Religious Studies

Assessment

The A Level course is linear and covers three main areas of study over two years – Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Buddhism, as shown below: Content Overview to be assessed at the end of the second year by examination only – no coursework. 1. Philosophy of religion: • Plato, Aristotle and early philosophical thought on the nature of soul and existence Arguments for the existence or non-existence of God, including challenges from science; • The nature and influence of religious experience and ideas about the nature of God • Challenges to religious belief such as the problem of evil and suffering; • Language and how it is applied to God and religion 2. Ethics: • The meaning of ethical language; • The study of ethical theories e.g. natural law, Kant’s deontological ethics, utilitarianism, situation ethics, Aristotle’s virtue ethics etc; • The application of these theories to the study of practical ethical issues in particular to medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics, and business ethics 3. Buddhism: • The Life of the Buddha and influences on his teaching and practice. • Philosophical beliefs, values and teachings; including the meaning and purpose of life, ethics, the nature of reality, self, life after death, nirvana and meditation. • Sources of wisdom and authority – texts and how they are used; key teachers and their teachings; • Practices that shape and express religious identity’ including the diversity of practice within a tradition