What we do... Religious Studies enables students to consider some of the most profound, fundamental questions such as Does God exist? Is there life after death? What’s the meaning of life? What created the universe? Religious Studies explores the most important social and moral issues of our time: Abortion, Euthanasia, Animal Experimentation, Poverty; Divorce; War; Punishment; Racism; the Power of the Media. Religious Studies helps students to understand how a person’s religious beliefs can often affect their behaviour and life-style. The subject explores what religious people do and why they do it. |
An Outline of Key Stage Three Religious Studies
The Big Questions
• What’s it all about?
• Scientific and religious views on the creation of the universe
• From creation to destruction – Religion and the Environment
• Does religion set us free?
Christ and Conflict
• The political situation at the time of Christ
• Why was Jesus put to death?
• Did Jesus really perform miracles?
• The relevance of Jesus’ teachings today
Life
• How significant/important are we?
• How and why do we celebrate key stages in life?God?
• What is God?
• Why do people believe in God?
• Why are there so many gods in Hinduism?Buddhism and suffering
• How and why do we suffer?
• How has religion helped people to do good?
• Why the Buddha wasn’t a fat bloke!
• The Buddhist way of preventing all suffering
• How hard is it to follow the Buddha’s teaching?
Punishment & Forgiveness
• Should the punishment match the crime?
• What does Christianity teach about punishment?
• Why is it important to forgive?
• Is capital punishment acceptable?
Islam, War and Peace
• How did Islam begin and why is Muhammad (PBUH) and the Qur’an so important to Muslims?
• What is the true cost of warfare?
• What does Islam teach about killing and war?
• Why are the Quakers and Pacifists?
• Can we fight for peace? The work and faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Prejudice and Discrimination
• How are people discriminated against and why?
• Jewish belief and practice
• What was the Holocaust?
• What can we learn from the Holocaust?
• The life, work and religious belief of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King
Humans Rights, Animal Rights
• What are your Human Rights?
• Examples of Human Rights abuses
• Is it ever acceptable to test medicines on animals?
• Religion and Animal Rights
Marriage and the Family
• In the summer term Year 9 begin the Religious
• Studies GCSE (Short Course)
An Outline of Key Stage Four Religious Studies
All students are required by law, to take part in Religious Studies lessons whilst in full time education. At Sampson’s Secondary School all students in Year 10 and 11 study the Religious Studies GCSE (Short Course). This involves: One lesson of Religious Studies per week (plus homework); Learning about important and relevant social and moral issues. Exploring what Christianity and Islam teaches about these issues; Sitting one, two hour examination at the end of Year 11 (there is no coursework). |
Believing In God
• Does the existence of the universe point to the existence of a loving creator?
• Has science disproved the existence of God?
• Why does a loving God allow innocent people to suffer?
• Do ‘miracles’ happen?
Marriage and the Family
• Is marriage outdated?
• Is sex before marriage wrong?
• Why is the family so important to society?
• Should marriage always be for life?Matters of Life and Death
• When does human life begin?
• Is abortion murder?
• Should euthanasia be legalised
• Is life after death just wishful thinking?
Social Harmony
• Are all people equal?
• Is a woman’s place in the home?
• Do non-Christians go to heaven?
• How has religious belief inspired people to speak out against injustice?
Religion and the Media
• Does the Media treat religion fairly?
• Can we trust what we read, see and hear?
• What makes a news story interesting?
And finally ... Religious Studies is not about preparing students to become vicars or nuns. It is about preparing them to live safely in a global community by understanding, respecting and celebrating cultural and religious differences. We live in a small world where religion still plays a very big part in the lives of billions of people. It cannot be avoided, it will not change - religion needs to be understood. |