RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS
Religion, Philosophy and Ethics provides an exciting opportunity to explore in depth a number of important ethical issues in the world today as well as to debate some of the ‘big questions’ of life. The Department welcomes all students, of any faith or none, and encourages exploration, questioning and discussion. A GCSE in Religious Studies is not a requirement.
Subject Choices and Career Applications
For relevance and interest, this course is well worth considering. It mixes well with both Arts and Science subjects and has broad career applications. It provides a sound foundation for further study of Theology or Philosophy at University and would contribute to any course that requires clear and independent thinking. It is particularly recognised for its contribution to the development of the critical skills necessary for the study of Law, Politics and Medical Ethics and for careers in those areas.
The Course:
OCR ‘Philosophy of Religion’ & ‘Religious Ethics’ (3877/ 7877):
Introductory ‘Foundation’ Unit (AS):
The great moral debates of Plato and Aristotle – in summary!
Jewish & Christian influences on religious philosophy: God as Creator etc.
Religious Ethics: Moral Relativism - what is right in a given situation?
Virtue Ethics - what kind of people should we become?
Natural Law - what is the place of God in moral decisions?
Meta-Ethics - what is the meaning of ethical language?
Philosophy of Religion 1 (AS):
- Arguments for and against the existence of God
- The challenge of evil to religious belief
- The insights of psychology and sociology - Freud, Jung, Durkheim etc.
Religious Ethics 1 (AS):
- Ethical Theory: The Categorical Imperative (Kant), Utilitarianism (Bentham & Mill), the concepts of absolute and relative morality
- Practical Ethics: the theory of and responses to medical ethics – abortion, euthanasia, the right to life, genetic engineering and embryo research
Philosophy of Religion 2 (A2):
- Distinctions between body and soul: from Plato to Richard Dawkins
- Life after death: resurrection and rebirth, the nature of disembodied existence, concepts of heaven and hell
- Religious language: the ‘via negativa’, verification and falsification principles, the use of symbol, analogy and myth
Religious Ethics 2 (A2):
- Free will and determinism – how free are we in our actions?
- The nature and role of conscience: From Augustine to Freud
- Religious ethics (theory and practice) of one chosen religion
- Practical Ethics: religious ethics applied to the environment, sex and relationships, war, peace and justice
Connections in Religious Studies (A2):
- The conscience as possible evidence for the existence of God
- The concept of free will and determinism in relation to the nature of an omniscient God and the implications of this for human responsibility
- The relation between free will and the problem of evil
- The implications for ethics of the theories of psychology and sociology
- The relation between moral behaviour and life after death
Assessment
AS: three modules, examined by three papers of 1 hour each: the Foundation module paper is taken in January and the remaining two in May/June of the Lower Sixth year.
A2: three further modules, examined by three papers of 1½ hours each, taken in May/ June of the Upper Sixth year.
There is no coursework required.
Resources
The Department is well-stocked with the latest books and resources for this course, which is taught by the Head of Department, Revd Johnson or Mr Bjork. There will be opportunities for the group to take part in national Sixth-form study days, led by prominent speakers in these subjects.
Commitment
You need to bring to this course an awareness of the issues confronting the world today and a willingness to engage with ideas that will challenge, as well as inform, your understanding of God. You will need a commitment to working hard on what is a stretching and stimulating programme. We are very happy to discuss any aspects of the course with interested students or parents.
Miss S.B.M. Gifford / Revd. D.R. Johnson
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