Religious Education

SUBJECT INTRODUCTION

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Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops students’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions and other world views that offer answers to questions such as these. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development.

Aims of Religious Education

Religious Education is concerned with the deep meaning that individuals and groups make of their experiences and how this helps them give purpose to their lives.

The purpose of Religious Education is to help students to reflect upon the experiences and the mysteries of life and the contribution of religious and spiritual dimensions.

Religious Education should enable students to:

Acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions
Develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies and cultures
Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues, with reference to the teachings of the principal religions and thereby develop confidence in their own beliefs and values
Enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by:

developing awareness of the ultimate questions of life raised by human experiences, and of how religions can relate to them
responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions and other belief systems, relating them to their own understanding and experience
reflecting positively on their own identity, beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study

Develop positive attitudes:

of respect towards other people who hold views and beliefs different from their own
towards living in and contributing to an inclusive and caring community and a society of diverse religions.

THE CURRICULUM

At KS5 students will study the OCR Religious Studies course. This course is split into three units, Philosophy of Religion, Religious Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought. It is examined by three, essay based, exams at the end of Year 13.

Students will study ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, as well as debating issues such as the problem of evil and the existence of God. In the Religious Ethics unit, students will apply ethical theories to situations in order to delve into human morality and motivations for making decisions in ethical dilemmas. The Developments in Christian Thought unit explores theological issues such as how we can know anything about a transcendent God and whether Jesus was the Son of God or merely a teacher of wisdom.

Students are set weekly homework and expected to complete regular essays in order to practice their ability to develop and criticise arguments.

Topics Covered

Year 12

Philosophy of Religion

Plato
Aristotle
Soul, body and mind
Ontological argument
Teleological argument
Cosmological argument
Religious Experiences
Problem of Evil

Religious Ethics

Natural Law
Situation Ethics
Kantian Ethics
Utilitarianism
Euthanasia
Business Ethics

Developments in Christian Thought

Augustine and Original Sin
Knowledge of God
Jesus Christ
The Afterlife
Christian Moral Principles
Christian Moral Action

Year 13

Philosophy of Religion

Nature and attributes of God
Religious Language

Religious Ethics

Meta-ethics
Conscience
Sexual ethics

Developments in Christian Thought

Religious Pluralism and Theology
Religious Pluralism and Society
Gender and Society
Gender and Theology
The Challenge of Secularism
Liberation Theology and Marx

ENRICHMENT & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Students have the ability to develop their understanding of philosophical, religious and ethical issues through a number of extra-curricular activities. Year 12 and 13 students attend lectures delivered by Drs Peter and Charlotte Vardy to supplement their A Level studies.

Careers

Religious Education provides students with a range of skills which are transferable to a number of different A Levels and degree subjects. The subject encourages students to think critically, analyse texts and develop arguments. These are essential skills within all humanities and social sciences subjects.

According to AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service), Philosophy and Ethics will prepare students for the following careers: