Students learn about:

Define the meanings of

 Belief systems

 World view

 Ideology

Support Site: HSC online

Identify the nature and extent of

belief systems both within and
outside Australia.

Identify some of the questions that

humans have asked about human
existence, societies, environments
and time that have led to the
development of varied belief
systems.

Identify the difference between

religious and non religious belief
systems.
Examine the nature and role of Nature:
ideology (idea) and beliefs in
societies and cultures.
Role:

Identify the impact of beliefs upon persons

persons, societies and cultures
across time. societies

cultures

time.

Examine the nature and role of What is a ritual?

ritual in belief systems.
What is the nature of rituals?

What is the role of rituals in a belief system?

Examine acceptance and rejection

of belief systems

Identify the role of beliefs in

people’s lives
Identify your own beliefs, both Religious beliefs Non religious beliefs
religious and non religious

Use concepts such as- power, gender, values, customs, philosophy, life cycle, beliefs, norms, ideology, continuity.
Identify the origins of your own
beliefs.

My beliefs Other beliefs Analysis – why are there similarities

Compare your beliefs with those and differences.
held by persons in other times and
places

Identify the impacts of beliefs on

my life
My Focus Study: ________________________________________
(Confucianism, Humanism, Islam, Buddhism, Capitalism, Socialism, Consumerism, Democracy, Totalitarianism, Feminism, Men’s Movement,
Environmentalism).

Who, What, Where, When and Why Identify the continuities of the belief system
Identify the historical basis of the today.
belief system

Account for the nature of the following

Identify the extent of its following today.
in the world today

Evaluate the importance of such

Identify important places and/or places/scripts.
scripts

Examine the role of, and

acceptance of, dissent
 Evaluate the nature of power
Examine the nature of power
within the belief systems

Analyse the nature of gender roles (Why)

Examine gender roles within the
belief system

Aspects of continuity Aspects of change

Identify aspects of continuity and Use concepts- values, customs, language, philosophy, ritual, life Use concepts- Ritual, life cycle, symbols,
change within the belief system cycle, beliefs, norms, symbols, ideology, hierarchy, myth, power ideology, world view, globalization, conflict.
structures.

Role of tradition: Evaluate the role of tradition and cultural

Identify the role of tradition and heritage within the belief system.
cultural heritage within the belief
system.

Role of cultural heritage:

 Assess the impact of technology on the belief
Identify the impact of technology system
on the belief system.

Consider the impact values, customs, language, philosophy, Evaluate the impact of globalization on the
Identify the impact of rituals, life cycle, beliefs, norms, symbols, ideology, hierarchy, belief system
globalization on the belief system power structures, conflict.

How has change affected the belief system How has resistance to change affected the
Outline how change and belief system
resistance to change affects the
belief system

At a national level At a global level.

Examine the impact of the belief
system on wider society ………..
Construct scenarios for the future directions of the belief system Identify and describe the role of belief systems in your own life and in the
on a local, national and global scale. macro world.

Methodologies
Apply the methodology of case study to research of
a belief system. Select, organize and evaluate information and sources
By using ONE of the following-
Questionnaire, Interview or focus group.

Use content analysis to examine literature, art, music or other appropriate

expression of a belief system.
Evaluate the continuities and changes to the belief system Identify views about the future of the belief system

The future
Examine the impact of the belief system upon the future. Examine the relationship of the belief system to peace
and conflict in the world.
 Brainstorm how each of the following depth study concepts relates to the study of Belief Systems.

Values customs language philosophy ritual

Life cycle beliefs norms symbols ideology

Hierarchy myth continuity change worldviews

Globalization Power structures conflict Gender/technology Power/authority