What is Religious & Pastoral Education?
Religious education is the teaching of religion and its varied aspects, beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles. Learning about religion and learning from religion is an important aspect of life as it helps to develop an understanding of ourselves and others.
The study of Religious and Pastoral Education allows anyone to explore how religious beliefs and practices influence and shape the world we live in today. For many people, it is important to learn and understand faith, spirituality, and beliefs. For some, spreading the news of the faith is more than just a job, past time, or hobby – it is a calling.
What courses are available?
- Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in the following subject areas:
- Personal Leadership & Pastoral Care – The study of the professional skills for personal leadership and pastoral care in both faith-based and secular communities.
- Biblical Studies & Christian Ministry – A course to help you gain a better understanding of the scriptures and Christian faith
- Christian Leadership in Education – The study of Christian Leadership in Education, leading people, strategic development, and improvement planning.
- Doctoral Degree in Divinity – A further study of divinity and theological study.
Studying Religious & Pastoral Education in college
The study of Religious & Pastoral Education involves theoretical work, theological debate and discussion, and both written and spoken word as you learn the theory of religion and practice speaking and expressing yourself.
Religious & Pastoral Education courses provide students with hands-on, face-to-face learning opportunities that allow them to increase their knowledge and skills.
There are courses available for full-time or part-time learning so you can work at your own pace and in your schedule. You will gain a foundation in Religious & Pastoral education through theoretical work in the form of learning modules and lectures, active participation, and project work.
Assessments take place continuously with written assignments and depending on your chosen course there may be the end of module tests, exams, or multiple choice question assessments.
Students may also be expected to be in placement and to complete a minor dissertation. Students will be provided with skills in research methods with a view to their dissertation.
Career options
After completing a course in Religious & Pastoral Education you will be able to work in many different settings.
The requirements to work in religious and pastoral education vary depending on the position, but Religious and Pastoral education can be used in Further Education, Community Development work, Youth work, Mediation, Charity fundraising, and many more.
Many transferable skills such as analyzing data, research, communication skills, and critical thinking are associated with the study of Religious & Pastoral Education. Expertise in ministry can be a plus for secular work environments as well as more traditional ones such as business, law, medicine, counseling, higher education, and other fields.
Education in Religion is a great way to build a strong skillset while gaining experience with a broad range of ideas and beliefs. Religious and Pastoral education are excellent ways to become accustomed to and learn to be at ease with public speaking. They will also teach the ability to lead and the ability to be an excellent listener and counselor when advice or counsel is sought out by members of the community or congregation.
Related jobs include:
- Pastor / Priesthood
- Preacher
- Theologian
- Teacher
- Chaplain
- Writer / Editor
- Counselor
- Missionary
- Evangelist
- Non-profit and charity organizations
Further study
Pastoral ministry students can often volunteer in shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, or healthcare organizations under the supervision of a chaplain. This kind of experience will assist you in discerning career direction.
Obtaining relevant experience through internships or volunteer experiences is critical to finding employment opportunities. Early in your career, you may need to supplement ministry income with other work so after completing a course in Religious & Pastoral Education you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to add to your skill base for greater opportunities in your career.
You may choose to increase your knowledge of religion/theology through a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters or Ph.D. Areas of research include theology, religion and culture, ethics and religious conflict, or depending on the career you want, you may need to take a vocational postgraduate course in an area such as teaching, journalism, librarianship, or the law.
FAQ
Are there any particular qualities you need to study Religious & Pastoral Education?
A course in Religious and Pastoral Education would suit you if you are interested in helping people, are a good listener, and can deal with a range of challenges presented by individuals seeking assistance. You should also enjoy giving practical help and support, often during times of crisis or personal difficulty.
Where can I study Religious & Pastoral Education?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
· An estimated 31.11% of the world’s population have Christian beliefs, making Christianity the world’s largest religion.
· Many people imagine the origin of the Bible as a single book, but it is in fact, an anthology of 66 books with various authors.
· Approximately 100 million Bibles are sold every year.
· Every year, many Christians travel to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage route to visit the ancient places of Jesus and other important Biblical characters.
· There are more than 316 000 missionaries worldwide.
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