Religious Studies: a popular gateway to University

[ghanchi]

RELIGIOUS STUDIES (RS) remains the fastest-growing A Level exam subject among the arts, humanities, and social sciences in the UK, and the second fastest after Further Maths. 23,800 chose to sit RS exams this summer. Of all RS students collecting A level results this week, 23.5 per cent were awarded an A or an A*.
Universities and employers were increasingly recognising the value of religious literacy. Russell Group Universities are also keen to take on students who studied religion at A Level. RS A-level is an excellent preparation for both further study and for entering the world of work. The subject matter and approach of an RS A-level helps to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to succeed in modern Britain.

RS is vital for tolerance and the ethnic mix of today.

.....and ?

Sad that the sciences aren't growing.

And there's only a few set books to read

It's more Philosophy and Ethics, rather than Religion, though.

Wouldn't this be better done at a Bible college? It doesn't seem to fit in an academic university setting.

Theology and Philosophy are what our ancient universities are built on.

I did theology at uni about 20 years ago - without having A level RS either.
It wasn't taught from a 'Christian' perspective; it was taught academically, as other subjects are at uni. So we had history lectures giving theories as to why Moses couldn't have existed, OT and NT lectures about sources and authorship, and so on. There was no 'God is saying x through this verse'. About two thirds of the people on the course were training for ministry, and had to do the degree (either BD or BTh) first and then do their Diploma in Pastoral Theology which was the more practical side of things and (I believe) is required for ministry.
I don't know how degrees done via a Bible or Theological College would differ; I would imagine there is more of a 'Christian' perspective on things, though to satisfy the requirements of a degree, it would still have to be fairly academic. People attending Bible Colleges are generally training specifically for ministry or mission, whereas at Unis there is no pre-requirement that someone has any faith or belief at all.

What exactly is a "Bible College"?

It sounds like an American thing, where students can do full 4-year Bachelors' degrees, same as any other small liberal arts college. It may also do one year ministry courses for gap students. They are not the same as what Americans call seminaries, and we call theological colleges.

Theological colleges have a huge range of courses, but the main focus is training for ordination as a post-graduate. Most, if not all, of them have their degrees accredited by universities.

Nah, it's just the easiest A level (after General Studies) to help get the grades necessary to get in...

A levels in general are a bit of joke. I would hope that kids at least took 'real' subjects rather than this nonsense. Wft even is religious literacy? Religion is by its very nature a pack of lies. Studying religious history-invaluable, teaching ethics and metaphysics- great!, teaching religious 'literacy' and tolerance- what a bunch of nonsense. If you can't view region critically or within the context of historical events then it has no value. The Baghavad Gita says that religion without thought is pointless. It's right.