The World Religions course teaches students about world religions and spiritual traditions, their contexts, development and core beliefs, influential figures and their contribution to world history. Students analyse a variety of different religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, to encourage empathy and understanding of diversity. World Religions is an interdisciplinary course. It addresses how religion and spirituality relate to other socio-cultural factors including language, ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender and class. Students learn how religion and spirituality play a role in a wide variety of modern issues.

World Religions promotes intercultural understanding by respectfully addressing sensitive issues arising from diversity of religions and philosophical convictions, and the right of individuals to adhere to a particular religion or belief system. The course provides the opportunity for intercultural dialogue to foster religious and cultural cohesion. By developing skills of critical evaluation and reflection, it builds understanding of the perspectives and ways of life of different religions and philosophical convictions.

World Religions extends the learner’s understanding of themselves, their heritage, values, culture, and identity. Students develop intercultural capability: they develop understanding of, and respect for, diversity and difference, and openness to different perspectives and experiences.

The study of religion and beliefs fosters personal, social, moral and ethical development, and promotes intercultural understanding by providing opportunity for intercultural dialogue to foster religious and cultural cohesion. It respectfully addresses sensitive issues arising from diversity of religions and philosophical convictions. By developing skills of critical evaluation and reflection, students’ gain understanding of the perspectives and ways of life of different religions and spiritualities. Students develop awareness of prejudice and stereotypes as barriers to intercultural dialogue and understand the importance of promoting the human dignity of all.

World Religions promotes critical and creative thinking and intercultural understanding, equipping young citizens for the demands and challenges of the 21^st Century globalised world.

The World Religions course is written under The HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES FRAMEWORK 2019: BSSS HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Framework

Achievement Standards for HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES courses can be found within the Framework.

Humanities and Social Sciences is the study of how people process and document the human experience and their place in it. It empowers students to better understand humankind, society and culture and communicate ideas for the future.

Religion and Popular Culture

Students explore the relationship between popular cultures, religions and spiritual traditions. They examine how religions and spirituality appropriate and affect popular cultures, and how popular cultures create and re-enforce stereotypes.

A minimum of two different religious or spiritual traditions to be studied in depth.

Influence, Community, Culture & Power

Students explore power relationships between and within religions and spiritualities, as evident in diverse cultures and communities. Students examine the influence of single and multiple religions on cultures and communities.

A minimum of two different religious or spiritual traditions to be studied in depth.

Narratives and World Views

Students examine the origins and function of religious and spiritual narratives in a minimum of two different religious and spiritual traditions. They explore how religious and spiritual narratives are constructed, disseminated, interpreted and applied. Students explore authorial purpose and the context in which the narratives are produced. Students examine the ways narratives from different times and places are interpreted in contemporary contexts.

A minimum of two different religious or spiritual traditions to be studied in depth.

Globalisation and Religion

Students examine the process of globalisation and its influence on religions and spiritualities in the contemporary world. They explore the paradoxes and tensions underpinning religion and spiritualities in a global world. Students examine how religions and spiritualities play a role in shaping globalisation. They explore the concepts such as a global ethic and challenges for the future.

A minimum of two different religious or spiritual traditions to be studied in depth.

Independent Study

An Independent Study unit has an important place in senior secondary courses. It is a valuable pedagogical approach that empowers students to make decisions about their own learning. An Independent Study unit can be proposed by an individual student for their own independent study and negotiated with their teacher. The program of learning for an Independent Study unit must meet the unit goals and content descriptions as they appear in the course. Students must have studied at least THREE standard 1.0 units from this course. A student can only study a maximum of one Independent study unit in each course. An Independent Study unit requires the principal’s written approval. Independent study units are only available to individual students in Year 12. Principal approval is also required for a student in Year 12 to enrol concurrently in an Independent unit and the third 1.0 unit in a course of study.

World Religions A/T/M (698 KB)

World Religions A/T/M (325 KB)

The following courses are also available:

• Religious Studies
• Studies of Religion