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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.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

How might Buddhists respond to the Humanist view that life has no given purpose?

Key term

How might a Buddhist respond to Humanist and situation ethics views on abortion?

Evaluation

How do Buddhists answer materialist and Humanist arguments against life after death?

Key term

Why do many Buddhists think the origin of the universe has little significance?

Key term

What does the sanctity of life mean for a Buddhist?

Key term

What do Buddhists believe happens after death?

Key term

Why do most Buddhists oppose euthanasia?

Key term

What does Dhammapada 270 teach?

Key term

What does traditional Buddhist teaching say about the beginning of the universe?

Key term

What is the First Precept, as recited in the Khuddakapatha?

Key term

How do most Buddhists respond to the theory of evolution?

Key term

Why do many Buddhists see abortion as wrong?

Key term

Why do Buddhists speak of rebirth rather than reincarnation?

Key term

Why do some non-religious people argue against life after death?

Key term

Why might euthanasia not end suffering, in Buddhist belief?

Key term

How do Buddhists respond to pollution?

Numbers

What is The Universe in a Single Atom?

Key term

How does the First Precept show that life is special?

Key term

Why does evolution fit Buddhist teaching?

Key term

How does intention affect a Buddhist view of abortion?

Key term

How does the image of a flame explain rebirth without a self?

Key term

How do Buddhists respond to the claim that there is no evidence for life after death?

Key term

What happens in the Vakkali Sutta?

Key term

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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AOmnipotent means all-powerful.
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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.

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