BA Religions, Theology and Ethics

The second year core course enhances the knowledge of continental philosophy introduced in the first year core course RELT 10621 Introduction to the History of Philosophy. The course also provides a theological, philosophical, ethical supplement to Holocaust Studies, Religion and Society and the joint programme BA Honours Philosophy and Religion. 

• To enhance and further the knowledge of key philosophers
• To consider the central themes of what has been described as evil
• To recognise a variety of key theological and philosophical perspectives on the ethical problem of evil in its different forms

• 11x 2hours lecture (PowerPoint based followed by an interactive Q&A session)
• 11x1 (2) seminar based on students presentation of the set text and followed by peer feedback on the presentation.
• Additional handouts, texts and other material will be supplied by the course unit director in due course 

• Have a basic philosophical knowledge of the concept of evil and free will
• Have a basic theological knowledge of the problem of theodicy
• Be able to explain key terms featured in both primary (informational) sources and secondary (interpretational) materials, and to articulate the historical, social and political factors that account for the ways in which the problem of evil has been approached and formulated in Modernity

• To understand the shift in the discourse from theodicy to post Holocaust anthropodicy and the debate about the return of a different form of theodicy
• To be able to formulate the problem of evil in a reflected way and to be able to distinguish between good and bad, evil and misery, evil and violence

• To be able to balance the use of primary and secondary texts critically
• To understand and classify different discourses on ethical reasoning
• To be able to present complex ethical issues within an accredited intellectual context
• Enhance individual performance skills

This course will enable students to seek a career in Journalism, NGOs, NPOs, faith-based communities/churches and law wherever a profound training in ethics and religion on a philosophical and academic basis is deemed to be an essential prerequisite.

• Written feedback on essays
• Additional one-to-one feedback (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment via zoom)

Compulsory reading

• Bernstein, Richard. Radical Evil. A philosophical Interrogation (Polity, 2002)

Will be available as ebook via the library

Examples of further Readings

• Terry, Eagleton. On Evil (Yale University Press: Yale, 2011)Bernstein, Richard.Violence. Thinking without Banisters (Polity, 2013)
• Paul, Ricœur. Evil: A Challenge to Philosophy and Theology (Continuum: London, 2007)
• Paul, Ricœur. The Symbolism of Evil (Beacon Press, 1993)
• Peter, Vardy. The Thinker’s Guide to Evil (O Books: Australia, 2003)
• Philip, Tallon. The Poetics of Evil: Toward an Aesthetic Theodicy (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2012)
• Hanna, Arendt. The Human Condition (University of Chicago Press, 1999)
• Hanna, Arendt. On Violence (Harcourt Publishers, 1970)

Keywords

Theology: Theodicy, Sin, Guilt, Devil; Philosophy: Free Will, Freedom; Ethics: Judgment, Decision, Pragmatism

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about student finance options for UK students.

Learn more about fees and finance for international students.

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.