Pearson
Level 3
QN: 601/8741/4
Curriculum Active
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Religious Studies
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by Pearson. Classified as a GCE A Level. Total guided learning hours: 1080 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 3
Awarding Body
Pearson
Syllabus Units
9 Units
Guided Hours
1080 hrs
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Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
A study of three ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, and Natural Moral Law
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2
Application of ethical theories to issues of importance: War and peace, and Sexual ethics
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3
Buddhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, and meditation
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4
Buddhism – Religion and society: The interpretation and application of ahimsa in the modern world
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5
Buddhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Four Noble Truths as the basis of Buddhism
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6
Buddhism – Social and historical developments: The spread of Buddhism, Triratna Buddhism, and the role of women
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7
Buddhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Buddha and the Tipitaka
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8
Buddhism – Works of scholars: Comparison of the bodhisattva doctrine
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9
Christianity – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The diversity of practice in the Eucharist
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10
Christianity – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discrimination
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11
Christianity – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The nature of God as personal and as Creator, the Trinity, the nature of the Church, and key moral principles
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12
Christianity – Social and historical developments: Science, secularisation, and new movements in theology
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13
Christianity – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Bible and the nature and role of Jesus
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14
Christianity – Works of scholars: Atonement theory; comparison of Karl Barth and John Hick
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15
Deontology, Virtue Ethics and the works of scholars: A comparison of Immanuel Kant and Aristotle
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16
Ethical language: Meta-ethics and the relationship between religion and morality
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17
Hinduism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Sanatana dharma and yoga
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18
Hinduism – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discrimination
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19
Hinduism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Beliefs about Brahman, avatars, and key moral principles
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20
Hinduism – Social and historical developments: Movements (Neo-Vedanta, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Hindutva)
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21
Hinduism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Emergence of Hindu traditions
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22
Hinduism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Shankara and Ramanuja
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23
Influences of developments in religious belief: Life after death and religion and science debates
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24
Interpreting the text and issues of relationship, purpose and authorship
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25
Islam – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The Five Pillars and the ummah
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26
Islam – Religion and society: Multi-faith societies, pluralism, gender, and interfaith dialogue
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27
Islam – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Six Beliefs and key moral principles
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28
Islam – Social and historical developments: Sunni and Shi'a differences, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Sufism, and Islam and science
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29
Islam – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Prophet Muhammad, the Hadith and Sunnah, and the Qur'an
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30
Islam – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Jihad
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31
Judaism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Orthodox and Reform Judaism
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32
Judaism – Religion and society: Religious pluralism and equality and discrimination
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33
Judaism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Ethical monotheism, God's revelation in the Torah and Talmud, and values
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34
Judaism – Social and historical developments: Modern development of Judaism, Zionism, and the Holocaust
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35
Judaism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Tenakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim) and the development of Rabbinic Judaism
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36
Judaism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Maimonides and Moses Mendelssohn
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37
Medical ethics: Issues in medical ethics with a focus on beginning and end of life
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38
Philosophical issues and questions: Arguments for the existence of God (Design, Cosmological, Ontological)
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39
Problems of evil and suffering
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40
Religious language
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41
Scientific and historical-critical challenges, faith and history, and ethical living
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42
Significant concepts in issues or debates in religion: Environmental ethics and equality
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43
Sikhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The affirmation of a distinctive Sikh identity and the Singh Sabha movements
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44
Sikhism – Religion and society: Religious freedom, tolerance, and responses to pluralism and diversity
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45
Sikhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Sikhs and the divine, the importance of sangat, and key moral principles
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46
Sikhism – Social and historical developments: The impact of migration, secularisation and non-Sikh culture on the Sikh Diaspora
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47
Sikhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Guru Granth Sahib and the lives of the ten Gurus
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48
Sikhism – Works of scholars: The importance of the feminine principle in Sikh thought (N K Singh and D Jakobsh)
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49
Social, historical and religious context of the New Testament: Prophecy regarding the Messiah and the world of the first century
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50
Texts and interpretation of the Person of Jesus: The Prologue in John, titles of Jesus, and miracles and signs
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51
Texts and interpretation: The Kingdom of God in Luke, the death of Jesus, and the crucifixion and resurrection narratives
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52
The nature and influence of religious experience
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53
Ways of interpreting Scripture
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54
Works of scholars: Critiques of religious belief (Dawkins and Westphal; Russell and Copleston)
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Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 601/8741/4
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- Pearson
- Qualification Type
- GCE A Level
- Operational Start
- Sept 2016