Religious Education

SUBJECT: Religious Education

What will I learn in this subject?

The course is built around three interconnecting strands: Expressing Beliefs, Exploring Questions and Living our Values. Each strand develops your ability to understand, respect and appreciate how people’s beliefs have been expressed in the past and continue to be expressed today. You will examine questions of meaning and morality and explore how religious and non-religious traditions respond to these questions.

How will I learn in this subject?

Enquiry, Exploration and Reflection and Action are key elements of Religious Education and you will be encouraged to engage with material through research and discussion, to uncover new ideas and perspectives on a topic. You will take part in informed discussions about moral issues and respectfully communicate and explain opinions and beliefs. You will also listen to others communicating their traditions and beliefs so you can understand and appreciate that diversity exists within religious and non-religious traditions.

Is learning this subject in CPS anything like what I did in Primary School?

You may or may not have covered some of the material in Primary School. Everyone starts in 1st Year with some basic information about the five major world religions and the main nonreligious traditions so if you have never studied Religious Education before, don’t worry.

Assessment?

You will complete two Classroom Based Assessments (CBA’s) in Religious Education; one in 2nd Year and one in 3rd Year. These give you the opportunity to explore a topic of interest within a specific area. After this you will take part in an Assessment Task which will be marked by the State Examinations Commission and is allocated 10% of your overall mark. There is one examination paper for Religious Education at a common level, set by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). The examination will be two hours in duration and will take place at the end of 3rd Year.

How will this subject be useful to me?

Religious Education is a really important subject in the modern world. In Religious Education you will examine questions of meaning, purpose and relationships which will help you understand, respect and appreciate people’s beliefs, values and ways of living. It enables you to participate in your communities and in the world as informed, respectful, responsible and caring members of society.