Why study a course in Religious Studies?
The course units chosen for Religious Studies develop an understanding of
moral, ethical, social, cultural and contemporary issues.
Students are encouraged to develop their own skills of:
 Reasoned argument concerning values,
attitudes and actions
 Responsible judgments on moral teachings and
issues.
As well as giving an opportunity to:
 Study relationships between religion and culture
 Consider moral values and attitudes of individuals, faith communities
and contemporary society.
What will I study at AS level?
Two modules must be studied at AS. ‘An Introduction to
Religion and Ethics,’ and ‘An Introduction to the Philosophy of
Religion’.
An Introduction to Religion and Ethics.
1. Ethical Theory
Students will be expected to know ethical theories and be able to evaluate
their strengths and weaknesses. These will include;
 Situation Ethics
 Natural Law
 Utilitarianism.
2. Applied Ethics: Sexual Ethics
 Sexual Orientation
 Sex outside marriage
 Purpose of marriage
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Students will be expected to show how ethical decisions can be made by
applying principles from the three ethical theories as well as considering them
from the viewpoint of a major world religion.
An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
1. Arguments for the existence of God.
Students will be expected to know two philosophical arguments that attempt
to prove the existence of God and be able to evaluate their strengths and
weaknesses. These include the (i) cosmological and the (ii) teleological
arguments.
2. Evil and suffering
Students will be expected to be able to explain the challenge of evil and
suffering to belief in God and to know the explanations
offered by the Augustinian and Irenaean theodicies.
3. Religious Experience: Mysticism
Students will be expected to know different types of
religious experience and be able to describe the experience of one mystic.
How will I be assessed at AS?
One external paper of 1 hour 15 mins will be set for each assessment unit. The
papers will consist of four structured essay questions and candidates will be
required to answer two questions. All questions will test ‘Knowledge and
Understanding’ (30 marks) and ‘Evaluative Skills’ (15 marks).
What will I study at A2 level?
The one optional module studied at Advanced level will be ‘Studies in
Philosophy of Religion’.
Areas studied will include:
1. Is religious faith rational?
 The ontological argument for the existence of God
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 Theories about the nature of faith and its relation with reason and
revelation
 Propositional and non-propositional concepts of revelation
2. Is religious language meaningful?
 Inherent problems of religious language and challenges to its
meaningfulness
 Philosophical concepts of falsification and verification
 The concept of religious language as (i) analogical (ii) symbolic (iii) a
language game
3. Is religious faith compatible with scientific evidence?
 Philosophical definitions and concepts of miracles.
 Challenges to belief in miracles.
 The relationship between contemporary religious
and scientific world views of the origin of the
universe and human life.
4. Are we free beings?
 Philosophical concepts of 'hard' and 'soft' determinism including
consideration of the nature/nurture debate and Libertarianism.
 Religious concepts of 'free will' and 'predestination.'
 The relationship between concepts of determinism/free will and
religious beliefs and moral attitudes.
Candidates will be expected to be familiar with the relevant arguments of
major philosophers from the past as well as modern philosophers.
Studies in Religion and Ethics could be studied instead if the group preferred.
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Studies in Religious Experience – Synoptic Module
A compulsory unit that allows students to make a holistic study on a specific
theme and also draw together knowledge and understanding from all options
studied.
Areas to choose from will be;
 Religious Authority or
 Religious Experience or
 Life, Death and Life after Death.
How will I be assessed at A2?
At A2 Level an externally assessed paper of 1 hour 45 mins consisting of four
structured essay questions will be set. Candidates will be required to answer
two questions. All questions will test ‘Knowledge and Understanding’
(30marks) and ‘Evaluative skills’ (20 marks).
Synoptic Assessment
Three structured essays will be set. Candidates will be required to answer one.
All questions will test:
‘Knowledge and Understanding’ (45 marks) and ‘Evaluative Skills’ (30 marks)
To be awarded the final grade 50% of the marks are based on the Year 12
modules, 50% in Year 13.
Entry requirements
Most students will already have a basic knowledge and understanding of this
subject through studying the G.C.S.E. Full Course in Religious Studies. To begin
an AS course, a student will normally have achieved a ‘B’ grade or above at
G.C.S.E. Religious Studies. A ‘C’ grade or above in English would also be
advantageous. If you do not meet these entry requirements then please feel
free to speak to us and we will consider each case on an individual basis.
Personal Qualities: An enquiring and questioning mind, showing willingness to
question accepted thinking and values and a mature attitude to
study, developing the ability to study independently.
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Career opportunities
Religious Studies has become a very diverse area of study particularly with the
introduction of ethics that leads students to challenge and
question responses to key moral and ethical issues that impact
on our society. Consequently as a
humanities subject it provides a sound
academic basis for further education and
also equips students with a wide variety of skills
demanded in many areas of employment. For example, from the vocational
professions such as medicine and teaching, to retail, banking or law.
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