Religion and Ethics

Religion and Ethics is a four-unit course of study.  

Unit 1. Sacred Stories 

Unit 2. Social Justice

Unit 3. World Religions and Spiritualities

Unit 4. Peace

Rationale

A sense of purpose and personal integrity are essential for participative and contributing members of society. Religion & Ethics allows students to explore values and life choices and the ways in which these are related to beliefs and practices as they learn about religion, spirituality and ethics. In addition, it enables students to learn about and reflect on the richness of religious, spiritual and ethical worldviews.

In this syllabus, religion is understood as a faith tradition based on a common understanding of beliefs and practices. In a religious sense, beliefs are tenets, creeds or faiths; religious belief is belief in a power or powers that influence human behaviours. Ethics refers to a system of moral principles; the rules of conduct or approaches to making decisions for the good of the individual and society. Both religion and ethics prompt questions about values, the determination of a moral course of action, and what personal and community decisions can be considered when confronted with situations requiring significant decisions.

Religion & Ethics enhances students’ understanding of how personal beliefs, values, spiritual and moral identity are shaped and influenced by factors such as family, culture, gender and social issues. It allows for flexible courses of study that recognise the varied needs and interests of students through exploring topics such as the meaning of life, purpose and destiny, life choices, moral and ethical issues and social justice.

Religion & Ethics focuses on the personal, relational and spiritual perspectives of human experience. It enables students to investigate and critically reflect on the role and function of religion and ethics in society and to communicate principles and ideas relevant to their lives and the world.

Learning experiences should be practical and experiential in emphasis and access the benefits of networking within the community. Schools may consider involvement with religious communities, charities, welfare and service groups and organisations. The syllabus enables students to interact with the ideas and perspectives of members of the wider community who may express beliefs and values different from their own.

Students develop effective decision-making skills and learn how to plan, implement and evaluate inquiry processes and outcomes, resulting in improved 21st century, literacy and numeracy skills. They examine religion and ethics information and apply their understanding and skills related to community contexts. The knowledge and skills developed in Religion & Ethics provide students with the ability to participate effectively in the changing world around them as active and engaged citizens dealing with religious, spiritual and ethical issues.

Where appropriate, Aboriginal perspectives and Torres Strait Islander perspectives have been embedded in the subject matter.

Complementary skills have been embedded throughout subject matter. These skills, which overlap and interact with syllabus subject matter, are derived from current education, industry and community expectations and encompass the knowledge, skills, capabilities, behaviours and dispositions that will help students live and work successfully in the 21st century.

These complementary skills are:

literacy — the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions about language and texts essential for understanding and conveying English language content
numeracy — the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need to use mathematics in a wide range of situations, to recognise and understand the role of mathematics in the world, and to develop the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully
21st century skills — the attributes and skills students need to prepare them for higher education, work, and engagement in a complex and rapidly changing world. These skills include critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and teamwork, personal and social skills, and digital literacy.

Syllabus objectives

The syllabus objectives outline what students have the opportunity to learn.

1. Explain religious, spiritual and ethical principles and practices.
   Students explain principles and practices that inform religious, spiritual and ethical views and use relevant terminology.

2. Examine religious, spiritual and ethical information.
   Students select and use information to identify principles and practices in religious, spiritual and ethical scenarios. Students draw meaning from the principles and practices identified.

3. Apply religious, spiritual and ethical knowledge.
   Students apply their knowledge to determine options. They consider each option to form positions related to religious, spiritual and ethical scenarios.

4. Communicate responses.
   Students present information through written, spoken, graphical and/or auditory modes using language conventions appropriate to audience, context and purpose.

5. Evaluate projects.
   Students reflect on and discuss the effectiveness of their plans, processes and outcomes. They make judgments to explain improvements that could be made to their plans, processes and outcomes.