Religious Studies

Course summary

Religion & Philosophy is an exciting, stimulating course that will develop your skills in research, reading complex texts, and forming clear, strong arguments. If you’ve got an open and enquiring mind, are interested in how religious and secular beliefs have shaped societies around the world, and enjoy debating, it’s an excellent choice. During your studies, you will attend national conferences, hear from local experts, and take part in our Philosophy Society debates with other schools in Bristol. You’ll also have the chance to broaden your cultural and historical understanding through trips to the UK and abroad. What you’ll study The A-level is split into three components – Philosophy of Religion, the study of Christianity, and Religious Ethics. In Philosophy of Religion, we’ll explore Arguments for the existence of God and challenges to religious belief from psychology, science, new atheism, and the problem of evil and suffering Different types of religious language and the work of logical positivists The case for and against religious experiences and miracles. In the study of Christianity, we’ll consider: The person and the work of Jesus using biblical and theological texts Social and historical developments in Christian thought including issues such as wealth, migration, feminist theology, pluralism and ecumenism Key theological debates. In Religious Ethics, we’ll cover: Ethical theories such as Natural Law, Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics and Religious Ethics The application of ethical theories to current issues such as animal experimentation, nuclear warfare, sexual ethics, immigration, abortion and euthanasia free will and determinism debate and the idea of predestination The value of ethical language.