[POWCATTY]

(Original post by Aquar)
I did religious studies and got an A*, and there was almost nothing about religion on the course. Before GCSE religious studies, the class was just to teach us how wonderful Islam was, and I think we only had one half lesson on Hinduism, but only because someone saw a poster on the wall and asked a question.

yeah i did it for gcse and got an A*....the funny thing was it was 'about' a sikh holiday which our teacher didnt teach us as they said it wouldnt be in the exam (famous last words....) and when someone asked they said it was the 'sikh olympics'. seeing as i bs the entire thing, i think the course could do with a bit of a review
see, ours was mostly about christianity....but it was the same thing every year....omg its christmas! so people, who knows who jesus was?? lol.

[POWCATTY]

(Original post by casi)
Ah sorry didn't mean to neg rep you! I agree with everything you said. Learning about other religions should be compulsory as we have such a diverse country that it's important to know about other religions!

hehehe np m8. i am glad that there are people agreeing with me though!

[Rob da Mop]

It should definitely be taught, much like we should have more teaching about our political system and current affairs in schools. Religion is a prominent part of our society and schools should prepare pupils for understanding it.

[minsat]

(Original post by The Cool Arse)
yeah, it does. In most state schools.

I was not aware - I go to a state grammar school

[The Cool Arse]

(Original post by Rob da Mop)
It should definitely be taught, much like we should have more teaching about our political system and current affairs in schools. Religion is a prominent part of our society and schools should prepare pupils for understanding it.

Not really, my English teacher said we should read newspapers. Most students want to do well, so that's up to them. It improves language skills. Questions about the news may be asked at job interviews, so its great to stay ahead in the game!

[The Cool Arse]

(Original post by minsat)
I was not aware - I go to a state grammar school

And likewise, I go to a private one. Rs=not compolsury in our school!

[csea]

I think it provides a very good foundation for understanding the world we live in today. In terms of history (which I am currently reading at university) religion is incredibly important to understanding the past as it has shaped society for generations. I think RS is a good education and I was happy to do it at GCSE, although my school did call it ethics and cultural studies

[DJKL]

(Original post by csea)
I think it provides a very good foundation for understanding the world we live in today. In terms of history (which I am currently reading at university) religion is incredibly important to understanding the past as it has shaped society for generations. I think RS is a good education and I was happy to do it at GCSE, although my school did call it ethics and cultural studies

I would strongly agree with your post, a background knowledge of the development of Christianity and the differing paths taken post the reformation is very useful. The same argument can be made re future study of English Literature, especially seventeenth century and earlier, it is very difficult to correctly interpret poetry written for a Christian audience without some framework upon which to hang the interpretation.

Edinburgh University's English Literature degree used to have, a long time ago, a pre first year reading list, this included the Aeneid, The Oddessy and the Bible, all useful background reading for the study of English Literature.

I also agree with earlier posters that a background appreciation of other beliefs is of benefit.

The whole purpose of education is to introduce students to ideas, this does not mean they require to embrace each and every offering, merely that they are given a menu of thoughts and the tools necessary to make their own choices.

Not presenting religous thoughts in schools makes as much sense as not discussing differing economic theories in schools; economic theory can have political implications, as of course can the study of history, nobody suggests these subjects cannot be taught in schools, so why should religion be singled out for special treatment?

[dotdotdotdot]

(Original post by The Cool Arse)
Personally, I do believe it should be an optio, but should the subject not be called something like pholosophy and ethics?

Also, why is it compulsory in state schools? I have wondered a bout this, as employees normall y consider history more highly as a GCSE.

feel free to share your opinions
on this

Tom.

I picked A level RS, it is such a waste of time.
I should've picked a real subject like physics :/,
4/5 people in my rs class regret taking it.

[JustBorn]

Well it was an opition at both my secondary and sixth form... I didn't choose it for my GCSEs ,but am currently taking it as one of A levels and I have to say, it's quite fun. Although, some aspects of it are pointless such as Business Ethics and Immanuel Kant.

[Annie72]

I think it should be optional, that way the student themselves can choose if they want to learn about religion or not.It's compulsory at my sons school and they expect him to stay behind after school to attend revision sessions.My son isnt keen on staying behind at school for anything, so he comes home.

[x-pixie-lottie-x]

(Original post by The Cool Arse)
Also, why is it compulsory in state schools? I have wondered a bout this, as employees normall y consider history more highly as a GCSE.
.

it wasnt compulsory when i was doing my gcse's but we were still supposed to have 1 lesson a term (i had one in the 3 years (9/10/11)) or we could choose it as an option but bleh history! dont let them make that compulsory! ( i actually love history now i dont have to study it at school it was like torture.. lol)
i think it is important to learn about all religions... its from ignorance that poor attitudes stem
x

[Dragonfly07]

I believe it should be compulsary, at least as long as religion still exists, and that it should be called "theology". It should be taught from a completely neural point of view. Religion x has such and such ideas, religion y disagrees with it, and so on.

I believe it'd teach people to understand other religions better and be more tolerant. Or at least be aware that other religions exist and that your beliefs aren't exclusive. It might even be enlightening to know the history of your own religion, which most people are surprisingly unaware of.

[JustBorn]

Well, you can say the same thing about English, Maths, Science and P.E. Shouldn't they be opitional too?

[ooerr]

The only thing that bothered me about RS being compulsory at school was that it meant there was no time for sex education lessons.

A lot of people at my school got pregnant because they believed stuff like 'if the girl goes on top she can't get pregnant lol!'

[Steezy]

Personally I don't feel it should be taught. I mean, there's lots of other theoretical subjects out there which have no proof or foundation which aren't taught in schools.

Perhaps it should be taught as a part of history because it holds a great deal of onus for many of the wars in history. Apart from that, maybe as a fairytale in nursery.

[Bubbles!]

you could also ask should PHSce be taught in school- some teachers encourage smoking and "experimenting" with drugs- that is wrong on soo many scales!!!

[PierceBrosnan]

(Original post by Agenda Suicide)
This was not about being taught the invaluable skills of Runescape.

I am disappoint.


"So everybody knows that a level 60 woodcut can make much more money outside of Varrok..."

That tree by the church is always good. Got to 99 WC with that tree.

[_Student_]

I look forward to the day it is taught in the same manner as ancient civilisations and their supposedly silly religions.

[LJPayne]

Personally I am a Atheist and I believe that RE gives me a great understanding of society, Even as I write this I will even be debating against other secondary schools...

Religion is not only another understanding of our world but it is a way of life, generations have been pulled together over conflicts ( even though some have created them) and many religions have realised the similarities between them, not only does this help children like me find out about the world but it also gives me understanding of a very rapidly increasing multi-cultural world...

THIS IS WHY IT SHOULD STAY IN SCHOOLS