Subjects · Leaving Cert Religious Education
Leaving Cert Religious Education: The sacred & spirituality today
How often The sacred & spirituality today comes up on the Religious Education papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.
HL Asked on 1 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.
OL Asked on 3 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.
Quick ones on The sacred & spirituality today.
- Membership of a church or religious body, by definition
- A search for meaning and connection beyond the self
- A belief in ghosts, haunted houses and fortune-telling
- Receiving Confirmation
- Attending a Bar Mitzvah
- Mindfulness practice
- What is set apart as holy and inspires awe
- Everyday worldly affairs and ordinary work
- Anything that is very old or traditional
Show the answers
(a) A search for meaning and connection beyond the self
(b) Mindfulness practice
(c) What is set apart as holy and inspires awe
Higher Level
Asked on 1 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Not asked |
| 2024 | A2 |
| 2023 | Not asked |
| 2022 | Not asked |
| 2021 | Not asked |
| 2019 | Not asked |
| 2018 | Not asked |
| 2017 | Not asked |
| 2016 | Not asked |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
Ordinary Level
Asked on 3 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2025 | A2 |
| 2024 | Not asked |
| 2023 | Not asked |
| 2022 | A3 |
| 2021 | Not asked |
| 2019 | Not asked |
| 2018 | A3 |
| 2017 | Not asked |
| 2016 | Not asked |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More The sacred & spirituality today questions
The sacred & spirituality today, 2 marks
In religion, what does the word sacred mean?
- Very old and rare
- Kept hidden and secret
- Set apart as holy
Show the answer
Set apart as holy
Something sacred, whether a place, time, object or person, is set apart and treated with deep respect because it is linked to the divine or to what matters most.
The sacred & spirituality today, 3 marks
Which is an example of interest in spirituality in Ireland today?
- Longer school holidays over the summer months
- Thousands climbing Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday
- A big rise in online shopping at weekends
Show the answer
Thousands climbing Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday
Many people climb the Reek on the last Sunday of July. Pilgrimages, retreats, mindfulness and prayer apps all show a continuing interest in spirituality.
The sacred & spirituality today, 3 marks
A person says, 'I'm spiritual but not religious.' What do they most likely mean?
- They seek meaning but not through a religion
- They belong to two religions at once
- They reject all values
Show the answer
They seek meaning but not through a religion
Many people today look for connection, peace or purpose outside organised religion, for example through nature, meditation, music or art.