Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0
Catholic Christianity: Catholic BeliefsAny paper
Catholic Christianity: Living the Catholic LifeAny paper
Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Catholic Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Catholic Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Catholic Christianity: EqualityPaper 3
Christianity: Christian BeliefsAny paper
Christianity: Living the Christian LifeAny paper
Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Christianity: EqualityPaper 3
Islam: Muslim BeliefsAny paper
Islam: Living the Muslim LifeAny paper
Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Islam: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Islam: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Islam: EqualityPaper 3
Buddhism: Buddhist BeliefsAny paper
Buddhism: Living the Buddhist LifeAny paper
Buddhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Buddhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Buddhism: EqualityPaper 3
Hinduism: Hindu BeliefsAny paper
Hinduism: Living the Hindu LifeAny paper
Hinduism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Hinduism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Hinduism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3
Judaism: Jewish BeliefsAny paper
Judaism: Living the Jewish LifeAny paper
Judaism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Judaism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3
Judaism: EqualityPaper 3
Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper
Sikhism: Living the Sikh LifeAny paper
Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3
Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Paper 1
- Paper 1, Religion and Ethics, for the religion studied in this area. Two of the three areas are taken, each through a different religion
What Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death covers
Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death is examined in Paper 1, Area of Study 1: Religion and Ethics, if Buddhism is the religion studied for that area. It covers Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe, the sanctity of life in Buddhism, Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest, Buddhist attitudes to abortion, Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife, Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death, Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care and Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights.
Where it is assessed
Paper 1
Area of Study 1, Religion and Ethics, if this is the religion studied for that area.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universeWhy origins matter little, traditional teaching on the beginning, the Dalai Lama's The Universe in a Single Atom on the Big Bang and on science disproving belief, nature in the Buddha's life, and Buddhist economics.Open →
- The sanctity of life in BuddhismThe First Precept in the Khuddakapatha, why human birth is precious and the blind turtle, killing as a grave monastic offence, life release, rebirth, everyday practice, and contrasts with Christian sanctity of life.Open →
- Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittestWhy evolution fits Buddhist teaching, doubts about survival of the fittest, the Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta and the poisoned arrow read two ways, the Dalai Lama on material explanations, and Humanist views of purpose.Open →
- Buddhist attitudes to abortionIntention, the Dalai Lama's 1993 New York Times interview and the exception he allowed, mizuko kuyo, Japanese and Western attitudes, Humanist and situation ethics views, and support for a mother afterwards.Open →
- Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlifeRebirth rather than reincarnation, the flame image, the Wheel of Life and the Divyavadana on why it was first painted, remembered lives and finding a tulku, paranormal claims, logic, reward and reunion.Open →
- Buddhist responses to arguments against life after deathEvidence, comfort, fraud and social control objections with Buddhist replies, the Brahmajala Sutta on death as the end, the middle way between eternalism and annihilationism, materialism, and whether all Buddhists take rebirth literally.Open →
- Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice careWhy euthanasia may not end suffering, the Vakkali Sutta, whether life must be prolonged at all costs, Humanist and situation ethics arguments, hospice care and the Buddhist Hospice Trust, and preparing for death.Open →
- Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rightsDhammapada 270, pollution, global warming and the 2015 climate statement, natural resources, the Buddhist Declaration on Nature, monks and meat-eating, the Tibetan diet, animal rights, and utilitarian cases for experiments.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
How might a Buddhist respond to Humanist and situation ethics views on abortion?
How do Buddhists answer materialist and Humanist arguments against life after death?
Why do many Buddhists think the origin of the universe has little significance?
What does the sanctity of life mean for a Buddhist?
What do Buddhists believe happens after death?
Why do most Buddhists oppose euthanasia?
What does Dhammapada 270 teach?
What does traditional Buddhist teaching say about the beginning of the universe?
What is the First Precept, as recited in the Khuddakapatha?
How do most Buddhists respond to the theory of evolution?
Why do many Buddhists see abortion as wrong?
Why do Buddhists speak of rebirth rather than reincarnation?
Why do some non-religious people argue against life after death?
Why might euthanasia not end suffering, in Buddhist belief?
How do Buddhists respond to pollution?
What is The Universe in a Single Atom?
How does the First Precept show that life is special?
Why does evolution fit Buddhist teaching?
How does intention affect a Buddhist view of abortion?
How does the image of a flame explain rebirth without a self?
How do Buddhists respond to the claim that there is no evidence for life after death?
What happens in the Vakkali Sutta?
How do Buddhists respond to global warming?
Take Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Rebirth vs Reincarnation
Rebirth: the continuation of a changing stream of consciousness and kamma without any soul. Reincarnation: a soul moving out of one body and into a new one.
Eternalism vs Annihilationism
Eternalism: the view that an unchanging soul lasts for ever. Annihilationism: the view that a being is utterly destroyed at death.
Euthanasia vs Hospice care
Euthanasia: the deliberate ending of a patient's existence to relieve suffering. Hospice care: support for the dying that relieves pain without hastening death.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why do many Buddhists think the origin of the universe has little significance?
Model answer
The Buddha refused to say whether the universe is eternal or had a beginning. Questions about origins do not help a person end suffering.
- 2
What does traditional Buddhist teaching say about the beginning of the universe?
Model answer
Traditional Buddhist teaching describes the universe as beginningless, with world systems arising and passing away in vast cycles. A creator god plays no part in this process.
- 3
What is The Universe in a Single Atom?
Model answer
The Universe in a Single Atom is a 2005 book by the XIV Dalai Lama about science and Buddhism. Chapter 4 compares the Big Bang with the Buddhist idea of a beginningless universe.
- 4
How does the Dalai Lama respond to the Big Bang theory in The Universe in a Single Atom?
Model answer
The Dalai Lama accepts the scientific evidence for the Big Bang. The Dalai Lama suggests our universe may be one of an endless series, with no absolute first beginning.
- 5
What does the Dalai Lama say Buddhists should do if science disproves a traditional belief?
Model answer
The Dalai Lama says Buddhists should accept clear scientific findings and abandon the old belief. Ancient Buddhist maps of the world around Mount Meru can therefore be set aside.
- 6
Why do Buddhists find no conflict between their beliefs and the Big Bang?
Model answer
Buddhism has no creation story that science could contradict. A universe arising from earlier causes fits the Buddhist teaching of dependent origination.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death revision questions
- What does Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death cover in Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B?
- 8 subtopics: buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe, the sanctity of life in buddhism, buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest, buddhist attitudes to abortion, buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife, buddhist responses to arguments against life after death, buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care and buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death organised?
- By the Edexcel 1RB0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Buddhism: Matters of Life and Death, 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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