Religious Studies

Course summary

As Socrates said ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’. A Level Religious Studies is a highly engaging and relevant subject, as such classes involve a considerable amount of discussion and debate to examine the fundamental questions of life. We explore over 2500 years of thought from Plato and Hypatia through to Dawkins and Foot, challenging every viewpoint, accepting nothing as given and very much learning how to think, not what to think. In Philosophy of Religion, pupils study philosophical issues and questions raised by religion and belief. These include arguments regarding the existence or non-existence of God, the nature and influence of religious experience and the problems of evil and suffering. They explore philosophical language and thought through significant concepts and the works of key thinkers in the philosophy of religion. Religion and Ethics are characterised by the study of ethical language and thought, with an exploration of key concepts and the works of influential thinkers. Ethical theory is also applied to issues of importance, such as euthanasia, business ethics, and sexual ethics. Developments in Religious Thought provide an opportunity for the systematic study of Christianity. This includes the exploration of religious beliefs, values, teachings and practices that shape religious identity, as well as sources of wisdom and authority. Also central are the ways in which religious traditions have developed over time, and religious responses to challenges and significant contemporary social issues, such as feminism and evidence for the existence of the historical Jesus.