Religious Studies

Course summary

Encompassing philosophy, ethics and theology, you'll enjoy Religious Studies if you are fascinated by life's big questions. It's the study of the way religions have shaped and influenced the world and continue to do so today. Religious studies has great relevance to modern life, ethical questions being of concern to many professionals, from the engineers designing driverless cars to doctors making decisions on health care. Religious Studies can be useful across a variety of careers and complements most other A level subjects. You'll learn to question, think, criticise, analyse and respect a wide range of ideas and opinions. You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of a variety of philosophical arguments, ethical theories and religious ideas as well considering your own interpretations. You'll focus on one religion, exploring the themes of religious figures and sacred texts, religious concepts and religious life, social and historical developments in religious thought, religious practices and religious identity. You'll explore complex ideas including arguments for the existence of God and some of the challenges to religious belief. You'll investigate schools of ethical thought, focusing on the teachings of important figures from Aquinas to Sartre.