Religious Studies

Level 3 Pathway - In order to enrol onto our Level 3 courses, students must have achieved a minimum of 5 grade 4s at GCSE Level across 4 different subject areas; this should ideally include a Grade 4 for English Language and Mathematics.

It is important that students also pay attention to any individual subject entry requirements.

It may be that a small number of students are recommended to sit AS qualifications at the end of Year 12 in order to inform decisions about progression into Year 13, however these AS examinations are standalone and do not contribute to the overall A Level qualification.

Why?

Arguably the ultimate questions in life are: Where did everything come from? What is the best way to live while we are here? And what, if anything, happens when we die?

Start thinking about these absorbing topics by taking an A Level in Philosophy and Ethics. The course is intellectually rigorous, valued by universities, and is a good way to develop transferable skills such as: understanding, analysis, communication and reflection. You will learn to communicate your ideas in a clear and logical way and develop your argument and counter argument skills. The topics we study are also interesting and enjoyable.

Course Structure

Philosophy of Religion: In the Philosophy of Religion area of the course you will be studying the foundations of western philosophy with particular attention to Plato and Aristotle. You will then focus on the philosophy of religion, which is devoted to different arguments about whether or not there is a God. Other key questions include: Do we have a soul? Is there life after death? When people say they experience God, does it make sense to believe them? Do ideas about God make sense and are they meaningful to others? We will also explore ideas about the nature of God and issues in religious language.

Religious Ethics: In Ethics you will study the thinking behind the different ways in which humans make moral decisions. This includes Virtue Theory and the Natural Law Theory. You will then go on to investigate how these theories impact upon some moral issues, including euthanasia and sexual ethics. You will also explore ideas about what our conscience is, and how free our moral choices actually are. The debate surrounding the significant idea of conscience and sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs.

Developments in Religious Thought: Explore ideas about some controversial religious issues: Who are we (as human beings) and what is the purpose of life? Where do ideas about God come from and how did the Bible really come to be written? Who was Jesus, and what did he really teach? Why don’t all religious believers get on with each other? What is the future of religion and what role do gender issues play in its development?

Extended Learning

You will receive a text book to cover all the content. As you progress through the course you will be expected to complete tasks relevant to each topic on a weekly basis. For example, completing a set of review questions or completing a diagram to use in the next lesson.

A previous qualification in Religious Studies is desirable plus ideally a Grade 5 GCSE English Language