AS/A2 Religious Studies

Why should I study Religious Studies at Cardinal Newman?
There are high success rates, plenty of enrichment opportunities, a unique classroom atmosphere and high quality teaching in Religious Studies. There is also a wide range of support for students including one-to-one tutorials and additional learning sessions. This A level at Cardinal Newman allows students to study, in depth, the most topical and popular issues in Religious Studies. At Cardinal Newman we will encourage you to explore your own beliefs, values and ideas while achieving high grades and good progression.
What is Religious Studies?
The understanding of varied world views is becoming an essential skill in today's society. This course provides you with the opportunity to engage with some of the biggest and most profound questions of history.
What exactly will I study?
You will explore some very wide ranging questions:

· Is there a God?

· What happens when we die?

· Why do bad things happen if God made the world?

· How do we make decisions?

· The relationship between science and religion
Will I enjoy Religious Studies?
The course aims to promote an enquiring, critical and sympathetic approach to the study of religion and related issues. Students find it enriching and develop a number of skills during the course.

The two modules in the first year of the course will be:

· The Philosophy of Religion: i.e. debates regarding evil and the existence of God

· Ethics: that is examining ways to make moral decisions and considering ideas of right and wrong

In the second year of the course you will continue to study:

· The Philosophy of Religion
· Ethics
Progression
Students use Religious Studies to enter a broad range of degree courses in higher education. These have included History, Philosophy, Sociology, Theology, Law, Politics and Mathematics. Combined degrees, linking Religious Studies with other subjects, are increasingly popular.

Studying Religious Studies has led students into opportunities in teaching, publishing, welfare services, the Church, politics, the civil service, management and accountancy. Good employers want people who can think, listen intelligently, analyse and offer a well considered argument.

The understanding of other world views is also increasingly important in today's society with our closely overlapping cultures and traditions.