S3 Coursework

The S3 syllabus falls into three sections

What is the Christian Church?

The first term follows on from the S2 syllabus with a unit entitled ‘What is the Christian Church?’

The first section of this unit is a study of the worship of the Christian community.  The layout of various differing churches is studied to show how this reflects different expressions of belief and worship. Video examples of worship in differing denominations are given.  The study moves on to examine the working life of a minister or priest. In particular, we study aspects of bereavement, examining typical reactions to the death of someone, and the needs of people as such times, and concentrate on the help that can be offered within a peer group.  The unit finishes with an examination of the work of Christian Aid, as a typical aid organisation, looking at the politics and economics of poverty throughout the world.

Islam

A second unit of work involves the study of the third of the ‘religions of the book’, Islam.  The historic origins of the religion are examined in terms of the life and experience of the prophet of Islam.  The cultural and scientific and medical developments within the early Islamic community are discussed before moving onto investigating the religious duties encompassed by the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’ examining the prayer life of Islam, the observation of Ramadan, and the Pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj.  An emphasis is placed upon seeking to look at aspects of the religion through the eyes of the Scottish Muslim community. 

Philosophy of Religion

During most of the third term a brief introduction to the Philosophy of Religion is given.  This develops aspects of some work undertaken during S1.  The use of symbolism and symbolic language in religions is studied, and the nature of ‘truth’ within science and religion is discussed.