Pope's visit to the UK

The Pope's visit to the UK has prompted lots of comments and discussion in the news from the UK being accused of being a third world country due to it's fanatical athiesm to the thousands of people who have turned out to catch a glimpse of the person who they see as God's representative on earth.

For GCSE RE courses the role and authority of the Pope is very relevant in the Rights and Responsibilities section of Religion and Society. Also his views on contraception and homosexuality are important when considering the Marriage and the Family unit of Religion and Life

For A level students it is interesting to follow discussions regarding his position on the use of contraception, his views on homosexuality and the propossed canonising of Newman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11329489
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11360529
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11361749
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11355258
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-trouble-with-the-pope/4od

GCSE Edexcel Unit 8: Religion and Society

This is the course students will take in Y11 either to compliment the short course they have already taken or for our new Y10 students, as the second year of the GCSE. It is 4 units long and covers the following topics:

• Religion, Rights and Responsibilities: The role of authority when making moral decisions, human rights, the electoral process in the UK, Christian teaching on moral responsibility, genetic engineering and cloning.
• Religion, The Environment and Medical Issues: Global warming, stewardship, medical treatment for infertility, transplant surgery, the attitudes of Christians and Muslims to these issues.
• Religion, Peace and Conflict: The UN and world peace, how religious organisations promote world peace, why wars occur, Just War theory, bullying, conflict in families, forgiveness and reconciliation, the attitude of Christians and Muslims to these issues.
• Religion, Crime and Punishment: The need for law and justice, theories of punishment, capital punishment, laws on drugs and alcohol and the social problems caused by them, the attitude of Christians and Muslims to all these issues.

Students currently in Y10 at Abbeyfield, who are interested in taking this course should speak to Mrs Haig for a letter and further information and watch the you tube link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjY-foU8Ipw