NEW BOOKS FOR
THE
REVISED
COMMON ENTRANCE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES EXAMINATION
The Common Entrance Religious Studies Syllabus has been revised again and will first be examined in Autumn 2000. The Herga Press has responded to this need by producing books which will help teachers, especially non-specialists, with the more demanding sections of the syllabus. In doing so, we will be building on our extensive experience in supporting Common Entrance Religious Studies teaching (you may already be familiar with The People of God and The Church God, both in their original and twice revised forms).

Until the present syllabus expires, it will be necessary for us to continue to provide The People of God and The Church of God as well as the new books. Please take particular care in filling in the order form. You will need:

You should already have seen the new syllabus. However, we summarise its contents here for your convenience and also to illustrate the purpose of the new books.

The revised syllabus contains four sections:

Section 1: General Bible Knowledge

Section 2: Old Testament Texts for special study in relation to contemporary issues

Section 3: New Testament texts for special study in relation to contemporary issues

Section 4: An optional section

Option (i) one question on world religions

Option (ii) a study of the local church and the community

Candidates will be obliged to answer section 1, which will comprise twenty-five questions requiring one word answers. A detailed knowledge of the stories will not be expected. Preparation for this will simply require the study of twenty stories from the Old Testament and twenty stories from the New Testament by the end of Year 6. It does not look as though a special textbook would be necessary for this.

However, pupils and teachers, especially non-specialist teachers, will need help with the interpretation and application of Old Testament and New Testament texts in relation to contemporary issues (Sections 2 & 3). Consequently, I have written two new books, similar in style and approach to The People of God and The Church of God but taking into account the different emphasis of the revised syllabus. I have also included advice in the second book on how to do a worthwhile project on the local church and community for option (ii) in section 4.

The principal change in the revised syllabus is this. In applying the biblical texts to contemporary issues, teachers will be expected to:

1. build a bridge between the candidates' experience and meaning of the story

2. relate the feelings of the characters in the stories to the feelings which the pupils would have in similar situations

3. consider and discuss any moral issues in the story, how they might arise today, and how the Bible has sometimes been used as a guide in deciding moral issues

4. when appropriate, draw the candidates' attention to any heroic/sacrificial/noble actions. The issue of sacrificial lives should be regularly visited in order to support the living faith dimensional this subject."

 It is also the technique used by Chris Wright and me in Faith Confirmed, our confirmation book recently published by SPCK.

I would also welcome questions sent to me by post or e-mail. I can then publish these on the web site together with my answers so that they can reach a wider prep school audience.

e-mail:  cers@btinternet.com

 

mail:
The Revd Peter Jackson
Harrow School
High Street
Harrow on the Hill
Middlesex
HA1 3HP
 

Peter Jackson

June 1999
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