Religious Studies

St. Edmund's pupils will have a weekly lesson in Religious Studies throughout their Lower Fifth year, covering two separate units of study. The first, rites of passage, addresses the significant events in an individual's life - birth, coming of age, marriage, etc - and how those events are marked by different religious traditions. In the second unit, contemporary moral issues, we look at topics such as crime and punishment, and issues of life and death such as genetic engineering, from the comparative point of view of Christianity and two other religions.

Those choosing to take a GCSE in the subject of Religious Studies will cover the principles of two religions, Christianity and Buddhism. They will also study the idea of spirituality, and will explore 21st issues such as abortion, euthanasia, crime and punishment, the environment, prejudice, and discrimination, and look at the legal, practical and religious approaches to these questions.

At A Level, pupils can study for AS and A2 modules in Theology and Moral Philosophy, which addresses some of the basic concepts of theology and explores these in the context of the Christian tradition, scholarship and experience. No commitment or predisposition to Christianity is required for this course, which is open to pupils of any persuasion.

Religious Studies requires a pupil to explore all sides of an argument and develop his or her own opinions. Pupils will learn a great deal about the world they live in, but they will also learn a lot about themselves, and their beliefs and values. It is a subject which is ideal for those who enjoy debate and discussion, and is accessible equally to pupil of any faith, as well as to those who have none.