Jan 11, 2023
Explore our Virtual Voices for Religious Education resources on World Religion Day 2023.
World Religion Day provides an excellent opportunity to explore the Virtual Voices for Religious Education resources as they show the unity that exists between different religions in Cumbria. Karen O’Donoghue, one of our ‘Voices’, here explains more about its origins and the Bahá’í Faith.
World Religion Day in 2023 is on 15th January. It was first begun by the Bahá’í Faith in the USA in 1950 and it is intended to show the similarity between the spiritual teachings of the major religions; that these religions are all valid and ultimately came from the same Source - God.
There is a useful video presentation developed specifically for World Religion Day. It gives the Bahá’í view of the progressive nature of the revelation of God and plenty of useful info about the Bahá’í Faith. Click here to view. (With thanks to Karen O’Donoghue and Cumbria SACRE for commissioning and producing this video.)
World Religion Day can often be used as a basis for a school assembly or RE lesson. There are a few extracts copied below which show the “Golden Rule” which is in each religion. Perhaps students could be asked to match the quotations to the religions? Maybe add in the religious symbols above as extra clues!
THE GOLDEN RULE
“Do naught to others which would cause pain if done to you.” (Hinduism)
“What is hateful to you do not do unto your neighbour.” (Judaism)
“Do unto others all that which is well for oneself.” (Zoroastrianism)
“Treat not others in ways that they would find hurtful.” (Buddhism)
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Christianity)
“None of you is a believer until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.” (Islam)
“Treat others as you would be treated yourself.” (Sikhism)
“Lay not on any soul a load which ye would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things ye would not desire for yourselves.” (Bahá’í)
