An important part of your studies will be your own reading. As you work through the course, you will need to read widely around the subjects that you are studying. This will not just be reading the book – you will also need to make brief notes for later reference.
*Cole, P. Philosophy of Religion, Hodder 1999
*Davies, B. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, OUP 1993
*Gaarder, J. Sophie’s World Phoenix 1994
Honderich, T. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, OUP 1995
Pailin, D. Groundwork of Philosophy of Religion Epworth, 1994
Richards, H. J. Philosophy of Religion,(Second Edition - the first was panned by the critics!)
Heinemann 1999
*Thompson, M. Teach yourself ethics, Hodder 1995
*Thompson, M. Teach yourself the Philosophy of Religion, Hodder 1995
*Thompson, M. Ethical Theory Hodder 1999
Thompson, M. Religion and Science Ch 4 – Psychology and Sociology Ch 8 – Freedom and
Determinism Ch 9 – Miracles Hodder 1999
Thompson, M. An Introduction to Philosophy, Hodder 1995
*Vardy, P. The Puzzle of God Fount 1999
*Vardy, P. The Puzzle of Evil Fount 1992
*Grosch, P and Vardy, P The Puzzle of Ethics Fount 1999
There is no requirement to study the featured philosophers’ original texts (i.e. This is not “English
Literature”!). However, you may find it interesting to look at the works that the course is based on.
You can access these in most public libraries.

The following books cover individual sections of the philosophy syllabus, and are suitable for a more indepth study of the topics. Remember that these texts are not “designed” for the general reader – you may find them confusing!
Philosophy of Religion Ayer, A. J., Language, Truth and Logic, Penguin 1990
Barr, J. Escaping from Fundamentalism,(ch.9, Miracles)SCM 1984
Mitchell, B., ed. The Philosophy of Religion, OUP 1991
Hick, J. (Ed), The Existence of God, Macmillan 1977
Davies, P, God and the New Physics, Penguin 1990
Egner, R. and Denonn, L. ed.The Basic Writings of BertrandRussell (esp. Part XV, and Part II,7)
Routledge 1992.
Hick, J. Death and Eternal Life, Macmillan 1990
Hick, J. Evil and the God of Love, Macmillan 1988
Hick, J. Faith and Knowledge, Macmillan 1988
Hick, J. The Existence of God, Macmillan 1977
Mackie, J.L. The Miracle of Theism OUP 1992
Swinburne, R. The Existence of God, Clarendon 1991 Religious Ethics
Cook, D. The Moral Maze, SPCK, 1993
Crook, R. H. An Introduction to Christian Ethics, Prentice Hall 1995
Foot, P., ed. Theories of Ethics, OUP 1993
Gill, R. A., Textbook of Christian Ethics, T & T Clark 1989
Mackie, J.L., Ethics. Inventing Right and Wrong, Penguin 1990
Norman, R. The Moral Philosophers. An introduction to Ethics. OUP 1992
Singer,P. ed. A Companion to Ethics, Blackwell 1995
Singer,P. ed. Applied Ethics, OUP 1992
Singer, P. Practical Ethics CUP 1999
These books may be available from the Public Library. We would not recommend buying these books
– they are both specialist and expensive!
There are also specialist magazines that often feature articles on the Philosophy of Religion, and
Religious Ethics. Both “Philosophers Magazine” and “Philosophy Now” have parallel internet sites.

The more widely you read, the wider the understanding. However, success at A Level is not based on the number of books that you consult. You need to read carefully, focussing on the needs of the
Syllabus and concentrating on the information that you need to extend your understanding without overloading your brain with complex (and probably irrelevant) detail.