Religion, Philosophy, Ethics A-Level at The Swan
The study of RPE at The Swan prepares you for every possible pathway. This course is not simply academic; it deals with fundamental questions that affect our perception of reality and the way we live our lives.
RPE students will consider questions which have mystified the great thinkers throughout time such as: does God exist? How can we determine what is good and what is evil? Is there a connection between the mind, body and soul? And how does religion interact with a secular society?
You will be taught how to write rigorous and analytical essays drawing on a wide range of key philosophical ideas, ethical theories, and theological positions, developing your ability to reason, and deploy a range of material to demonstrate understanding and justifications with the support of a team of experienced RPE teachers.
6 Religious Education GCSE OR 6 English Language or Literature GCSE
OCR A-Level Religious Studies (H573)
Component 1: Philosophy of Religion (33% of A Level, 2h exam)
This unit covers:
Ancient philosophical influences
the nature of the soul, mind and body
Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God
The nature and impact of religious experience
The challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil
Ideas about the nature of God
Issues in religious language.
Component 2: Religion and Ethics (33% of A Level, 2h exam)
This unit covers:
Normative ethical theories
The application of ethical theory to two contemporary issues of importance
Ethical language and thought
Debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience
Sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs
Component 3: Developments in religious thought (33% 2h exam)
This unit covers:
Religious beliefs, values and teachings, their interconnections and how they vary historically and in the contemporary world
Sources of religious wisdom and authority
Practices which shape and express religious identity, and how these vary within a tradition
Significant social and historical developments in theology and religious thought
Key themes related to the relationship between religion and society.