Religious Studies

Course summary

Religious Studies A-level consists of three components: • Philosophy of Religion • Ethics • Christian Theology Philosophy of Religion is one of the most fascinating areas of philosophy, addressing questions of God and religious belief. We consider arguments both for and against the existence of God, and also investigate whether it is even possible to intelligibly speak of an infinite transcendent God using finite human language. Ethics is the study of right and wrong; we look at different theoretical approaches to morality, before applying them to moral dilemmas such as capital punishment and euthanasia. We assess the extent to which ethical theories illuminate difficult decisions yet also consider the limitations of moral theories when faced with the complexity of dilemmas in the real world. Theology is the study of Christianity, requiring critical engagement with the Bible and an assessment of differing interpretations of Biblical texts. It also involves understanding how modern Christians attempt to live out the message of the Bible, and how the variety of Christian denominations and traditions are rooted in particular interpretations of key Biblical texts.