RELIGIOUS STUDIES (Eduqas)

A-Level Course Outline

What is Religious Studies?

• Are you interested in other cultures, beliefs and religions?
• Would you like to see the world from another's perspective?
• Do you think about the 'big questions' in life such as 'what is the meaning of life?' or 'what happens to us after we die?'
• Have you considered what makes an act morally right or wrong?

Religious Studies at AS level aims to equip the students with an ability to investigate some fundamental questions about human life and belief. This course is designed for a wide range of students who want to explore these areas, whilst also engaging with individual, moral, ethical, social, cultural and contemporary issues.

Religious Studies allows students to express their personal responses to fundamental questions and encourages them to explore these topics and build informed, well-articulated arguments for and against these issues.

Religious Studies will help develop your key skills in communication, working with others, problem solving and improving your own learning. It will also give you skills in making decisions about moral problems, and help you to become sure about your own beliefs and explain them clearly to others. It is not about making you religious, it is about enabling you to think for yourself about religious and moral issues. You do not need a 'faith' to enjoy this course - atheists are just as welcome as curious believers.

Is Religious Studies for me?

This course will suit anyone with an interest in philosophy, ethics and religion. It prepares you for employment and Higher Education, developing in-depth knowledge as well as broad skills of critical thinking and reasoning. Students are encouraged to reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes. It equips students with the essential tools and qualities to enable them to function both effectively and efficiently as responsible, broad-minded citizens in an increasingly pluralistic society and global community.

The subject provides a good intellectual challenge for students of humanities and those studying the sciences. The study of Ethics is especially useful for students of Medicine, as a foundation for Medical Ethics. Students gain critical and evaluative skills sought by higher education and employers; these skills are vitally important in all careers especially professions such as law, enforcement, education, social work, politics, administration and the media, in fact any profession that brings you into contact with other people.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES (EDUQAS)
A-Level Specification

Structure of the course

This course will be taught for 6 x 1hour lessons per week. The study of the subject is divided between Study of Religion, Philosophy of Religion and Religion and Ethics. Homework is set for every other lesson and deadlines must be adhered to. Furthermore, it is essential that the set texts are read and comprehensive notes are taken from them, so as to aid revision.

Component 1: An Introduction to the Study of Religion - Hinduism 33 ⅓% of A-Level 2 hrs paper (100 marks)
Areas of study: In the Study of Religion topic we look at a chosen religion, Hinduism, and investigate its views on God, self, death and the afterlife, sources of wisdom and authority, festivals and worship.	Questions Two questions demonstrating knowledge and understanding worth 25 marks each. Two questions demonstrating assessment and evaluation relating worth 25 marks each.
Component 2: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion 33 ⅓% of A-Level 2 hrs paper (100 marks)
Areas of study: This module deals with arguments for the existence of God; challenges to religious belief and concepts surrounding religious experience. It examines various attempts to demonstrate the existence of God and challenges to it such as the problem of evil and evolution.	Questions Two questions demonstrating knowledge and understanding worth 25 marks each. Two questions demonstrating assessment and evaluation relating worth 25 marks each.
Component 3: Introduction to Religion and Ethics 33 ⅓% of A-Level 2 hrs paper (100 marks)
Areas of study: This module has a theoretical and a practical aspect: key moral principles (such as Utilitarianism and Natural Law) are considered and then applied to practical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, animal experimentation and nuclear weapons as a deterrent.	Questions Two questions demonstrating knowledge and understanding worth 25 marks each. Two questions demonstrating assessment and evaluation relating worth 25 marks each.

Core Textbook

Peter Cole, Karl Lawson, Richard Gray (Editor), WJEC/Eduqas Religious Studies for A-Level Year 2 & A2 - Philosophy of Religion, Illuminate Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1911208655

Further Reading

Will Buckingham, Peter J. King, Douglas Burnham, Clive Hill, John Marenbon, DK (Editor), Sarah Tomley (Editor) The Philosophy Book, DK; ISBN-13: 978-1405353298
Brian Davies. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, OUP. ISBN: 0199263477
Julia Driver Ethics: The Fundamentals, Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN: 978-1405111546