The study of religion - Religious Studies or Religious Education - encourages students to examine the place of religious thought and philosophy throughout human history. The examination of human ideas, religious and otherwise, and their interrelation to politics, law, history and anthropology (cultural studies) are crucial.
Through studying Religion as a phenomenon, and Religions and historical and social responses to them, students can begin to comprehend and understand more about what it is to be human. To consider the diversity of human thought, experience, and the moral and social structures that flow through to themselves as individuals and to society at large. They can thus learn to think about their own decisions in life and the attitudes and values they sympathise with or have antipathies to.
- Learn about other points of view
- Be aware of different traditions
- Gain understanding of cultures from around the world
- Learn about issues that affect the wider community – world citizenship
- Develop well reasoned opinions about the world
- Learn about Ultimate Questions and other aspects of Philosophy
- Many employers will find your studies of cultures and traditions useful
- Develops skills of expression, argument and critical thinking
As with other humanities subjects, students consider evidence and research that they can use to reach their own conclusions on a variety of topics. Students are often encouraged to argue, debate and defend their own points of view.
At GCSE the subject covers aspects of Philosophy, moral and ethical studies, ideas of truth and of course the study of the major world religions. Within this spectrum many links to Science, History, Geography, Anthropology and English are inculcated. It is an ideal subject for developing awareness of the world and of many of the major contemporary issues that humanity is confronting (issues such as war, terrorism, poverty, the environment and the media).
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