2 Nobody Stands Nowhere

At the heart of the proposal for ‘Religion and Worldviews’ is the intention to emphasise the importance of engaging with individuals’ lived experiences. It is a way of framing the subject to emphasise the importance of pupils becoming ‘responsible interpreters’ of information, developing both educated moral judgement as well as critical thinking skills (Cooling et al., 2020).

Activity 2

Now watch the video ‘Nobody Stands Nowhere’ and consider the implications of what it might mean to make this approach central to Religious Education in schools.

Download this video clip.Video player: Nobody Stands Nowhere

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Transcript: Nobody Stands Nowhere

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR

What is your view of the world? How do you see things? What makes you who you are? On what do you base your decisions? Why did you react like that? Do you believe in God or a higher power? Or do you see the world as a cocktail of chance and accident?

Everyone has a worldview, whether religious or not. Each individual sees the world through a certain lens. It may be shaped by your upbringing, surroundings, or religion. And it can change as you move through life. Worldview can be both personal and organised. It is your attitudes and deeply held beliefs. It shapes how you live.

It’s important to think about your own worldview. Where do you think truth lies? What about the worldviews of those around you? Do you understand them? They may not be as similar to yours as you expect. Or, perhaps, your worldviews will be more alike.

Some people may feel that life is about success and improvement, being the best you can be. And some think it’s about helping the most vulnerable in society. Others may believe belonging to a group is vital for finding meaning, while another treasures belonging to the Earth in all its beauty. And still, most of us will not see the world through only one lens but rather through a blend of multiple visions.

In an increasingly pluralistic society, understanding the world around us means realising that there is no neutral perspective. Nobody stands nowhere. Do you know where you stand? And why?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

End transcript: Nobody Stands Nowhere

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Nobody Stands Nowhere

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Discussion

This film was designed to illustrate the importance of the idea that ‘nobody stands nowhere’. Exploring in a sensitive and evidence-based way where we and others ‘stand’ is the fundamental reframing of Religious Education recommended by the Religion and Worldview proposal.

As Professor Trevor Cooling explains, because everyone has a worldview, the ‘risk that certain views will be allowed irresponsibly to influence education is a risk for everyone – not just those with a religious affiliation – and we therefore need to ask what responsible influence looks like in education, rather than trying to exclude the influence of worldviews altogether’ (Cooling et al., 2020).

Attention to religious and non-religious worldviews is a rich and valuable access point for understanding the complexity of navigating moral and social choices in our complex society. As is illustrated well in the animation, ‘where we stand’ is fluid and changing both for individuals and organisations. Understanding how this process works in our own lives and in the social world cannot be simplified into a list of facts to be memorised. Good RE teaches us how to bring parts of our identity which are deeply personal and influential into public discussion with our community.

Our perspective – ‘where we stand’ – is brought into all our decisions whether they be personal, academic or professional. Religious Education is an opportunity to examine this fact head-on and learn how to negotiate ‘where we stand’ and ‘where does truth lie?’ in constructive dialogue with others who stand in different locations.

In the next activity, you are going to consider further our own values, hopes and aspirations – and the roots of these life goals. You will do this through engaging with the metaphor of an ‘identity tree’.