RATIONALE

Learning and Life

Education is about the development of the whole person. Religious and Moral Education deals with the development of the person in relation to self-awareness, relationships with others, and the realm of beliefs, values and practices which go to make up a religious outlook on life. As such it makes an important contribution to the personal and social development of pupils.

The many different beliefs and attitudes found in today's pluralistic Scotland, which are mirrored in our schools, make this area of the curriculum an exciting challenge. In meeting that challenge, schools will need to create an ethos in which differences are seen to be welcome enrichments.

Discussion of religious and moral issues should be open and pupils should be encouraged to express their own views and feelings and to listen with respect to the views and feelings of others.

The Report of the Scottish Committee on Home - School - Community Relations in the Primary School defined the two separate but inter-related aspects of religious education and moral education as follows:

'Religious education is concerned with the development of the understanding of religion as a significant area of human experience. It is also an aspect of personal growth enabling the individual to explore questions concerning the meaning of life and the value of the individual interpreted in relation to that which is beyond man.'

'Moral education is the process whereby a person develops responsible attitudes towards others and skills of moraI judgement about what is considered right and wrong.'

Religious Education

In these guidelines the presentation of religious education is structured under the headings Christianity, Other World Religions and Personal Search.

Religion is a significant area of human experience. This is true in history and in the contemporary world. As such, it is worthy of study by pupils so that they can have some understanding of one of the prime motivating factors behind human behaviour, both individual and social.

In particular, Christianity has shaped the history and traditions of Scotland and continues to exert an influence on national life. Other major religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, are also represented. It would not be possible to develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of all these faiths within the school curriculum. However, it is important that while recognising the role of Christianity as the major religious tradition of this country, pupils should also be encouraged to develop understanding of and respect for people of other faiths and people who adopt a non-religious stance for living.

The importance of religious education is not confined to appreciating the historical and social role of religion. There is also a personal dimension, linked to the individual's search for answers to questions about meaning, value and purpose in life. Such questions may be felt intuitively by younger children, in response to experiences of awe, joy and sadness, and may be expressed more or less articulately by older pupils.