AS Philosophy of Religion
Outline scheme of work

Often give the original text, and get them to work through it,
better than going for the easier method of looking at someone
else’s interpretation.
 Paired work
 Lots of discussion
 Short answer questions
 Lots of essays
 Powerpoint presentations
 Card sorts
 Mind maps
 Quizzes
 Research
 Writing own quizzes
 Various revision resources (included in pack)
Area of study
Expectations,
exam
requirements
Key concepts to be
covered
Time management and
essay planning and writing
to be covered by JM
 The term philosophy
has no one definition,
but look at possibilities
 Initial free discussion of
various philosophical
issues to help students
appreciate what the
subject is about, to get
them discussing, and to
help me do an initial
assessment of aptitude.
 Consideration of the
specification
requirements.
Resources
Prompt cards for
discussion
Exam board
information
Design argument
The basic argument: Paley
Then include at least:
Anthropic principle
Aesthetic argument
Hume
Evolution
Kant
Other areas can be
included for more able
students- see Palmer text.







Jordan
Palmer (a must for
more able
students) This
includes original
texts including
Paley.
198ff Selected
readings (a bit
more of a
challenge)
Cole (chapter on)
Davis (chapter on)
Hick (chapter on)
Various paper
resources in folder
Example essay title
a) Examine the design argument for the existence of God. (10)
b) What are the strengths of the design argument? Comment on
some of the criticisms raised against the design argument. (10)
For other suggestions- see folder
Cosmological
Argument
Aquinas 1st 3 of 5 ways
Modern Kalam
Hume
Kant
Sufficient reason
Other areas such as ‘in
esse’ for more able
students









Jordan
Palmer
Teach yourself
(very basic- if
someone is really
struggling)
The puzzle of God
(nice bit on
Copplestone if
students are
finding Palmer a
bit heavy going)
Lots in Selected
readings, adapt to
students have.
Cole (chapter on)
Davis (chapter on)
Hick (chapter on)
Various paper
resources in folder
Example essay title
a) examine the key features of the cosmological argument for the
existence of God (10)
b) For what reasons have some thinkers rejected the cosmological
argument? How far is it possible to regard the cosmological
argument as a strong argument? (10)
For other suggestions- see folder
A study of the
Types of evil (not much
Basically same set of
problem of evil
needed on this- just moral books as before, with
and suffering
and natural)
the very helpful
The problem (don’t skimp
addition of Vardy’s
on this section, it often
‘Puzzle of Evil.
forms the part A on a
Hick is a pretty
exam question- The puzzle crucial resource for
of Evil Vardy is good)
Process TheodicyAugustine, Irenaeus and
Jordan is very lacking
Process theodices and
on this subject.
obviously criticisms of
them.
Example essay title
a) For what reasons may suffering create philosophical problems
for a religious believer? (6)
b) Outline two solutions to these problems and comment on their
success. (14)
For other suggestions- see folder
Religious and
In my experience as an
 Jordan
Scientific
examiner and teacher, very  Tables of stages.
interpretations of few students attempt this
 Thompson’s
the origins of the section, and the responses
Religion and
universe.
they come out with are
science.
frequently poor.



How religion and
science started
together, went apart
and are perhaps getting
closer again.
‘God of the Gaps’
Chardin
Example essay title
a) Describe the major differences which may exist between a
scientific and a religious account of origins of the universe. (14)
b) How far may these two accounts be compatible with each other?
(6)
For other suggestions- see folder
Miracles
 trawl of the internet to
 Jordan
establish that people
 Puzzle of God
still believe that
 Part 8 Selected
miracles still occur
readings
today, and the types of
 Palmer
miracles that are
 Davies
common. (There are a
few links to get you
started on the website)
 Definition of miracle,
including against
natural law, coincidence
and whether ‘breaking a
natural law’ is
philosophically possible
anyhow.
 Hume is included in the
specification, so must
include his definition.
 Hume + criticisms
Rejection on moral
grounds (link to theodicy)
Coincidence,
pointlessness, and lack of
solid evidence
Example essay title
a) Identify one philosopher and examine his/ her understanding of
the term ‘miracle’ (6)
b) Examine the arguments which can be used to discredit belief in
miracles. In what respects do you consider belief in miracles to
be strong in spite of these criticisms? (14)
For other suggestions- see folder
Revision
Revision styles are
Substantial revision
discussed.
help, including
Class revision emphasises; revision styles for
multiple intelligences
 Revision diagrams
& revision diagrams
 Philosopher’s and
on department
quotes tests
website.
 Powerpoint
presentations by
Students.
 Writing own quizzes

Timed essay
preparation,
including marking
other people’s
essays.
A2 Philosophy of religion: Scheme of work
Area of study
Changes of
expectation for
A2
Ontological
argument
Key concepts to be
covered
Essay marking different,
more emphasis on
evaluation. Essay far more
likely to cover a couple of
topics, so more flexibility
needed.
Start with this because it’s
a compact argument and is
a good way back into work
after taking AS exams.




Anselm
Modern versions
(especially Plantinga &
Malcolm)
Criticisms of Gaunilo,
Kant, Frege Russell etc.
Does defining God limit
‘Him’?
Resources
New essay mark
scheme. Examples of
questions.






Jordan
Selected readings
Palmer
Puzzle of God
Davies
Cole
Example essay title
a) Outline the Ontological argument for the existence of God (10)
b) Is this likely to convince atheists to believe in God? Give reasons.
(10)
A study of beliefs This is an important
 A few video
about life after
section because it also
resources ‘Life
death
makes up their synoptic
after death’,
study (see later
Meduims, ‘taped
specification). A lot of it
silence’ Flatliners
will have been covered
(one to take home
through the Hinduism
and watch- but my
though, and some students
favourite film).
might well have done their
Basically there is a
coursework on a relevant
wealth of
issue.
documentary and
fictional videos
 Evidence for life after
death (Ghosts, NDE,
that might be


mediums, past lives etc)
What survives death?
Materialism, idealism,
dualism recreation
theory etc. What is the
soul etc.
What happens at death?
Heaven, hell,
reincarnation purgatory
etc etc.









helpful here.
Jordan
Davies
Hick
Cole
TY philosophy
(mind/ body
section especially)
Selected readings
The Monk and the
Philosopher has a
nice section on
what is
consciousness. A
bit too subtle for
weaker students
but its nice
additional reading.
Students
coursework on life
after death
JM has a good
book which looks
at this issue from
an Eastern and
Western
perspective-
Example essay title.
a) Analyse the differences between survival of the disembodied
soul from belief in resurrection. (12)
b) Assess which of these two beliefs might provide the stronger
philosophical basis for a belief in life after death. (8)
A study of
 Background to the
 Card sort
religious
debate- why its an issue  Jordan
language
(card sort on this is
 Selected readings
helpful)
 Cole
 Verification and
 Hick
falsification debates
(strengths and
weaknesses)
 Language games
(Wittgenstein)
 Analogy (Aquinas)
 Myth (Braithwaite)
 Symbol (Tillich)
 And obviously the
criticisms of all these
theories.
Example essay title
“Religious language can be understood only in the context of religious
belief” Discuss and evaluate this claim with reference to language
games. (20)
Religious
 What is it? Look at

Jordan
Experience
some examples- own
(although its dire
criteria (St Teresa Avila
in places)
divine love)

Selected
readings
 Supernatural, a mental
event, spontaneous or

Internet
brought about by
resources (some
training.
included in pack)
 William James text

Davies
 Are they a direct

Cole
experience of God?
Alston
 They must take in the
experiencer’s belief
system Proudfoot
 Prayer
 Conversion
 Can it be used as proof
of the existence of God?
 Martin’s critique of
religious experience.
Example essay title
“Religious language is meaningless”. Discuss (20)
Non existence of
This is a difficult section,

Jordan
God and critiques because the information

Introducing
of religious belief on what is required is so
existentialism (not
limited. The exam
as easy a read as
questions tend to be on
the cartoon style
arguments for the non
might indicate!)
existence of God- most

Selected
arguments don’t tend to
readings
make this claim- rather

Psychology and
suggest possible ways of
sociology text
explaining religious belief
books
without reference to a

Notes from last
‘supernatural force’, which
year on religion
is a subtle, but important
and science and
difference.
theodicy remind
This said I would usually
students of the
cover
most common
 Psychology and religion
reasons why
 Humanism
people reject belief
 Marxism
in God- although
 Existentialism
they are not good
areas to write an
essay on for A2.
Example essay title
a) Differentiate between atheism and agnosticism (8)
b) Analyse one argument for the non-existence of God. Evaluate the
view that such an argument results in agnosticism rather than
atheism. (12)
Concepts of proof The specification isn’t that
 Hick chapter 5
and probability
helpful on what is being
revelation and
looked for here, there is
faith & 6
rarely a direct question on,
evidentialism,
and if there is its
foundationalis
avoidable! I would not
m and rational
usually teach this section
belief
to all students, but leave it
 Selected
as an extension extra for
readings part
students who are very able.
two ‘Faith and
 revelation and faith
reason’
 evidentialism,
foundationalism
 rational belief
Revision
Revision styles are
Substantial
discussed.
revision help,
Class revision emphasises;
including revision
styles for multiple
 Revision diagrams
intelligences &
 Philosopher’s and
revision diagrams
quotes tests
on department
 Powerpoint
website.
presentations by
Students.
 Writing own quizzes
 Timed essay
preparation,
including marking
other people’s
essays.