AWE Club – Religious Studies and Philosophy Information

Course Description

Religious Studies and Philosophy

This course is a general interest course for ages 11-16. It is also an essential foundation course for students wishing to take any of the religious studies GCSE courses in the future.

Content

Introduction to Religious Studies:

• Fact, opinion and belief
• Looking for God
• The main religions
• Early beliefs
• Worship
• Religious buildings
• Jesus, the Messiah; teaching; his enemies; death and resurrection
• Hinduism
• Sikhism
• Creation stories
• Religion and the environment
• Buddhism
• Religion in Britain before Christianity
• Early Christianity

Christianity

• Beliefs and teachings – key beliefs; Jesus Christ and salvation
• Practices – worship and festivals; the role of the church in the local and worldwide community

Buddhism

• Beliefs and Teachings – the Dhamma (Dharma); The Buddha and the four noble truths
• Practices – worship and festivals; Buddhist ethics

Islam

• Beliefs and Teachings – key beliefs; Authority
• Practices – duties and festivals

Judaism

• Beliefs and Teachings
• Practices

General

• Relationships and families
• Religion and life
• The existence of God
• Religion, peace and conflict
• Human rights and social justice
• St Marks Gospel
• Religion philosophy and ethics
• Moral philosophy
• The philosophy of knowledge
• Political philosophy