I'm often asked "why do you care what other people believe?" My answer is that I care because I care about the things that make our world tick. I care because our beliefs are defining qualities that play a huge part in our relationships with other people and the world at large. I care because what people believe determines how people act.

Alom Shaha

Although I didn't write this it perfectly sums up what I believe RE is about in schools today. It is NOT about trying to get you to believe one religion or another and it is NOT about we believe as teachers. In fact, you may be suprised what we believe! 

RE is important because religion DOES affect how people act, from the extremes of supporting a charity for religious reasons to ploughing an aircraft into a skyscraper. Religion is a very important factor in how many societies around the world are structured and how people live their lives.

Why take GCSE Religious Studies?

 It is an interesting course in which you look at the influence of Christianity and Judaism on topics such as:

§   making moral decisions

§   human rights in the UK

§   genetic engineering

§   environmental issues

§   infertility treatments

§   transplant surgery

§   war and peace

§   bullying

§   capital punishment

§   attitudes to drugs

§   attitudes to alcohol.

Many employers (especially the police, armed forces and caring professions) regard GCSE Religious Studies as a good qualification. It involves a lot of thinking skills and writing skills, and shows that you are aware of other people’s beliefs and the nature of the society you live in.

It helps you to think through some of the big issues of life that adults contemplate all the time.

It helps to remove the ignorance that causes prejudice, hatred and violence (many wars are caused through misunderstandings about religion).

Religious Studies protects you from indoctrination (being made to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them). It gives you the opportunity to explore religious and moral beliefs in a safe and questioning environment so that you can become sure of your own beliefs and explain them clearly to others.

At the end of the day it is another GCSE qualification for you!

REMEMBER: RELIGIOUS STUDIES IS NOT ABOUT MAKING YOU ‘RELIGIOUS’ OR ONLY FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO BE A VICAR, IT IS ABOUT ENABLING YOU TO THINK FOR YOURSELF ABOUT RELIGIOUS AND MORAL ISSUES WHICH EVERYONE FACES IN ADULT LIFE.

You may not have had the choice to study RE (it has been compulsory in schools since 1944, so sorry about that!) but we hope you enjoy it none the less.