Bishopbriggs Academy

Why our pupils learn about Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies

Philosophy encourages our students to be curious, critical, and open-minded about the world and allows for the development of numerous skills that are highly valued by various employers - such as critical thinking, excellent written and verbal communication skills, forming and communicating complex arguments, analysis and research skills, comprehending difficult texts and abstract notions, leadership, effective collaboration and teamwork, self-motivation, self-confidence, resilience, impeccable organisation and time management skills. Today, these skills are called meta-skills and are embedded within RMPS and Philosophy courses.

A qualification in RMPS and / or Philosophy creates numerous potential career paths rather than being limited to one type of career - graduates can move onto roles in teaching, academic research, law and justice, finance, healthcare, the creative industries, the civil service, social work, non-profit organisations, and so on.

Religion provides the opportunity to explore some of the deepest and most significant ideas and values that have emerged in human history. Religion has been one of the most persistent forces in the history of humanity.

Firstly, religions continue to exert influence in profound ways throughout the world today. Think, for example, of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the debates over evolution, questions about abortion and the death penalty; how people think about these controversial issues reflects their religious convictions.

Secondly, religion asks the deepest, most important questions about human existence. Where do we come from? Why are we here? What happens to us after we die? Why do people suffer? How should we act? How can we live good lives? How can we understand people with beliefs that conflict with our own? What is the ultimate meaning of life? Different religions provide a variety of answers to these questions. The study of religion offers our students the opportunity to explore a range of answers to these profound questions and allows students to consider their own beliefs and values.

Thirdly, people act upon their religious beliefs every day. Exploring the range of religious world views at work in the past and present is crucial for understanding what people do and why they do it.

Fourthly, religion affects all aspects of human existence. It is difficult to study history, anthropology, sociology, political science, literature, music, art, theatre, psychology, education, or economics without understanding how religious views and ideals function in culture.

Fifthly, learning about religions is a great way of fostering tolerance and diversity.

Ethics (Morality) enables our students to live an authentic life. An authentic and meaningful life requires our students to live with a sense of integrity. Having a set of principles to guide their life and the choices they make is what ethics is all about.

Ethical people embody traits such as honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty, and caring. As a result, ethical people are perfectly suited not only for interpersonal relationships generally, but also more specifically for the kinds of interactions that make for thriving business.

Finally, ethics provides for a stable society. When people live ethical lives, they tell the truth, avoid harming others, and are generous. A stable society requires a lot of ethical people working together in highly coordinated ways.

As we all face the challenges of the present and future, including environmental problems, questions around migration and immigration, and societal inequality, we will need our students to be able to address these challenges together, working with businesses and other nations to promote a more ethical and sustainable way of living. The skills they develop in RMPS and Philosophy will help them to do this successfully.

 

Key Links
Broad General Education (BGE) RMPS
Core S3 and Core S4
National 5 RMPS
National 5 Philosophy
Higher RMPS
Advanced Higher RMPS

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