Religious Studies

Course summary

This course is a broad subject that covers a wide range of philosophical, theological, and ethical ideas and beliefs. Philosophically there are a variety of topics including an exploration of early Greek philosophers such Plato, and Aristotle and their views on reality. The nature of the mind, body and soul is explored as well as if it is possible to prove or disprove the existence of God. The problem of evil is debated and its implications for those who claim to believe in a God. In Ethics, students study “normative” ethics; different theories that have been developed in order for us to understand the “right” way to act in different situations. These theories will then be applied to contemporary issues such as euthanasia and business ethics. Later we look at the idea of “conscience," debating whether we all have one, and we consider different approaches to sexual ethics, considering the views of society and the Church. In Theology students study Christianity, looking at key figures in its history such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the different Christian beliefs on death and the afterlife, Christian moral principles and how they have been formed and how Christians claim to have knowledge of God’s existence.