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Religious studies

We explore philosophical and ethical issues in ways accessible to pupils of every sort of religious background, from believer to sceptic, from the main world faiths of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism through to smaller groups such as Jains and Zoroastrians … or agnostics and atheists. Central questions for every thinking human being are our syllabus.

A two-year Moral Philosophy course is compulsory for all boys. In the first year, the focus is four of the main religious traditions. The problem of evil forms the philosophical theme. In the second year, we look at a variety of ethical debates, ranging from the status and use of the embryo through crime and punishment, war and peace to the ending of human life.

GCSE

Those opting for this course (AQA) study for two papers, one centred on Mark’s Gospel and the other on Christian Ethics. Boys are challenged to interpret an ancient religious text in the context of the 21^st century and to reflect on the significant contribution of a religion, specifically Christianity, to ethical views and discussions.

AS and A level

We follow the AQA specification. At AS, students look at the philosophy of religion and ethics, adding ethical theory to their earlier practical discussions and reflecting on the interaction between religious and scientific approaches to common areas of interest. At A2, philosophy of religion moves to consider the problem of evil, debates about religious language and about the meaning of human life, while other areas we cover include the relationship between God and human beings and specifically religious experience.

These courses are accessible to all, regardless of personal beliefs.

After St Paul’s

A number of pupils go on to study either Theology or Philosophy, or both, at university, before moving into a wide variety of careers — in teaching, working with charitable organisations, editing magazines, banking or business.

Amongst recent distinguished Old Pauline theologians, particular mention should be made of Austin Farrer, Anglican theologian and philosopher and Warden of Keble College, Oxford, and Cornelius Ernst, Dominican theologian, translator of Volume 1 of Karl Rahner's Theological Investigations (1961) and an inspiration to both Rowan Williams and Timothy Radcliffe.