| Existence of God | What is Truth? | Spirituality | Science | Good and Evil |
| This is only a brief guide to the things that you should know for your GCSE full course. You should also use your notes!!! | ||||
| introduction | Now Test Yourself | |||
| Human Relationships | Conflict/Reconciliation | Materialism | Death and Dying | The Environment |
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You have covered all 10 units . They will be on 2 separate papers. The 1st paper will include these units… Existence of God, What is Truth?, Religion and Spirituality, Religion and Science, Good and Evil You have looked at all of these from the Christian viewpoint. The 2nd paper will include these units… Religion and Human Relationships, Religion and Conflict/Reconciliation, Religion and Materialism, Death and Dying, Religion and the Environment
Top Tip 1 : answer the sections you have been taught! The person marking your exam will be looking to see that you can show a broad understanding of the subject. To do this always state different points of view. Remember Christians (and Muslims) rarely think exactly the same thing. Explain different Christian points of view e.g. Protestants think… Roman Catholics think...
Top Tip 2 : always show that, ’Not all Christians think the same thing.’ You can’t lose marks for getting things wrong (it’s called positive marking). So write as much as you can. Most of you will have lots of time left so make sure you write whatever you can on the topic. If you don’t know have a good guess.
Top Tip 3 : write lots
Top Tip 4 : if you don’t know then Guess! In the part c section you are asked to give your own opinion. Don’t be fooled. For good marks you must show that you have considered another point of view and you must refer to the religion you have studied. (Christianity!)
Top Tip 5 : Show different points of view.
Top Tip 6 refer to the Religion you have studied. (Christianity)
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You Should know Christian beliefs about…
God has shown himself through prophets (Moses, Abraham etc) and through the Bible.
The New Testament is more important than the Old Testament because it contains the teachings of Jesus.
Some people believe in God because they have ‘felt’ his presence
Others believe in God because he provides a reason for their existence
God can be like a judge
God can be like a friend
God can be someone who saves the world (Jesus)
Reasons for not believing. (Suffering, prayers which are not answered)
The Bible
It is special because it is the word of God and contains the stories and teachings of Jesus
Some think it is totally true like a historical and scientific document
Others think it has a meaning but is meant to give us ideas about God rather that facts and rules
Some Christians think the Pope and the Church are most important
Others think that the Bible is most important and follow every rule
truth for Christians may mean the things that God tells them or the things that their God given logic may be able to discover
proof and evidence for Christians may not be important because their beliefs are based on faith
Other Christians might say that there is evidence and proof for their beliefs like the existence of the world and complex design of humans
The Roman Catholic Church gives people strict guidance on how to live.
Other Christians leave it more to the individual.
People pray as a way of being closer to God and discovering his will
In a Church service there are different ritual, actions with meaning (e.g. eating bread and drinking wine)
Christians express their beliefs in art, music and the design of the church building (eg, stained glass windows, hymns and Churches in the shape of a cross)
Some people are monks and nuns they give up normal life for a life of devotion.
God is special ’holy’
Christians believe that God created the world from nothing
God keeps the world going
God provides life
People are here for a reason (to worship God)
The world appears to have a designer so there must be a God
The creation story in Genesis Chapter 1.
6 days of Creation starting with ‘let there be light’ and ending with the creation of mankind
Jesus' miracles (walking on water, feeding 5000 people, turning water into wine, healing people)
Miracles show that God works in the world
The nature of human good (Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King)
The nature of human evil (Myra Hindley, James Bulger’s killers, Dunblane etc.)
God is good because he made the world, wants the best for people and gave us rules to live by
Some Christians the Devil is a real being
Others say he is a representation of evil
Problem of suffering (if God is all-powerful, all-knowing and loving why does he let kids in Africa starve to death and Hitler kill thousands of Jews)
Some Christians say suffering is a punishment
Others say without suffering the world wouldn’t work (you wouldn’t have to be nice because no-one could suffer if you weren’t so everyone would be selfish)
Others say, ‘who can know why God allows suffering.’
6 Religion and Human Relationships links : [ sanctity of life , abortion , euthanasia 1 , euthanasia 2 ]
Sanctity of life (life is special given by God)
Contraception
Roman Catholics say no because sex is for babies
Others say yes because sex is also for bringing a couple closer together in marriage)
Abortion
Roman Catholics say no because it’s murder and against God’s plan
Other Christians may also believe it’s murder
Some say it may be alright if it’s the most loving action (the mother’s life might be in danger etc.)
Euthanasia
Roman Catholics say no because it’s murder and against God’s plan
Some say it may be alright if it’s the most loving action
The Family is God’s plan for the way people should live
Marriage is important and blessed by God
In marriage people promise to, ‘love and cherish...for rich for poor…until death do us part’
Divorce
Roman Catholics say no because it’s against the promises you made
Other Christians will allow if it’s the most loving thing to do
Remarriage is not allowed by Church of England and Roman Catholic Church
7 Religion and Conflict/Reconciliation links: [ war , war 2 , Christians and war ]
prejudice and discrimination
Christians against racism (Jesus said ‘love you neighbour‘,)
Christian teachings about equality ‘ all are created equal’
Roles of women and men
Some Christians say no to women priest because God is male, Jesus is male etc.
Others say are equal and Christians should move with the times
Teachings on war and pacifism (Jesus said ‘turn the other cheek’)
Some Christians are pacifist they will never fight
Other Christians will fight for a just cause (if there is injustice, the war is fair and no innocent people are killed (so no atomic bombs))
Jesus said ’forgive your enemies’
Christians give to charity because Jesus said give all you have to the poor
Christians use money wisely because Jesus told the parable of the talents
Christian charities tend to teach people to help themselves rather than just throwing money at them.
Heaven
Some say all go
Some say only good people go
Some say only Christians go
Christians believe that it is through the death and resurrection of Christ that people can go to heaven.
Hell
Some say it is real, lasts forever and is a place of torture
Some say it is eternity without God which isn’t very nice
Some say it’s a symbolic story to show what life is like without Jesus
Roman Catholics believe in purgatory a half way place where you are prepared for heaven
Some Christians believe that Jesus will come again and God will judge the earth.
10 Religion and the Environment (It might be worth answering the Islam question on this one)
Stewardship of the environment (looking after it because God or Allah made it)
Food laws
Some Christians won’t eat meat on a Friday
Muslims can’t eat any flesh eating animal, any animal that is not killed in the proper halal way (facing Makkah, on it’s own, very sharp knife used) These rules are to avoid cruelty.
Some Christians (and Muslims) won’t treat animals badly because God made them
Some Christians say they have no soul so you can do what you like.
Muslims say that if you kill an animal for sport it will cry out on the day of judgement and Allah will punish you.
Muslims spend 1 month of each year (Ramadan) when they do not eat in the hours of daylight. They spend extra time in prayer during this fast.
Some Christians give things up for lent. They eat pancakes at the start of Lent an Easter eggs at the end.
Now Test Yourself