Why study Religious
Education?
Leaving Certificate
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Religious Education for Leaving
Certificate is a new subject,
examined for the first time in 2005
It is a personally enriching subject
which helps the learner to function
effectively in a complex, pluralist
culture
It is fully recognised by CAO, UCAS
and other entry bodies into third
level education and merits the same
points as other Leaving Certificate
subjects
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Relevance to Life
R.E. can help develop and enrich you as
a person as you learn to:
• understand and grow in appreciation
for the variety of religious traditions in
Ireland and globally
• engage with the secular response to
human experience
• reflect on your human experience so
that you can begin to understand and
interpret that experience
• participate in your own conscious and
critical development
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• develop tolerance and mutual understanding
• engage in meaningful dialogue with people of
other and of no religious traditions
• grow personally, holistically, spiritually,
morally and academically
• develop an informed and critical
understanding of the Christian tradition in its
origins and contemporary expressions
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• R.E.
will help you prepare for
the world of work, further
training or education
• R.E. will help you prepare for
your role as participative,
enterprising citizens
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What’s particular about R.E.?
The emphases are on:
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‘The student who pursues
this course of study must
assume the roles of critical
questioner and reflective
searcher: roles which are at
the heart of a commitment to
lifelong learning’
Leaving Certificate Religious Education syllabus, p4
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• Religion is at the heart of many local, national
and global acts of generosity and community
building. It can also be a source of conflict and
division, particularly where prejudice, ignorance
and intolerance exist. R.E. can help to inform you
about religious traditions and secular culture so
that you can make a positive contribution to
global citizenship
• Religious debate and dialogue are needed so
that people can live harmoniously in a pluralist
society
• R.E. at Leaving Certificate will help facilitate this
process and will deepen your understanding of
your personal search for meaning and that of
other people from religious and secular traditions
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Other reasons for studying
R.E. include:
• Many people have an interest in religion
and have views on religion
• Religion has ongoing relevance to life
and culture
• R.E. can help you to see and overcome
religious bias and ignorance in some
literature, films, art and culture
• Employers may like to hire people who
have completed the course since their
skills are suited to work in a multi cultural
and multi-faith setting. They also have
skills of research and critical
questioning and are self-directed
learners but are skilled at understanding
different perspectives
• R.E. explores issues
of relevance in an
informed and
academic way: issues
such as meaning and
values, the nature of
morality, the
development and
diversity of belief, the
principles of a just
society, and the
implications of
scientific progress
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R.E. offers deep insight into the evolution of
religion since ancient times. This will inform
your understanding of modern culture
R.E. offers a deep appreciation for the Christian
tradition as well as other traditions. This is
particularly important for people who intend to
travel to other cultures and to those who wish to
understand and appreciate the richness of faith
traditions in Ireland and abroad.
Students are encouraged to dialogue
constructively with modern secularist trends
and to appreciate the value of religious belief
and practice
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Relevance to careers
Students who have studied R.E. at Leaving
Certificate level have learned to be:
Independent, critical thinkers
Open-minded, balanced, informed and objective
Focused yet aware of a variety of perspectives
Excellent at research and analysis
Skilled communicators
Able to analyse issues, trends and problems
Unbiased and grounded in inquiry skills
These qualities are valued in a vast number of
jobs and professions. They have particular
relevance for those interested in a career in the
fields of education, teaching (primary and post
primary), law, journalism, Human Resources,
administration and many other occupations.
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Skills
Some of the skills you will learn on this course
include:
• Analysis of topics
• Engagement in extended research – including using computers,
libraries, surveys, interviews, media, drawing conclusions
• Critical thinking – questioning the authority of different
sources, distinguishing fact from bias
• Reflection on your learning and its effect on your ideas,
attitudes and experience
• Ability to interpret, contrast and evaluate different
opinions/approaches to a topic
• Ability to develop counter-arguments
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You will notice that some of these skills are
related to other subjects. With practice you will
develop your skills to write in a coherent,
unbiased way, examining different perspectives
and asking critical questions, and reaching
informed conclusions. These skills are also
learned in some other subjects.
All of these skills are very useful in a variety of
careers.
Therefore studying R.E. does not limit you to
studying theology at college. The skills that you
learn in R.E. help you adapt to a huge range of
college choices as well as careers – in many
ways the skills you learn are as important as
the content.
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Coursework
20% of the assessment grade in R.E. is awarded for Coursework
80% is awarded for performance in the terminal examination
Coursework involves the student choosing one of four prescribed
titles for extended research. Coursework is submitted prior to the
terminal examination.
Coursework has two parts:
Part A : A summary of your investigation of the chosen title
Part B: Your personal reflection on the learning, skills and
experience gained through undertaking coursework
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Terminal Examination
The terminal examination is 2½ hours for higher
level,
2 hours for ordinary level
Candidates must answer questions from 4
sections of the course
Higher level candidates should be able to write
extended / essay style answers
Ordinary level candidates should be able to
write more paragraph style answers
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What is assessed in Leaving Certificate Religious
Education?
‘Assessment of Religious Education in the Leaving
Certificate examination will be based on the aims,
objectives and outcomes of each section of the course.
Students’ personal faith commitment and/or affiliation to a
particular religious grouping will not be subject to
assessment for national certification.’
Leaving Certificate Religious Education syllabus, p9
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The End
Religious Education Support Service
www.ress.ie
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