Why study Religious Education?

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Why study Religious Education?

• Leaving Certificate

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Religious Education for Leaving Certificate is a
new subject, examined for the first time in
2005 It is a personally enriching subject which
helps the learner to function effectively in a
complex, pluralist culture It is fully
recognised by CAO, UCAS and other entry bodies
into third level education and merits the same
points as other Leaving Certificate subjects
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Relevance to Life

• R.E. can help develop and enrich you as a person
  as you learn to
• understand and grow in appreciation for the
  variety of religious traditions in Ireland and
  globally
• engage with the secular response to human
  experience
• reflect on your human experience so that you
  can begin to understand and interpret that
  experience
• participate in your own conscious and critical
  development

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• develop tolerance and mutual understanding
• engage in meaningful dialogue with people of
  other and of no religious traditions
• grow personally, holistically, spiritually,
  morally and academically
• develop an informed and critical understanding
  of the Christian tradition in its origins and
  contemporary expressions

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• R.E. will help you prepare for the world of
  work, further training or education
• R.E. will help you prepare for your role as
  participative, enterprising citizens

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Whats particular about R.E.? The emphases are
on
critical thinking
self-reliance
problem solving
enterprise
a spirit of inquiry
initiative
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The student who pursues this course of study
must assume the roles of critical questioner and
reflective searcher roles which are at the heart
of a commitment to lifelong learning Leaving
Certificate Religious Education syllabus, p4
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• Religion is at the heart of many local, national
  and global acts of generosity and community
  building. It can also be a source of conflict and
  division, particularly where prejudice, ignorance
  and intolerance exist. R.E. can help to inform
  you about religious traditions and secular
  culture so that you can make a positive
  contribution to global citizenship
• Religious debate and dialogue are needed so that
  people can live harmoniously in a pluralist
  society
• R.E. at Leaving Certificate will help facilitate
  this process and will deepen your understanding
  of your personal search for meaning and that of
  other people from religious and secular
  traditions

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• Other reasons for studying R.E. include
• Many people have an interest in religion and
  have views on religion
• Religion has ongoing relevance to life and
  culture
• R.E. can help you to see and overcome religious
  bias and ignorance in some literature, films, art
  and culture
• Employers may like to hire people who have
  completed the course since their skills are
  suited to work in a multi cultural and
  multi-faith setting. They also have skills of
  research and critical questioning and are
  self-directed learners but are skilled at
  understanding different perspectives

• R.E. explores issues of relevance in an informed
  and academic way issues such as meaning and
  values, the nature of morality, the development
  and diversity of belief, the principles of a just
  society, and the implications of scientific
  progress

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R.E. offers deep insight into the evolution of
religion since ancient times. This will inform
your understanding of modern culture R.E. offers
a deep appreciation for the Christian tradition
as well as other traditions. This is
particularly important for people who intend to
travel to other cultures and to those who wish to
understand and appreciate the richness of faith
traditions in Ireland and abroad. Students are
encouraged to dialogue constructively with modern
secularist trends and to appreciate the value of
religious belief and practice
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Relevance to careers Students who have studied
R.E. at Leaving Certificate level have learned to
be Independent, critical thinkers Open-minded,
balanced, informed and objective Focused yet
aware of a variety of perspectives Excellent at
research and analysis Skilled communicators Able
to analyse issues, trends and problems Unbiased
and grounded in inquiry skills These qualities
are valued in a vast number of jobs and
professions. They have particular relevance for
those interested in a career in the fields of
education, teaching (primary and post primary),
law, journalism, Human Resources, administration
and many other occupations.
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Skills

• Some of the skills you will learn on this course
  include
• Analysis of topics
• Engagement in extended research including
  using computers, libraries, surveys, interviews,
  media, drawing conclusions
• Critical thinking questioning the authority
  of different sources, distinguishing fact from
  bias
• Reflection on your learning and its effect on
  your ideas, attitudes and experience
• Ability to interpret, contrast and evaluate
  different opinions/approaches to a topic
• Ability to develop counter-arguments

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You will notice that some of these skills are
related to other subjects. With practice you
will develop your skills to write in a coherent,
unbiased way, examining different perspectives
and asking critical questions, and reaching
informed conclusions. These skills are also
learned in some other subjects. All of these
skills are very useful in a variety of
careers. Therefore studying R.E. does not limit
you to studying theology at college. The skills
that you learn in R.E. help you adapt to a huge
range of college choices as well as careers in
many ways the skills you learn are as important
as the content.
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Coursework
20 of the assessment grade in R.E. is awarded
for Coursework 80 is awarded for performance in
the terminal examination Coursework involves the
student choosing one of four prescribed titles
for extended research. Coursework is submitted
prior to the terminal examination. Coursework has
two parts Part A A summary of your
investigation of the chosen title Part B Your
personal reflection on the learning, skills and
experience gained through undertaking coursework
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Terminal Examination
The terminal examination is 2½ hours for higher
level, 2 hours for ordinary level Candidates
must answer questions from 4 sections of the
course Higher level candidates should be able to
write extended / essay style answers Ordinary
level candidates should be able to write more
paragraph style answers
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What is assessed in Leaving Certificate Religious
Education? Assessment of Religious Education
in the Leaving Certificate examination will be
based on the aims, objectives and outcomes of
each section of the course. Students personal
faith commitment and/or affiliation to a
particular religious grouping will not be subject
to assessment for national certification. Leaving
Certificate Religious Education syllabus, p9
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The End Religious Education Support
Service www.ress.ie