SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS - St Ambrose College

RELIGIOUS STUDIESThis is the study of the philosophical aspects of religion and the ethical and moralvalues, which underpin our Catholic Christian faith.Although the programme of study will analyse Christianity in depth, there remains plenty of scope to broaden anddevelop your own understanding of other faith systems and beliefs. Indeed it is through the philosophicalanalysis of religion that many students wake up to the reality that their moral, philosophical and spiritualdimensions are absolutely vital in their overall human development.Aims of the Course• To allow students to develop an interest in and enthusiasm for a rigorous study of the philosophical andethical aspects of religion.• To allow students to treat the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge and understandingappropriate to a specialist study of religion.• To allow students to use an enquiring, critical and empathetic approach to the study of religion.• To allow students to answer for themselves some of the great questions of our time, such as “Can weprove the existence of God? Do you need to be religious to be moral? If God made the universe, who orwhat made God?”• To develop the moral and spiritual appetite of each student.Scheme of Assessment: AS UnitsUnit 1: FoundationsThis unit focuses on an introduction to the main themes within the study of the Philosophy of Religion andReligious Ethics.Concepts include an analysis of some of the most well known arguments for God’s existence includingcosmology and design. In addition students are introduced to some of the formative and foundationalcomponents of ethical theory including the intentionalist approach of Utilitarianism and theconsequentialist approach of Situation Ethics.Unit 2: InvestigationsThis unit allows students to focus on a particular moral or ethical issue allowing them to explorethe philosophic basis of the issue and to discuss the implications such a study may hold for thewider society.