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Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion

Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion

Fact File

Magdalene Campus code: M
UCAS code: V600
Course duration: Three years – BA (Hons)
Minimum offer level: A-level: A*AA, IB: 41-42 points
Essential subjects: None
Useful subjects: Humanities, Languages, Philosophy

Why is there something, rather than nothing? What is truth and how can we know it? Do good and evil exist? Is beauty part of the fabric of reality or a projection of the human psyche? Is there a God? Do religious belief and scientific understanding conflict? What do different religions believe and how have their followers expressed their belief? How should one read and interpret sacred texts?

Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge explores a wide range of questions like these about knowledge, reality, human society and culture, meaning, and experience, taking in topics both ancient and modern. It is a broad-based and multidisciplinary arts degree in which you can pursue many different interests, irrespective of whether you belong to a particular faith community yourself or not.

 

At Cambridge
At Magdalene
What we are looking for
Subject Requirements
Teaching Staff

Worldwide, six out of seven people describe themselves as religious, with religious beliefs driving social and political change globally. Taking Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion (TRPR) at Cambridge allows you to study in detail many different religious and philosophical traditions, explore the connections between them, and understand their relationship with the larger societies and cultures of which they are a part.

You do not have to belong to any particular religious faith to study TRPR at Cambridge, and you certainly do not need to be pursuing a religious career path. TRPR is a broad-based arts degree in which you will learn to use a variety of different academic methodologies, study big questions about the nature of truth and experience, and gain a deep understanding of the range of beliefs and practices that have for centuries given meaning to human life, and shaped societies, cultures, and the course of history.

The flexibility of our degree structure allows you to choose the particular subjects and themes that you want to pursue. There are only two required papers in the whole degree programme. In the first year, all undergraduates study a scriptural language (Hebrew, Greek, Sanskrit, Arabic) at introductory level, and at least one biblical paper (Old or New Testament). After that, you will select your own papers, which means you have a lot of choice over which subjects you study. You will be able to select papers on a range of religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, and explore different theological, philosophical, sociological and historical approaches to the study of religion. Many papers are ‘interdisciplinary’, which means you will be able to combine your interest in religion with areas such as history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, ethics, literature, politics, and science.

Some students choose to follow a pathway that matches their interests for one or more years. Pathways are informal programmes of study; you do not have to officially declare your choice, and you are not bound to follow it every year. Possible pathways include: Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, Religious Traditions of India, Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Christian History, and Philosophy of Religion.

As with many arts degrees, a wide range of career paths are open to TRPR graduates. From an employer’s perspective, you will be especially valued for your intercultural literacy, critical thinking, research skills, and holistic understanding of the nature of human knowledge and experience.

More information on the Faculty and the course can be found on the Faculty’s website.

Magdalene has a strong heritage in the arts and humanities generally, and in theological and philosophical studies in particular. Each year we make one to three offers for the undergraduate course in TRPR, and there are usually a number of postgraduate students studying for a master’s degree or PhD.

The Director of Studies for the undergraduate degree is Dr Simon Ravenscroft, who works primarily in areas in and around philosophy of religion and social and political theory. The Regius Professor of Divinity, David Fergusson, is also a Fellow of the College. A leading authority in various areas of Christian doctrine and philosophical theology, Prof. Fergusson enjoys teaching undergraduates. Another senior member, Professor Eamon Duffy, is Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity, and an expert in early modern Church history and the European reformations. The former Archbishop of Canterbury and former Master of the College, Dr Rowan Williams, remains an Honorary Fellow. Other fellows with related interests include Professor Amira Bennison, who works on aspects of the History of Islam, and Dr John Munns, who works on medieval art, architecture, and ecclesiastical history. Note that as a student of TRPR, you would be taught by academics from many different Colleges.

Along with enthusiasm for the subject, successful candidates usually exhibit native intelligence, an ability to deal with texts and ideas, to think logically and coherently, and to make appropriate connections between related ideas and concepts. The interview is an opportunity for the candidate to show, through discussion, that they have these qualities.

It is not essential to have studied RE/RS or Philosophy at school, though it can be helpful, as can many other essay-based subjects in the humanities. Far more important are a good critical intelligence and a lively commitment to the subject. Note that language teaching in TRPR assumes no previous knowledge of the language and there is no requirement for applicants to have a language qualification.

There are no set subject requirements for TRPR. Our minimum offer level is A*AA at A-level or 41-42 points in the IB with 7,7,6 at Higher Level.

Interviews and Written Work

Applicants are required to submit two written essays in advance, and will normally have either one interview lasting approximately 40-50 minutes, or two interviews each lasting approximately 20-25 minutes. Candidates may be given a short passage to read and think about before the start of one or both interviews.

 

Professor David Fergusson

College positions: Fellow Commoner

David Fergusson was appointed to the Regius Chair of Divinity in 2021, having previously held chair appointments in the University of Aberdeen (1990-2000) and the University of Edinburgh (2000-21).

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Dr Simon Ravenscroft

College positions: Official Fellow, Director of Studies in Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion, College Lecturer in Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion, Tutor, Admissions Tutor

Dr Simon Ravenscroft is an Official Fellow, Director of Studies and College Lecturer in Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion, as well as an undergraduate Tutor and Admissions Tutor at Magdalene, and a Research Associate in theology and philosophy at the Von Hügel Institute.

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