An important part of going to school is exploring options for making a living. In this context, students may ask: Where can Religion take me?

Together with English and Mathematics, Religion is taught at all year levels and to all students. And just like English and Mathematics, Religion is mostly aimed at giving students strong foundational knowledge and skills they can apply across most pathways; there is hardly a professional setting where literacy, numeracy, cultural knowledge, and critical thinking are not essential.

However, some students take a strong interest in Religion as an academic subject and wonder what pathways might give them an opportunity to take this interest further. Besides becoming Pope, where can a continued interest in Religion take you?

Religion and Ethics (REE)

Students who enjoy REE might want to explore opportunities in the social domain. REE is all about articulating our values and translating them into action in a community setting. As such, a student who excels in REE might have what it takes to fill one of the many roles associated with Social Work and Allied Health. REE offers students opportunities to develop relevant abilities such as to remain grounded in a value system, to use empathy when reaching out across cultural divides, to motivate and bring others along, to see suffering but still choose optimism.

REE links in with the Faith and the Formation frameworks of ATC. As such, it also offers students an opportunity to explore the thinking behind a Catholic organization, such as EREA, and consider whether a career in one of the many Catholic and Christian service providers in Queensland might be the right choice for them.

Study of Religion (SOR)

SOR is divided into four different Units. Across these Units, a variety of Humanities disciplines are explored. Unit 1 investigates the nature of religion and sacred texts. Students who have an interest in analyzing these texts and the civilizations they gave rise to may find the fields of Anthropology, Literature, Ancient History, or Linguistics worth exploring further. Units 2 and 3 explore rituals and ethics respectively. An interest in these areas could indicate that the fields of Sociology, Psychology, Criminology, or Public Relations may be of interest. Finally, Unit 4 centers on politics and Human Rights. Students who find this last, and most challenging Unit, rewarding may want to consider Modern History, Law, Journalism, or Politics as future fields of application.

Across Years 11 and 12, SOR exposed students to rigorous academic work, including the notion of academic integrity. Students who thrive in this environment might be cut out to go into academia. Finally, students who have found learning about Religion worthwhile, may want to consider going into teaching and joining the ranks of Religion teachers. I can recommend it!

Author: Thomas Schaab

Head of Religious Education (Years 4-12)