BROWSE SUBJECTS

In this subject, you will have the opportunity to explore various ancient creation stories from different cultures around the world. The focus will be on understanding the purpose behind these stories and identifying their similarities and differences. The subject will then move on to examining the Christian creation story found in the Book of Genesis, along with the Enuma Elish and the Babylonian Creation Story, which share similarities with it. You will delve into questions such as why there are two creation stories in the Bible, the significance of God saying 'it was good' after each day of creation, and whether these stories oppose the Big Bang Theory. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of our existence today and the various perspectives and beliefs surrounding it.

In this subject, you will delve into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the four Gospel accounts. Through critical analysis, you will explore the evidence for the historicity of Jesus and the authenticity of the miracles attributed to him. You will examine the diverse perspectives of the Gospel writers and the factors that shaped their portrayal of Jesus, such as their intended audience and theological beliefs. Moreover, you will consider the implications of Jesus's teachings on contemporary society and reflect on the significance of his message of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Finally, you will engage in the theological debate around the nature of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine, and its implications for Christian theology and practice.

In this subject, you will be introduced to religious education, which involves exploring both the spiritual and intellectual aspects of Catholicism. This subject aims to provide you with an inquiry-based approach to learning and expressing their beliefs, and an appreciation for the diverse elements that make up the foundations of the Catholic faith. You will learn about the Catholic faith community, the structure of the Mass, an overview of the Bible, and the living Church today. Through this subject, you will gain a deeper understanding of Catholic beliefs, practices, and values, and be encouraged to explore your own personal meaning and discovery in life.

In this subject, you will have the opportunity to explore rituals from various cultures around the world, both ancient and contemporary, including ceremonies related to marriage, birth, death, and sacrifice. The focus will be on understanding the reasons behind these rituals and their significance. Additionally, you will examine the Catholic Sacraments and analyse their purpose and importance. Finally, you will investigate the fundamental questions that the Sacraments address.

This advanced unit challenges students to explore deep philosophical questions about religion, faith, and existence. Students will critically examine arguments for and against the existence of God, the problem of evil, and the relationship between religion and science. Through seminar-style discussions, independent research, and structured argumentation, students will develop their critical thinking, logical reasoning, and essay-writing skills. This course provides a rigorous and engaging exploration of the philosophy of religion, encouraging students to critically engage with complex ideas and debates about faith, existence, and miracles.

The study of VCE Religion and Society is a broad overview of religion and its interaction with society in the past and the present. You will study religious traditions or religious denominations in societies where multiple worldviews coexist and consider the experiences of those members who engage with their religious tradition individually and communally. This study respects and encourages an open and objective inquiry. Units 1&2 provide an opportunity for you to gain an understanding of the complex relationships that exist between individuals, groups, new ideas, and religious traditions, as well as the ethical and moral implications for living in a contemporary pluralistic society.

The study of VCE Religion and Society is a broad overview of religion and its interaction with society in the past and the present. You will study specific religious traditions or religious denominations in societies where multiple worldviews coexist, and the impact this poses individually and communally. In Units 3&4 you will study the purposes of religion and consider the religious beliefs developed by a religious tradition or religious denomination in response to the big questions of life. This includes the search for meaning, the interaction between significant life experiences and religion, and the challenges and changes that occurs over time.

The study of VCE Texts and Traditions considers the place and meaning of sacred texts within their religious traditions and wider social contexts. In Units 1&2, you will examine the place of sacred texts and their literary forms within a religious tradition. You will explore the importance of sacred texts as the source of a tradition and learn how to interpret and describe their meaning for the earlier and continuing tradition. You will also study how sacred texts provide a means of investigating contemporary social attitudes and issues, and how messages contained in them may justify or support the prevailing norms.

The study of VCE Texts and Traditions considers the place and meaning of sacred texts within their religious traditions. In Units 3&4, you will engage with the exegetical analysis (analytical interpretation) of the chosen texts. Some of the themes contained in the texts have been reinterpreted at different times by the religious tradition. In this unit, you will study a significant theme contained in the set text and consider the interpretation of the text in light of the theme. You will develop an understanding of the historical background that influenced the texts themselves in light of these interpretations.

In this subject, you will be introduced to organisations in society that are 'the real deal' in terms of their vision and mission to be models of faith in action. You will learn about how they stay true to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, and the amazing impact they are having here in Australia, and abroad. After this, YOU will be the real deal, and the major project is you planning and preparing an action for one of the organisations you have met. You will learn key project planning skills to create real and authentic activities that will have a lasting impact.

In Vocational Major Religious Education, you will explore the character strengths of courage, resilience, and tolerance through short 'encounters' aimed at bringing faith into dialogue with real world scenarios. You will be asked to critically evaluate the role that character strengths play in defining a person and in the ability to deepen an awareness of a person's place in the world and the building of right relationships with others. You will also examine the role that living a life based on following the Gospel values can have for building character and for defining our moral and ethical responsibility for living in a contemporary pluralistic society.

Vocational Religious Education allows you to reflect on various aspects of our Catholic faith tradition, while applying critical thinking skills to the contemporary, pluralistic outlook evident in today's modern secular society where Catholicism and its values are increasingly challenged. You will broadly examine themes such as 'what is our faith today?'; 'the God question'; 'our creation stories', 'witnessing to the call to service'; 'no longer relevant so does it matter anyway?'; 'change and challenge'; and 'acceptance and denial'. You will examine relevant data and documents to further depth their learning and understanding of complex issues.

Are women the true superheroes of our Church? In this unit you will discover if so and why. You will look at the important female characters in the Bible, with a focus on Jesus' mother, Mary, and characters like Esther, Sarah, and Mary Magdalene. You will then look at women who have become Saints and investigate their lives and the impact that they have had here in Australia and internationally. Finally, you will look at women in the Church today, and what they are contributing to the community. We may meet some of these legends in the flesh! Throughout the whole unit you will address big questions, such as, why can't women be priests?

In this subject, you will explore the origins of Christian decision making and our sense of justice. The course will investigate how the Bible addresses topics such as crime, justice, and punishment, and what insights we can gain from these passages. You will examine how individuals throughout history have spoken out against injustice, even in the face of ridicule and persecution. The subject will then shift to exploring how the Gospels inform contemporary society's views on human rights, justice, and the law, and how to live a good Christian life.