Theology offers students the chance to engage with some of the most significant questions about life, morality, and meaning. Students will engage in debate on issues ranging from the morality of war, environmental ethics to medical issues surrounding birth and death, which will sharpen their capacity to think logically, to argue persuasively and to question assumptions.
Through the Pearson A level Religious Studies specification, students study the New Testament alongside Philosophy of Religion and Religious Ethics, gaining a rich blend of historical, philosophical, and analytical skills. In lessons, we explore diverse themes such as the interpretation of Gospel narratives, the relationship between body and mind, the challenges of evil and suffering, and the moral principles that underlie ethical decision-making.
Theology is not just about learning content but about practising skills that are highly valued across many fields: close reading of texts, analytical precision, and the ability to discuss different perspectives respectfully and with intellectual rigour. These make it excellent preparation for university study in subjects such as law, politics, philosophy, history, and the social sciences, as well as for careers in education, journalism, public service, or any path where clear reasoning and ethical awareness are essential.
Topics studied
Topic 1: Philosophy of religion
- Arguments for the existence of God: the design argument, the cosmological argument, the ontological argument.
- The nature and influence of religious experience.
- The problems of evil and suffering, theodicies and solutions.
- Religious Language: analogy and symbol, verification and falsification debates, language games.
- Views about life after death across a range of religious traditions, relationship between body and mind, supporting evidence.
- Religion and science: methodologies, cosmology and creation.
Topic 2: Religion and ethics
- Normative ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, Natural Moral Law, Kantian Ethics, Virtue Ethics.
- Applied ethics: war and peace, sexual ethics.
- Medical ethics: beginning and end of life issues.
- Significant issues: environmental issues, concepts of equality.
- Ethical language: meta-ethics, the relationship between religion and morality.
Topic 3: New Testament studies
- The social, historical and religious context of the New Testament.
- The person of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels and John’s Gospel, miracles and signs.
- Interpreting the text: the synoptic problem, the purpose and authorship of the Fourth Gospel.
- Ways of interpreting: the Bible as inspired, models for its interpretation.
- Interpreting texts on the Kingdom of God, religion and political conflict, the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- Scientific and historical-critical challenges of faith, ethical living.
Academic enrichment
Alongside the core curriculum, students are offered a wide range of opportunities to extend their learning and broaden their intellectual horizons. They can develop confidence in discussion and debate through the Senior Socratic Society, where they engage in philosophical dialogue with their peers, and by taking part in the annual Philosothon competition with neighbouring schools. The Philosophy Project introduces students to key developments in Western philosophy and enables them to pursue independent research on a philosophical or theological topic of personal interest. The department encourages students to enter both internal and external essay competitions. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a joint residential visit with the Classics Department, alternating between Greece and Italy (Rome and Pompeii), which brings to life the historical and cultural roots of the ideas they study.
