Topics

There are two parts to the course:

1.   Religion: Christianity and Buddhism

• Christian Beliefs
• Christian Practices
• Buddhist Beliefs
• Buddhist Practices

2.   Ethical Themes 

• Religion and Relationships
• Religion and Life
• Religion, Crime and Punishment
• Religion, Peace and Conflict

Approach

The qualification encourages students to engage with a wide range of concepts and materials to enable them to interpret, contextualise and analyse the expressions of religions and worldviews they encounter with confidence.

Assessment

This subject is assessed by two examinations each 1 hour and 45 minutes.  There is no controlled assessment.

To be successful on this course you should

• Be fascinated by the power of belief to influence almost every aspect of people’s lives
• Be able to understand and relate to people whose beliefs, values and viewpoints differ from your own
• Enjoy analysing and discussing controversial issues

Further Education and Career Opportunities

GCSE Religious Studies is a useful stepping stone to further educational opportunities.  It is a relevant qualification for many careers such as medicine, law and order, media, personnel, community work and any career which involves working within a multi-cultural environment.