HOURS PER WEEK
1
GROUPS
AS FOR WELSH
EXAMINATIONS -WJEC
GCSE SHORT COURSE – Religion and Life
Issues
ALL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE SAME
EXAMINATION
GCSE ENTRY LEVELS
COURSEWORK
NONE
FINAL EXAMINATION
ONE WRITTEN PAPER -1HOUR 45 MINS
Key concepts to think about
COMMITMENT
CHASTITY
CONFLICT
LOVE
RECONCILIATION
RESPONSIBILITIES
Whose
decision is it to
use contraception?
Should same sex
marriages be allowed
in a place of worship?
What is the role and
purpose of sex?
How important is
the family?
Is marriage
out of date?
Should it be in a
religious building?
Questions
to ask
What is love?
Is it necessary to
marry in a place of
worship?
Should people be
allowed to remarry?
Why do marriages
succeed and fail?
What commitments
and responsibilities
do we have towards
each other?
Religious teachings to explore
• Adultery and extra-marital sex
• Sex before marriage
-Pre-marital relationships
-Celibacy
-Contraception
-Sex as a gift from God
• Cohabitation
• Marriage
-Courtship
-Religious marriage services
-Marriage vows and the
meaning of marriage
• Divorce
• Remarriage
• Same-sex relationships
Key concepts to think about
AUTHORITY
DISCRIMINATION
EQUALITY
IDENTITY
INJUSTICE
PREJUDICE
What is fair
and unfair?
Is equality
possible?
What do
we need?
What do
we want?
What should be
people's attitude
towards wealth?
Questions
to ask
Why do people treat
others differently?
How does the media
influence attitudes?
How should we
treat others?
Why are people
prejudiced?
Religious teachings to explore
•Human dignity
•Equality
•Use of wealth
-Charity
•Social responsibility
-Religion and the media
•Religious commitments to promote
justice
•Racial, social and gender divisions
•People and organisations who have
worked for justice
•Religious responses to injustice
What is the value
of religion in a
secular society
Why do some
people believe or
not believe in God?
How important
is worship?
What influences
people’s
understanding of
God?
Why do some
people use
religious symbols?
Questions
to ask
How do people
experience God?
How do people
respond to God?
How do religious
believers respond
to God through
worship and vocation?
How do religious
believers respond
to God through worship
Religious teachings to explore•The nature of God
-The nature of God or Ultimate Being
•The Existence of God
-Symbolism and imagery
-Ideas about God
•Responses to God
-Vocation
-Acts of Worship
•Religious teachings on death and the
afterlife
•Religious funeral and mourning rites
Key concepts to think about
CREATION
DOMINION
ENVIRONMENT
HUMANITY
SOUL
STEWARDSHIP
What makes
us human?
Questions
to ask
How did the
universe begin?
How and why
can we use
our talents?
Why are
we here?
How should we use
natural resources?
How and why
should we care
for the world?
How should
animals be
treated?
Religious teachings to explore•Creation
-Creation stories and their meaning
•Using talents
•Place of humankind in the world
-Purpose of humankind in the world
-Stewardship issues in terms of the
current exploitation of the planet
•Animal rights
•Care for the world and the environment
•Example of a religious individual or
community using talents for God,
neighbour and care of the planet