Religious Studies

Course summary

Increasing in popularity amongst students Philosophy, Ethics and Religion are a brilliant foundation for structuring arguments, problem-solving, and independent thinking. Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion takes students on a journey through the big philosophical, ethical, and spiritual questions that humans have asked since the dawn of time. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? Why does evil exist? Are we free beings? It does this through three units. Modules: Philosophy - In this unit, we will explore arguments for and against the existence of God. Were the universe and humankind created by an all-powerful being, one who continues to influence human affairs today, or is everything the accidental result of a ‘Big Bang’? We will consider the concept of humans feeling the need to believe in God from a psychological perspective. Ethics - In this unit, we will explore morality and moral decision-making, including the use of happiness, love, and religion in making decisions on issues ranging from the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to polyamorous relationships. We will also look at determinism and consider arguments that imply that human actions are determined by something regarded as external to their own will. Religion (Islam) - In this unit, we will explore the religion of Islam, its key teachings, practices, and history, including examination of charity, the afterlife, and Islamic Law, and its implementation in Muslim countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. Students will also be given the opportunity to consider the representation of Islam in the British media and the relationship between Islam and Science with regard to creation.