Resource 7

NATRE - National Association of Teachers of Religious Education Religious Education

Community cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism
A resource for teachers to use in the classroom


Resource title
Friends, Strangers, Citizens? Life in Britain post 7/7
Source: South Asian Development Partnership – See below for details.
Outline
Video clips and support materials from this online resource set offer a thoughtful exploration of the events of '7/7', the London transport bombings. Through 'vox pop' video in five short sections, the voices of British Muslims, community leaders, and young people comment on:
  1. What happened on 7/7?
  2. Is religion the problem or the solution?
  3. Is multi-culturalism dead?
  4. Freedom of speech vs respect?
  5. What kind of Britain do we want?
Each video section is 5-6 minutes in length, ideal for starting discussion and opening up some big ideas about cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism. Key themes explored include the threat of terror, the role of religion, multiculturalism and freedom of speech.

Resource access: The video clips include:
  • issues of racism and cohesion without ignoring their religious dimensions. The references to Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and other teachings from faith are clear.
  • a useful exploration of the varied meanings of 'jihad'.
  • many Muslims speaking for peace in ways that repudiate suicide bombings – an invaluable 'counter' to a predominant media terrorist stereotype.
Links across other subjects within resource
Citizenship: 1.3 Identities and diversity: living together in the UK – Exploring the diverse national, regional, ethnic and religious cultures, groups and communities in the UK and the connections between them.
Additional support