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Religious Studies

Introduction 

Religion has always been with us. Throughout time it has explored the deepest questions human beings can ask and it has taken a central place in the lives of virtually all civilizations and cultures.

Religious Studies at Tabor is about teaching tolerance and understanding. It is about preparing students and giving them the skills to flourish as able and qualified participants of a multicultural, multi-faith society. The Religious Studies department at Tabor is a dedicated team who are committed to the students’ enjoyment and development in this vital subject.

Aims

The course features a variety of relevant and contemporary themes to help inspire engaging classroom discussion. Students will also gain critical and evaluative skills sought after by higher education and employers. They will explore philosophical questions about the existence of God, evil and suffering, miracles and life after death. 

Overview

Exam overview:

  • AQA
  • Written exam: 3 hours
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of A-level

SOW overview:

What is covered and when?

Over the 2-year course, you will study:

Paper 1:

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.

Paper 2:

Section A: Study of religion –Christianity:

  • Sources of wisdom and authority
  • God/gods/ultimate reality
  • Self, death and the afterlife
  • Good conduct and key moral principles
  • Expression 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 religion

How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on philosophy of religion in relation to the issues studied.

Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion

How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on ethical studies in relation to the issues studied.