Philosophy of Religion and Ethics.
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
A-level
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Paper 1 Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
Monday 10 June 2024 Morning Time allowed: 3 hours
Materials
For this paper you must have:
an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7062/1.
Answer:
– both two-part questions from Section A
– both two-part questions from Section B.
Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
In each two-part question in Sections A and B, the first part tests your knowledge and
understanding, while the second part tests your skills of analysis and evaluation.
You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
,For A-level Religious Studies Paper 1 on Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, focus on the following key
areas:
1. Philosophy of Religion:
Arguments for the Existence of God:
o Cosmological Argument: Study Aquinas' First Cause argument and the Kalam argument.
Focus on criticisms from thinkers like Hume and Russell.
o Teleological Argument: Understand Paley’s Design Argument and the fine-tuning
argument. Review criticisms, such as Darwin’s theory of evolution.
o Ontological Argument: Study Anselm's and Descartes’ formulations and Gaunilo’s critique.
The Problem of Evil:
o Logical and Evidential Problem: Understand the arguments about why the existence of
evil challenges the existence of an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God. Review responses like
the free will defence and Hick’s soul-making theodicy.
Religious Experience:
o Types of Experiences: Study William James’ classification of religious experiences (e.g.,
mystical, numinous) and critiques from Freud and Dawkins.
Miracles: Review Hume’s argument against miracles and responses from Swinburne and others
about the possibility of miracles as evidence for God.
2. Ethics:
Ethical Theories:
o Natural Law: Focus on Aquinas' theory, including primary and secondary precepts. Review
criticisms from modern ethics, such as situation ethics.
o Utilitarianism: Study Bentham's Act Utilitarianism and Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism, along with
criticisms (e.g., minority rights, happiness).
Ethical Issues:
o Euthanasia: Understand arguments for and against euthanasia from a Christian and secular
perspective, focusing on autonomy vs. sanctity of life.
o Abortion: Study pro-life and pro-choice perspectives, incorporating Natural Law,
Utilitarianism, and other ethical frameworks.
3. Meta-Ethics:
Moral Language: Understand moral absolutism vs. relativism, emotivism (Ayer), and prescriptivism
(Hare).
Ethical Naturalism: Study the idea that moral properties can be reduced to natural properties, and
criticisms from thinkers like G.E. Moore (the “naturalistic fallacy”).
This summary focuses on the core areas of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics for Paper 1, covering key
arguments, ethical theories, and ethical issues.
IB/M/Jun24/G4005/E2 7062/1
, 2
Section A: Philosophy of religion
Answer both questions in this section.
Each question has two parts.
Question 1
0 1 . 1 Examine Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God.
[10 marks]
and
0 1 . 2 ‘Anselm’s argument for the existence of God has been disproved.’
Evaluate this claim.
[15 marks]
Question 2
0 2 . 1 Examine different understandings of the relationship between the body and
the soul.
[10 marks]
and
0 2 . 2 ‘Hare’s theory of Bliks shows that religious language is meaningful.’
Evaluate this claim.
[15 marks]
IB/M/Jun24/7062/1