Theology
The CSG Theology Department aims to challenge students to develop informed and critical perspectives on a range of theological and philosophical issues to better navigate them as global citizens in a world with a wide variety of religious expressions and none.
All students are challenged and encouraged to develop informed knowledge and critical thinking about theological and philosophical issues including the existence of God, the existence of morality, the traditions and beliefs of four major world religions, varieties of new religious movements and cults, and the role of religion in the contemporary world. Trips enable students to go out into the world and enrich their in-class exploration of world religions and philosophies.
Academic excellence is supported by extracurricular clubs, including the Sixth Form Philosophy Reading Group, which has directly contributed to success at Oxbridge entry. In the main school, Sixth Form ambassadors deliver a Philosophy Club to the main school to embed cultures of academic excellence from KS3 upwards. Alumni return to deliver guest lectures to students and links are being made with university Theology and Philosophy departments.
Our curriculum vision and intent are to challenge all students to explore, appreciate the value of, and critically assess different religious, theological and philosophical beliefs about God, humanity, the meaning of life and the nature of morality.
The use of discussion and debate in the classroom as well as beyond it in extracurricular clubs, aims to create educated and informed young people able to critically assess the role of religion in the contemporary world.
Curriculum Information
Enrichment Opportunities
Trips at KS3:
The London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green to support the Year 7 Theology Curriculum unit: ‘Can Buddhism help me in my life?’
The London Central Mosque in Regents Park to support the Year 8 Theology Curriculum unit related to the study of Islam. These trips enable students to go out into the world and enrich their in-class exploration of world religions and philosophies.
Year 13 Theology students make the short journey to Highgate Cemetery to visit the grave of Karl Marx, who famously called religion ‘an opium of the masses’. Students discuss his critique of religion in the Year 13 topic: Liberation Theology and Marx.
Extracurricular clubs:
Sixth Form Philosophy Reading Group: each week a brief text is provided and students meet to discuss the text on a particular philosophical theme. Students have found this useful as a means for Philosophy students to go beyond the curriculum but also for non-Philosophy students to be able to explore some questions and themes in Philosophy. Many have found this club supports their UCAS applications to Oxbridge as well as for courses in PPE where the student is not currently studying Philosophy.
In the main school, we run a Philosophy Club to enable students to explore philosophical questions on a variety of topics, some esoteric, to embed cultures of academic excellence from KS3 upwards. Sessions have been run in the last year by Miriam Cohen of the Philosophy Foundation as well as in recent years by Philosophy Student Ambassadors.
Alumni who have gone on to study Theology and Philosophy have returned in recent years to deliver guest lessons and lectures to students on topics such as ‘Is Religious Language meaningless?’ and ‘Has the character of Mary Magdalene been traduced by the patriarchal Catholic Church?’
Speakers:
The Department has also recently welcomed in British Imam, scientist, and counter-extremism consultant Usama Hasan to speak to GCSE students about Islam.
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