Topics include:
Arguments for the existence of God:
The Teleological argument
Presentation: Paley’s analogical argument.
Criticisms: Hume.
The Ontological argument
Presentation: Anselm’s a priori argument.
Criticisms: Gaunilo and Kant.
The Cosmological argument
Presentation: Aquinas' Way 3. The argument from contingency and necessity.
Criticisms: Hume and Russell.
Evil and suffering
The problem of evil and suffering.
The concepts of natural and moral evil.
The logical and evidential problem of evil.
Responses to the problem of evil and suffering.
Hick’s soul making theodicy.
The free will defence.
Process theodicy as presented by Griffin.
The strengths and weaknesses of each response.
Religious experience
The nature of religious experience.
Visions: corporeal, imaginative and intellectual.
Numinous experiences: Otto, an apprehension of the wholly other.
Mystical experiences: William James; non sensuous and non-intellectual union with the divine as presented by William Stace
Exam styles questions: Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief and their ability to analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study. Students will answer a 10 and 15 mark question.
Develop the individual:
Awareness and evaluation of philosophical and religious arguments.
Create a supportive community:
Understanding of the beliefs of others and respect shown through discussion of various viewpoints.
Topics include:
Normative ethical theories
Deontological: natural moral law and the principle of double effect with reference to Aquinas; proportionalism.
Teleological: situation ethics with reference to Fletcher.
Character based: virtue ethics with reference to Aristotle.
The differing approaches taken to moral decision making by these ethical theories.
Their application to the issues of theft and lying.
The strengths and weaknesses of these ways of making moral decisions.
Exam style questions: Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief and their ability to analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study. Students will answer two 10 and 15 mark questions.
Develop the individual:
Awareness and evaluation of ethical and religious arguments.
Create a supportive community:
Understanding of the beliefs of others and respect shown through discussion of various viewpoints.
Issues of human life and death:
embryo research; cloning; ‘designer’ babies
abortion
voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide
capital punishment.
Issues of non-human life and death:
use of animals as food; intensive farming
use of animals in scientific procedures; cloning
blood sports
animals as a source of organs for transplants.
Exam style questions: Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief and their ability to analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study. Students will answer a 10 and 15 mark question.
Develop the individual:
Awareness and evaluation of ethical and religious arguments.
Create a supportive community:
Understanding of the beliefs of others and respect shown through discussion of various viewpoints.
Students will study the following with reference to Christianity:
• Sources of wisdom and authority
• God/gods/ultimate reality
• Self, death and the afterlife
• Good conduct and key moral principles
• Expression of religious identity
Exam styles questions: Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief and their ability to analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study. Students will answer a 25 mark question.
Develop the individual:
Awareness and evaluation of theological arguments and religious thought.
Create a supportive community:
Understanding of the beliefs of others and respect shown through discussion of various viewpoints.
Students will study the following with reference to Christianity:
• Sources of wisdom and authority
• God/gods/ultimate reality
• Self, death and the afterlife
• Good conduct and key moral principles
• Expression of religious identity
Exam styles questions: Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief and their ability to analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study. Students will answer a 25 mark question.
Develop the individual:
Awareness and evaluation of theological arguments and religious thought.
Create a supportive community:
Understanding of the beliefs of others and respect shown through discussion of various viewpoints.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community: