The Importance of Religious Education
Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops pupils' knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions, and other world views that offer answers to these challenging questions. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances pupils' awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.
RE encourages pupils to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It challenges pupils to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.
RE encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging. It enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a diverse society and global community. RE has an important role in preparing pupils for adult life, employment and lifelong learning. It enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. It promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice.
Key Concepts
There are a number of key concepts that underpin the study of RE. Pupils need to understand these concepts in order to deepen and broaden their knowledge, skills and understanding.
- Beliefs, teachings and sources
- Interpreting teachings, sources, authorities and ways of life in order to understand religions and beliefs.
- Understanding and responding critically to beliefs and attitudes.
- Practices and ways of life
- Exploring the impact of religions and beliefs on how people live their lives.
- Understanding that religious practices are diverse, change over time and are influenced by cultures.
- Expressing meaning
- Appreciating that individuals and cultures express their beliefs and values through many different forms.
- Identity, diversity and belonging
- Understanding how individuals develop a sense of identity and belonging through faith or belief.
- Exploring the variety, difference and relationships that exist within and between religions, values and beliefs.
- Meaning, purpose and truth
- Exploring some of the ultimate questions that confront humanity, and responding imaginatively to them.
- Values and commitments
- Understanding how moral values and a sense of obligation can come from beliefs and experience.
- Evaluating their own and others' values in order to make informed, rational and imaginative choices.
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