Studies of Religion syllabus, dot point by dot point

Religious dialogue in multifaith Australia: describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements (the National Council of Churches, the NSW Ecumenical Council), evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue, and examine the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation

How have religious traditions in Australia worked toward unity within Christianity and across faiths since 1945?

Buddhism Depth Study

Ethics: describe and explain Buddhist ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: bioethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Buddhism on bioethics, and how do Buddhists apply them to issues of life and death?

Ethics: describe and explain Buddhist ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: environmental ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Buddhism on environmental ethics?

16 min read →

How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Buddhism?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Buddhism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than the Buddha, drawn from: Asoka, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), Sister Dhammadinna, Tenzin Palmo, XIVth Dalai Lama, Pure Land, Soto Zen, Won Buddhism; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Buddhism (this page: Asoka)

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Buddhism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than the Buddha, drawn from: Asoka, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), Sister Dhammadinna, Tenzin Palmo, XIVth Dalai Lama, Pure Land, Soto Zen, Won Buddhism; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Buddhism (this page: XIVth Dalai Lama)

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Buddhism drawn from Pilgrimage, Temple Puja, Wesak; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Buddhism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Buddhist community

How is pilgrimage expressed in Buddhism, and what is its significance for the individual and the Buddhist community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Buddhism drawn from Pilgrimage, Temple Puja, Wesak; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Buddhism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Buddhist community

How is temple puja expressed in Buddhism, and what is its significance for the individual and the community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Buddhism drawn from Pilgrimage, Temple Puja, Wesak; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Buddhism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Buddhist community

How is Wesak expressed in Buddhism, and what is its significance for the individual and the Buddhist community?

12 min read →

What are the ethical teachings of Buddhism on sexual ethics, and how do Buddhists apply them?

Ethics: describe and explain Buddhist ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)

Preliminary course, Religious Tradition Study (Buddhism): define The Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha); describe the significance of The Four Noble Truths; examine the beliefs of Anicca, Duhkka and Anatta; recognise the connection between Karma and Samsara; outline the importance of Nirvana in Buddhism; identify the importance of the Tripitaka, the Lotus of the Good Law and the Tibetan Book of the Dead; examine extracts from them which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Buddhism

What are the principal beliefs of Buddhism, and how are they recorded in its sacred texts and writings?

Christianity Depth Study

Ethics: describe and explain Christian ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: environmental ethics)

What do Christian ethical teachings say about environmental ethics, and how do different Christian traditions apply them?

Ethics: describe and explain Christian ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)

What do Christian ethical teachings say about sexual ethics, and how do different Christian traditions apply them?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Christianity of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Jesus, drawn from: Paul of Tarsus, Hildegard of Bingen, Martin Luther, Catherine Booth, Pope John XXIII, Billy Graham, Dennis Bennett, Sarah Maitland, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Christianity (this page: Hildegard of Bingen)

How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Christianity?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Christianity of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Jesus, drawn from: Paul of Tarsus, Hildegard of Bingen, Martin Luther, Catherine Booth, Pope John XXIII, Billy Graham, Dennis Bennett, Sarah Maitland, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Christianity (this page: Paul of Tarsus)

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn from Baptism, Marriage ceremony, Saturday/Sunday worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Christian community

How is baptism expressed in Christianity, and what is its significance for the individual and the Christian community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn from Baptism, Marriage ceremony, Saturday/Sunday worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Christian community

How is the marriage ceremony expressed in Christianity, and what is its significance for the individual and the Christian community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn from Baptism, Marriage ceremony, Saturday/Sunday worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Christian community

How is Saturday/Sunday worship expressed in Christianity, and what is its significance for the individual and the Christian community?

Ethics: describe and explain Christian ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: bioethics)

What do Christian ethical teachings say about bioethics, and how are they derived from Christian sources?

Preliminary course, Religious Tradition Study (Christianity): outline the principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ; explain the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians; outline the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity; examine the Christian understanding of revelation; describe the Christian understanding of salvation; identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity; examine extracts from the Bible which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity

What are the principal beliefs of Christianity, and how are they grounded in its sacred texts and writings?

Hinduism Depth Study

Ethics: describe and explain Hindu ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: bioethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Hinduism on bioethics, and how do Hindus apply them to issues of life and death?

Ethics: describe and explain Hindu ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: environmental ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Hinduism on environmental ethics?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Hinduism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than the Vedas, drawn from: Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Mirabai (Mira Bai), Bhakti Movement, Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna, Mohandas Gandhi, Purva Mimamsa school of thought, Vedanta school of thought; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Hinduism (this page: Mirabai)

How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Hinduism?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Hinduism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than the Vedas, drawn from: Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Mirabai (Mira Bai), Bhakti Movement, Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna, Mohandas Gandhi, Purva Mimamsa school of thought, Vedanta school of thought; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Hinduism (this page: Mohandas Gandhi)

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Hinduism drawn from Marriage ceremony, Pilgrimage, Temple Worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Hindu community

How is the marriage ceremony (vivaha) expressed in Hinduism, and what is its significance for the individual and the Hindu community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Hinduism drawn from Marriage ceremony, Pilgrimage, Temple Worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Hindu community

How is pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra) expressed in Hinduism, and what is its significance for the individual and the Hindu community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Hinduism drawn from Marriage ceremony, Pilgrimage, Temple Worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Hindu community

How is temple worship (puja) expressed in Hinduism, and what is its significance for the individual and the community?

Ethics: describe and explain Hindu ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Hinduism on sexual ethics, and how do Hindus apply them?

Preliminary course, Religious Tradition Study (Hinduism): define Atman and Brahman; examine the principal Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism; investigate the connection between Dharma and Karma; outline the importance of Moksha for a Hindu devotee; recognise union with God through Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga; identify the importance of the Vedas, including the Upanishads, and the Ramayana and Mahabharata, including the Bhagavad Gita; examine extracts from the Vedas and the Epics which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Hinduism

What are the principal beliefs of Hinduism, and how are they recorded in its sacred texts and writings?

Islam Depth Study

Ethics: describe and explain Islamic ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: bioethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Islam on bioethics, and how are they derived and applied?

Ethics: describe and explain Islamic ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: environmental ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Islam on environmental ethics, and how do they guide Muslims today?

Ethics: describe and explain Islamic ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Islam on sexual ethics?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Islam of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Muhammad and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, drawn from: Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid, A'isha Bint AbuBakar, Fatima Al Zahra, Imam Malik, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Al-Shafi, Abu Ali Hussein Ibn Sina, Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, Al-Ghazali, Sayyid Maududi, Sayyid Qutb; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Islam (this page: A'isha bint Abu Bakr)

How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Islam?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Islam of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Muhammad and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, drawn from: Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid, A'isha Bint AbuBakar, Fatima Al Zahra, Imam Malik, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Al-Shafi, Abu Ali Hussein Ibn Sina, Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, Al-Ghazali, Sayyid Maududi, Sayyid Qutb; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Islam (this page: Al-Ghazali)

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Islam drawn from Friday prayer at the mosque, funeral ceremony, Hajj; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Islam; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Muslim community

How is Friday prayer at the mosque expressed in Islam, and what is its significance for the individual and the Muslim community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Islam drawn from Friday prayer at the mosque, funeral ceremony, Hajj; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Islam; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Muslim community

How is the funeral ceremony expressed in Islam, and what is its significance for the individual and the Muslim community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Islam drawn from Friday prayer at the mosque, funeral ceremony, Hajj; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Islam; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Muslim community

How is the Hajj expressed in Islam, and what is its significance for the individual and the ummah?

Preliminary course, Religious Tradition Study (Islam): outline the implications of Tawhid for Muslim belief; examine the role of the Books of Allah and prophecy in Islam; outline the principal beliefs about Angels, life after death and fate/predestination; identify the importance of the Qur'an and the Hadith; examine extracts from the Qur'an and Hadith which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Islam

What are the principal beliefs of Islam, and how are they recorded in its sacred texts and writings?

Judaism Depth Study

Ethics: describe and explain Jewish ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: bioethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Judaism on bioethics?

Ethics: describe and explain Jewish ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: environmental ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Judaism on environmental ethics, and how do they guide Jews today?

Ethics: describe and explain Jewish ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)

What are the ethical teachings of Judaism on sexual ethics, and how do different Jewish movements apply them?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Judaism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Abraham or Moses, drawn from: Isaiah, Hillel (and Shamai), Beruriah, Rabbi Solomon Isaac (Rashi), Moses Maimonides, Kabbalah, The Hassidim, Moses Mendelssohn, Abraham Geiger, Rabbi Isaac Abraham Hacohen Kook (Rav Kook), Jewish Feminism; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Judaism (this page: Moses Maimonides)

How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Judaism?

Significant people and schools of thought: explain the contribution to the development and expression of Judaism of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Abraham or Moses, drawn from: Isaiah, Hillel (and Shamai), Beruriah, Rabbi Solomon Isaac (Rashi), Moses Maimonides, Kabbalah, The Hassidim, Moses Mendelssohn, Abraham Geiger, Rabbi Isaac Abraham Hacohen Kook (Rav Kook), Jewish Feminism; analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Judaism (this page: Rashi)

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Judaism drawn from death and mourning, marriage, synagogue services; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Judaism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Jewish community

How are death and mourning expressed in Judaism, and what is their significance for the individual and the Jewish community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Judaism drawn from death and mourning, marriage, synagogue services; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Judaism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Jewish community

How is marriage expressed in Judaism, and what is its significance for the individual and the community?

Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Judaism drawn from death and mourning, marriage, synagogue services; demonstrate how this practice expresses the beliefs of Judaism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Jewish community

How are synagogue services expressed in Judaism, and what is their significance for the individual and the Jewish community?

Preliminary course, Religious Tradition Study (Judaism): discuss the belief in the one God and the attributes of God; outline the concept of a divinely inspired moral law; identify the importance of the Covenant for the Jewish people; identify the importance of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud; examine extracts from the Hebrew Scriptures which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Judaism

What are the principal beliefs of Judaism, and how are they recorded in its sacred texts and writings?

Religion and Peace (Studies of Religion II)

The understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions: investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts (Buddhism: Sutta Pitaka, Dhammapada); outline the principal teachings about peace; demonstrate how the tradition guides the individual in achieving inner peace; discuss how the tradition is contributing to world peace (this page: Buddhism)

How does Buddhism understand peace, and how does it guide adherents towards inner peace and contribute to world peace?

The understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions: investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts (Hinduism: Bhagavad Gita); outline the principal teachings about peace; demonstrate how the tradition guides the individual in achieving inner peace; discuss how the tradition is contributing to world peace (this page: Hinduism)

How does Hinduism understand peace, and how does it guide adherents towards inner peace and contribute to world peace?

The understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions: investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts (Judaism: the Prophetic vision of peace on Earth); outline the principal teachings about peace; demonstrate how the tradition guides the individual in achieving inner peace; discuss how the tradition is contributing to world peace (this page: Judaism)

How does Judaism understand peace, and how does it guide adherents towards inner peace and contribute to world peace?

The understanding of peace in TWO religious traditions: investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts for TWO religious traditions; outline the principal teachings about peace in TWO religious traditions (this page: Christianity, the New Testament; Islam, the Qur'an and Hadith)

How do Christianity and Islam understand peace, and how do their teachings and organisations contribute to peace?

The contribution of TWO religious traditions to peace in the context of the world: discuss how TWO religious traditions are contributing to world peace (this page: Christianity and Islam)

How do Christianity and Islam, through their teachings and organisations, contribute to world peace?

The contribution of TWO religious traditions to peace in the context of the individual: demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace (this page: Christianity and Islam)

How do the sacred texts of Christianity and Islam guide adherents toward inner peace?

Religion and Non-Religion (Studies of Religion II)

Non-religious worldviews and the difference between religious and non-religious worldviews: the human search for personal fulfilment through non-religious practices (Agnosticism, Atheism, Humanism); the response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to the concept of the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility (overview page)

How do religious and non-religious worldviews differ in the human search for meaning?

The global distribution of the five major religious traditions: investigate statistical data of the current global distribution of the five major religious traditions

How are the five major religious traditions distributed across the world today?

The religious dimension in human history: identify the following expressions of the religious dimension in human history: animism, polytheism, monotheism; evaluate the place of the religious dimension in human history to provide meaning and purpose for the individual, social cohesion and social transformation

How has the religious dimension been expressed in human history, and what has been its significance?

New religious expression: recognise the reasons for the rise of new religious expressions as people search for personal fulfilment, seek ethical guidelines and seek to clarify their relationship with society; explain how the rise of materialism, scientific progress, growth of ecological awareness and disenchantment with 'traditional' religious practice and guidance have influenced the growth of new religious expressions and spiritualities (with the rise of non-religion as context)

Why have non-religion and new religious expressions grown, and what has influenced their growth?

Non-religious worldviews: the human search for personal fulfilment through non-religious practices (Agnosticism, Atheism, Humanism); outline the positions of Rational Humanism and Scientific Humanism; discuss how Agnosticism, Atheism and Humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals (this page: humanism)

What are the positions of Rational Humanism and Scientific Humanism, and how does humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals?

Non-religious worldviews: outline the essential features of Atheism and Agnosticism; discuss how Agnosticism, Atheism and Humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals (this page: atheism, including new atheism)

What is new atheism, and how does it challenge religious worldviews?

The difference between religious and non-religious worldviews: the response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to the concept of the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility; compare the response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to the concept of the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility (this page: Buddhism and Humanism)

How do ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system respond to the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility?

The difference between religious and non-religious worldviews: the response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to the concept of the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility; compare the response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to the concept of the transcendent, the human person and social responsibility (this page: Christianity and Humanism)