Sexual Ethics OCR A-Level Religious Studies Revision

This resource introduces Sexual Ethics as a key applied ethical issue within the OCR A Level Religious Studies Ethics specification. It explores moral and philosophical debates surrounding human sexuality, sexual relationships, and sexual behaviour, including premarital sex, adultery, contraception, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage.

The resource outlines key ethical frameworks relevant to sexual ethics, including Natural Moral Law, which emphasises the sanctity of marriage and procreation, and Situation Ethics, which considers the most loving action in each situation. It explains how these theories approach moral decision making, for example, the tension between absolute rules in Natural Moral Law and the flexible, love-centred focus of Situation Ethics, and greatest happiness for the greatest number for Utilitarianism and duty of Kantian Ethics.

The resource also examines contemporary ethical debates, including changing social attitudes, gender equality, and the role of consent and autonomy. It encourages students to consider conflicting ethical principles and to evaluate how different moral frameworks would resolve dilemmas in sexual ethics.

Exam questions are included at the end of the resource, providing strategies for structuring essay responses, integrating ethical theory, and evaluating different perspectives. This supports students in achieving the analysis and evaluation skills required by the OCR specification.