In senior Religious Studies, we encourage our boys to ask questions and seek answers from a variety of perspectives when examining ethical issues and enduring boundary questions of human beings.
Religious literacy is one part of our course while written literacy, critical and creative thinking as well as evaluative skills are all fostered within the units we study and the assessments we use.
In Year 11, we have been examining ‘The Search for Meaning’ which involves looking at boundary questions (Who am I? Why are we here? Is there a God? etc) this unit plays particular attention to the works of Viktor Frankl as well as the influence of monotheistic worldviews. Frankl speaks of suffering as something that is an inevitable part of life as is searching for meaning. As a holocaust survivor, he was the founder of logotherapy, which, at its core teaches us that “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Our boys have investigated this and applied it to their own experiences as well as that of significant people of the past and present. Also discussed in this unit is how religions seek to provide an answer to suffering and other worldviews can guide adherents in finding meaning.
In Year 12, we are examining contemporary ethical issues and the religious response to them. As a point of comparison, we are also looking at secular worldviews and other schools of thought. This generates significant discussion and consideration of other perspectives. It is in these units that we are able to break open what is happening in the world of our boys and interact with the subjective or objective truth from a variety of sources. Issues such as euthanasia, stem cell research, environmental issues, capital punishment, war and much more are explored in depth and ethical teachings of faith traditions applied. Many of these issues are seen in headlines, news reports and social media and so are incredibly relevant for our boys here and now.
In today’s contemporary political and social climate, it is important to create a safe environment for our young men to raise questions and discuss the issues that will have a significant impact on them in future. We have facilitated debates and community of inquiry activities which seek to promote asking questions and listening to answers. We have had some fruitful conversations which has been fantastic to see.
In senior Religious Studies, we engage our boys by looking at what issues will have an impact on them as they develop beyond the walls of St Edmund’s. We seek to develop our boys in their ethical, cultural and global awareness in examining issues and ideas unique to our curriculum but exceptionally relevant to their holistic development.
Year 11 is studying the search for meaning and Year 12 is examining contemporary ethical issues.
Carmela Wilson (Head of RE)