RS in the Sixth Form

Specification = RELIGIOUS STUDIES WJEC AS 3877

This new course covers two main areas, the Philosophy of Religion and Eastern Religion.

Philosophy of Religion
The Philosophy of religion could be said to begin with Socrates (470-399 BC) regarded by many as the "father of philosophy." He was condemned to death and executed because many people thought that he was trying to undermine belief in God.

Many people have suggested that science was the "new religion" of the 19th century. It seemed to be addressing many of the questions that religion had formerly tried to answer. It is interesting that innovators of science such as Darwin and Galileo were often condemned for the same reasons as Socrates, and yet their ideas have since also been recognised and widely accepted.

It could be said that philosophy is the "new religion" of the 21st century because it enables each person to examine what they have been told and what they experience and to reach their own conclusions. What was seen at threatening and anti-religion to the contemporaries of Socrates is now seen as an exciting way of opening our minds to a new way of thinking which brings new light into all that we learn and experience.

Philosophy has gained even more depth of understanding thanks to the "new" sciences of psychology, sociology and anthropology. All kinds of knowledge can add new dimensions to our thinking.

Some of the topics covered in this module are:
• Does God exist?
• Can God be experienced?
• How can believers account for the existence of suffering and evil? • Is there life after death?
• How can moral standards be applied?

Eastern Religions
The second element of the course is an in-depth study of either one or two of the Eastern religions, namely Hinduism and/or Buddhism. The module was chosen in consultation with current students who felt that they would like to look at traditions outside the West and which would give a perspective different from that of Judaism and Christianity which are the focus of GCSE Religious Studies. GCSE students will already be familiar with the basic elements of these religions and at A level there are opportunities to explore their challenging ideas in far more depth and detail. Concepts such as karma, atma, nirvana and moksha can be re-visited and examined with the help of ancient and contemporary scholars from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Trying to translate such concepts is fraught with difficulties because, in order to be true to the actual meaning of the ideas, one must establish the context and culture in which they arose. This is what we attempt to do in studying Eastern religions at A level - rather than condense these ideas into a Western/Christian framework, we try to look at them as part of a completely different way of looking at the world. Like the study of Philosophy, this should enable us to gain a whole new way of thinking.

In the words of Quaker Faith and Practice:

Are you open to new light, from whatever source it may come?

If you are, then A level Religious Studies could be just the course for you!