For Part 2, you study two religions in considerably greater depth . These must be selected from:

• Group 1 – Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism or
• Group 2 – Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Approximately 40 hours are recommended for each religion . The guide recommends that the two in-depth religions also come from the five studied in Part 1, although this is not compulsory. The emphasis shifts from broad introductory knowledge to analysis . Each religion is examined through its own key concepts , but both are studied using the same five themes . Historical, social, political, and cultural context should be considered, although the main emphasis is on contemporary practice and the diversity that exists within religious traditions .

Theme 1 – Rituals

This theme examines the practices through which religious beliefs are expressed and reinforced . You will study:

• Lifetime rituals and rites of passage
• Worship
• Festivals
• Gender and ritual
• Society and ritual

You may consider the purpose of rituals, their relationship with doctrines or founding figures, and the ways they influence communal identity and everyday life . The syllabus also asks you to consider how ritual changes according to social, political, cultural, and gender contexts .

Key takeaway – Rituals show how beliefs become repeated actions that shape identity, community, and everyday religious life .

Theme 2 – Sacred Texts

This theme focuses on the authority and interpretation of religious texts . You will study:

• Composition
• Collation
• Development
• Interpretation
• Language

Important questions include who has the authority to interpret sacred texts, how texts are connected to key religious figures, and how translation or changing interpretations may affect authority .

Key takeaway – Sacred texts are important not only because of what they say, but because different communities understand their authority and interpretation in different ways .

Theme 3 – Doctrines and Beliefs

This theme explores the main teachings that shape religious worldviews . You will study:

• Origins of doctrines
• Statements of belief
• Eschatology
• Cosmogony and cosmology
• Religious authority
• Schools of thought

You will also investigate whether doctrines unite or divide religious communities and how they are reflected through rituals, leadership, art, architecture, and everyday practice .

Key takeaway – Doctrines provide the intellectual foundations of a religion, but different interpretations can create important variations within the same tradition .

Theme 4 – Religious Experience

This theme looks at religion from the perspective of lived experience . You will study:

• Individual and collective experience
• Conversion
• Reaffirmation
• Meditation
• Worship
• Prayer
• Gender and religious experience

You may also examine the role of music, singing, dance, biography, and testimony in shaping or expressing religious experience.

Key takeaway – Religious Experience focuses on what religion feels like and means to individual believers and communities , rather than only what official doctrines state.

Theme 5 – Ethics and Moral Conduct

The final theme examines how religious beliefs influence moral choices and responses to contemporary issues . The guide recommends using no more than three case studies , each focusing on a different national or international issue . Possible topics include:

• War and conflict
• Medical ethics
• Human rights
• Animal rights
• Marriage and divorce
• Food
• Religious dress
• Freedom of expression

You are expected to consider the interaction between religious and secular perspectives , including situations where religious teachings and legal systems may conflict .

Key takeaway – Ethics and Moral Conduct asks you to apply religious teachings to real contemporary controversies and evaluate how moral principles operate in practice .

Part 3: Investigative Study

The final component is the Investigative Study , which gives you the opportunity to independently research an aspect of religious experience, practice, or belief. The investigation should ideally involve direct engagement where appropriate. This might include:

• Visiting a place of worship
• Interviewing a religious adherent
• Observing a religious practice
• Participating in an appropriate activity
• Using primary and secondary sources

The guide emphasizes the importance of a clear research question, appropriate methodology, and balanced representation of religious beliefs and practices . Your final written analysis is 1,500–1,800 words and follows five required sections:

• Rationale and preliminary research
• Plan for study
• Summary of significant findings
• Critical reflection and evaluation
• References and compliance with format

The investigation should demonstrate that you can critically reflect on what your research revealed . You should also evaluate your sources and methods , explain whether your research question was successfully addressed, and consider how the project changed or deepened your understanding of religious beliefs or experiences.