LC Religious Education study guide
LC Religious Education · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Leaving Certificate Religious Education is a senior-cycle subject in the Irish second-level system, typically taken over two years and examined by the State Examinations Commission on behalf of the Department of Education. It suits students who want to think seriously about belief, ethics and religious traditions rather than simply learn facts about them, and it is accepted for points and course entry in the same way as other Leaving Certificate subjects, subject to each institution's entry requirements. The LC Religious Education study guide has 6 sections and about 1,620 words.
01The Search for Meaning and Values
This domain asks how humans make sense of existence and how religions and non-religious worldviews answer that question. The exam tests key terms, comparison of thinkers, and evaluation of claims rather than mere description.
312 words, about 2 min02Christianity: Origins and Contemporary Expressions
This domain examines Christianity from its Jewish and Greco-Roman origins to its contemporary plural forms. The exam tests historical knowledge, use of sources, and ability to explain continuity and change.
271 words, about 1 min03World Religions
This domain tests knowledge of major living traditions and the skill of comparing beliefs, practices, ethics, texts and rituals without flattening internal diversity. Judaism : covenant, Torah, Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara), Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), synagogue, Shabbat, kosher laws, Pesach, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah.
253 words, about 1 min04Moral Decision-Making
This domain tests ethical theories, conscience, moral development and their application to concrete dilemmas. Marks depend on accurate theory and reasoned application, not on listing names.
266 words, about 1 min05Religion and Gender
This domain examines how gender shapes religious roles, texts, imagery and authority, and how feminist and other critiques have reshaped the study of religion. Patriarchy : social and symbolic systems that privilege men; analyse institutions, language and interpretation.
261 words, about 1 min06Issues of Justice and Peace
This domain tests theories of justice, war and peace, human rights and conflict resolution, with application to real and hypothetical cases. Justice : distributive (fair share), retributive (punishment), restorative (repair); Rawls's veil of ignorance; structural violence (Galtung).
257 words, about 1 min