Religious Studies

Course summary

WHAT IS RELIGIOUS STUDIES? Religious Studies includes in equal thirds: philosophy, ethics and the study of religion (Christianity). The course will give you the opportunity to engage with some of the fundamental questions that people have always asked about life, such as: Why are we here? How should we behave? What happens when we die? WHY SHOULD I STUDY RELIGIOUS STUDIES? Studying philosophy, ethics and theology will give you an understanding of the different responses to the big questions of life and the views of philosophers and modern thinkers. The course will help you develop your own thinking and analysis and communication skills which will be useful in a wide range of careers. USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS The course demands no prior knowledge, only a willingness to think critically about a wide range of questions. Religious Studies is enjoyed by many students: Christians, Muslims, Atheists and others. You will need to read a range of material and develop analytical writing skills. COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT The course has 3 modules: 1. Philosophy of Religion – this begins by examining arguments for and against the existence of God including questions about design, cause and effect, the challenge of science and the problem of evil. We also examine the concept of miracles, the nature of religious experience and mystical experience, including the views of psychologists. In the second year, we study the challenges from secularisation, atheism and feminist theology. This is complimented by the study of religious language – ‘the limits of my language are the limits of my world.’ Wittgenstein. 2. In Religion and Ethics, we consider a range of ethical theories; including questions such as the moral side of murder, are some actions always wrong or do the ends justify the means. We examine a range of approaches from Natural Law to Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics to Situation Ethics and then apply them to the euthanasia debate, nuclear warfare, animal testing and polyamorous relationships. In the second year, we look at the meaning of ethical language, and questions surrounding conscience including Christian and Psychological perspectives and meta-ethics. 3. In the Study of Religion (Christianity) we consider the concept and nature of God, redemption and atonement, perspectives on death and the afterlife and the possibility of humans knowing God. We go on to examine questions about Jesus, his birth and resurrection, as a revolutionary or liberator, wisdom teacher and Son of God. We finish the first-year course by looking at how Christians take moral decisions and Christian ethics in practice, through the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian who became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. In the second year we study multi-faith society, gender and gender roles in faith and society, feminist faith understandings, challenges from science and political understandings of faith. Throughout your A Level you will be encouraged to identify connections between the different areas of study and human experience.