Advanced Higher Religion, Moral and Philosophical Studies
Course information
This course allows candidates to extend the knowledge and skills they may have gained from a range of different subjects, or from experiences in Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies courses at lower levels.
Units of study
Philosophy of Religion
This unit supports candidates to:
- develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of arguments surrounding the existence of God, and responses to them
- analyse arguments surrounding the existence of God
- analyse responses to these arguments
- evaluate the arguments and responses
Candidates studying the Philosophy of religion unit will cover the following content:
Cosmological argument and responses
Teleological argument and responses
Atheism and responses
- Aquinas: argument from motion, contingency, causation
- Leibniz: principle of sufficient reason
- Kalam argument
- Philosophical responses
- Scientific responses
- Religious responses
- Aquinas: argument from design
- Paley: argument from design
- Argument from intelligent design
- Philosophical responses
- Scientific responses
- Religious responses
- The improbability of God
- Incoherence of the God of classical theism
- Presumption of atheism
- Philosophical responses
- Scientific responses
- Religious responses
Religious Experience
This unit supports candidates to:
- develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the nature of religious experience
- religious and non-religious responses to religious experience
- analyse religious and non-religious arguments surrounding religious experience
- analyse responses to these arguments
- evaluate the arguments and responses
Candidates studying the Religious Experience unit will cover the following content:
Understandings of religious experience
Faith perspectives
Alternative accounts of religious experience
- James’ ideas about religious experience
- Otto’s ideas about religious experience
- Swinburne’s ideas about religious experience
- Mystical experiences
- Conversion experiences
- Miracles
- Sensory experiences
- Personal relationship
- Meditative experiences
- Psychological accounts of religious experience
- Scientific accounts of religious experience
- Sociological accounts of religious experience
Assessment methods
Assessment is comprised of two components; the exam which is worth 90 marks out of 140 marks and the dissertation which is worth the remaining 50 marks out of the 140.
The Dissertation
Candidates will identify a complex religious, moral or philosophical question or issue which allows them to research a wide range of views. They will do this by:
- choosing an appropriate religious, moral or philosophical question or issue to research
- using a wide range of sources in the research and presentation of the dissertation
- presenting relevant, in-depth factual knowledge
- drawing information together coherently
- analysing arguments and evidence with reference to sources
- evaluating arguments and evidence with reference to sources
- presenting supported and coherent conclusions to the question or issue
Entry requirements
A or B at Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies.
Additional information
For further information, visit the SQA course overview and resources webpage.
