Religious Education

Introduction

The Year 8 Religious Education syllabus should have provided students with valuable insight into the ways in which people’s beliefs can affect how they conduct themselves on a day-to-day basis. Students should now understand, in particular, that what one person/group might consider immoral, another might consider the best course of action due to how the people/groups determine what is right and what is wrong.

GCSE Religious Education builds on this strong foundation; students will examine how Christian, Muslim and atheist/Humanist beliefs affect people’s lives, and will investigate how the ethical outlooks of these groups influences their real-life decisions and actions. They will compare and contrast beliefs and views, debating the benefits and drawbacks of each, ultimately gaining more understanding of themselves and those around them.

 

What will it be like?

Edexcel Religious Studies Specification B

Paper 1 – Religion and Ethics – Christianity

Belief in God – Students will learn about the Trinity, person of Jesus, creation, science and the universe, evolution, and the problem of evil and suffering.

Marriage and the Family – Students will learn about marriage, sexual relationships, divorce, the importance of family, cohabitation, and contraception

Living the Religious Life – Students will learn about worship, prayer, pilgrimage, charity, the world wide Church, and the future of the Church

Matters of Life and Death – Students will learn about the sanctity of life, abortion, euthanasia, life after death, the paranormal, and gender prejudice and discrimination

Paper 2 – Religion, Peace and Conflict – Islam

Belief in God – Students will learn about the nature of God, key beliefs, the problem of evil and suffering, and human responses to the problem of evil

Crime and Punishment – Students will learn about beliefs about life after death, causes of crime, the aims of punishment, justice, reconciliation, and capital punishment

Living the Religious Life – Students will learn about holy books, pilgrimage, charity, prayer, and festivals

Peace and Conflict – Students will learn about the sanctity of life, causes of conflict, Just War, holy war, pacifism, and terrorism

Assessment

The course is assessed by 2 X 105 minute examinations at the end of Year 11.