Year 9: Conflict, Life and Death & Atheism
Year 9 Topic 2
Life and Death, Life after Death
Year 9 Topic 1
Conflict
In the initial part of Year 9, students undertake a study of conflict and religious attitudes to conflict. This broad topic area is tailored to each class focusing on the pupils' areas of interest. Typically, War and Peace, including a look at Christian Just War Theory and Islamic doctrines of Jihad, domestic violence, capital punishment and racism are covered during the course.
Following on from Year 9's initial study of Conflict, the second major topic involves addressing issues surrounding life, death and religious as well as secular approaches to that which is believed to come beyond.
9J Homework scenarios 14 Sept 09
How do your rules affect your actions in the following scenarios?
•You are at peace but the next-door country is very aggressive and threatening towards you. They are expanding their military and it is only a matter of time until they have larger armed forces.
•You are at war with Fantasia. You have been at war for a long time and food and supplies are very short for everyone in your country. Your army has just won a huge battle and thousands of Fantasian soldiers are trying to surrender.
•The Fantasians have built important military sites in the middle of a city. From these sites they are launching attacks which are killing many of your people. You can destroy the sites but many Fantasian civilians live around the area and hundreds will be killed.
•Your country’s harvest has failed and you do not have the food to feed your people. The neighbouring country has lots of food but they only willing to let you have it if you buy it. Unfortunately you are bankrupt and cannot afford to pay for the food supplies.
Year 9 Topic 3
Darwin, Dawkins and The God of the Gaps
A new area of investigation for the academic year 2009 - 2010. Having looked at the majority of the major world religions during Years 7 & 8, students are encouraged to square the circle by gaining an understanding of the arguments for rational atheism. As ever with the Year 9 courses, open discussion, debate and academic argument are key to developing a wider appreciation of the polarised theist-atheist dialectic.
