Religious Studies

Course summary

Religious Studies enables you to address some of the fundamental issues affecting humanity and equips you to approach the big intellectual issues such as how we know things (epistemology), what can be known or said about God (theology) and how human beings should live their lives (ethics). The subject is also an excellent preparation for dealing with matters of faith and morals in a world that is becoming increasingly secular. Knowledge of religion has never been more important for understanding our history and shared human experience. Philosophy of Religion includes: • Ancient philosophical influences • Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God • The challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil • Ideas about the nature of God Religion and Ethics include: • The application of ethical theory to two contemporary issues of importance • Debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience • Sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs Developments in Christian Thought include: • The person and work of Jesus Christ • Christian moral principles and action • Religious pluralism and society • Gender and theology • Liberation theology and Marx