A Level Philosophy, Ethics & Religious Studies

Course summary

The new Religious Studies specification provides students with the exciting opportunity to explore the philosophy of religion and ethics and gain a deeper understanding of world religions. The aim of the course is to inspire students to engage in topical issues and acquire knowledge and a critical understanding of major issues that are relevant in the 21st century. You will have the opportunity to study in-depth religious beliefs, teachings and practices and how this has shaped social and historical development and created religious identity. You will also look at a broad study of philosophical themes, ranging from arguments for the existence of God to the use of religious language. You will study ethical themes ranging from theories of what makes an action right or wrong, to applied ethical issues like euthanasia and animal rights. Further to this, students will look at Christianity in the modern world and explore questions such as: ‘what authority does the Bible have for Christians today?’ and ‘does Christianity support the LGBTQ+ community?’ The course has two components: Philosophy and Ethics and Christianity and Dialogues, each worth 50% of the qualification and each component is assessed by a three-hour written examination.