Key term
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A 8062
BuddhismReligion
Topic overviewThe life of the BuddhaThe Dhamma and the Three Marks of ExistenceThe human personality and human destinyThe Four Noble TruthsThe Eightfold Path and the Threefold WayPlaces of worship, puja and devotional practiceMeditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisationDeath, mourning and Buddhist festivalsKamma, rebirth, compassion and loving kindnessThe five precepts and the six perfections
ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the problem of evilThe Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creationThe incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionSin, salvation and atonementResurrection, judgement, heaven and hellForms of worship and prayerBaptism and the meaning of sacramentHoly Communion and the EucharistPilgrimage, Christmas and EasterThe Church in the local and worldwide community
Catholic ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe Trinity and the Nicene CreedCreation, human dignity and stewardshipThe incarnation and redemptionLife after death: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatoryThe sacramental nature of reality and the sacraments of initiationThe eucharist and the sacraments of healing and servicePrayer, the Lord's Prayer and popular pietyPilgrimage and the Catholic funeral riteCatholic social teaching and loving our neighbourMission, evangelism and Catholic agencies
HinduismReligion
Topic overviewBrahman and the three features of the divineThe Tri-murti, the deities and avataraMatter, maya and Hindu cosmologyAtman, samsara, karma and mokshaDharma, the four aims and personal virtuesPlaces and focuses of worshipForms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshanDiwali, Holi and pilgrimageThe four paths of yogaHindu environmental projects and charities
IslamReligion
Topic overviewTawhid and the six articles of faithThe nature of God: mercy, justice and AdalatAngels, predestination and human freedomAkhirah: resurrection, judgement, heaven and hellRisalah, the holy books and the imamateShahadah, the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory ActsSalah and its significanceSawm and zakah: fasting and almsgivingHajj: the pilgrimage to MakkahJihad and the festivals of Islam
JudaismReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the ShekhinahThe Messiah, judgement and life after deathThe Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at SinaiThe mitzvot, free will and key moral principlesThe synagogue and its featuresPublic worship, the Amidah and prayer in the homeShabbat in the home and the synagogueTenakh, Talmud and the dietary lawsBrit Milah, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, marriage and mourningRosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach
SikhismReligion
Topic overviewThe Mool Mantar and the nature of GodGod as Creator and God's relationship with creationHuman life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukhKarma, rebirth and the aim of muktiThe equality of all, sewa and the sangatThe gurdwara and its religious featuresPrayer in the home, nam japna and the akhand pathLangar and the gurdwara in the Sikh communityFestivals and visiting historical gurdwarasBirth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks
Theme A: Relationships and FamiliesTheme
Theme B: Religion and LifeTheme
Theme C: The Existence of God and RevelationTheme
Theme D: Religion, Peace and ConflictTheme
Topic overviewPeace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliationViolence, violent protest and terrorismReasons for war: greed, self-defence and retaliationThe just war theoryHoly war and religion as a cause of conflictNuclear weapons and weapons of mass destructionPacifism, peace-making and the victims of war
Theme E: Religion, Crime and PunishmentTheme
Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social JusticeTheme
Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: The Life of JesusTextual studies
Topic overviewJohn the Baptist, the baptism and the temptationEarly miracles and the rejection at NazarethCaesarea Philippi and the transfigurationPassion predictions, true greatness and BartimaeusThe Last Supper and GethsemaneThe trials, the crucifixion and the empty tombThe titles of Jesus and the authority of Mark's gospel
Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual TruthsTextual studies
Topic overviewThe parables of the KingdomEntering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandmentJesus and those his society rejectedFaith, giving and devotionThe call and mission of the disciplesThe cost of discipleship, and failureThe commission, and the authority of Jesus' teaching today
Christianity
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Paper 1
- Paper 1, one of the two religions chosen from seven. Christianity and Catholic Christianity may not be combined
What Christianity covers
Christianity is examined in Paper 1, The study of religions — one of the two religions chosen from seven. Studying Catholic Christianity as well is a prohibited combination, so a student takes one or the other. Anyone sitting the textual studies themes on St Mark's Gospel must take either Christianity or Catholic Christianity in Component 1. It covers the nature of God and the problem of evil, the Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creation, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, sin, salvation and atonement, resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell, forms of worship and prayer, baptism and the meaning of sacrament, Holy Communion and the Eucharist, pilgrimage, Christmas and Easter and the Church in the local and worldwide community.
Where it is assessed
Paper 1
The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices — one of the two religions chosen from seven.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The nature of God and the problem of evilThese questions explain God as omnipotent, loving, just, transcendent and immanent, the problem of evil with moral and natural evil, the free will defence, Job and the Psalms, and practical Christian responses to suffering.Open →
- The Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creationStudents learn the oneness of God and the Trinity, the Nicene Creed, the baptism of Jesus, the roles of Father, Son and Spirit, the filioque dispute, creation in Genesis 1 and John 1, and differing views of Genesis.Open →
- The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionThe subtopic covers the incarnation and the virgin birth, the crucifixion and Jesus' cry from the cross, why Paul says the resurrection is essential, and the ascension and its significance for Christians.Open →
- Sin, salvation and atonementThese questions define sin and original sin, salvation through law, grace and the Holy Spirit, justification by faith and the place of good works, and the atonement understood as sacrifice and as victory over evil.Open →
- Resurrection, judgement, heaven and hellStudents learn Christian beliefs about life after death, the resurrection of the body and Paul's spiritual body, judgement and the parable that pictures it, heaven, hell and purgatory, and the parousia.Open →
- Forms of worship and prayerThe subtopic covers liturgical, non-liturgical, informal and private worship, Quaker worship and the place of the Bible in services, and prayer, including set and informal prayer and the meaning of the Lord's Prayer.Open →
- Baptism and the meaning of sacramentThese questions explain what a sacrament is and how many each tradition recognises, the groups that reject outward sacraments, infant and believers' baptism with the arguments each way, the baptismal words and the lighted candle.Open →
- Holy Communion and the EucharistStudents learn the names and meaning of the Eucharist, how it is celebrated in Catholic, Orthodox and Baptist churches, transubstantiation, Lutheran and memorialist views, and why Quakers and the Salvation Army do not celebrate it.Open →
- Pilgrimage, Christmas and EasterThe subtopic covers pilgrimage to Lourdes and to Iona and how the two experiences differ, objections to pilgrimage, how Advent and Christmas are kept, and why Holy Week and Easter matter most to Christians in Britain.Open →
- The Church in the local and worldwide communityThese questions explain the Church, food banks and street pastors, mission, evangelism and the Great Commission, church growth, reconciliation work, responses to persecution, and the work of Christian Aid.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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How do Catholics and Lutherans each explain the presence of Christ in the bread and wine?
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What do Christians believe the Holy Spirit does, and where do Western and Orthodox churches differ?
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What does John's Gospel teach about the Word, and whom do Christians identify the Word with?
Numbers
Which creed sets out the Christian belief in the Trinity, and when was it agreed?
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What does it mean to describe God as omnipotent?
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Define the incarnation.
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Define sin.
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What do Christians mean by life after death?
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What is worship?
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What is a sacrament?
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What is a pilgrimage?
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What is meant by the Church with a capital letter?
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What do Christians mean by calling God omnibenevolent?
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Which verse of John's Gospel states the incarnation most directly?
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What is original sin?
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What does the Apostles' Creed say Christians believe about the body?
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Define liturgical worship.
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How many sacraments do Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognise?
Numbers
Where is Lourdes and why do Christians go there?
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How do local churches support food banks?
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What does it mean to say that God is just?
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Why do Christians call Jesus the Son of God?
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Which theologian developed the doctrine of original sin in the Western Church?
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What did Paul mean by a spiritual body?
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Give two features of a liturgical service.
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Which two sacraments do most Protestant churches accept, and why?
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Name three names Christians give to the sacrament of bread and wine.
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What happens at the grotto in Lourdes?
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Why do churches see running a food bank as Christian work?
Take Christianity further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
The Incarnation vs The Resurrection
The Incarnation: God becoming human, celebrated at Christmas. The Resurrection: Jesus rising from the dead, celebrated at Easter.
Atonement vs Salvation
Atonement: how the relationship between God and humanity is repaired. Salvation: the rescue that results.
Mission vs Evangelism
Mission: the Church's whole task in the world. Evangelism: the part that shares the message to win faith.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does it mean to describe God as omnipotent?
Model answer
Omnipotent means all-powerful. Christians believe God's power has no limits and that God made the universe out of nothing.
- 2
What do Christians mean by calling God omnibenevolent?
Model answer
Omnibenevolent means all-loving. Christians believe God's love is shown in creation, in the gift of Jesus and in forgiveness.
- 3
What does it mean to say that God is just?
Model answer
A just God judges fairly and treats everyone according to what they deserve. Christians believe God will finally put right every wrong.
- 4
What is meant by saying that God is transcendent?
Model answer
Transcendent means beyond and outside the created universe. Christians believe God is not limited by space or by time.
- 5
What do Christians mean when they say God is immanent?
Model answer
Immanent means present and active within the world. Christians believe God stays close to people and involved in their lives.
- 6
State the problem of evil.
Model answer
The problem of evil asks how an all-powerful and all-loving God can allow suffering. God would appear to have both the will and the power to stop it.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Christianity revision questions
- What does Christianity cover in AQA GCSE Religious Studies A?
- 10 subtopics: the nature of god and the problem of evil, the trinity and the role of word and spirit in creation, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, sin, salvation and atonement, resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell, forms of worship and prayer, baptism and the meaning of sacrament, holy communion and the eucharist, pilgrimage, christmas and easter and the church in the local and worldwide community. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Christianity organised?
- By the AQA 8062 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Christianity, 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.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.