Religious Studies

Religious Studies at Badminton includes theology, philosophy and a study of the phenomena of religion without judgement about the truth or otherwise of a particular set of beliefs.

We apply academic rigour to the study of inter-religious dialogue and look to understand the implications of religious thought for the world today.

Girls are encouraged to re-evaluate their opinions, to reflect on religious teachings and seek to understand the role of religion on the world stage. In addition to the formal curriculum, we offer popular clubs for the discussion of Philosophy and Religion in an informal setting. Recent topics for discussion have included the literal and metaphorical understanding of religious texts and the ethics of three-parent babies. Girls also have the opportunity to visit places of worship and listen to external speakers.

In the Lower School, we follow a comparative religious curriculum as a precursor to other aspects of Religious Studies.  The Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism) are studied in Year 7 and the Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in Year 8 on the understanding that no religion is an island and that the study of inter-religious dialogue is imperative.  In Year 9, girls examine medical ethics, the philosophy of mind and Jewish responses to the Holocaust.

GCSE

We follow the OCR Religious Studies curriculum for GCSE, focussing on Christianity, Islam, Philosophy of Religion and Ethics.  Girls examine topics including the nature of God, relationships and war, including a study of the theological background of regions at war.  They learn how to refer to scriptural texts to support arguments and they develop an understanding of religious teachings using original source material. Discussion is serious, although frequent movie and pizza nights, as well as visiting speakers, keep the subject light.

A Level

At A Level we also follow the OCR curriculum.  Girls study Ethics, Philosophy of Religion and Islam. They examine questions such as the existence of God from a priori and posteriori truths, the validity of religious language, the nature of ‘good’ and the ethical foundations of society, the relationship between Islam and the State and the theological foundations of faith.  The course demands strong evaluative skills and discussion is paramount.  Annual trips to philosophical conferences add another dimension to their learning.