As part of chapter 10 of [RE Mentoring Book] Lucy Rushforth, Lara Harris and myself suggested an approach to helping beginning teachers develop their subject knowledge of individual religions and worldviews. Space only allowed introductory reading to be suggested for Buddhism. Suggestions for other religions and worldviews can be found below, along with a downloadable template at the end of the page.

Buddhism – Introductory Reading

Bechert, H. and Gombrich, R. (1991) The World of Buddhism. Thames and Hudson.

Chryssides, G. (1988) Introduction to Buddhism. Cambridge University Press.

Cush, D. (1990) Buddhism in Britain Today. Hodder.

Fowler, Merv (1999) Buddhism . Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press

Hawkins, B. K. (1999) Buddhism. Routledge.

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition. Routledge – Chapter 8

Holt, James (2023) Understanding Buddhism: A Guide for Teachers (London: Bloomsbury)

Keown, D. (1996) Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Kulananda (2001) Buddhism. Thorsons.

RE:ONLINE (2020) Buddhist worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/buddhist-worldview-traditions/ 

Schmidt-Leukel, P. (2006) Understanding Buddhism. Dunedin. 

Williams, P., Tribe, A., & Wynne, A. (2012). Buddhist thought: A complete introduction to the Indian tradition. Taylor and Francis

Christianity – Introductory Reading

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition (London: Routledge) Chapter 9

Holt, James (2019) Beyond the big six religions: Expanding the boundaries in the teaching of religions and worldviews. Chester: University of Chester Press

McGrath A. (Ed.) (1995) The Christian Theology Reader. Oxford: Blackwell.

McGrath, A. (1997) An Introduction to Christianity. Oxford: Blackwell.

Macmillan, G. (2006) Understanding Christianity. Edinburgh, UK: Dunedin.

National Gallery (1999) The Image of Christ. London: National Gallery.

RE Online (2020) Christian worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/christian-worldview-traditions/ 

Wilson, B. (1999) Christianity. London: Routledge.

Woodhead, L. (2004) Christianity: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hinduism – Introductory Reading

Bowen, P. (1996) Themes and Issues in Hinduism. London: Cassell.

Demariaux, J.-C. (1995) How to Understand Hinduism. London: SCM.

Flood, G. (1996) An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition (London: Routledge) Chapter 10

Kanitkar, V. P. and Cole, W. O. (1995) Teach Yourself Hinduism. London: Hodder.

Knott, K. (1999) Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Shattuck, C. (1999) Hinduism. London: Routledge.

RE Online (2020) Hindu worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/hindu-worldview-traditions/ 

Islam – Introductory Reading

Burckhardt, T. (1990) An Introduction to Sufism. Wellingborough, UK: Crucible.

Chittick, William (2000). Sufism. London, UK: One World.

Elias, I. J. (1999) Islam. London: Routledge.

Esposito, J. (1994) Islam, the Straight Path. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Geaves, Ron (2005) Aspects of Islam. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.

Glasse, Cyril (2001). The concise encyclopedia of Islam (Rev. ed.). London, UK: Stacey International.

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition (London: Routledge) Chapter 11

Holt, James (2019) Beyond the big six religions: Expanding the boundaries in the teaching of religions and worldviews. Chester: University of Chester Press

Momen, Moojan (1985). An introduction to Shi’i Islam. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

RE Online (2020) Muslim worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/muslim-worldview-traditions/?page_id=371 

Ruthven, M. (1996) Islam: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

X, Malcolm (1968) Autobiography of Malcolm X. London: Penguin

Judaism – Introductory Reading

Aylett, E. (1991) The Jewish Experience. London: Hodder.

Cohn-Sherbok, D. (1999) Judaism. London: Routledge.

Cohn-Sherbok, L. and Cohn-Sherbok, D. (2001) Judaism: A Short Reader. London: One World Publications.

de Lange, N. (2000) An Introduction to Judaism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Ehrlich, Carl S. (2010) Judaism. New York, NY: Rosen Publishing.

Greene, Matt (2020) Jew(ish): A primer, A memoir, A manual, A plea Seattle: Little A

Frankl, Victor (2004 [1946]) Man’s Search for Meaning. The Classic Tribute to Hope from the Holocaust. London: Rider

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition (London: Routledge) Chapter 12

Isaacson, S. (1999) Principles of Jewish Spirituality. London: Thorsons.

RE Online (2020) Jewish worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/jewish-worldview-traditions/ 

Solomon, N. (1996) Judaism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Humanism – Introductory Reading

Ackroyd, Eric (2009) Divinity in Things: Religion Without Myth Eastbourne, UK: Sussex Academic Press.

Bentham, Jeremy (2009). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Dover Philosophical Classics. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. 

Copson, Andrew and Grayling, A. C. (ed) (2015) The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism Chichester, UK: Wiley Blackwell

Dawkins, R. (1999). Unweaving the Rainbow. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Holt, James (2019) Beyond the big six religions: Expanding the boundaries in the teaching of religions and worldviews. Chester: University of Chester Press Chapter 9

Humanists International (1996) ‘IHEU Minimum Statement on Humanism’, Humanists International, General Assembly, 1996 available at https://humanists.international/policy/iheu-minimum-statement-on-humanism/

Knight, M. (1961) Morals without religion and other essays London, UK: Dennis Dobson

Knight, Margaret (ed) (1995) The Humanist Anthology, rev. edn. London, UK: Rationalist Press Association

Malik, Kenan (2001) ‘What Is It To Be Human?’ London, UK: Academy of Ideas

RE Online (2020) Humanist worldview traditions  available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/humanist-worldview-traditions/?page_id=370

Rosen, Michael and Young, Ann-Marie (2017) What is Humanism? How do you live without a god? And other big questions for kids London, UK: Wayland

Rudge, Linda (1998) ‘I Am Nothing’ – Does It Matter? A Critique of Current Religious Education Policy and Practice in England on behalf of the Silent Majority, British Journal of Religious Education, 20:3, 155–165

Sartre, J-P. (1989). Existentialism is a Humanism Existentialism from Dostoyevsky to Sartre, Walter Kaufman (ed), Penguin, London: UK 345–368

Paganism – Introductory Reading

Bonewits, Isaac (2006) Bonewits’s Essential Guide To Druidism NY, NY: Citadel Press.

Buckland, Raymond (2002) [1986] Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft. Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.

Carr-Gomm, Philip (1991) The Elements of the Druid Tradition, Shaftesbury, UK: Element Books.

Chamberlain, Lisa (2014) Wicca for Beginners. A Guide to Wiccan Beliefs, Rituals, Magic, and Witchcraft UK: Chamberlain Publications.

Higginbotham, Joyce & Higginbotham, River (2002). Paganism: An Introduction To Earth-Centered Religions (8th ed.). Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.

Holt, James (2019) Beyond the big six religions: Expanding the boundaries in the teaching of religions and worldviews. Chester: University of Chester Press Chapter 11

Jennings, Peter (2002). Pagan Paths. London, UK: Random House.

MacLellan, Gordon (1999) Shamanism London, UK: Piatkus.

RestallOrr, Emma (2004) Living Druidry: Magical Spirituality for the Wild Soul. London, UK: Piatkus.

RE Online (2020) Pagan  available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/pagan/?page_id=376 

van der Hoeven, Joanna (2014) Pagan Portals – The Awen Alone: Walking the Path of the Solitary Druid Alresford, UK: Moon Books

Sikhism – Introductory Reading

Cole, W. O. (2004) Understanding Sikhism. Edinburgh, UK: Dunedin Academic Press.

Cole, W. O. and Sambhi, P. S. (1995) The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Brighton, UK: Sussex Academic Press.

Holt, James (2022) Religious Education in the Secondary School. An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions 2nd Edition (London: Routledge) Chapter 13

Holt, James (2023) Understanding Sikhism: A Guide for Teachers (London: Bloomsbury)

Kalsi, S. S. (1999) Simple Guide to Sikhism. Folkestone, UK: Global Books.

Mann, G. S. (2004) Sikhism. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Mansukhani, Gobind Singh (2007) Introduction to Sikhism (14th edn). New Delhi, India: Harkunt Press.

McLeod, W.H. (1999) Sikhs and Sikhism: Comprising Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, Early Sikh Tradition, the Evolution of the Sikh Community, and Who is a Sikh Oxford: Oxford University Press

Nesbitt, Eleanor (2005) Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

RE Online (2020) Sikhi worldview traditions available at https://www.reonline.org.uk/knowledge/sikhism/

Singh, N. K. (2011). Sikhism: An introduction. London: I. B. Tauris

Takhar, O. K. (2016). Sikh identity: An exploration of groups among Sikhs. London: Routledge.

Below is a template which can be adapted and edited based on the approach: