Religious Studies

Why Choose this course?

It is challenging. It will make you question every aspect of reality and every aspect of your own beliefs.

Universities rate A-Level Religious Studies as a top subject to study alongside a primary subject.

Gives you the ability to look at reality and the world around you in a different way.

You will develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied far beyond your studies.

Enables students to develop the ability to reason and express themselves coherently and contribute to the process of debate with their own judgement.

Prospects

This specification provides a suitable foundation for the further study of Philosophy, Religious Studies or Theology. Students will obtain a range of skills, such as analysis, interpretation and critical thinking which will give them the ability to produce extended evaluative pieces of writing. These are skills that will prepare students well for a range of courses in higher education and in employment. We prepare students for careers such as teaching, social work, the law, journalism, civil service or government.

Course Content

Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion
1. Ancient Philosophical Influences
2. Soul, Mind and Body
3. Arguments Based on Observation
4. Arguments Based on Reason
5. Religious Experience
6. The Problem of Evil
7. The Nature or Attributes of God
8. Religious Language - Negative, Analogical or Symbolic
9. Twentieth Century Perspectives and Philosophical Comparisons

Paper 2: Religion and Ethics
1. Natural Law
2. Situation Ethics
3. Kantian Ethics
4. Utilitarianism
5. Euthanasia
6. Business Ethics
7. Meta-Ethical Theories
8. Conscience
9. Sexual Ethics

Paper 3: Developments in Christian Thought
1. Augustine's Teaching on Human Nature
2. Death and the Afterlife
3. Knowledge of God's Existence
4. The Person of Jesus Christ
5. Christian Moral Principles
6. Christian Moral Action
7. Religious Pluralism and Theology
8. Religious Pluralism and Society
9. Gender and Society
10. Gender and Theology
11. The Challenge of Secularism
12. Liberation Theology and Marx

Course Opportunities/ Activities

Opportunity to visit Rome and Pompeii at end of year 13 (after examinations).
Candlelight Conference with Peter Vardy

Support and Challenge

The RE department support students by giving each student at the beginning of the year a folder, exercise book as well as a copy of the course outline and marking scheme. All lesson PowerPoints and additional reading are sent via Teams each half term. Students are available to contact Mrs Spike via Teams for additional support. Revision materials including course booklets are given to all students. Students are given differentiated presentation tasks to challenge them as well as extensive academic reading material.

Student Comment

I chose philosophy because I loved RE GCSE, the step between GCSE and A level is that now it is a lot more realistic and interesting.