Paul Whicker

General course notes introducing and exploring basic ethical terminology for the Edexcel Paper 2 Syllabus (Religion and Ethics)

We begin by looking at a famous thought experiment that is often used to introduce this topic: the Trolley Car dilemma. Trolley Car Dilemma Version 1 You are walking near a trolley-car track when you notice five people tied to it in a row. The next instant, you see a trolley hurtling toward them, out […]

General course notes introducing and exploring basic ethical terminology for the Edexcel Paper 2 Syllabus (Religion and Ethics) Read More »

Course notes on Meta-Ethics (in the form of an exemplar answer) for students of the Edexcel syllabus

From the syllabus for Religion and Ethics (Paper 2): 4.1 Meta-Ethics With reference to the ideas of G E Moore and A J Ayer. Evaluate which meta-ethical theory is most useful in determining the meaning of ethical language. NOTE: there is no way that all the information below could be included in response to a

Course notes on Meta-Ethics (in the form of an exemplar answer) for students of the Edexcel syllabus Read More »

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on Environmental Issues

THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON THE COURSE NOTES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE AND HERE. THIS TEST (AND MANY OF THE OTHERS ON THIS SITE) MAY ALSO BE OF USE TO STUDENTS FOLLOWING OTHER ADVANCED LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES. BEAR IN MIND THAT THESE TESTS ARE MEANT TO BE DIFFICULT. FOR THIS REASON THEY SHOULD BE

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on Environmental Issues Read More »

Detailed Course Notes on Environmental Issues for students of the Edexcel syllabus

From the syllabus for Religion and Ethics (Paper 2): 1.1 Environmental issues a) Concepts of stewardship and conservation from the point of view of at least one religion and at least one secular ethical perspective; animal welfare and protection, sustainability, waste management and climate change.  b) Strengths and weaknesses of significant areas of disagreement and

Detailed Course Notes on Environmental Issues for students of the Edexcel syllabus Read More »

Introductory Course Notes on Environmental Issues for students of the Edexcel syllabus

From the syllabus for Religion and Ethics (Paper 2): 1.1 Environmental issues a) Concepts of stewardship and conservation from the point of view of at least one religion and at least one secular ethical perspective; animal welfare and protection, sustainability, waste management and climate change.  b) Strengths and weaknesses of significant areas of disagreement and

Introductory Course Notes on Environmental Issues for students of the Edexcel syllabus Read More »

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on Black Theology (4B Christianity)

THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON THE COURSE NOTES FOR LIBERATION THEOLOGY THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE AND INCLUDE A SECTION ON BLACK THEOLOGY. THIS TEST (AND MANY OF THE OTHERS ON THIS SITE) MAY ALSO BE OF USE TO STUDENTS FOLLOWING OTHER ADVANCED LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES. BEAR IN MIND THAT THESE TESTS ARE MEANT TO BE DIFFICULT.

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on Black Theology (4B Christianity) Read More »

Edexcel course notes: extension material on Rudolf Otto’s discussion of numinous religious experience/secularization.

From the Edexcel syllabus: 2.1 The nature of religious experience   a) Context of religious experience across religious traditions, range of definitions related to belief in God and/or ultimate reality, theistic and monistic views, ineffability, noetic, transience, passivity.   b) Types: conversion, prayer, meditation, mysticism, numinous. Relationship between religious experience and propositional and non-propositional revelation.

Edexcel course notes: extension material on Rudolf Otto’s discussion of numinous religious experience/secularization. Read More »

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on The New Atheism (of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and others)/Alister McGrath’s response to Dawkins, and Secularization.

NOTE : THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON THE COURSE NOTES FOR THIS TOPIC THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE, HERE, HERE AND HERE. UNUSUALLY, THIS PARTICULAR TEST WILL ALSO INTRODUCE QUITE A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION THAT IT MAY BE USEFUL TO REFER TO IN AN EXAMINATION ANSWER, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE 30 MARK ‘EVALUATE’ QUESTIONS

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on The New Atheism (of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and others)/Alister McGrath’s response to Dawkins, and Secularization. Read More »

Exemplar answer for Edexcel Paper 1 (Philosophy of Religion)

From the Paper 1 syllabus: 5.1 Context to critiques of religious belief and points for discussion   a) Respective strengths and weaknesses of religious beliefs. b) Alternative explanations, issues of probability and postmodern interpretations of religion. NOTE 1: the following answer does NOT include discussions of probability or postmodern interpretations of religion. NOTE 2 :

Exemplar answer for Edexcel Paper 1 (Philosophy of Religion) Read More »

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on War and Peace

NOTE : THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON THE COURSE NOTES FOR THE ETHICS OF WAR AND PEACE THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE, HERE, HERE AND HERE.  THIS TEST (AND MANY OF THE OTHERS ON THIS SITE) SHOULD ALSO BE OF USE TO STUDENTS FOLLOWING OTHER ADVANCED LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES. BEAR IN MIND THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE DIFFICULT. FOR

Revision test for the Edexcel syllabus on War and Peace Read More »