Understanding Religious Myths

Lesson Details

• Lesson Duration: 50 minutes
• Class Size: 4 students
• Subject: Religious Education
• Level: AQA A Level Religious Studies (Year 12)
• Topic: Rudolf Bultmann’s Concept of Myth in Religious Language
• Curriculum Focus: Component 2 – Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
• Key Inquiry Question: What is the role of myth in religious language according to Bultmann?

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define Bultmann’s concept of myth within religious language.
2. Explain Bultmann’s theory of demythologisation and its significance.
3. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Bultmann’s approach.

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Lesson Breakdown

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Myth and Meaning

• Objective: Introduce the idea of myth and its role in communication.
• Activity: Students are given four short descriptions of common myths (e.g. Icarus flying too close to the sun, King Arthur, The Garden of Eden, and a modern example such as Star Wars).
• Discussion Questions:
  1. What do these myths convey?
  2. Do myths always need to be taken literally?
  3. Can myths contain truth even if they are not factual?

(Encourage students to see myth not as "falsehood" but as a method of conveying profound truth.)

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Main Teaching (15 minutes) – Bultmann and Religious Mythology

• Teacher Explanation:

  • Introduce Rudolf Bultmann (1884–1976), his background as a theologian.
  • Define ‘myth’ in a religious context – stories conveying deeper theological truths.
  • Explain Bultmann’s idea that the Bible is full of myths (e.g., miracles, resurrection).
  • Introduce his key concept of Demythologisation – removing mythical elements to uncover existential meaning.
  • Compare with traditional interpretations: How do different religious groups view myth?

• Visual Aid: A timeline or PowerPoint slide showing Bultmann’s key ideas and how they influence modern theology.

• Quick Discussion: Does removing myth from religious texts strengthen or weaken religious belief?

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Small Group Discussion (10 minutes) – Evaluating Demythologisation

• Activity: Students are assigned one of the following perspectives to consider:

  1. A traditional Christian who believes biblical miracles are historical.
  2. A modern theologian who supports demythologisation.
  3. An atheist who views religious myths as outdated.
  4. An agnostic who sees myths as having symbolic value but not factual truth.

• Task: Each student argues from their assigned perspective in a short discussion.

(This fosters critical thinking and appreciation of diverse viewpoints.)

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Individual Reflection Task (10 minutes) – Personal Response

• Activity: Students write a short response (either a paragraph or bullet points) answering the question:
  “To what extent do you agree with Bultmann’s claim that religious language must be demythologised to hold meaning in the modern world?”
• Encourage students to reference examples from the discussion.

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Plenary (5 minutes) – Final Thoughts and Exit Ticket

• Quick Roundtable: Each student shares one sentence summarising their view.
• Exit Ticket Question: Students write on a sticky note or verbally share – "One question I still have about religious myths is..."

(This allows the teacher to assess ongoing learning and shape future lessons.)

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Assessment for Learning Strategies

• Formative: Class discussion, small group debate, reflection task.
• Summative: Plenary reflection and questioning to gauge understanding.

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Differentiation

• For students who need more support: Provide key quotes from Bultmann with guiding questions.
• For high-achieving students: Challenge them to compare Bultmann’s views with other thinkers (e.g., Wittgenstein on religious language).

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Extension/Homework Suggestion

• Research another philosopher’s approach to religious language (e.g., Tillich, Wittgenstein, or Ayer) and prepare a brief summary for the next lesson.

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This lesson provides an academically rigorous, engaging, and discussion-driven approach to Bultmann’s ideas, ensuring that students critically engage with religious language in a meaningful way.