Religion Survey or Religious Leader Interview

This is an opportunity for you to interview 3 people who would identify themselves as religious individuals and 3 people who would identify themselves as non-religious.

• A person will need to ask the people who identify themselves as religious to:
o Define Religion
o In a sentence, summarize what it is they like about religion
o Will they attempt to pass their religious beliefs on to the next generation? If so, how will they do that? If not, why not?
o Do they discuss religious issues with their friends and family? Why or why not?
o What do they think of people who consider themselves non-religious?

• A person will need to ask the people who identify themselves as non-religious to:
o Define religion
o In a sentence, summarize what it is they dislike about religion or why they have chosen not to be a part of an organized religious group
o Will they attempt to pass their lack of religious beliefs on to the next generation? If so, will they discuss their reasons for not being religious with their children? If not, why not?
o Do they discuss religious issues with their friends and family? Why or why not?
o What do they think of people who consider themselves religious?

The student should reflect on the differences between the responses of these two groups of people. What can be learned about the role of religion for the individual and society from the attitudes and reactions of the people you interviewed to these questions.

Write/reflect about what surprised you from the people’s responses and what can be learned by religious authorities about how their religious institutions are perceived by others—the good and the bad.

Finally, explain in a concluding paragraph what you see as the role of religion today in the 21st century.