Religious Studies is the study and analysis of the world and people to understand why they behave as they do and how their approach to the world impacts on their actions. The beauty of Religious Studies is that it allows for personal reflection, discussion, and the formation of argument and the debating of relevant ethical ideas.

Your lessons will allow you to deepen your thoughts and ideas, challenge traditional concepts and arguments and articulate your reasoning and evaluation of moral issues. This qualification is designed to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of religious beliefs

and teachings, as well as the disciplines of ethics and philosophy of religion. You will develop your skills of critical analysis in order to construct balanced, informed arguments and responses to religious, philosophical and ethical ideas.

OCR’s A Level Religious Studies course aims to engage you thoroughly and develop an interest in Religious Studies which extends beyond the classroom and can be applied to the world.

How is the Course Structured?

Philosophy of religion – 33.3% of A Level and a 2 hour exam You will study:

• Ancient philosophical influences

• The nature of the soul, mind and body

• Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God

• The nature and impact of religious experience

• The challenge for religious belief and the problem of evil

• Ideas about the nature of God

• Issues in religious language.

  Religion and Ethics - 33.3% of A Level and a 2-hour exam

You will study:

• Normative ethical theories: Natural Moral Law,

  Kantian Ethics, Utilitarianism and Situation Ethics

• The application of ethical theory to two contemporary

  issues of importance: Euthanasia and Business Ethics

• Meta Ethics

• Debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience Sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious belief

Developments in Religious Thought - 33.3% of A Level and a 2 hour exam
You will study:
• Augustine’s teaching on human nature

• Death and the afterlife
• Knowledge of God’s existence
• The person of Jesus Christ
• Christian moral principles
• Christian moral action
• Religious pluralism and theology • Religious pluralism and society
• Gender and religion
• Gender and society
• The challenge of secularism

Is there anything else I should know?

There is no coursework in Religious Studies.
Religious Studies is designed to teach you analytical and evaluative ability and is therefore useful to study alongside any subject.

Progression Routes

The skills of evaluation and analysis that Religious Studies teaches you is applicable to almost any walk of life. Religious Studies can prepare you for anything that you want to do.

According to AGCAS - the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service. RE/Theology graduates go into a wide range of careers. However they, and employers, feel that it particularly prepares students for the following careers:

• Financial Services sector • Legal sector
• Medicine
• Politics

• Consultancy Journalism • Media sector
• Education sector
• Publishing sector

• Social Care sector
• Voluntary sector
• Social & Pastoral Care • Community work