Compulsory Religious Education

Contact Andriana Tsikouris Email tsikouris_a@materchristi.edu.au

In Year 11 students may choose to undertake Religion & Society Unit 1 or Religion and Society Units 3 & 4 (accelerated VCE study for students who meet the criteria) or College-based Catholic Action Program (CAP). They may not choose CAP in both Years 11 and 12. In Year 12, students may choose to undertake Religion & Society Unit 2, Religion and Society Units 3 & 4 or College-based Catholic Action Program (CAP). In Year 12, students who choose CAP or Religion & Society Unit 2 will complete their course at the end of Term 3. Students who choose Religion & Society Units 3 & 4 will obtain a study score and complete their course after sitting the end of year VCAA examination, as per their other Unit 3 and 4 studies.

Subject Description

RELIGION AND SOCIETY Scope of study

The beliefs, practices, principles and codes of religions provide ways in which individuals can answer questions about the meaning and purpose of life. In VCE Religion and Society, religion is defined as a community organised around beliefs related to ultimate reality and the consequent beliefs, practices, principles and codes for behaviour. Adherence to particular beliefs, practices, principles and codes can form an important part of individual identity. They can determine membership of the religion and the transmission of meaning, both individual and collective, from generation to generation. Within each religious tradition, groups and individuals exhibit diversity of commitment and belief; some people do not identify with the generalised portrayal of their religious tradition, whereas others become strict adherents.

Religious traditions develop and evolve over time through the participation and contribution of members and through interactions with society. Throughout history, religion and society have interacted with each other in broad ways in response to a range of important issues. Religion initiates changes to society and vice versa, and the consequences of these dynamic processes are part of the scope of this study. Some religious traditions continue to thrive while others have declined or disappeared, or parts of them have been assimilated into other religions, which allows their ideas to live on in some form. New religious movements can develop into religious traditions.

In Religion and Society, students undertake a general study of religion and its interaction with society in the past and the present. They study specific religious traditions or religious denominations in societies where multiple worldviews coexist and consider the experiences of members as those members engage with their religious tradition individually and communally. This study respects and encourages an open and objective inquiry, without partiality towards any one religion.

For the purposes of this study, the term ‘religion’ can be understood as encompassing all related phenomena, including spiritualities.

Rationale

VCE Religion and Society enables students to understand the complex interactions between religion and society over time. Religion has played, and continues to play, a significant role in the development and maintenance of society. Students come to appreciate that religion can be a positive force of power, authority, and justice. However,