Sixth Form Handbook 2022-24

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Course content and structure This course is made up of three examinations covering Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Christianity. Paper One covers content relating to the Philosophy of Religion, exploring contemporary philosophical issues and questions about religion. Topics include: arguments for the existence of God; the nature and influence of religious experience; problems with evil and suffering; philosophical language and the study of scholarly work; and developments in religious belief. Paper Two covers significant concepts around Ethics: What Ethics are and the issues and debates surrounding Ethics; the study of three ethical theories; application of ethical theory and consideration of the debate around issues such as the Environment, War and Sex; and a look at influential scholars within Ethics. Paper Three will be a survey of Christian belief and understanding, including: Christian understanding of the nature of God; the Church and morality; the role of the Bible as a source of authority and the historical development of Christian thought (specifically Atonement theories); and assessing Christian understanding of the Church’s relationship with society.

Assessment overview All three examinations papers follow the same format:

Four questions to be completed in two hours; each paper is worth 33.3% of the total mark.

University and careers links The course provides candidates with training in the explanation, analysis and evaluation of concepts. Such skills are useful for any degree course but are particularly relevant to arts degrees. There are numerous excellent university courses in both Philosophy and Theology, and the large number of joint-honours courses reflects the wide range of practical and theoretical subject areas complemented by the study of these courses (including Mathematics, Physics, English, Modern Languages, Classics and Business). Graduates of Philosophy and Theology are often highly sought after by employers that value good analytical skills. Historically, graduates have entered a wide range of professions including law, journalism, education and management.

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