Religious Studies A-level is an ideal option for students who enjoy exploring those perplexing questions about life, the universe and everything: ‘Is there a God?’; ‘Why is there suffering?’; ‘Why should we live morally?’; ‘Is it ever right to end a life?’ ‘What happens when we die?’.
The Maynard Religious Studies course follows the OCR A-level Religious Studies specifications (H573). The course comprises three equally weighted areas of study: Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought.
This syllabus provides an opportunity to explore the rich heritage of western philosophical and ethical thought and to undertake a systematic study of Christianity. Students will encounter key thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, St Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, David Hume, J. S. Mill and Karl Marx, as well as prominent philosophers and theologians of the 20th century and the present day.
This qualification is designed to nurture the development of critical and reflective thinking with the aim of developing a greater understanding and appreciation of religious beliefs and teachings, as well as the disciplines of ethics and philosophy of religion. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis and the construction of balanced, informed arguments within the context of religious, philosophical and ethical awareness.
