Religious Studies

Course summary

Religious Studies at A-Level goes beyond studying a particular religion’s ideas and addresses fundamental questions of human existence: Is there a God? Is death the end? Does it make sense to believe in non-physical realities? Can goodness be understood objectively? Do value judgments relate to the real world? Religious experience forms a backbone for these investigations and students will look at mystical experiences and the idea of religious revelation as well as opposing ideas of rational inquiry and empirical evidence. Religious Studies is a respected qualification that may lead to further qualifications in either Sciences or Humanities, as well as careers that require rigorous thought and logical expression, from accountancy to advertising, from politics to policing. The religious understanding is also beneficial to students of English Literature, Law, Geography, History and Sociology. This subject will appeal to students with an interest in other people’s beliefs and the arguments that support them. Argument and debate are important features of the course and students must take an interest in self-expression through essay writing and speaking in class. There is a clear focus on the role of religion in the world and religious claims based on revelation, reason or both. Current affairs form an important part of the course as well as the arguments of scholars and visionaries from centuries ago.