Atheism and humanism will also feature strongly - the first time the topics have formed a major part of a GCSE religion syllabus.
As part of a section covering the rise of minority religious sects and movements, teenagers can make an in-depth study of the Unification Church, whose members are often known as Moonies after Korean-born founder Sun Myung Moon.As well as the Unification Church, they can study the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, which believes in the spirituality of nature. Those choosing to study Rastafarianism are invited to consider the influence of Bob Marley in the 1970s.
Professor Liam Gearon, of the University of Plymouth, said OCR's new GCSE was 'intellectually exciting. As well as bringing new understanding to religion in the modern world which students confront daily in newspapers, on television, radio and the Internet, students can make use of this rich diversity of media as evidence and argument in the study of religion - for example, in the study of religion and politics, religion and war, religion and the arts,' he said.
Clara Kenyon, qualifications director at OCR, said: 'This new GCSE pilot allows us take a fresh look at how religious studies is taught. 'The pilot addresses a range of issues relevant to students today, who often see religious issues in the news without necessarily having an understanding of the background.' (Source: Daily Mail)
