Description

Peace Freedom and Harmony Class Play plus Diff Religions script

This ‘package’ includes two scripts:

I Peace Freedom and Harmony Class Play

&

II Different Religions of the World (Group of 6 readers) and available separately

I Peace Freedom and Harmony Class Play

This script was written in the wake of the Paris atrocities of January 2015 and inspired by the spirit of those who took to the streets afterwards, demonstrating their solidarity in the face of adversity.

The tone is intended to be one of total neutrality. I have referred to acts of terrorism committed by those who claim to be motivated by Islam; but I have pointed out that other religions have similarly been ‘hijacked’ as tools to justify violence, as in the case of Christianity and the Crusades. If these mentions of specific religions are deemed too sensitive they can be taken out of the script with reference limited to religion as a general term i.e. without mentioning specific religions.

The subject matter is obviously of a ‘sensitive’ nature. And I would therefore suggest this script be used within the classroom to help answer any questions some children may have regarding  what they see on the news, hear on the radio etc. Maybe as the basis of a discussion. It is not an easy subject to tackle but at the same time one which could be broached within clearly defined constraints. I leave this to the teacher.

II Different Religions of the World (Group of 6 readers)

My script on Different Religions of the World talks about us all living together in harmony and may be considered more appropriate for use within schools as there are no references to acts of terrorism.

The script looks at Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Whilst identifying the differences between these religions, it stresses throughout that all religions have a common goal – that of living better lives; and this is something we should all focus on.

This script (plus quiz) is available separately off my website.

I have an assembly on Judaism and intend adding the other major religions – please contact me if you have a preference.

Also available:

Assembly on Buddhism
Assembly on Islam
Assembly on Judaism
Different World Religions Guided Reading Scripts:

Christianity
Judaism
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism

Peace Freedom and Harmony Class Play Sample Texts:

Peace Freedom and Harmony Class Play

Narrator:                   So we have two crucial messages here today.

Child 1:                      One is to live good lives and not to bow to evil.

Child 2:                      Two is to live our lives in peace and harmony – not in dissension and fear.

Child 3:                      If we allow ourselves to be cowered by the forces of evil, those dark forces have won.

Child 4:                      We have to hold our heads up high.

Child 5:                      And go on believing in the basic goodness of humanity.

Child 6:                      We must avoid looking around for scapegoats when things go wrong.

Child 7:                      We are all in charge of our own destinies.

Child 8:                      The majority of people are good.

Child 9:                      We must not allow evil forces to convince us otherwise.

Child 10:                    We must not ‘paint everyone with the same brush’.

Narrator:                   Pardon? Please explain!

Child 11:                    So. In the case of those who carry out terrorist acts, in the name of religion. We have already said, this is just not the case. They use religion as justification for their barbaric acts.

Child 12:                    Religion is not to blame.

Child 14:                    It is a useful cover – nothing else.

II Different Religions of the World (Group of 6 readers)

Muslim:          Yes, it’s a good reason to lead a good life!

Atheist:           And isn’t that really what you all believe? That we should respect each other and take care of each other, to make the world a better place? The rest is unimportant.

Muslim:          You mean the way we dress?

Hindu:             The places we worship in?

Christian:        How we worship?

Jew:                 And all those rituals we have?

Buddhist:        That’s right! Does it really matter that we look different?

Hindu:             That we pray in different places?

Christian:        That we use different symbols in our worship?

Buddhist:        Not at all! Surely we should celebrate our differences? Wouldn’t our world be a boring place if we were all the same?

Atheist:           So why is it that wars are so often fought in the name of religion? You look around at the conflict in our world today. How much violence is there because of your religions?

Buddhist:        Our leader in Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has never encouraged violence!

Atheist:           So what have the rest of you to say?

Hindu:             The problem has always been when one religion has decided it should be the one!

Atheist:           Like when one religion feels superior to another?

Jew:                 Or when one set of people are persecuted by another – like when we were driven from our homes all those years ago.

Hindu:             Many of us have found ourselves scattered to places we’d never have dreamt of!

Muslim:          We have all of us spread across the world, and with millions of followers.

Atheist:           And now you have to learn to accept each others ways. It’s called tolerance. What a pity intolerance leads to such terrible conflict and heartbreak.

Christian:        Yes, when you think what we all have to offer! It makes no sense!

Atheist:           Let’s look at what you do have to offer.

Christian:        Well, let’s see. Religion provides people with hope for the future.

Jew:                 With comfort in times of despair.

Muslim:          With a set of beliefs and practices.

Hindu:             With a set of values and customs.

Buddhist:        To unite people into a community.