Page 11
Religious Studies
Each year, the RS Department enters
the annual Spirited Arts 'Art in Heaven'
competition – now in its 13th year, this
competition has attracted over 300,000
participants averaging 2,000 entrants per
year since 2004. Hundreds of UK schools get
involved, with entries coming from as far
afield as Cyprus and Australia, Indonesia and
South Africa.
Yet again the Religious Studies Department has set students the challenge of creating
a piece of work based on a variety of thought-provoking themes.
We have been hugely successful in the past and several year groups will take part. Year
7, working in conjunction with the Art Department, have already made a great start
with their chosen topic:
A large number of Year 10 GCSE Religious Studies students
made a memorable visit to the Neasden Swarminarayan
Hindu Mandir. This again proved to be a fantastic experience,
as well as really bringing the faith they are studying alive.
Here are some of the students' thoughts on this amazing day:
The temple was breath-taking – the journey was worth it
to see the beautiful hand-carved Gods on the pillars. We
witnessed first-hand the third daily prayer, and people
being blessed with Aarti – which is taking in God's light. The
beuatiful temple shows how devoted they are to their Gods
by making such an amazing building for them.
The marble temple was beautiful and the hand carved
patterns and Gods were amazing. I learned a lot.
Neasden Temple trip
The Hindu Temple was a great experience because I think
it was very interesting to see another religion being done
by other people. THe temple was very well-designed, made
with very much attention to detail. Even though I have to
say that it was a strange feeling to see all those statues
which people were praying to, especially if you are a
Christian like me, who believes that there is only one God –
so you only see the statues as statues, not gods. Also, it was
more like an exhibition than a worship area.
My favourite bit was seeing all the hand-carved marble all
over everywhere. I loved being at Aarti (worship of the Gods).
It was really interesting to see how the Hindus worship their
Gods. Some lay on the floor and some clapped, while some
gave a peace offering.
The temple must be one of the most beautiful things I have
ever seen. It was so beautifully carved and it must have
taken so much time and dedication. It is one experience I
will never forget.
MacKenzie Davis
The trip was an amazing and educational experience – I
learned a lot about the Hindu religion and how kind the
people are. The temple was absolutely stunning and so
beautiful. It was really interesting to have a question and
answer session with an actual Hindu, and to see new depths
to the religion and to hear stories we'd never otherwise have
heard.
I thought the Swarminarayan Hindu Temple was amazing
and we were so lucky to have the opportunity to go and see
it. The temple itself was stunningly beautiful, and witnessing
a real Aarti was a good experience to have.
It was cool to go to a temple where real Hindus go to worship
and to get a feeling of their religion.
