Religion & Philosophy

A-level Course

'Many people would sooner die than think; in fact they do so.' Bertrand Russell

Religious Studies focuses on philosophical and scientific issues pertinent to a religious world view. In this course we will be asking questions such as: 'Is there a God?'; 'Are scientific accounts of the world compatible with religious accounts?'; 'What is the nature and value of human life'; 'Do evil and suffering make belief in God impossible?' In fact, studying this course will enable pupils to engage with the most radical questions it is possible to ask, such as: 'Why is there anything at all?'

The strong emphasis on philosophy in this syllabus means that pupils will be schooled in the art of thinking critically. Studying this subject is not simply about gathering together parts of a body of knowledge, it is also about learning an invaluable skill - how to recognise, evaluate and construct arguments, whether on the page or in classroom debates.

The syllabus moves logically on from the AQA GCSE Religious Studies syllabus, which is also taught in this school. There is, however, no requirement to have studied GCSE RS prior to opting for AS Religious Studies. The only prerequisite is a willingness to engage in debate and to have one's views held up for scrutiny.

Lower 6th (Year 12)

• AS Unit 1 Religion and Science
  In this module pupils will study the relationship between religious and scientific worldviews. Are these disciplines ultimately in conflict, or is there some way to reconcile the naturalistic approach with commitment to belief in the supernatural? We will look at three areas of possible conflict: creation; design; and the miraculous.

• AS Unit 2 Philosophy of Religion
  In this module pupils will explore a range of philosophical approaches to religion. We will examine, for example, whether it is possible to prove that there is a God through an evaluation of the Cosmological Argument, and ask whether religious experience could ever count as compelling evidence for God's existence. We shall also be exploring the issue of atheism, and what the grounds are for non-belief.

The AS Exam in this subject consists of two papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes long.

Upper 6th (Year 13)

• A2 Unit 3 Philosophy of Religion
  In this module pupils will build on their exploration of philosophical questions concerning God's existence started in AS Unit 2. Topics covered include how far reason can be used to understand the God concept, whether the existence of evil makes it impossible to believe in God, and the nature of human minds, bodies and souls.

• A2 Unit 4 Religion and Human Experience
  This is a compulsory unit. Students will study either Topic 1: Life, Death and Beyond; or Topic 2: Ultimate Perceptions of Reality. This module provides pupils with an opportunity to grapple with the fundamental mysteries of existence. Gulp!

The A2 Exam will consist of two papers each 1 hour and 30 minutes long.

Trips and Extra-curricular

We run a trip to Florence during the summer term for L6th form pupils, with the focus on aesthetics. There are numerous clubs and societies offered to the pupils who are interested in exploring philosophical and theological questions outside the confines of syllabuses - in the past we have run: Logic Club; The Good Life Society; Life, Death and Meaning.

We regularly invite external speakers to speak to the pupils on matters philosophical, ethical and religious. Recently Professor A.C. Grayling visited us to speak on secularism.