Religious Studies

The WJEC Eduqas A level Religious Studies encourages students to develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, a study of religion and philosophy and its place in the wider world.

The course curriculum requires students to develop skills of critical evaluation and analysis as well as broadening your knowledge and understanding of religion, philosophy and ethics. Studying Theology, Philosophy and Ethics degree can lead to a career in counselling, government, lecturing, management, the police and teaching.

The Eduqas A Level course contains three components which include a wide range of topics for consideration, including an in-depth and broad study of Christianity, Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics. Students will study the following themes for the Christianity unit over the 2 years:

• Jesus’s birth and resurrection
• The Bible as a source of wisdom and authority
• The early Christian church
• Different scholarly views of Jesus
• The religious concepts of: the nature of God, the Trinity and atonement
• Religious Life including a study of the key moral principles such as charity and the community of believers
• Attitudes towards the following issues: wealth, migration and equality and discrimination
• The relationship between religion and society
• Historical developments in religious thought
• Religious identity through baptism, the Eucharist; festivals such as Christmas and Easter; unification; religious experience, responses to poverty and injustice

Students will study the following themes for the Philosophy of Religion unit over the 2 years:

• The Cosmological Argument
• The Teleological Argument
• The Ontological Argument
• The Problem of evil and suffering
• Religious belief as a product of the human mind
• Issues relating to the rejection of religion
• Religious experience
• Religious language

Students will study the following themes for the Religion and Ethics unit over the 2 years:

• Ethical Thought
• Natural Law and Proportionalism and its application to the ethical issues of abortion, voluntary euthanasia, immigration and capital punishment
• Situation Ethics and its application to the ethical issues of homosexuality, polyamorous relationships, animal experimentation and the use of nuclear weapons
• Determinism and Free will

EXPECTATIONS:

A level students are required to complete 5 hours of private study per week, this is closely monitored with regular folder checks. Students are given support to develop their essay writing skills. This course is assessed entirely through examination in May/June.

Examinations take place at the end of year 2 where students will be taking three examinations overall for each component; Christianity, Philosophy of Religion and Religion and Ethics.

SPECIFICATION WEBSITE LINK:

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/religious-studies-as-a-level/#tab_keydocuments

Assessment Objective AO1 – Part (a) questions 20 marks

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion and belief, including: - religious, philosophical and/or ethical thought and teaching - influence of beliefs, teachings and practices on individuals, communities and societies - cause and significance of similarities and differences in belief, teaching and practice - approaches to the study of religion and belief.

Assessment Objective AO2- Part (b) questions 30 marks

Analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study.

Reading List

Visual Curriculum Map