Religious Education

Unit 1 – Our Catholic Community

Who are Catholics? Introduction to the Church hierarchy, denominational Christianity, the Sacraments, the Saints, liturgical year including Advent & Christmas.

• Who are Catholics?
• How is the Catholic Church structured?
• Who is Saint Bede?
• What happens throughout the Church year?
• Why are sacraments important for Catholics?

Unit 2 – What is the Bible?

The history and structure of the Bible, types of writing in the Bible, ‘the banned book’, Tyndale, is the Bible ‘true’? Is the Bible still relevant today?

• How and when was the Bible written?
• What type of writing is there in the Bible?
• Is the Bible true?
• How did the Bible arrive in Britain?
• How can I find a Bible reference?
• What can the Bible teach us today?

Unit 3 – What is Lent?

The events leading up to Jesus’ death, how Catholics celebrate this today including Lent, Holy Week and the work of CAFOD.

• What is Lent?
• What is Holy Week?
• How do Catholics celebrate today?

Unit 4 – Who am I?

Theories of creation, self and conscience, free will, determinism, imago dei and stewardship.

• What is the Genesis account of Creation?
• What are scientific theories of Creation?
• Can science and religion exist together?
• Is free will a good thing?
• What is stewardship?

Unit 5 – Investigating Faith

Introduction to world faiths – our multi faith society.  Investigation of the different ways in which believers express their faith (e.g. art, architecture, music, dress)

• What are the origins of the world religions?
• What faiths are there in Blackburn?
• How do different religions express their faith?

Unit 1 –  Revealing God to a godless world

The context of the Old Testament, God’s formation of a people, the birth of justice

• Where did monotheism begin?
• What is the Abrahamic covenant?
• Who are the descendants of Abraham?
• Why is Moses important?
• Why are the ten commandments important?

Unit 2 –  What is Judaism?

Jewish sources of authority, Judaism as a living faith – Jewish practices and daily life

• Why is the Torah important?
• What is the importance of the synagogue?
• What is Shabbat?
• What is Kosher?
• What clothing do Jews wear and why?
• What festivals do Jews celebrate?
• What is the significance of the Holocaust?

Unit 3 –  Birth of Christianity

The context of the New Testament, Jesus the Messiah, the Passion, the first disciples and their legacy, Pentecost and the birth of the Church

• What was life like at the time of Jesus?
• Who was Jesus?
• What are the events of the Passion?
• Was Jesus the Messiah?
• Who were the disciples?
• What was the mission of the disciples?
• How did Christianity begin?
• What is a modern day disciple?

Unit 4 –  Challenging Christianity

Challengers, defenders and reformers (early church, crusades, Martin Luther, martyrs, modern day challenges).

• Who were the early Christians?
• Why were the early Christians persecuted?
• Why was Constantine important?
• How did Christianity arrive in Britain?
• What were the Crusades?
• Who was Martin Luther?

Unit 1 –  What does it mean to be human?

Exploring the sacred nature of humans, their connection with God and the duty they have in the way they treat others.

• What makes us human?
• How are humans and animals different?
• How do Genesis 1 and 2 compare?
• What is Imago dei?
• What is the Sanctity of life?
• When does life begin?
• Who decides when life should end?

Unit 2 – Evil and Suffering

Why is there evil and suffering in the world? Inconsistent triad and Catholic responses to the problem of evil.

• Why is there evil and suffering in the world?
• What is moral evil?
• What is natural evil?
• What is the inconsistent triad?
• How do Catholics respond to the problem of evil?

Unit 3 – What is Islam?

Life in pre-Islamic Arabia, Muslim beliefs, teachings, festivals, people and traditions, Islam in Britain.

• What was life like in pre-Islamic Arabia?
• How did Islam begin?
• What are the five pillars of Islam?
• What is the importance of the mosque?
• What is halal and haram?
• What do Muslims wear?

Unit 4 – Existence of God

Arguments for the existence of God, miracles, visions, design and causation, the philosophy & sociology of religion.

• Do religious experiences lead to a belief in God
• Did miracles in the Bible actually happen?
• Do miracles happen today?
• What is the design argument?
• What is the cosmological argument?

The course followed is Edexcel Specification A, which has three areas of study:

1. Catholic Christianity – beliefs and teachings, practices, sources of authority and the expression of faith through art, architecture, music and drama. (50%)
2. Judaism – beliefs, teachings and practices. (25%)
3. Philosophy and Ethics – arguments for the existence of God and religious teachings on relationships and families in the twenty-first century. (25%)

Unit 1 – Jewish Beliefs

• How can we understand the Almighty?
• What is the covenant with Abraham?
• What is the covenant at Sinai?
• How can Jews experience the Shekinah?
• Why are the Mitzvot important?
• Why is the Sanctity of Life important?
• What are Jewish beliefs on the Messiah?
• What are the Jewish beliefs on life after death?

Unit 2 – Jewish Practices

• What are the Jewish food laws?
• What is inside a synagogue?
• How do Jews pray in public?
• How do Jews pray at home?
• What are the Jewish rites of passage?
• What happens on the Sabbath day?
• What are the Jewish festivals?

Unit 3 – Catholic Beliefs

• What is the Trinity?
• What do Catholics believe about creation?
• Why are humans special?
• What is the incarnation?
• What is the Paschal Mystery?
• What do Catholics believe about salvation?
• What are the Catholic beliefs on life after death?

Unit 4 – Sources of Wisdom

• How do Catholics interpret the Bible?
• What is the Magisterium?
• What happened at the Second Vatican Council?
• What is the Church as the Body of Christ?
• What are the four marks of the Church?
• Why is Mary a Model of the Church?
• How do Catholics make moral decisions?

The course followed is Edexcel Specification A, which has three areas of study:

1. Catholic Christianity – beliefs and teachings, practices, sources of authority and the expression of faith through art, architecture, music and drama. (50%)
2. Judaism – beliefs, teachings and practices. (25%)
3. Philosophy and Ethics – arguments for the existence of God and religious teachings on relationships and families in the twenty-first century. (25%)

Unit 1 – Catholic Practices

• What are the sacraments?
• What is liturgical worship?
• What is the funeral rite?
• Why do Catholics pray?
• What is popular piety?
• Why do Catholics go on pilgrimage?
• What is Catholic Social Teaching?
• What is Mission and Evangelism?

Unit 2 –  Catholic Forms of Expression

• How does church architecture reflect belief?
• What are the features of a church?
• What are sacred objects?
• Why is artwork important to Catholics?
• Why are statues important to Catholics?
• How symbols are used in the Catholic Church?
• What are mystery and passion plays?
• Why is music important to Catholics?

Unit 3 – Relationships and Families in the 21st Century

• Why is marriage important to Catholics?
• Why are sexual relationships important to Catholics?
• What are the Catholic teachings on divorce?
• What are the Catholic teachings on family planning?
• Why is the family important to Catholics?
• How do parishes support the family?
• What do Catholics teach about gender prejudice?
• What do Catholics teach about the role of men and women within the family?