Religious Studies - GCSE

What will I study in Religious Studies?

You will study four units, two units on the Philosophy of Religion and two on Ethics.

Philosophy of Religion - End of Life: You will explore Christian beliefs about the afterlife and judgement. You will study the differences between Catholic and Protestant beliefs on this issue.

Philosophy of Religion - Belief in God: You will study different Christian arguments for a belief in God and arguments from atheists give for their non-belief. You will discuss questions like, ‘could a miracle ever happen?’ You will also learn the reasons for the doctrine of the Trinity.

Religious Ethics - Religion and Human Relationships: You will learn about the controversy within the Christian church surrounding the issues of homosexuality and the ordination of women priests. You will learn what different denominations teach about divorce and remarriage.

Religious Ethics - Medical Ethics: In this unit you will discuss the challenge questions that medical advancements have brought to Christian life. These include: ‘when are you really dead?’, ‘should euthanasia be legalised?’, ‘is the cloning of animals acceptable?’, and ‘is abortion moral?’

How will I be assessed?

The course is assessed by four separate one hour examinations. You will be required to answer two long questions in each exam. Each question is sub-divided into smaller sections so no really long essays are required.

Do I need to have studied Religious Studies before?

No - although a background knowledge of a religious tradition is helpful.

Who will teach me?

Kelly Hockey holds a BA in Theology and a PGCE from Cambridge University. She is a highly dedicated tutor specialising in the Old and New testaments.

Which subjects complement Religious Studies?

Religious Studies combines well with Philosophy, but is also well-suited to disciplines such as History, Government and Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Economics and Classical Civilisation.

Which careers can Religious Studies lead to?

Religious Studies develops logical thinking and communication skills and so is suitable for those planning to enter a wide range of careers such as law, academia, finance, politics, journalism, advertising and, of course, the clergy!