Religious Knowledge O'level

The study area SEC Religious Knowledge / It-Tagħlim Reliġjuż is informed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). GSCE Religious Studies is informed by Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Religious Knowledge, from its very definition and nature, should contribute to the development of human beings by supporting and enabling their personal search for meaning. Search for meaning is at the basis of every area of learning. However, “the distinctive contribution which Religious Education has to make to the curriculum is located by its recourse to living belief systems for its content. This is true not only at the level of facts but also the ethos and values which are conveyed for such study. Distinctiveness of Religious Education is never self-contained. Religious experience is distinctive when it is in a dynamic relationship with other forms of experience”. 

Students need to be strengthened in their identity and so equipped with knowledge, skills and attitudes that foster respect and dialogue. Christian anthropology is at the basis of Catholic Religious Education, since humanity and human dignity are focal concerns of the Christian message. Students, however, should also be gradually made aware of the different Christian denominations that constitute other faith traditions, of the richness of the diverse wisdom traditions that shaped the major World Religions and that continue to influence the history of humanity, as well as of the secularist and atheistic philosophies that partly shaped the dominant culture and worldview we live in today.

At the end of the programme, the student will be able to: 

• explore the communities one belong to, community life, relationships and how these impact in shaping one’s life; receiving, challenging and being challenged, what one stand for, creating beliefs and attitudes. I can connect with myself, others and God while acknowledging one’s faith and the challenges from the contemporary world
• reflect upon and write about the relevance of religions in society, particularly in Malta, acknowledging the value of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence
• identify the values and beliefs of the major world religions and explore the relevance of interreligious dialogue and respect for other faiths
• explore the common concerns of the major world religions as expressed in different worldviews through an understanding of the major world religions
• reflect upon and discuss the values of religious freedom, respect, and acceptance of others within one’s context as a (Christian) citizen
• reflect upon what gives meaning to Christian living and discern the role of the Holy Spirit in opening one’s eyes of faith to God’s presence and helping me understand the meaning of Christian commitment and its importance to my life and that of others
• explore the history of salvation, comprehend the nature and the consequences of sin
• learn to appreciate the gift of freedom, including religious freedom
• reflect on the missionary aspect of the Church
• explore the challenges that ensue from the acceptance of the Good news, explore the concept of the Kingdom of God on earth, and examine the importance of the sacraments
• learn to appreciate creation, comprehend life as a gift, and follow one’s calling
• acknowledge the rich plurality of experiences and expressions shown by individuals as well as communities in their commitment to living the Gospel
• understand and develop arguments about the values and moral principles that should be followed by a Christian in their daily lives and choices
• collaborate with others in the construction of a shared and mutually enriched vision of life
• explore morality, ethics, respect for life, and sexuality