Over the last 20 years this subject has changed almost beyond recognition. The modern study of religious and ethical issues is a demanding and objective logical analysis of the reasons behind what people believe, and how their beliefs determine the way they behave. Courses at this level are designed to provide an enquiring and critical approach to important life questions and moral issues in today’s world. Linguistic and historical skills should be developed, alongside a growing understanding of philosophical and theological concepts. Students are not required to hold any particular personal religious beliefs, but they should have a serious academic commitment and an open mind.
Years 10 and 11
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Board |
GCSE |
|
Religious Studies |
OCR |
1930 |
We study two areas:
1. Christian perspectives on personal, social and world issues.
2. A world religion: Christianity
3. Buddhism
1. Perspectives
Five topics are covered here: Relevant material from many courses and
organisations are used:
a) Personal relationships within the family
Family, love, friendship
Individual: value, self-acceptance
Sexuality
Marriage
Divorce
Re-marriage
Care of the elderly
b) Birth and death
Sanctity of life: baptism, birth control, abortion, genetic engineering
Life support machines, euthanasia
Funeral rites
Life after death issues
c) Prejudice and equality
A Christian understanding of issues concerning race, religion, gender, social class, disability.
d) War, peace and human rights
Just War and Holy War, nuclear weapons
Terrorism, pacifism
Violent and non-violent protest
Human rights, prisoners of conscience
e) Christian responsibility for the planet
Christian moral responses to problems facing the world: stewardship, ecology and the
environment, hunger and disease, over-population.
f) Christian responsibility towards disadvantaged people
Christian attitudes towards the poor and weak, responses of Churches to poverty, the work of one explicitly Christian aid organisation.
2. Christianity as a World Religion
Seven options are studied
1. Beliefs: Trinity
Sin; judgement; forgiveness; salvation; eternal life.
Christian ideals as expressed in:-
Sermon on the Mount
The two great commandments
2 Festivals:
Advent – Trinity
Sunday as a Holy Day
The significance of festivals for Christians is explored
3 Major Divisions and Interpretations
The Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches
Ecumenism
The Charismatic Movement
4 Pilgrimage
The nature of a Pilgrimage to e.g.
Jerusalem or Lourdes
A consideration of the role pilgrimage might play in the spiritual development of Christians.
5 Places and Forms of Worship
Church buildings; church services and church leaders. Prayer.
Bible study; private and public acts of worship
6 Religion in the community and the family
- the work of religious communities
- Christian teaching about charity and concern for others
- Infant baptism, confirmation, believers’ baptism
- Marriage and funerals – life after death
- The role of the family
7 Sacred Writings
The Bible and its importance for Christians; The Bible as a sacred text – the “Word of God”; its use in public and private worship.
3. Buddhism
Beliefs
Candidates should have considered the beliefs of Buddhists in relation to the following:
the life of the Buddha
the Three Universal Truths (Marks of Existence): anicca, anatta, dukkha;
the Four Noble Truths, including tanha and the Noble Eightfold Path;
the Law of kamma, samsara and rebirth in the six realms;
the goals of enlightenment and nibbana;
the Three Refuges: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha;
the Five Precepts;
the Mahayana Path of the Bodhisattva and the Six Perfections.
Festivals, Fasts and Special Days
Rain Retreats, Uposatha Days and Wesak.
Major Divisions and Interpretations
Theravada Buddhism,
the Mahayana schools of Tibetan and Zen Buddhism;
and new movements such as the Western Buddhist Order.
Pilgrimage
The nature of pilgrimage in Buddhism, e.g. to Bodh Gaya and to the Deer Park at Sarnath.
places and Forms of Worship
the practice of puja (worship) in the home;
the symbolism of rupas;
temples, viharas (monasteries) and stupas;
Buddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, anapanasati, metta bhavana
Religion in the Community and the Family
the application of Buddhist principles to issues concerning the family, wealth, employment and work in the community;
the role of the monastic Sangha and its relationship with the laity;
ordination into the Sangha;
the lifestyle of a bhikkhuni;
funeral rites, and beliefs about death and dying, life after death.
Sacred Writings
The Pali Canon: Vinaya Pitaka (monastic discipline) and the Metta Sutta, Mahayana sutras.
Coursework
Each candidate must complete two assignments, one on each section, each counting
for 10%. It is a piece of extended writing, of 1500 words maximum. Typical titles
chosen by pupils have been.
· Suicide: Why do people commit suicide and to what extent do the Churches condone it?
· Abortion: What is it and is it an acceptable alternative for Christians?
· Pacifism: Should all Christians be pacifists?
· Miracles: Can we still believe them as literally accurate and possible?
· How meaningful to Christians is the modern celebration of Christmas?
· Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: a spiritual journey or a tourist holiday?
The pupils are given a great deal of freedom in the selection of their title and topic.
It should enable them to research particular interests and exercise individual
judgement.
Exam
Students will sit two 11 hour papers, answering three structured questions from a
choice of five, one being compulsory.
Years 12 and 13
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Board |
AS |
A2 |
|
Religious Studies |
Edexcel |
8562 |
9562 |
Entry Qualifications and Aptitude:
Although good passes at GCSE in subjects like History or English are normally expected, students are not necessarily debarred from taking this subject at AS Level because they do not have a qualification in Religious Studies at GCSE. This is because the approach and content of the course at AS & A2 Level is so different from GCSE.
Methods of Assessment & Examining:
The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) consists of three units:
· One compulsory unit assessed by written coursework which is externally marked; and
· Two units (chosen from 5) assessed by written examinations with a total examination time of 3 hours.
The Advanced Level (A2) consists of a further three units:
· One compulsory unit assessed by a written examination: the synoptic component (1½ hrs)
· Two units (chosen from 5) assessed by written examinations with a total examination time of 3 hours.
Number, Length and Title (or content) of Exam Papers
There are two examination papers in each half of the course:
At AS…
· Unit 2 Philosophy of Religion (1hr 30)
· Unit 4a New Testament: The Fourth Gospel (1hr 30)
In addition…
· Unit 1 Coursework (2000-2500 words)
At A2…
· Unit 8 Philosophy of Religion (1hr 30)
· Unit 9b New Testament: The Fourth Gospel (1hr 30)
· Unit 12 Controlled task (written under examination
conditions 1½ hours)
Course Description:
The Course is taught in two halves simultaneously, Philosophy of Religion (Mr Andrew Trim) and St John’s Gospel (Mr John Turner).
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Philosophy of Religion deals with the most difficult and significant questions human beings ask:
· “How do we know what is real?”
· “Is there a God?”
· “What happens when we die?”
· “How do we tell Right from Wrong?”
· “What real evidence is there for supernatural events like miracles?”
· “How can anyone take religion seriously when there is so much suffering in the world?”.
ST JOHN’S GOSPEL:
The study of St. John’s Gospel is a challenging analysis of a text, which forms the basis for all credal statements within the Church. Rather than showing concern for the study of events (i.e. narrative) we are concerned with the ideas and concepts (e.g. salvation, eschatology, discipleship) which this text has helped to formulate. This is in no sense a devotional exercise. Instead it is a critical and searching study of the impact of first century theology on the Church as it has developed. Typical questions include:-
What is heresy?
Was Jesus a Man or a God?
In what sense is the Gospel (and hence Christianity) syncretistic?
Additional Information:
The strength of the syllabus lies in its breadth. It gives you an opportunity to develop your own interests and conduct your own research. The coursework components are on topics other than those taught. Such topics have included:-
The religion of the Aztecs
Freud on Religion
The Caste system in Hinduism.
Are the Jehovah’s Witnesses Christian?
The Conflict between Science and Religion
Kierkegaard and existentialism
There is usually sufficient expertise within the department to supervise such wide-ranging independent study.
Philosophy
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Board |
AS |
A2 |
|
Philosophy |
AQA |
5171 |
6171 |
