Religious Studies

Course summary

The course aims to promote an enquiring, critical and empathetic approach to the study of belief systems. It is therefore equally appropriate to those taking predominantly science-focused subjects as those with a Humanities or wider Arts portfolio. There is a great deal of contiguity and complementarity across the curriculum, particularly in terms of the skills required in other essay-based subjects such as English or History. As a department we focus on the skills of academic argument and reasoning, which link to and assist in the development of clarity of thought. We follow the Eduqas course which is comprised of three components – The Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and the Study of Islam. It is entirely examined with no coursework. Year 1 In the Philosophy of Religion students look at three themes: the Existence of God, Challenges to Religious belief and Religious Experience In Ethics students look at: Ethical thought, Deontological ethics and Teleological ethics, including the application of theories to contemporary issues In Islam students look at: key religious figures and texts, the concept of Allah and religious practices that shape identity. Year 2 In the Philosophy of Religion students build upon their knowledge of challenges to religious belief and religious experience as well as introducing the theme of religious language In Ethics students build upon religious thought and deontological ethics as well as introducing determinism and free will In Islam students build upon their knowledge of religious figures and texts alongside religious practices that shape identity as well as introducing Islamic attitudes to politics, the State and the West.