Religious Studies
Religious Studies deals with some of the most fundamental questions of life and looks at the answers that different religious traditions and philosophers have given. There is no one type of person who undertakes Religious Studies, we will approach the subject from a variety of viewpoints.
In order to study these topics the Religious Studies course seeks to develop both strong skills of writing and analysis and your ability to argue logically and forcefully.
WHAT WILL I BE STUDYING ON THE COURSE?
At AS you will be looking at two main areas of thought:
· Religious Ethics: what does it mean to be moral? Is it possible to find ‘correct’ answers to disputes about what we should and should not do? In this module we look at the different moral theories that have been developed by both religious and non-religious thinkers. We also evaluate these ethical theories as we apply them to the issues of abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering and war and peace.
. Developments in Christian Theology: Christianity is the world's largest belief system, but the development of Christian thinking has been marked by many debates and disagreements. This module begins by looking at the basics of Christian Theology, for example we look at the different perspectives that have been given on whether the Bible is the work of God or the product of human beings. We then move on to look at the controversial story of the radical 'liberation theology' that grew up as a response to poverty and political oppression in Latin America.
At A2 you will also study two very different modules:
· A2 Philosophy of Religion: in this module you will take the philosophical approach that you encountered in the AS religious ethics module and apply it to the analysis of diverse questions about the nature of religious belief such as: do we have a soul? How have different religious traditions imagined life after death? How plausible are the different accounts of life after death? Can modern people believe in miracles? Are religious experiences evidence of the existence of God? Can we use human language to talk about God?
. A2 Developments in Christian Tehology: in this module you will look at the relationship between Christianity and other religious traditions. We also look at the debates within Christianity that have accompanied the rise of modern feminism.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING IN LESSONS?
As you might expect, lessons are lively and thought provoking. Difficult issues are presented in a clear and stimulating way and much of the time is spent debating the issues as a class or in small groups.
HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
As you might expect, lessons are lively and thought provoking. Difficult issues are presented in a clear and stimulating way and much of the time is spent debating the issues as a class or in small groups.
HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
The AS and A2 courses each consists of two units. All units count equally towards the final grade, so that each is 25% of the overall A level.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO TAKE THE COURSE?
Religious Studies is open to all students including those who may not have studied the subject at GCSE. You should have at least a grade C in GCSE English Language but experience shows that your chances of success in this subject are greater if you have a grade B in English Language.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH RELIGIOUS STUDIES?
Any subject combination is possible.
Religious Studies is open to all students including those who may not have studied the subject at GCSE. You should have at least a grade C in GCSE English Language but experience shows that your chances of success in this subject are greater if you have a grade B in English Language.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH RELIGIOUS STUDIES?
Any subject combination is possible.
AND AFTER THE COURSE?
Religious Studies is recognised as a valid entrance qualification by universities, and employers are aware that it helps to develop an individual’s ability to communicate, work with others and solve complex problems. Students go on to work in management, social work, education, nursing, and many other areas.
Religious Studies is recognised as a valid entrance qualification by universities, and employers are aware that it helps to develop an individual’s ability to communicate, work with others and solve complex problems. Students go on to work in management, social work, education, nursing, and many other areas.
View the Religious Studies page on the OCR Website.
