Faith and Focus Podcast

OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know Ep 4 - Cosmological Argument

Why does anything exist at all? In this episode of the Faith & Focus Podcast, we explore one of the most influential arguments in the Philosophy of Religion — the Cosmological Argument. From Aristotle’s idea of a Prime Mover to Thomas Aquinas’ Five Ways, we unpack how philosophers have tried to explain the existence of the universe. We break down key ideas like causation, contingency, and necessity, and ask whether the universe needs a cause — or whether it could simply exist without explanation. You’ll also evaluate powerful challenges from thinkers like David Hume and Bertrand Russell, questioning whether the argument really proves the existence of God. Perfect for OCR A Level Religious Studies students, this episode helps you: * Understand key scholars and concepts * Build strong AO1 knowledge * Develop high-level AO2 evaluation Whether you're revising or just curious, this episode will help you tackle one of the biggest questions in philosophy: Why is there something rather than nothing?

OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know Ep 3 - Ontological Argument

In this episode of the Faith and Focus Podcast, we explore one of the most famous and controversial arguments in the history of philosophy: the Ontological Argument. Starting with St Anselm, we unpack the idea that God is “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” If God is the greatest possible being, Anselm argues, then God must exist not only in the mind but in reality — because existing in reality is greater than existing only as an idea. But does this actually work? We examine key developments and challenges to the argument, including: • Gaunilo’s Perfect Island objection • Descartes’ version of the Ontological Argument • Kant’s famous critique that existence is not a predicate • Modern discussions about necessity and possibility Along the way, we break down complex philosophical ideas in a clear and accessible way, with direct links to the OCR A Level Religious Studies Philosophy of Religion specification. If you’re revising the Ontological Argument, this episode will help you understand the key thinkers, the logic behind the argument, and the major strengths and weaknesses you need for essays and exams. So whether you’re studying philosophy, revising for A Level Religious Studies, or just curious about whether God can be proven through pure thought — this episode is for you.

OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know Ep 2 - Aristotle

In this episode of the Faith & Focus Podcast, we explore the philosophy of Aristotle and why his ideas are central to the OCR A Level Religious Studies Philosophy of Religion course. We unpack Aristotle’s theory of the Four Causes, his idea of teleology (purpose in nature), and the concept of the Prime Mover — a being that causes motion in the universe without itself being moved. Along the way, we explore how Aristotle’s thinking about form and matter, hylomorphism, and final causes shapes later philosophical arguments about God. You’ll also see how Aristotle influenced key thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas, whose Cosmological Arguments depend heavily on Aristotelian ideas about causation and motion. We then turn to evaluation, exploring challenges from philosophers like David Hume and Bertrand Russell, and asking whether Aristotle’s teleological worldview still holds up in light of modern science.

OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know ep 1 - Plato

In this episode, we unpack Plato’s Theory of Forms, the Form of the Good, the Analogy of the Cave, and dualism — all key foundations for OCR A Level Philosophy of Religion. Moving beyond simple description, this episode explores why Plato’s metaphysics underpins later arguments about God, how thinkers like Augustine and Iris Murdoch develop his ideas, and how critics such as Aristotle and Hume challenge them.

OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know - Overview

Why are we still debating whether God exists? In this episode, we explore what OCR A Level Philosophy of Religion is really about. Moving beyond content, we unpack how the course develops disciplined reasoning, critical engagement with scholars like Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume and Kant, and the ability to construct strong 40-mark essays. This episode introduces the structure of OCR Religious Studies and sets the foundation for a new season focused on thinking carefully, not just memorising arguments.