KS5 (A Level) Curriculum

Advanced level Religious Studies offers students a challenging and rigorous course in philosophy, ethics and theology.

Cambridge OCR A Level Religious Studies (H573)

The course is split into three equally-weighted components, exploring philosophy of religion, the relationship between religion and ethics, and the way that Christian thought has developed over time. There is a two-hour written examination for each component at the end of Year 13. 

Philosophy of Religion

• Ancient philosophical influences

• The nature of the soul, mind and body

• Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God

• The nature and impact of religious experience

• The challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil

• Paradoxes and issues with God’s omnipotence, omnibenevolence and omniscience*

• Debates in religious language*

Religion and Ethics

Normative ethical theories:

• Natural Law (Catholic ethics)

• Situation Ethics (liberal Christian ethics)

• Kantian Ethics (deontological ethics)

• Utilitarianism (non-religious ethics)

Applied Ethics:

• Ethics of Euthanasia

• Business Ethics

• Sexual ethics*

Advanced Ethics: 

• Meta-ethics (ethical language)*

• Religious and psychological views on the conscience*

Developments in Christian Thought

• Augustine and Human Nature

• Death and the Afterlife

• Knowledge of God’s Existence

• The Person of Jesus Christ

• Christian Moral Principles and Action

• Liberation Theology and Marxism*

• Gender, Theology and Society*

• Pluralism, Theology and Society*

• The Challenge of Secularism to Religion*

*starred topics are taught in Year 13.