Religious Studies

Religious Studies
Religious Studies considers eternal human questions such as personal identity in a changing world, the meaning of life and death, and considers the prospect of life continuing beyond the grave. Linked to these are questions of morality and ethics which look at how we should live and how we respond to dilemmas of right and wrong action. A unique character of RS is that we approach all these issues from the point of view of God and of religious faith whereas Philosophy looks first and foremost to human reason.

RS1 Introduction to Religion and Ethics
This unit has four main areas: Natural Law, Situation Ethics, Utilitarianism, and Applied Ethics.This unit has a 1.5 hour written paper examined in January each year and is 25% of the total marks.As the unit is examined in January the focus of the first term is given over to preparing students for this exam.

RS2 Introduction to Christianity
This unit also has four main areas: Key Christian Beliefs, Roots of Christian Diversity - The Protestant Reformation, Worship and Sacraments in Contemporary Christianity, Christian Celebration.This unit is 1.5 hour written paper examined in June each year and is 25% of the total marks.

A2 Unit 1: RS3 Studies in Christianity
The topics are: the Church - Its Nature, Role and Ministry, Contemporary Christological Debates, Feminist Theology and Christianity in the Modern World.This unit is a 1.5 hour written paper examined in June each year and is 25% of the total marks

A2 Unit 2: RS4 Religion and Human Experience
This unit provides students with the opportunity to make a holistic study on one specified theme.Candidates will be required to write an essay under controlled conditions on a specified aspect of either religious authority or religious experience or life, death and life after death.This unit is a 1.5 hour written paper examined in June each year and is 25% of the total marksUndertaking Religious Studies will enable you to develop skills including: Analysis of ideas; critical judgement; research; reading and interpretation of texts; discussion and debate of controversial ideas; envisaging life at other times and in other places; appreciation and respect for other viewpoints; confident participation in group discussions.Religious Studies is relevant for degrees in: Archaeology, Philosophy, History, Law, Medicine, Sociology, Psychology, Social Sciences, Education, Literature and general Arts.

Results
SUMMER 2009
A - C grade: 80%
Highlights: 55% of learners achieved'A' or'B' grades, above the national figure.

Examination Board WJEC