Section 3 — Religion and Faith
Session 9 of 16
Monday, August 25, 2026
What is religion?
Religion is one of the oldest and most widespread human institutions — yet defining it precisely turns out to be surprisingly difficult. Is religion about belief in God, or about ritual and community? Is Buddhism a religion? Is nationalism? In this session we examine what religion actually is, where scholars agree and disagree, and why getting the definition right matters for how we talk about the world.
Vocabulary for this session
religiontheologyritualsacredsecular
Grammar focus
Grammar focus: Defining and categorizing — the language of classification and essential properties. "Religion can be defined as..." / "At its core, religion involves..." / "What distinguishes religion from philosophy is..." These structures let you make precise definitional claims in English without overstating your certainty.
Come prepared to discuss
"Is religion about what you believe — or about what you do and who you belong to? Can you be religious without believing in God?"
Before this session
Prepare: Read three short definitions of religion from different scholars — a sociologist, a theologian, and an anthropologist. Compare what each emphasizes. What does each definition include that the others leave out?
Task-Based Activity
The Religion Spectrum. Students place 10 belief systems — Buddhism, secular humanism, nationalism, Confucianism, Scientology, Stoicism, animism, Marxism, astrology, and Christianity — on a spectrum from "clearly a religion" to "clearly not a religion." There are no right answers. The goal is to articulate the criteria being used. Debrief: What criteria did you use? Do different criteria produce different results? What does this tell us about the concept of "religion" itself?
Discussion Activity
Ask: "Is it possible to be spiritual but not religious?" Students share their own position and explain it in English. Push for precision: What does "spiritual" mean if it doesn't mean "religious"? This question surfaces a huge range of personal beliefs and generates natural, motivated conversation.
Career-Oriented Take — How to Frame It
Religious literacy — the ability to understand and respectfully engage with different religious traditions — is increasingly important in global professional environments. Misreading religious customs, holidays, or sensitivities can damage relationships and deals. The language of this session gives students a framework for asking about and discussing religion in a professional context without causing offense.
Big Picture
Religion is the most widespread and oldest form of human community. Every known human society has had something that functions like religion — practices for marking birth, death, and transitions; rituals that bind the community; beliefs about what lies beyond ordinary experience. Understanding what religion is and does is essential to understanding human culture — including the cultures of your students' clients, colleagues, and partners.
Homework (assign after session)
Write 150 words: How would you define religion — and does your own background fit that definition? Use at least two of the defining structures from the grammar focus: "Religion can be defined as..." / "At its core, religion involves..." / "What distinguishes religion from philosophy is..."