Key term
CCEA A-Level Religious Studies 4610
An Introduction to the Gospel of LukeAS unit
Topic overviewPalestine at the time of JesusThe Pharisees and the SadduceesThe authorship, date and characteristics of Luke's GospelThe purposes of the Gospel and Luke-Acts as a Christian apologyThe historical accuracy and reliability of Luke's GospelThe annunciations and the births of John and JesusThe shepherds, the Presentation and the boy Jesus in the TempleThe baptism and temptation of JesusThe rejection at Nazareth and controversy with the religious authoritiesThe meaning, purpose and interpretation of parablesThe parables of mercyThe parables of the KingdomThe meaning, purpose and credibility of miraclesHealing, raising and nature miracles in LukeThe call to discipleship, mission and its demandsTeaching to the disciples and the role of PeterSalvation History and the relevance of the Gospel today
An Introduction to the Acts of the ApostlesAS unit
Topic overviewThe authorship of Acts and the 'we' passagesThe date of Acts and challenges to its authorship and accuracyThe purpose, characteristics and context of ActsThe Ascension and the Day of PentecostPeter's speech at Pentecost and the reaction to itThe early church as a fellowship of believersDiscipline in the church and the role of miracles in the spread of the GospelPeter and John: teaching, miracles and oppositionThe seven helpers, Stephen's speech and martyrdomPhilip the evangelist and the mission to SamariaPeter, Cornelius and the mission to the GentilesPeter's escape from prison and the Jerusalem church under HerodPaul's conversion and the three missionary journeysPaul's speeches at Pisidian Antioch and at AthensMission, witness and religious experience in any age
An Introduction to Themes in the Old TestamentAS unit
Topic overviewCovenant: the concept, the Noahic and Abrahamic covenantsThe Mosaic covenant and the DecalogueCovenant failure and the call of IsaiahThe rib: the covenant lawsuit as a literary devicePost-exilic exclusion: Ezra and NehemiahElection, inclusion and the reign of GodThe rise and reign of DavidThe Davidic covenant and Deuteronomistic kingshipThe purpose of the Davidic narrativesThe monarchy, the role of the king and royal propagandaElijah, Elisha and the challenge to royal powerTrue and false prophecyAmos: call, visions and the nature of GodAmos, social justice and the Day of the LordHuman experience: exclusivity, leadership and the prophetic voice
The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325AS unit
Topic overviewThe growth of the early church: religious and political factorsMartyrdom and the martyr accounts: Polycarp, Justin and BlandinaThe causes and effects of persecutionPersecution under Nero and DomitianTrajan, Pliny's letter and Marcus AureliusThe later persecutions: Decius and DiocletianThe origins of baptism in the New TestamentThe development of baptism from the Didache to CyprianThe origins of the Eucharist in the New TestamentThe development of the Eucharist from the Didache to CyprianThe Apostolic Fathers and the life of IgnatiusThe letters of Ignatius and their key themesThe apologists and Justin MartyrConstantine's rise to power and his conversionConstantine's religious policy and the duality of his motives
The Celtic Church in Ireland in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh CenturiesAS unit
Topic overviewIreland before Christianity: politics, society and religionChristianity before Patrick, and the mission of PalladiusPatrick's ConfessioPatrick's Letter to CoroticusPatrick's mission and the portrait his writings giveThe origins of monasticism in IrelandThe monastic foundersThe nature, appeal and distinctive features of Celtic monasticismMonasticism in church and society, and the shift from bishops to abbotsThe development of Celtic penitential practiceThe penitentials of Finnian, Columbanus and CummeanThe impact and value of the penitentialsCeltic hagiography: Muirchú's Patrick and Cogitosus' BrigitThe purpose, reliability and devotional value of hagiographyHuman experience: faith, asceticism, sin and the example of the saints
An Introduction to IslamAS unit
Topic overviewArabia before Islam and the early life of MuhammadThe call to prophethood and the Night of PowerPreaching and persecution in MeccaThe Hijra and the community at MedinaConflict with Mecca and the return to the cityThe death of Muhammad and his continuing significanceThe revelation, collection and compilation of the Qur'anThe structure, language and devotional use of the Qur'anSunnah, hadith and the sources of Islamic authoritySharia, the law schools and systems of governmentShahada, Zakat and the meaning of the pillarsSawm, Ramadan and Eid-ul-FitrHajj and Eid-ul-AdhaSalat, Friday prayer and worship as ibadahThe mosque and its place in Muslim life
Foundations of Ethics with Special Reference to Issues in Medical EthicsAS unit
Topic overviewThe Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount and the role of moral commandsNarrative ethics, moral absolutes and faith in the public squareNatural moral law: origins and historical developmentNatural moral law: the precepts, key features and proportionalismBentham, Mill and classical utilitarianismSinger, preference utilitarianism and Christian utilitarianismSituation ethics: origins and the moral teaching of Jesus and PaulFletcher's principles, agape and the link with utilitarianismAbortion: circumstances, the moral status of the unborn and personhoodAbortion: the rights of the woman, and religious, secular and feminist viewsTherapeutic abortion, double effect and the slippery slopeEuthanasia: types, autonomy and the acts and omissions doctrineEuthanasia: sanctity of life, quality of life, assisted dying and trustInfertility, IVF, surrogacy and the status of the embryoPGD, embryo research, mitochondrial donation and the HFEA
An Introduction to the Philosophy of ReligionAS unit
Topic overviewReason and faith in the philosophy of religionThe ontological argument: Anselm and DescartesCritiques of the ontological argumentThe cosmological argument: Aquinas's three waysCritiques of the cosmological argumentMoral and natural evil and the problem of sufferingThe Augustinian theodicyThe Irenaean theodicy and Hick's modificationProcess theodicy, Swinburne and the free will defenceDefining miracle: Aquinas, Hume and the BibleMiracle as coincidence and interpretationThe variety of religious experienceReligious experience as proof for God's existenceReason, faith and secularisation in the modern worldEvil, conversion and moral behaviour in the life of the believer
Themes in the Synoptic GospelsA2 unit
Topic overviewThe Synoptic Problem and the relationship between the first three gospelsSource criticism and the sources of the synoptic traditionBiblical criticism, narrative criticism and the contribution of scholarshipChristological titles: Son of Man and Son of GodThe ethics of Jesus: compassion towards enemies and sinnersThe command to love and the treatment of the poorWealth and poverty in the teaching of JesusThe Passion Narratives: theology and critical comparisonThe empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearancesResuscitation or resurrection: contemporary theological critiqueThe interpretation of religious texts and the problem of sufferingLeadership in society and faith communities
Themes in Selected Letters of St PaulA2 unit
Topic overviewGalatians: context, audience and the crisis in GalatiaJustification by faith and the purpose of the Law (Galatians 3:1–5:6)Life in the Spirit, Christian freedom and codes for living (Galatians 5:7–6:10)Corinth: the city, the church and the problems Paul facedUnity and the wisdom of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:1–4:21)Church discipline and sexual ethics (1 Corinthians 5:1–13, 6:12–20)Marriage, celibacy and food offered to idols (1 Corinthians 7:1–8:13, 10:14–11:1)Church life, worship and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 11:2–14:40, 16:1–4)Ephesians: background, authorship and Paul as pastor and theologianGod's plan of salvation in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–3:21)Living the Christian life and the armour of God (Ephesians 4:1–6:18)Controversy, division and reconciliation
Themes in the Old TestamentA2 unit
Topic overviewThe compassionate God: creedal statements and self-revelationThe compassionate God traced through the Old TestamentThe widow, the orphan and the foreignerGod as warrior: the exodus and the wars of conquestHerem, the conquest narrative and the AmalekitesThe divine warrior in the prophets and the problem of divine violenceJeremiah's call and public proclamationThe Temple sermon, the broken covenant and the new covenantJeremiah's confessions and the form of the lamentEzekiel before the fall of JerusalemEzekiel after the fall: individual responsibility and future hopeLeadership, religious texts and the theme of sin
Themes in the Early Church and the Church TodayA2 unit
Topic overviewChurch government in the New TestamentFrom charism to office: church government in the Apostolic Fathers, Irenaeus, Tertullian and CyprianThe Bishop of Rome and the threefold ministryGnosticism and the Gnostic challengeMarcionism and MontanismThe church's threefold defence: rule of faith, canon and successionIrenaeus and his polemic against heresyTertullian: life, writings and MontanismCyprian: unity, the lapsed and baptismReligious leadership, organisational models and secularisation todayC S Lewis, Alister McGrath and Karl RahnerReligion, the state and the resolution of conflict
Themes in the Celtic Church, Reformation and Post-Reformation ChurchA2 unit
Topic overviewThe Paschal Controversy and the road to WhitbyThe Synod of Whitby and the Roman-Celtic disputePatrick and the authority of ArmaghThe Peregrini and the ideal of exile for ChristIrish missionaries in Northern Britain and EuropeColumbanus: his Rule, controversies and writingsThe Reformation and Counter Reformation: authority and church orderVatican II: aggiornamento, collegiality and authorityMissionary outreach in the nineteenth and twentieth centuriesMission, secularisation and modern atheismReligion and the stateReligion, moral witness and the resolving of conflict
Islam in a Contemporary ContextA2 unit
Topic overviewTawhid, the attributes of God and the sin of shirkGod as creator and sustainer, and the angelsProphets and messengers: Ibrahim, Isa and MuhammadThe holy books before the Qur'anAkhirah: the Day of Judgement, heaven and hellAl-Qadr: predestination and the will of GodSuccession and the Caliphate: the roots of the Sunni-Shi'a divisionShi'a Islam: the Imams, the Mahdi and MuharramMarriage, family and the status of womenRespect for life: abortion, euthanasia, suicide and assisted conceptionJustice, law and punishmentOrthodoxy, freedom of belief and religion in resolving conflict
Global EthicsA2 unit
Topic overviewAristotle and the origins of virtue ethicsModern virtue ethics and the challenge of ethical relativismFree will, compatibilism and incompatibilismDeterminism, causation and moral responsibilityThe evolution of human rights: Hobbes, Locke, Paine and BenthamThe UDHR, cultural and religious critiques, and animal rightsSexual identity, same sex relationships, marriage and parenthoodThe rights of women, contraception and feminist viewsJust War: jus ad bellum, jus in bello and jus post bellumNon-combatant immunity, weapons of mass destruction and pacifismThe purpose of punishment and religious perspectivesCapital punishment, diminished responsibility, compassion and mercyConscience, moral duty and the prisoner of conscienceThe role of the state, the common good and religious tolerance
Themes in the Philosophy of ReligionA2 unit
Topic overviewEquivocal, univocal and analogical languageLogical Positivism and the Verification PrincipleFalsification, language games and religious meaningReligious truth and the challenge of scienceEvolution, creationism and intelligent designDualism, Plato and the soulMaterialism and theories of mindPersonal identity and life after deathReligion and morality: the Euthyphro dilemmaMoral arguments for God's existence and their criticsFaith, freedom and atheismReligion as alienation, and humanism
Islam in a Contemporary Context
- 12 subtopics
- 36 things to know
- A2
- Two A2 units chosen from eight
What Islam in a Contemporary Context covers
Islam in a Contemporary Context is examined in A2 6, one of the two A2 units chosen — area of study: Systematic Study of One Religion. Worth 30% of the A level. A student may not take two units from the same area of study.. It covers tawhid, the attributes of God and the sin of shirk, god as creator and sustainer, and the angels, prophets and messengers: Ibrahim, Isa and Muhammad, the holy books before the Qur'an, akhirah: the Day of Judgement, heaven and hell, al-Qadr: predestination and the will of God, succession and the Caliphate: the roots of the Sunni-Shi'a division, Shi'a Islam: the Imams, the Mahdi and Muharram, marriage, family and the status of women, respect for life: abortion, euthanasia, suicide and assisted conception, justice, law and punishment and orthodoxy, freedom of belief and religion in resolving conflict.
Where it is assessed
A2
One of the two A2 units chosen, from four areas of study.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 12 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Tawhid, the attributes of God and the sin of shirkWhat is meant by the ninety-nine names of God and what Muslims mean by the transcendence of God.Open →
- God as creator and sustainer, and the angelsCalling God al-Razzaq, ayat in creation and three things the Qur'an teaches about angels.Open →
- Prophets and messengers: Ibrahim, Isa and MuhammadHow many prophets are named in the Qur'an, four qualities Islam attributes to the prophets and prophets counted among the ulu al-azm.Open →
- The holy books before the Qur'anScriptures the Qur'an identifies, ahl al-Kitab and common Word Between Us and You.Open →
- Akhirah: the Day of Judgement, heaven and hellBook of deeds and muslim teaching on intercession.Open →
- Al-Qadr: predestination and the will of GodPosition of the Jabriyya, position of the Mu'tazila on human action and ash'ari doctrine of acquisition.Open →
- Succession and the Caliphate: the roots of the Sunni-Shi'a divisionSunni understanding of the caliphate, shi'a understanding of leadership and event of Ghadir Khumm.Open →
- Shi'a Islam: the Imams, the Mahdi and MuharramName Shi'a, shi'a doctrine of the Imamate and third Shi'a group.Open →
- Marriage, family and the status of womenNature of a Muslim marriage, process of divorce and muslim woman's inheritance rights.Open →
- Respect for life: abortion, euthanasia, suicide and assisted conceptionSignificance of ensoulment in Muslim discussion of abortion, muslim position on euthanasia and muslim position on IVF.Open →
- Justice, law and punishmentThree categories of offence in Islamic law, qisas and state how the Qur'an qualifies it and debate about apostasy.Open →
- Orthodoxy, freedom of belief and religion in resolving conflictMeaning of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah, takfir and explain why it is regarded as dangerous and amman Message.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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How does the Qur'an address Christian teaching about God?
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Why did the attributes of God become a matter of dispute among Muslim theologians?
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What does the Qur'an say about God resting after creation?
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Define the amanah.
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Distinguish a nabi from a rasul.
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State how many prophets are named in the Qur'an.
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State four qualities Islam attributes to the prophets.
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How does belief in judgement shape Muslim life now?
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What conflicts marked the caliphate of Ali?
Numbers
What is the contemporary significance of the Sunni-Shi'a division?
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Explain the Shi'a doctrine of the Imamate.
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Name two further distinctive Shi'a practices.
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What takes place during the first ten days of Muharram?
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Describe the nature of a Muslim marriage.
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What does the Qur'an say about more than one wife?
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Why is Surah 4 so important in discussion of women in Islam?
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What positions have scholars taken on abortion after rape or severe abnormality?
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May treatment be withdrawn from a dying patient?
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What does Islam teach about suicide?
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Name the three categories of offence in Islamic law.
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Define qisas and state how the Qur'an qualifies it.
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How demanding are the evidential requirements for the hudud?
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Who decides what counts as orthodox in Islam?
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What was the Amman Message?
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Why does community matter for maintaining faith?
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Why is belief in the earlier scriptures an article of faith?
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Which verses express God's sovereignty over guidance?
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Name the scriptures the Qur'an identifies.
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Define akhirah.
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State the position of the Jabriyya.
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What does it mean to call humanity khalifah?
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Define the Ahl al-Kitab.
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Define barzakh.
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State the position of the Mu'tazila on human action.
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What question divided the Muslim community at the Prophet's death?
Take Islam in a Contemporary Context further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define tawhid.
Model answer
Tawhid is the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God: God is one without partner, without parts and without any equal, and nothing else shares in His divinity.
- 2
State how Surah 112 expresses the doctrine of God.
Model answer
Surah 112 declares that God is One, the Eternal and Self-Sufficient, that He neither begets nor is begotten, and that there is nothing comparable to Him, which is why Muslims regard it as equal in weight to a third of the Qur'an.
- 3
What does the Verse of the Throne teach about God?
Model answer
Surah 2, verse 255, teaches that God is the Living and the Self-Subsisting whom no drowsiness or sleep overtakes, that all things in the heavens and the earth are His, that He knows what lies before and behind His creatures, and that they grasp nothing of His knowledge except as He wills.
- 4
Explain what is meant by the ninety-nine names of God.
Model answer
The ninety-nine names are the beautiful names of God drawn from the Qur'an, such as the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Creator, the Provider, the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, the Just and the Forgiving, and Muslims use them to know God as He has described Himself.
- 5
How does the Qur'an express God's omniscience?
Model answer
The Qur'an says that God holds the keys of the unseen, which none knows but He, and that He is nearer to a person than his jugular vein and knows the whisperings of the soul.
- 6
How does the Qur'an express God's omnipotence?
Model answer
The Qur'an repeatedly states that God has power over all things and that when He decrees a matter He need only say to it Be, and it is.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Islam in a Contemporary Context revision questions
- What does Islam in a Contemporary Context cover in CCEA A-Level Religious Studies?
- 12 subtopics: tawhid, the attributes of god and the sin of shirk, god as creator and sustainer, and the angels, prophets and messengers: ibrahim, isa and muhammad, the holy books before the qur'an, akhirah: the day of judgement, heaven and hell, al-qadr: predestination and the will of god, succession and the caliphate: the roots of the sunni-shi'a division, shi'a islam: the imams, the mahdi and muharram, marriage, family and the status of women, respect for life: abortion, euthanasia, suicide and assisted conception, justice, law and punishment and orthodoxy, freedom of belief and religion in resolving conflict. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Islam in a Contemporary Context organised?
- By the CCEA 4610 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Islam in a Contemporary Context, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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