religion as an extra subject

Brooke01

I was wounding is religion hard to study ...for a repeat student to pickup as an extra subject ?

Piste

Nah it's grand, but there's a journal you have to do and I think you have to get it signed off by a teacher. It's like history in that it's basically learning a load of stuff off, but just not nearly as much.

philologos

Last years paper was quite hard. It appears they are toughening up to combat the common stereotype that it is an easy subject.

xbox36016

why woud you do it in the frist place

philologos

To understand the various beliefs of the world, to understand it's impact on the world, and to understand it's role in believers lives from the extremist to the humble believer. It's also rather interesting on philosophy and secular humanism etc.

The Weasel

Jakkass wrote: »

To understand the various beliefs of the world, to understand it's impact on the world, and to understand it's role in believers lives from the extremist to the humble believer. It's also rather interesting on philosophy and secular humanism etc.

+1

Think I might be taking it up this year too.

xbox36016

do not do it

philologos

xbox36016 wrote: »

do not do it

Would you mind providing a reason?

Fad

xbox36016 wrote: »

do not do it

What is your reasoning behind that?

In all seriousness!

Jakkass got there first

xbox36016

ya do something that is more fun to do not cake subject

Fad

xbox36016 wrote: »

ya do something that is more fun to do not cake subject

there is nothing in the english language that resembles that in anyway, what are you trying to say?

jaffa20

I didn't know you could do it as a leaving cert subject. I was in a catholic school and we did it for jc and studied it at leaving level but we didn't get the opportunity to sit it at leaving. Basically throughout the whole 5 years we were taught everything about God and Catholisism but nothing about other beliefs or religions. If that was the case, i would have loved the class but it was just like any other class where we are told this is right, now learn it and rejurgetate it. Though this is worse in regards teaching religion as we are only seeing it from one side and not how complex religion can really be. It would be the same if i decided to study Theology in college. if you want to understand beliefs and idenity then study anthropology like it did in college. At least it is not one sided and allows one to broaden their mind.

philologos

xbox36016 wrote: »

ya do something that is more fun to do not cake subject

What if I like cake?

philologos

jaffa20 wrote: »

I didn't know you could do it as a leaving cert subject. I was in a catholic school and we did it for jc and studied it at leaving level but we didn't get the opportunity to sit it at leaving. Basically throughout the whole 5 years we were taught everything about God and Catholisism but nothing about other beliefs or religions. If that was the case, i would have loved the class but it was just like any other class where we are told this is right, now learn it and rejurgetate it. Though this is worse in regards teaching religion as we are only seeing it from one side and not how complex religion can really be. It would be the same if i decided to study Theology in college. if you want to understand beliefs and idenity then study anthropology like it did in college. At least it is not one sided and allows one to broaden their mind.

I did it for the LC last year, I specialised mainly in Judaism and Christianity, but by any means people can pick Hinduism, Sikhism etc. My project was on Christianity in Jerusalem found it really interesting.

Fad

jaffa20 wrote: »

I didn't know you could do it as a leaving cert subject. I was in a catholic school and we did it for jc and studied it at leaving level but we didn't get the opportunity to sit it at leaving. Basically throughout the whole 5 years we were taught everything about God and Catholisism but nothing about other beliefs or religions. If that was the case, i would have loved the class but it was just like any other class where we are told this is right, now learn it and rejurgetate it. Though this is worse in regards teaching religion as we are only seeing it from one side and not how complex religion can really be. It would be the same if i decided to study Theology in college. if you want to understand beliefs and idenity then study anthropology like it did in college. At least it is not one sided and allows one to broaden their mind.

The syllabus kinda ensures that you dont get to Catholicism heavy/one sided, like in the world religion section you cant combine certain religion (like you cant combine Christianity and Judaism afaik because their roots are the same)

Although according to Jakkass you can, someone has been lying to me :S

jaffa20

Jakkass wrote: »

I did it for the LC last year, I specialised mainly in Judaism and Christianity, but by any means people can pick Hinduism, Sikhism etc. My project was on Christianity in Jerusalem found it really interesting.

Cool, i wish i had the opportunity to do than instead of geography or something. These sorts of studies should be brought more into the curriculum to show the diversty of culture within the world and it provides a good basis for studying humanities. But (and there is always is one), i don't think beliefs of others can be truly taught as they are experiences which others undergo in certain cultures and these should be studied on a subjective rather than an objective level through interaction etc. (hence why i studied anthropology)

gaybitch

My friend did it in one school, and found it really boring, as his teacher chose a dull elective topic, something like Christianity in Ireland. The people in my school seemed to like it more, they got to do Science vs Religion essays and that. By all accounts, last year's paper was much tougher than expected.

Apparently there are only two examiners for the exams as there are so few scripts! Bizarre!

Brooke01

Thanks guys for the advice

KeyLimePie

i...would not....unless you've already got ag science or geography:)
my friend did it and a question that was worth like 25% of the exam was based on literally 1 and a half pages from a 300 page book and there wasn't even enough info to answer it, about historical evidence for jesus or something

philologos

It was half of one question I believe and it definitely wasn't 25%. As for not enough information you are expected to read outside of the textbook in Religion. Taking a look to the Bible, and the Antiquities by Josephus even vaguely would have been a solution to that answer.

Whimsical

Religion is a brilliant extra subject to take up...Got an A2...The philosophy bit is so weird and wonderful...GO FOR IT

KeyLimePie

Jakkass wrote: »

It was half of one question I believe and it definitely wasn't 25%. As for not enough information you are expected to read outside of the textbook in Religion. Taking a look to the Bible, and the Antiquities by Josephus even vaguely would have been a solution to that answer.

i stand corrected

Fad

gaybitch wrote: »

My friend did it in one school, and found it really boring, as his teacher chose a dull elective topic, something like Christianity in Ireland. The people in my school seemed to like it more, they got to do Science vs Religion essays and that. By all accounts, last year's paper was much tougher than expected.

While Christianity in Ireland may seem dull, but its safe.
Science Vs Religion is a bit convoluted to be fair, itd be way to easy to go off on a tangent saying Religion is a heap of ****e or something.

degausserxo

I'd say do it. It's an interesting subject, and easy enough grade wise if you have half a brain and an opinion.

Piste

I dunni, if you have an opinion most likely you wont keep it to yourself and go completely off-topic in any essays that you could twsit around to talking about your opinions.


Basically, the examiner doesn't really care what you think, they care about what you've learned and how you can analyse that.

degausserxo

Basically, the examiner doesn't really care what you think

A lot of the questions asked though involve personal reflection though, and there're a fair few ''What did you think of this'' type questions.

philologos

Piste wrote: »

I dunni, if you have an opinion most likely you wont keep it to yourself and go completely off-topic in any essays that you could twsit around to talking about your opinions.


Basically, the examiner doesn't really care what you think, they care about what you've learned and how you can analyse that.

I disagree with you entirely... well almost

If your opinion is beneficial in analysing the text such as the Bible or the Qur'an. For example that Wisdom being referred to as "she" with Solomon is referring to God as female. Now not all would agree with you, but it's not incorrect at the same time. Also opinion is crucial in the 2nd part of the coursework project.

Fad

degausserxo wrote: »

A lot of the questions asked though involve personal reflection though, and there're a fair few ''What did you think of this'' type questions.

It might appear to be opinion based in parts, but Piste is right, they dont give a flying fuck what you think, they want relevant points, and generally have some connection to the syllabus.

philologos

I think part of how well you write religion answers depends on how you express your opinion while relating it to the question, for example using scriptural references etc. I think opinion makes an answer but it isn't the be all and end all. I do think that answers devoid of any form of opinion won't get as much marks though. For anyone doing it though, it does help to read the Bible or the Qur'an when you are doing LC as an exam subject.

Fad

Jakkass wrote: »

I think part of how well you write religion answers depends on how you express your opinion while relating it to the question, for example using scriptural references etc. I think opinion makes an answer but it isn't the be all and end all. I do think that answers devoid of any form of opinion won't get as much marks though. For anyone doing it though, it does help to read the Bible or the Qur'an when you are doing LC as an exam subject.

Oh no, i completely get what you mean, what i kind of meant is if people think from the get go, that if they go in with just opinions, that they can come out
decent marks. I think alot of people assume its like that, and dont study a whole lot for it/assume its a doss and tell all their mates its a joke of a subject.

philologos

Hm, well it's clear the SEC combatted that stereotype rather harshly last year based on the exam they provided us.