Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies - A Level

To study Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Education, is to seek the answers to some of the world’s most profound questions, and to discover more about the people who live here. People’s beliefs about whether a loving God exists and what ‘goodness’ means affect us all, so RE is always relevant.

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Year 12 Component 1: Study of Religion – Islam 1 - The life of Muhammad; the development of Islam; the Hijrah from Mecca to Medina; the Qur’an as a source of wisdom and authority for Muslims. 2 –The concept of Allah; Prophets of Allah; the nature and role of angels; what happens after death. 3 – The concept of a state governed according to Islamic principles; the challenge to Islam from scientific views; Islamic attitudes towards. Pluralism. 4 – The role of the masjid in Islam; the role of festivals in shaping religious identity – Ashura, Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr. Component 2: Philosophy of Religion 1 – Inductive arguments for the existence of God and challenges to these arguments. 2 – The problem evil and suffering and religious responses to it. 3 – Religious experiences – nature, mystical and challenges to the authenticity. 4 – Religious language – inherent problems, is it meaningless? Component 3: Religion and Ethics 1 – Ethical thought – divine command theory, virtue theory, ethical egoism. 2 – Deontological Ethics – Aquinas’ natural law and application of the theory. 3 – Teleological Ethics – Fletcher’s Situation Ethics and application of the theory. 4 – Determinism and Free Will –does free will exist, impact on moral responsibility of humans. YEAR 13
Component 1 - Study of Religion – Islam

1. The sources and compilation of the Shari’ah; the role of the Shari’ah and its importance for Muslims; Muslim understandings of Jihad.
2. Living a religious life - prayer; giving; pilgrimage; ethical actions as a framework for Muslim life.
3. The importance of family life for Muslims; the challenges of being a Muslim in Britain today; Western perceptions of Islam.
4. Beliefs and practices distinctive of Shi’a Islam; Sufi philosophical thought and religious experiences; debate about crime and punishment.

Component 2 - Philosophy of Religion

1. Deductive arguments for the existence of God and challenges to these arguments.
2. Religious belief as a product of the human mind; atheism and religious responses.
3. Religious experiences – influence on faith, miracles and contrasting views on miracles.
4. Religious language – symbolic, mythical and part of a language game.

Component 3 - Religion and Ethics

1. Ethical thought- naturalism, intuitionism, emotivism. Deontological Ethics – John Finnis’ development, Bernard Hoose’s proportionalism and application of the theories.
2. Teleological Ethics – Utilitrianism and application of the theory.
3. Determinism and Free Will – religious concepts, libertarianism and implications.

Assessment Paper 1: Written examination: 2h 100 Marks Choice of questions answered Paper 2: Written examination: 2h 100 marks Choice of questions answered Paper 3: Written examination: 2h 100 marks Choice of questions answered For further details, see subject booklet as above.

Minimum requirements for admission to the Sixth Form: A grade 5 in Mathematics
A grade 5 in English Language or English Literature
Achieving at least 3 other GCSEs at grade 6 or above. Subject specific requirement:

• Grade 6 in Religious Education (if studied)

Career Opportunities
Religious Education, Philosophy and Ethics is viewed as a traditional academic subject that requires incredibly useful and widely applicable skills. For this reason there are a great many career opportunities including, but not limited to: Business; Counselling and Social Work; Education, Journalism; Law, and Medicine; Event planning; hospitality; the service industry; the government; foreign service, or the Peace Corps. Also Marketing and management; Museums and the arts; Non-profit or non-governmental organizations, and Publishing.