Al-Jazeera, August 18, 2015, by Wilson Dizar, “Muslim scholars from 20 countries issued an “Islamic Declaration on Climate Change” on Tuesday, calling on the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims to do their part to eliminate dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and commit to renewable energy sources. The declaration, which draws on Islamic teachings, was drafted by academics and finalized at the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium held in Istanbul Aug. 17-18. The symposium’s goal was to reach “broad unity and ownership from the Islamic community around the Declaration,” according to the event’s website.”
world religions
March 10, 2022
Multiculturalism and its associated plurality of value systems is rapidly becoming the norm in modern medical practice. Given this increasing diversity, greater emphasis upon cultural and ethical competence in physician training is necessary in order to provide culturally sensitive and ethically sound care. Religious values shape ethical codes and are expressed in the cultural norms of subcommunities in a society. Thus, an understanding of religious values that may influence the clinical encounter is important. This paper provides an overview of the ethical constructs of the sacred law traditions of Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam and will outline approaches taken by each faith regarding medical ethics. It is hoped that the insights gained will aid both clinicians and ethicists to better understand these religious paradigms of medical ethics and thereby positively affect patient care through increased tolerance and understanding.
March 10, 2022
Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet tells the story of a man who changed the world 1,400 years ago and now lives in the United States through the lives of the millions of Americans who regard him as God’s prophet. It travels in the footsteps of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad to the Arabian Desert and the holy city of Mecca where Muhammad’s story unfolded. But the film does not just stay in the past. Much of its story is told through the observations of contemporary American Muslims, including a fireman at the World Trade Center on September 11th, a second generation Arab-American family building a community based on Islamic principles, a Congressional Chief of Staff working for justice, and a refugee fleeing religious persecution, whose experiences in some way echo Muhammad’s life. Lesson plans can be found at two companion websites with different content: http://theIslamProject.org AND the PBS site at https://www.pbs.org/show/muhammad-legacy-prophet/.
March 10, 2022
lp_FM-D01_IslamicLaw Islamic Law lesson plan, “What is Shariah? Major Sources and Principles of Islamic Law” lesson plan. This lesson provides background reading on the nature of Islamic law, and the role of legal scholars in making judgments according to Islamic legal sources. Understanding this material will help students evaluate Muslim approaches to contemporary social and political issues in Muslim countries and communities. For use with: Video documentary FRONTLINE: MUSLIMS or as standalone lesson on the topic.
March 10, 2022
Living With our Deepest Differences – a collection of 10 lesson plans that explain the history and significance of the First Amendment religious liberty clauses and their decisive contribution to individual and communal freedom and to American democracy. Lessons are designed to deepen each student’s appreciation of the principles of religious liberty for peoples of all faiths and of none and to establish a strong civic commitment to the ground rules by which all citizens can contend robustly but civilly over religious differences in public life. Downloaded here Living-with-Our-Deepets-Differences-Religious-Liberty-in-a-Pluralistic-Society
March 10, 2022
Students evaluate comments made by individuals in the film. The quotes touch upon topics such as Expressions of Faith, Family and Communal Aspects of Muslim Life, Unity and Diversity Among Muslims, Muslims in Mainstream American Society, and Muslim Responses to Extremism in Religion. Students will be better able to distinguish between “Islamic” teachings and “Muslim” practices which may or may not conform to the faith’s widely-held principles and ideals. For use with: Video documentary FRONTLINE: MUSLIMS or standalone. Here is the lesson plan as a pdf lp_FM-C01_ValuesPracticesFaith-C01
March 10, 2022
A Short video depicting three teenagers who are researching how the modern world has been impacted by the Dark Ages. They meet the Librarian (Sir Ben Kingsley) who guides them through a journey of discovery about the ancient Golden Age. This video is a project of the international exhibition with many other teaching resources at and a page of additional videos at https://www.1001inventions.com/films-and-videos/
March 10, 2022
Lesson plan and Readings on the origins of Islamic science and its transfer across the Mediterranean to Spain and into Europe is part of the complete set of lessons for comprehension and enrichment written to accompany the Unity Productions Foundation documentary film Cities of Light, in addition to interactive online features, articles, slide shows, timelines and maps is found at http://www.islamicspain.tv. The Lesson Plan Set is available for download in pdf format (individual lesson titles and the complete set on the site at http://www.islamicspain.tv/For-Teachers/LessonPlans.htm).
March 10, 2022
A very good resource that includes information beyond the festivals. An AWAIR pick for detailed information on Islam and Muslim festivals. Upper elementary, middle school level
March 10, 2022
Well-known scholar of world religions Karen Armstrong discusses the perception that violence is associated with Islam, and discusses its historical association with other traditions. It is a lengthy article that can be used to discuss the general topic of religions and violence. The Guardian Newspaper, Sept 25, 2014
March 10, 2022
Description of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and its celebration.
March 10, 2022
An interactive web page illustrating the many cultural contributions to American life from Islamic Spain, also leads to other articles on Muslims’ contributions to modern life, sciences, technologies, and cultural exchanges.
March 10, 2022
The film explores Islamic art in several thematic segments (Space, Word, Water, Ornament, and Color), featuring objects big and small, from great palaces and mosques to f ceramics, carved boxes, paintings and metal work. It revels in the use of color and finds commonalities in a shared artistic heritage with the West and East. The film also examines the unique ways in which Islamic art turns calligraphy and the written word into masterpieces and develops water into an expressive, useful art form Like all art, it carries the fundamental values and perspectives of the artists who created it as well as those who commissioned and paid for it. A discussion guide for the film can be used as a set of lesson plans Discussion-Guide-Mirror-of-the-Invisible-World-2013.
March 10, 2022
Links to exhibits and collections on Islam at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Detroit Institute of the Arts Islamic Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum Palace and Mosque exhibit (see also sidebar links on the site), The British Museum Galleries by World Region) A few examples are https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/islamic-art AND http://www.lacma.org/art/collection/islamic-art AND https://dia.org/learning AND http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/i/islamic-art-and-design/
March 10, 2022
Gallery Guide: Arts of the Islamic World (Smithsonian Freer & Sackler Galleries, now renamed National Museum of Asian Art) are featured by exhibit, and objects in the permanent collections are searchable.
March 10, 2022
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the fast’s end, are sacred times for millions throughout the world. Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr examines the reasons for the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast and observes some of the wide variety of celebrations at the end of the fast worldwide.
Deborah Heiligman’s text examines the historical, religious, and cultural aspect of this Muslim holiday. The book’s beautiful photographs are complemented with a map pinpointing the exact locations illustrated. The extensive back matter also includes a list of further resources such as books and Web sites, useful for the research student and paper writer in grades one to four.
The book’s consultant, Dr. Neguin Yavari gives an explanatory note about the religious and cultural significance of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
March 10, 2022
In 2010, the AAR Board of Directors approved the document and teaching guide Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K–12 Public Schools (PDF) in the United States. The document is the product of a three-year initiative undertaken by the Religion in the Schools Task Force in consultation with educators and the broad constituency of the AAR. The Guidelines are written for public school teachers, administrators, members of school boards, and other citizens to provide guidance for how to teach about religion in intellectually sound ways from the nonsectarian perspective appropriate for public schools.
March 10, 2022
This is a list of UPF documentary films with streaming, discussion guides, and lesson plans.
March 10, 2022
A rich resource with information on world religions and their contemporary expressions. An ongoing research effort, the Pluralism Project studies and interprets religious diversity and interfaith relations in the United States One of the best resources for teaching about religions beyond the usual five major world religions.