GCE A Level Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Course summary

What will I study? This A Level offers you the opportunity to study: Philosophy of Religion: • Ancient philosophical influences; arguments about the existence of God; the nature and impact of religious experience; the problem of evil; the nature of the soul, mind and body; life after death; ideas about the nature of God and religious language. Religion and Ethics: • Normative ethical theories; ethical language and thought; the application of ethical theory to contemporary issues; debates surrounding conscience and free will; the influence of ethical thought on developments and beliefs in philosophy of religion Developments in Religious Thought • How religious beliefs, values and teachings are interconnected and vary historically; sources of religious wisdom and authority; religious identity and practices; social and historical developments in theology and religious thought and key themes related to the relationship between religion and society. What skills will I develop? • Critical analysis of ethical and philosophical concepts. • Evaluation and analysis of an argument. • Debating and oracy skills. • Study skills such as note-taking, reading for research and essay writing. How will this subject help me with my future career? Religious Studies A Level can be useful for further studies in theology and philosophy. This course helps students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills which are transferable to any workplace and can help students to be solution focused and able to deal with large amounts of complex information. These skills complement most higher education courses and career choices, e.g. Medicine, Law, Journalism, Psychology, and Teaching.