Religious Studies

You will study three elements of religious study in detail – Philosophy, Ethics and Christianity. Each is split across the two years of the course:

Philosophy

This topic will enhance your ability to write a persuasive essay and form coherent arguments around the philosophy of religion.

Year 1 Philosophy:  

• Arguments for the existence of God; The Design Argument, The Cosmological Argument & The Ontological Argument.
• Problem of Evil and Theodicies; The Free Will Defence, Hick’s Soul-Making Theodicy and Process Theology.
• Religious Experience; Visions, Numinous and Mystical Experiences and Scientific Challenges.

Year 2 Philosophy:

• Life after death; Mind-body distinction, the Soul, Materialism, Descartes’ Dualism, Reincarnation, Near-Death Experiences, Life as a Computer.
• Miracles; Realist Interpretations, Anti-Realist Interpretations and Criticisms.
• Religious Language; Should we speak about God in human language?

Ethics

This topic focuses on application to the various ethical dilemmas that we face today. It is particularly useful for those looking to pursue Law and Medicine as a career.

Year 1 Ethics:

• Ethical theories; Situation ethics, Natural Moral Law and Virtue Ethics.
• Application to Ethical Issues; Abortion, Euthanasia, Designer Babies, Euthanasia, Embryo Research, Capital Punishment, Animal Research, Animals as a Source of Food.

Year 2 Ethics:

• Conscience; Do we have a conscience? Psychological and Religious perspectives on the Conscience, Criticism.
• Free-Will and Determinism; Do we have free will? (Determinism, Libertarianism and Compatibilism).
• Meta-ethics; What do we mean by ‘good’ and ‘bad’ – is there a definitive definition for these?
• Kantian Ethics compared to Utilitarianism.

Christianity

We look first at the key theological beliefs of Christianity and later on at how Christians are responding to issues brought about by the modern World.

Year 1 Christianity:

• God; What is the Christian God like? Monotheism and Trinitarian beliefs; Jesus as ‘Son of God’.
• Good Moral Conduct; What does it mean to be a good Christian? Sanctity of Life, Embryo Research, Predestination.
• Self, Death and Afterlife; What is the meaning of life? Resurrection, Judgement Day.
• Expressions of Religious Identity; Baptism, Holy Communion and Mission.

Year 2 Christianity:

• Science and Christianity; Are Science and Christianity compatible? The Big Bang Theory, Evolution, Quantum Theory, Creationism
• Gender and Sexuality; Women, Homosexuality and Transgender Issues
• Secularisation; The Rise of Atheism and Militant Atheism and how Christianity is responding

Pluralism; How do Christians interact with other religions?

Students are assessed at the end of the two-year course:

Studying Religious Studies is useful for a wide-range of careers, for example Law, Politics, Teaching, Journalism and even Medicine. The A-Level course will prepare you for undertaking a degree in Theology or Philosophy and will give a good grounding in essay writing and critical analysis which you will find invaluable in many other academic areas

We do not allow students to take both Philosophy and Religious Studies.