Is this course for me?
Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies enables you to reflect upon and deepen your understanding of the important and dynamic area of human culture and thought. It is not a quest to learn facts about God but rather it is a quest for understanding the self and nature of what it means to be human. Our aim is to help students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to think rigorously, to present informed arguments and to grow and mature in their own understanding of the world and their place within it.
What will I learn?
Year 12 – Philosphy of religion and ethics
Section A: Philosophy of Religion
Arguments for the existence of God, Evil and suffering, Religious experience, Religious language, Miracles, Self and life after death.
Section B: Ethics and religion
Ethical theories, Issues of human life and death, Issues of animal life and death, Introduction to Meta ethics, Free will and moral responsibility, Conscience, Bentham and Kant
Year 13: Study of religion and dialogues
Section A: Study of Christianity
Sources of wisdom and authority, God/gods/ultimate reality, Self, death and the afterlife, Good conduct and key moral principles, Expressions of religious identity, Religion, gender and sexuality, Religion and science, Religion and secularisation, Religion and religious pluralism
Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and Christianity.
Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and Christianity
Anything else I need to know?
Assessment: Two examination papers (3 hours each) at the end of Year 13 both worth 50% of final grade.
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including a grade 4 in Religious Studies and a grade 4 in English and Maths.
Future Careers
This subject is accepted for a wide range of further and higher education course and is widely acknowledged by universities as offering students a wide range of desirable study skills. Philosophy and Ethics form, part of the study for medical, law, social services and the specific and wide ranging areas of theological studies. Such a qualification can lead to job opportunities in the health service, judiciary, journalism, civil service, teaching or community care.
