Religious Studies A Level encompasses the study of theology, philosophy and ethics. Exploring topical and abstract concepts which challenge our perspective and understanding of the world around us, helps to develop articulate skills in debating and expressing ideas. Religious Studies is crucial to understanding the world around us and the people within it. From ancient thinkers, such as Plato and Aristotle, to modern dilemmas, such as the medical issue of euthanasia, students examine a range of philosophical questions and scholarly views. This course enables students to fully engage and analyse their own preconceptions and examine views from a critical and analytical perspective. Students will study: In Philosophy, students will study a range of topics, including though not limited to, Ancient Greek philosophers and their view of the world; philosophy of the mind, questioning whether or not we have a soul; arguments for the existence of God, such as the ontological argument and the cosmological argument; and the use of religious language, considering whether we can say anything meaningful at all. In Ethics, students will explore four key ethical theories, such as Utilitarianism and Situation ethics. These theories will then be applied to modern issues, including euthanasia, sexual ethics and business ethics. Students will also study the use of ethical language in meta-ethics and question whether there is such a thing as a conscience. In Theology, students will explore the developments of Christian thought. This includes topics such as exploring the views of Augustine and his beliefs about the Fall of Man; questioning the role of Jesus Christ; debating how Christians may gain a knowledge of God; and examining Christianity in modern society, through its teachings on gender and its place in a diverse, pluralist society.