Showing pupils a range of perspectives on Jesus from different individuals and groups will make religious education more rigorous and encourage pupils to have empathy with others, according to academics.
At a time of year when questions about Jesus’s identity are likely to arise, a new textbook is being launched to encourage more varied teaching.
It supports teachers to move beyond telling the story of the birth, life and work of Jesus and instead highlight the way he is seen by people from varied cultural, religious and academic backgrounds.
This would help students in GCSE and A-level RE lessons to investigate how Jesus is portrayed by assorted individuals and groups – including theologians, historians, feminists, the visually impaired, artists and southern African cultures.
Professor Rob Freathy, who led the team that put the textbook together, said: “There is no single, neutral and objective answer to the question ‘Who is Jesus?’.
“Answers differ depending on who is being asked. RE teaching and assessment that recognises that, by asking pupils to think about subject matter from different perspectives, is intellectually more rigorous and can promote the educational benefits of open-ended inquiry.
“It also best prepares pupils to enter a world characterised by a radical diversity of beliefs, religions and world views.”
The textbook, titled Who is Jesus?, introduces…
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