Religious Studies

Examinations Dates

• Component 1 - the Study of Religion (Option D: Buddhism) - Final Examination: TBC.
• Component 2 - the Philosophy of Religion Final Examination: TBC.
• Component 3 - Religion and Ethics Final Examination: TBC.

Philthy Resources

Philosophy + Theology = Philthy.

• Philthy Reading.
• Philthy Thinking.
• Philthy Writing.

Examining Body

• The examining body is Eduqas.

Examinations

Examinations Overview

• You will sit 3 examinations at the end of Year 13 - each paper is 2 hours long:
• Paper 1: the Study of Religion (Option D: Buddhism).
• Paper 2: the Philosopy of Religion.
• Paper 3: Religion and Ethics.

Examinations Format

Section A:

• Choose 1 question from a choice of 2.
• Each question is split into two parts.
• Part A is worth 20 marks, assessed against Assessment Objective 1, and should take 24 minutes to complete.
• Part B is worth 30 marks, assessed against Assessment Objective 2, and should take 36 minutes to complete.

Section B:

• Choose 1 question from a choice of 3.
• Each question is split into two parts.
• Part A is worth 20 marks, assessed against Assessment Objective 1, and should take 24 minutes to complete.
• Part B is worth 30 marks, assessed against Assessment Objective 2, and should take 36 minutes to complete.

Assessment Objectives

Assessment Objective 1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion and belief, including: religious, philosophical and/or ethical thought and teaching; influence of beliefs, teachings and practices on individuals, communities and societies; cause and significance of similarities and differences in belief, teaching and practice; approaches to the study of religion and belief.

Assessment Objective 2

Analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study.

Topics:

Component 1: the Study of Religion (Option D: Buddhism)

Theme 1 - Religious Figures and Sacred Texts:

• 1A - The Context of the Historical Buddha's Life.
• 1A - The Birth of the Buddha, Early Years and the Four Sights.
• 1B - The Awakening / Enlightenment of the Buddha.
• 1C - The Pali Canon.
• 1D - The Patimokkha and the Theravada Monastic Sangha.
• 1E - The Heart and Lotus Sutras.
• 1F - The Work of Contemporary Buddhist Teachers (the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh).

Theme 2 - Religious Concepts and Religious Life:

• 2A - The Three Lakshanas (The Three Marks of Existence).
• 2B - Pratityasamutpada, Karma, and Re-birth.
• 2C - Arhat and Bodhisattva (Theravada and Mahayana Teachings).
• 2D - The Four Noble Truths.
• 2E - The Eightfold Path.
• 2F - The Dasa Sila (The Ten Precepts).

Theme 3 - Significant Social and Historical Developments in Religious Thought:

• 3A - The Development of Key Buddhist Traditions in Japan.
• 3B - Buddhist Responses to the Challenges from Science.
• 3C - Buddhist Responses to the Challenges from Secularisation.
• 3D - Buddhist Responses to the Challenges of Religious Pluralism and Diversity.
• 3E - Historical Development of Buddhism in Britain.
• 3F - The Changing Roles of Men and Women within Buddhism.

Theme 4 - Religious Practices and Religious Identity:

• 4A - Going for Refuge.
• 4B - Meditation.
• 4C - Dana (Giving) and Punya (Merit).
• 4D - The Beliefs and Practices of Tibetan Buddhist Traditions.
• 4E - The Mindfulness Movement.
• 4F - Socially Engaged Buddhism and Liberationist Traditions.

Component 2: the Philosophy of Religion

Theme 1 - Arguments for the Existence of God:

• 1A - Inductive Arguments: Cosmological.
• 1B - Inductive Arguments: Telelogical.
• 1C - Inductive Arguments: Challenges.
• 1D - Deductive Arguments: Ontological (Origins).
• 1E - Deductive Arguments: Ontological (Developments).
• 1F - Deductive Arguments: Challenges.

Theme 2 - Challenges to Religious Belief:

• 2A - The Problem of evil and Suffering.
• 2B - Augustinian Theodicies.
• 2C - Irenaean Theodicies.
• 2D - Sigmund Freud.
• 2E - Carl Jung.
• 2F - Atheism.

Theme 3 - Religious Experience:

• 3A - The Nature and Types of Religious Experience.
• 3B - Mysticism.
• 3C - Challenges to Religious Experience.
• 3D - The Influence of Religious Experience on Belief and Practice.
• 3E - Miracles.
• 3F - Challenges to Miracles.

Theme 4 - Religious Language:

• 4A - The Inherent Problems of Religious Language.
• 4B - Logical Positivism.
• 4C - Analogy.
• 4D - Symbol.
• 4E - Myth.
• 4F - Language Games.

Component 3: Religion and Ethics

Theme 1 - Ethical Thought:

• 1A - Divine Command Theory.
• 1B - Virtue Theory.
• 1C - Ethical Egoism.
• 1D - Naturalism.
• 1E - Intuitionism.
• 1F - Emotivism.

Theme 2 - Deontological Ethics:

• 2A - Classical Natural Law: Thomas Aquinas - Laws and Precepts.
• 2B - Classical Natural Law: Thomas Aquinas - Goods and Virtues.
• 2C - Classical Natural Law: Abortion and Voluntary Euthanasia.
• 2D - Modern Natural Law: John Finnis.
• 2E - Modern Natural Law: Bernard Hoose.
• 2F - Modern Natural Law: Capital Punishment and Immigration.

Theme 3 - Teleological Ethics:

• 3A - Situation Ethics: Agape.
• 3B - Situation Ethics: Principles.
• 3C - Situation Ethics: Homosexual and Polyamorous Relationships.
• 3D - Act Utilitarianism.
• 3E - Rule Utilitarianism.
• 3F - Utilitarianism: Animal Experimentation and Nuclear Deterrence.

Theme 4 - Determinism and Free Will:

• 4A - Predestination.
• 4B - Hard and Soft Determinism.
• 4C - The Implications of Predestination and Determinism.
• 4D - Free Will.
• 4E - Libertarianism.
• 4F - The Implications of Free Will and Libertarianism.

Faculty Contact Details

Mr S Tighe

• Role: Subject Leader - Ethics, Philosophy, and Religion; Teacher of Component 1 - the Study of Religion (Option D: Buddhism).
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Classroom: EPR3.

Mr J Howard

• Role: Teacher of Component 2 - the Philosophy of Religion.
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Classroom: EPR1.

Ms S Atkinson

• Role: Teacher of Component 3 - Religion and Ethics.
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Classroom: EPR2.