MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge study guide
MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
MATSEC Advanced Matriculation Religious Knowledge is a Maltese post-secondary qualification in religious studies, usually taken alongside A-levels and often used to strengthen an application to university courses in theology, religious studies, philosophy, education or the humanities, or simply to certify sustained academic work in the subject. It suits students who are willing to read primary texts closely and to argue a case in continuous prose rather than recall isolated facts. The MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge study guide has 7 sections and about 1,926 words.
01The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation
MATSEC tests how the biblical text came to be, how its literary forms shape meaning, and which methods Catholics may legitimately use. Expect questions on source and form criticism, the synoptic problem, canon history, and Dei Verbum's teaching on interpretation.
332 words, about 2 min02The person and teaching of Jesus Christ
This domain tests Christological titles, the Chalcedonian definition, the Kingdom of God, parables, the Sermon on the Mount and the passion-resurrection narratives, plus the criteria historians use to assess Gospel traditions. Son of Man (Dan 7:13), Son of God, Messiah/Christ, Lord (Kyrios), Logos (John 1).
289 words, about 1 min03The Church: origins, mission and structures
Questions here cover Pentecost origins, biblical images of the Church, the four marks, Vatican II ecclesiology, the threefold ministry, sacraments and ecumenism. Pentecost (Acts 2) as the Church's public birth; ekklesia and koinonia.
272 words, about 1 min04Christian ethics and moral theology
This domain tests the sources of moral theology, natural law, conscience, virtue, the structure of a moral act, intrinsic evil, double effect and Catholic social teaching. Sources: Scripture, Tradition, and reason (natural law, Rom 2:14-15).
261 words, about 1 min05World religions and interreligious dialogue
Expect questions on Ninian Smart's dimensions, theological models of other religions (exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism), Nostra Aetate, and core beliefs of Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, plus forms of dialogue. Smart's seven dimensions: doctrinal, mythological, ethical, ritual, experiential, institutional, material.
249 words, about 1 min06Religion, culture and society
This domain tests the sociology of religion: secularisation and its critics, church-sect typology, civil religion, inculturation and popular piety. Weber: disenchantment and the rationalisation of the world.
244 words, about 1 min07Philosophy of religion and fundamental theology
This domain tests arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, religious language, faith and reason, religious experience and miracles. Cosmological: Aquinas' first three ways; Kalam argument.
279 words, about 1 min