Religious Studies

Why study Religion, Philosophy and Ethics?

This A Level encourages students to:

• develop an interest and enthusiasm for a rigorous study of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

• treat the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge and understanding

• evaluate the ideas studied and apply them to your own experience and the wider world

• use an enquiring, critical and empathetic approach to the study of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

• develop skills that are transferable to many other disciplines and attractive to universities; analysis, evaluation, presenting ideas in clear and coherent ways, organising arguments and independent learning

Destinations for AHS students who studied this subject are on display outside the subject classrooms

AHS students can use Unifrog to explore how this subject might be used in life after A Levels 

Entry Requirements

A 6 in Religious Studies GCSE is a requirement if you have taken it. Alternatively a 6 in another Humanities GCSE or English Literature GCSE. A lively interest in the study of ideas and human motivation and a willingness to enquire into and analyse concepts and ideas which differ from your own. Also a willingness to discuss your own and others' ideas.

Special features of the course

This course is stimulating, challenging and thought-provoking. You will acquire skills that will aid you in a wide range of Higher Education courses and throughout life. The focus on ethics throughout the course makes it valuable for those applying for Medicine or Law degrees, as well as many others. There are plenty of opportunities to discuss and debate, question ideas and critique responses.

How is the course organised?

There are 4 modules of study, all assessed by written papers. There is a greater emphasis being placed on evaluation rather than on the learning of a large amount of facts.

Philosophy

• Arguments for the existence of God;

• Evil and suffering;

• Religious experience. 

• Religious language; 

• Miracles; 

• Self, death and the afterlife. 

Ethics

• Ethical theories; 

• Issues of human life and death;

• Issues of animal life and death;

• Introduction to meta ethics;

• Free will and moral responsibility;

• Conscience;

• Bentham and Kant.

Christianity

• God

• Sources of wisdom and authority

• Self, death and the afterlife

• Good conduct and key moral principles

• Expressions of religious identity

• Christianity, religion and Science

• Christianity, religion, gender and sexuality

• Christianity, religion, migration and religious pluralism

• Christianity, religion and the challenge of secularisation

Dialogues

This is an opportunity to explore the relationship between Philosophy and Christianity and Ethics and Christianity and the dialogues that occur between them. There is very little new content to learn in this section .

Assessment

Two papers: written exams, 3 hours each consisting of all essay style questions.