Religious Studies: A Level

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Exam board: OCR

What is the course about?

At Leyton Sixth Form College students studying A level Religious studies, study the Faith, Philosophy and Ethics option. This involves comparing the approach taken by Philosophy to both ethical and metaphysical issues. At school in your Religious studies classes you will have studied the nature of the worlds’ great Religions. You will have examined their ideas and beliefs and the nature of each faith. At A level we take this further and consider the challenge that Philosophy, Science and Social Science present for people of faith.

 

Duration of course:

Two years at A level.

 

What units/topics will be studied?

Philosophy of Religion
In this unit we will be studying and comparing Philosophy and Religion. We will examine the relationship between the two and consider what each has to say about the big questions of life. You will consider philosophical views on soul, mind, body, teleological vs ontological arguments, the problem of evil and nature of God.

Ethical Issues
In our second unit we will consider a number of the big moral and ethical issues that confront us in our everyday lives. We will examine religious responses to these issues but compare them to Philosophical responses. We will then consider the extent to which these approaches differ or agree on major ethical issues.

Christian Thought
In our third unit we study the development of Christian thought and consider the relationship between religious ideas and society.

 

What do I need to study this subject?

36 points including a GCSE grade 5 in English Language.

 

What can I do to prepare myself to study this subject?

Try reading Sophie’s world by Jostein Gaarder. A novel written in 1991 It follows the adventures of Sophie Amundsen, a teenage girl living in Norway, and Alberto Knox, a middle aged philosopher who introduces her to philosophical thinking.

Where can this lead me?

Students who study Religious studies at A level sometimes progress on to study Philosophy or Theology at University. For most students the subject provides the opportunity to develop critical skills that are vital for any successful A level student. Consequently the subject is regularly combined by our students with subjects such as History, Geography, Sociology and English as part of their A level programme.

 

What are the enrichment opportunities as part of this subject?

Students this year will have opportunities to visit the British Museum and attend talks on a variety of moral issues.