OCR Religious Studies

Reading List:
General Books on Philosophy Author Cost
1. The Philosophy Files Stephen Law £1.88
2. The God Delusion Richard Dawkins £2.14
3. Teach Yourself Philosophy of Religion Mel Thompson £2.69
General Books on Ethics Author Cost
1. Puzzle of Ethics Peter Vardy £2.28
2. Ethical Studies Robert Bowie £2.81
3. A very short introduction to Ethics Simon Blackburn £2.81
General Books on Developments in Christian Thought Author Cost
1. Christianity – A Very Short Introduction Linda Woodhead £2.81
2. Teach Yourself Christianity John Young £2.81
Textbooks that we use
1. OCR Religious Studies A Level Year 1 and AS Student Book Michael B. Wilkinson, £19.41
2. OCR Religious Studies A Level Year 2 Student Book Michael Wilcockson, each
Hugh N.Campbell
1. Oxford A Level Religious Studies for OCR: AS and Year 1 Libby Ahluwalia and £7.95
2. Oxford A Level Religious Studies for OCR: Year 2 Robert Bowie each

Useful Websites:
1. OCR A Level Religious Studies: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-
level/religious-studies-h173-h573-from-2016/
2. Course Content and resources: https://peped.org/
3. Course Content and resources: https://ithinkthereforeiteach.com/
4. Course Content and resources: http://www.philosopherkings.co.uk/
5. Podcasts (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/598SVYJ2smP8qJlpH29y7Vj/podcasts
6. Podcasts (The Panpsycast) https://thepanpsycast.com/home
7. YouTubers: Ben Wardle
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKt35O75wIr1cEddmP_OViFwELDXoytdi
8. YouTubers: Mr MacMillan https://www.youtube.com/user/MrMcMillanREvis
9. YouTubers: Eddie https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUcFn1-7AodLMy2q-
R_bEQ/playlists
Films and Documentaries:
1. Netflix: ‘Erin Brockovich’ (Business Ethics)
2. ‘Bonhoeffer: A Documentary’ (Christian Moral Action)
3. ‘The Truman Show’ (Epistemology and Reality)
4. ‘Angels and Demons’ (Christian Conspiracy)
5. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Christian Conspiracy)
6. ‘The Passion’ (Life of Jesus)
Transition Tasks
1. Organisation
Welcome to the Religious Education A level course. Over the next two academic years you
will get to engage with Philosophy, Ethics and the development in Christian Thought.
a. Task number 1: Preparing to start the course
You need to get an A4 ring binder for the topic. The course is taught in separate topics
which run simultaneously with your two RE teachers: Miss Lowde and Miss Towler.
Some people choose to have a folder for each side of the course, but that’s up to you!
b. Task number 2: Organising your folder
You will need file dividers to make sure your folder is always organised. This is especially
important as you will have half termly folder checks with both of your teachers.
On your file dividers you will need to the following sub headings:
Year 1 Ethics: Year 1: Philosophy Year 1: Christian thought
• Natural law • Ancient philosophical • Augustine’s teaching on
• Situation ethics influences human nature
• Kantian ethics • Soul, mind, body • Death and the afterlife
• Utilitarianism • Arguments based on • Knowledge of gods
• Euthanasia observation existence
• Business ethics • Arguments based on • The person of Jesus
reason Christ
• Religious experience • Christian moral
• The problem of evil principles
• Christian moral actions

2. Prime your Brain

You will start the course with Situation ethics with Miss Lowde and Ancient philosophical
influences with Miss Towler.
a. To prepare for this please research and create mini fact files on:
• Aristotle
• Plato
• Joseph Fletcher
• J.A Robinson
• Rudolph Bultmann
• Augustine
• Aquinas
• Hume
• Kant
 b. Making a case
You need to make a case for and against a particular issue. Philosophy and Ethics at A level
will require you to make judgements about issues.
You need to create a case for and against on one of the following issues:

• Does God exist?

• Is there an afterlife?
• Was Jesus really the Son of God?
• Do all people go to heaven when they die?
• Should abortion be made illegal?
• Should euthanasia be made legal?

You need to write at least three paragraphs (approximately ¾ to 1 full typed A4 page – but if
you like you can write more). Try to include evidence or scholars to support the points you
make. Make sure that you have researched your topic and planned your written piece
thoroughly. Here is a sample paragraph below – we are interested in you ARGUING your
case with evidence!

Some would argue that all people do indeed go to heaven when they die. This is because of
the belief that God is benevolent, all loving. In the Bible it states that ‘God is love. Whoever
lives in love lives in God, and God in them.’ This clearly shows that because God is benevolent
His love would mean that no-one would ever go to hell when they die. Furthermore, many
people would question why God would punish someone forever if He is meant to be all-
loving. On the other hand, many people would argue that not all people go to heaven as
some people, like Hitler, would not deserve to go there. Heaven is a place for the sinless and
therefore would not make sense if Hitler went there. Additionally, many Christians would
argue that faith is really important, why should all people go to heaven, they need to believe
in Jesus to be able to go there which is a fundamental Christian belief.