Religious Studies

Course summary

Religious Studies is an ideal option for those of you who enjoy exploring perplexing questions about life, the universe and everything: ‘Is there a God?’; ‘Why is there suffering?’; ‘Why should we live morally?’; ‘Is it ever right to end a life?’; ‘What happens when we die?’ The Maynard Religious Studies course follows the OCR A-level Religious Studies specification (H573), which comprises three equally weighted areas of study: Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought. This syllabus provides an opportunity to explore the rich heritage of western philosophical and ethical thought and to undertake a study of key concepts in Christianity. Students will encounter significant thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, St Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, David Hume, J. S. Mill and Karl Marx, as well as prominent philosophers and theologians of the 20th century and the present day. This qualification is designed to nurture the development of critical and reflective thinking with the aim of developing a greater comprehension and appreciation of religious beliefs and teachings, as well as the disciplines of ethics and philosophy of religion. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis and the construction of balanced, informed arguments within the context of religious, philosophical and ethical understanding.