Year 9 RE/History Lesson: Was Evil Let In – Or Always There?
This thought-provoking lesson explores the origins of evil by comparing Augustine’s theodicy with historical examples of extreme human actions. Pupils learn about Augustine’s belief that evil is the absence of good (privatio boni) caused by free will and original sin. They then analyse Hitler’s ideology, the Holocaust, and totalitarian control to discuss whether evil is inherent or chosen. Activities include guided reading, gap-fill and comprehension questions, sorting examples of Hitler’s actions, and extended reflection on whether evil is inevitable or preventable.
Learning aims:
Explain Augustine’s theodicy and its key ideas about evil
Describe examples of evil actions under the Nazi regime
Evaluate challenges to the belief that God is not responsible for evil
Reflect on whether people are born evil or shaped by choices and environment
Includes PowerPoint slides (school logos have been removed from the PPT), categorisation tasks, comprehension activities, and structured reflection questions ready to teach.
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£2.00