The Brisbane Catholic Education vision for Religious Education is for students who are challenged to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and who are literate in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition so that they might participate critically and authentically in faith contexts and wider society.
The launch and implementation of the new Brisbane Catholic Education Religious Education Curriculum occurred in 2013. All schools in the Brisbane archdiocese began implementation during 2013 with the view to full implementation by the end of 2014.
Religious Education has two dimensions- “Teaching people religion and teaching people to be religious in a particular way” (Gabriel Moran- 1991). These two dimensions are distinct yet complimentary. Through engagement with both dimensions of the Religious Education, we are challenged to be cultural agents in light of the gospel and authentic witnesses to the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today.
The Religion Curriculum P-12 has four strands each with its own distinct body of knowledge: Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life. These strands are interrelated and should be taught in an integrated way; and in ways that are appropriate to specific local contexts. Each strand has 3 distinct yet interrelated sub-strands.
The
“Sacred Texts” strand explores the ongoing story of God’s loving relationship with all of creation. Students are challenged to see that they are a part of this story by deepening their awareness of these sacred texts and exploring how these texts provide guidance, inspiration and strength for their own lives.
The
“Beliefs” strand explores foundational Catholic Christian beliefs and teachings and how these have found expression over time, while also exploring the beliefs and practices of other major world religions. Students are challenged to critically reflect on these beliefs and teachings as they come to understand and value their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.
The
“Church” strand explores the church as both human community and spiritual community, past and present, and how the church is called and challenged to express the continuing presence of Jesus Christ in the world. Students are challenged to know and understand the history of the church and better appreciate the church of the present so that they might contribute critically and effectively to the church of the future.
“Christian Life” explores the foundations for Christian moral living, how this is expressed through action for justice and ways in which prayer and spirituality support the lives of believers. Students are challenged to make life enhancing choices for themselves and all of creation and to respectfully participate in a variety of prayer experiences.
The Religion Curriculum P-12 is designed in line with the Australian Curriculum. Year level descriptions, content descriptions, achievement standards, content elaborations, general capabilities and cross curricular priorities are included.
As implementation continues we will work towards developing our own School Religion Program in accordance with the Religion Curriculum P-12 which will then be approved through a validation and endorsement process through the Archdiocesan Cyclical Review
Process.
The big picture of religious education is to develop each student’s religious literacy and faith formation. This can only be achieved through the active involvement of students, parents, staff and the wider school community in the religious life of the school.