For more information;https://www.interfaithweek.org/https://faithbeliefforum.org/https://www.ifw4schools.co.uk/Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk
S13 E12: The One About Motherhood (Christmas Special)
20-12-2024
S13 E12: The One About Motherhood (Christmas Special)
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!To help you celebrate the end of the longest term of the year, to get you in the festive spirit, to shine a beacon to parents, particularly mothers, as we focus on the amazing story of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the central role she plays in the Christmas story, I bring you tidings of great joy!This last episode of the season, and of 2024, is a spotlight on two RE teachers as they talk about juggling motherhood with their careers. Naila Missous, and Gemma Brown. They are connected through the amazing MTPT Project - The UK’s charity for parent-teachers. It provides support and entitlements for pregnant and expectant staff. And check out the festive name of its founder, Emma Sheppard (so much festive joy). Emma, also joined us to tell us why she made the journey from English Teacher to wanting to support parent teachers.The conversation not only includes information about the project and how it supported Naila and Gemma,  and what needs to happen in the political sphere to support parents in education, but also how we can include the role of mothers into our curriculums, and where we see the role of mothers in scriptures.As you can imagine, it is an empowering and uplifting chat.https://www.mtpt.org.uk/To all my listeners' my seasonal message for you is from Mary's song because all teachers, but specifically parents are often so humble and they need to be lifted up;He has brought down rulers from their thrones    but has lifted up the humble.I hope this episode lifts you up.Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk
S13 E11: The One About The Psychology Of Religion
13-12-2024
S13 E11: The One About The Psychology Of Religion
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!In a move towards multidisciplinary RE, I wonder if you are stuck on how to teach through a social sciences lens - particularly through a psychological lens. Maybe you are not sure what the psychology of religion is, or how to incorporate it into your lessons.  Or maybe you have started to explore but have become overwhelmed. Dr Carissa Sharp is an associate professor of Psychology of Religion from The University of Birmingham and she came on to the podcast to guide us through how to do this.For example, is this a psychological question – “Does God exist?” – and if not, how do we turn it into one?For the answer and for much more, listen to this episode.The links for this episodes are below;Get in touch with Dr Carissa Sharphttps://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/tr/sharp-carissahttps://crosstrainingpsychologyandtheology.com/https://crosstrainingpsychologyandtheology.com/resources/resources-for-re-teachers/When Children Draw Gods by PY Brandthttps://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94429-2Believing, Bonding, Behaving, and Belonging: The Big Four Religious Dimensions and Cultural Variation by Vassilis Saroglouhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022111412267#:~:text=Believing%2C%20Bonding%2C%20Behaving%2C%20and,Cultural%20Variation%20%2D%20Vassilis%20Saroglou%2C%202011Experimenting with Religion by Jonathan Jonghttps://global.oup.com/academic/product/experimenting-with-religion-9780190875541?cc=us&lang=en&Cambridge Elements https://www.cambridge.org/core/browse-subjects/psychology/psychology-of-religionLambi Scale RE Today resource https://www.natre.org.uk/resources/termly-mailing/bqic-secondary-challenging-knowledge-in-re/studying-god/8-using-psychology-to-investigate-ideas-of-god/Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk
S13 E7: The One About The Institute For The Impact Of Faith In Life
15-11-2024
S13 E7: The One About The Institute For The Impact Of Faith In Life
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!https://iifl.org.uk/Faith's transformative power takes center stage as we welcome Dr. Jake Scott, Director of the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life. Join us for an enlightening conversation on how faith is not only surviving but thriving amid growing secularism and religious diversity in the UK. Discover how historical influences and modern movements are shaping a society that values faith as a cornerstone for moral enrichment and societal good, particularly among younger generations who are championing a more active role for faith in public life.Unravel the complexities of religious plurality and tolerance as we explore the bridges built by education and personal interactions across diverse faith communities. From Christianity's historical impact on British society to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by Islam's growth, we dive into the vital role of faith literacy in reducing prejudice and promoting understanding. Our discussion examines the dynamic interplay between faith and societal acceptance, noting how exposure to different beliefs fosters an inclusive community and how people perceive faith as a force for good.Explore the multifaceted ways faith influences mental health, work environments, and even environmental stewardship. We spotlight faith's dual role in providing resilience while presenting challenges and how it shapes positive work ethics and community contributions. Our conversation delves into the environmental responsibilities embraced by various religious groups, highlighting the generational divide in climate anxiety and the power of faith as a coping mechanism. Tune in for a thought-provoking analysis of how religious education broadens our understanding of humanity, promising insights that could contribute to a more harmonious and inclusive world.Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk
S13 E5: The One About Social Media Theology
11-10-2024
S13 E5: The One About Social Media Theology
Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!One of the things I love doing this podcast is it introduces me to things I didn't know were a thing but love learning about.  This chat with Rev Pippa White is so significant for many reasons.  For Christians, this is a real challenge to them for whether they are inhabiting the spaces of the younger generation. Jesus used the common communication tool of the time to communicate his message.For teachers, this is about The Great Commission in the 21st Century - go out into 'all' the world.  This now includes the digital world.But this is also about the nature of Theology and doctrine. Where is the authority  and accountability for the Theology that is being created and shared on Social Media?  Can you be a Christian in a disembodied state and what the advantages and disadvangtes of that?Plus, regardless of spending my teenage years in an Anglican Church and 23 years as an RE teacher, I learnt that I had no idea what the Anglican Church was!  But overall, it was just so lovely to talk to Pippa. She is a warm and delightful human being so please follow her on Social Media:TikTok - notapriestessPippa also mentioned some other accounts to follow including;Black liturgies https://www.instagram.com/blackliturgies/?hl=enRev Chris Lee https://www.instagram.com/revchris7/?hl=enThe book she mentioned was Karen O'Donnell - The Dark Wombhttps://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780334060932/the-dark-wombTo read more about Social Media Theology on Google Scholar;https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Social+media+theology&btnG=Support the showFind out more;Twitter: @TheREPodcast1Insta: @TheREPodcastWebiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk