Key term
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0
Catholic Christianity: Catholic BeliefsAny paper
Topic overviewThe Trinity in the Nicene Creed and Catholic worshipThe Trinity in the Bible and the early Church councilsThe Creation account and the nature of GodCatholic beliefs about humanity, dominion and stewardshipThe Incarnation of the Word in Catholic beliefThe Paschal Mystery: the life, death, resurrection and ascension of JesusCatholic beliefs about salvation and graceCatholic eschatology: resurrection, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory
Catholic Christianity: Living the Catholic LifeAny paper
Topic overviewThe seven sacraments and the sacramental nature of realityThe Mass as the source and summit of Christian lifeThe Catholic funeral riteCatholic prayer and the Lord's PrayerPopular piety: the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration and the Stations of the CrossCatholic pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Lourdes, Rome and WalsinghamCatholic Social Teaching and the work of CAFODCatholic mission and evangelism
Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe importance and purpose of marriage for CatholicsCatholic teaching on sexual relationshipsCatholic teaching on the purpose of the family and family typesHow the Catholic parish supports familiesCatholic teaching on contraception and natural family planningCatholic teaching on divorce, annulment and remarriageCatholic teaching on men and women in the familyCatholic opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination
Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewCatholic responses to the origins and value of the universeThe sanctity of life in Catholic teachingCatholic responses to evolution and survival of the fittestCatholic teaching on abortionCatholic arguments for life after deathCatholic responses to arguments against life after deathCatholic teaching on euthanasia and hospice careCatholic responses to the environment and animal rights
Catholic Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Topic overviewCatholic attitudes towards justiceCatholic attitudes towards crime and the work of Prison FellowshipCatholic teachings about good, evil and sufferingCatholic attitudes towards punishmentCatholic attitudes towards the aims of punishmentCatholic teachings about forgiveness and mercyCatholic teachings about the treatment of criminals and tortureCatholic attitudes towards the death penalty
Catholic Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Topic overviewCatholic attitudes towards peace and Jesus as the Prince of PeaceCatholic peacemaking and the work of Pax ChristiCatholic attitudes to the causes and problems of conflictCatholic attitudes to pacifism and passive resistanceCatholic teaching on the Just War theoryCatholic attitudes to Holy WarCatholic attitudes to weapons of mass destructionCatholic responses to violence, war and terrorism
Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewCatholic understanding of Jesus as the culmination of revelationVisions and Catholic belief in GodMiracles and Catholic belief in GodCatholic attitudes to religious experienceThe design argument in Catholic thoughtThe cosmological argument in Catholic thoughtThe problem of suffering for Catholic belief in an all-loving GodCatholic responses to the problem of suffering
Catholic Christianity: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewCatholic teaching on human rightsCatholic attitudes towards equality and inequalityCatholic attitudes towards religious freedom and a multi-faith societyCatholic attitudes to prejudice and discriminationCatholic attitudes towards racial harmonyCatholic attitudes towards racial discriminationCatholic attitudes to social justiceCatholic attitudes towards wealth and poverty
Christianity: Christian BeliefsAny paper
Topic overviewThe Trinity in Christian beliefChristian beliefs about creationThe Incarnation of JesusThe last days of Jesus' lifeSalvation and atonement in ChristianityChristian eschatology: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatoryThe problem of evil and suffering for ChristiansChristian responses to the problem of evil and suffering
Christianity: Living the Christian LifeAny paper
Topic overviewLiturgical and non-liturgical Christian worshipBaptism, the Eucharist and the Christian sacramentsTypes of Christian prayer and the Lord's PrayerChristian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Iona, Taize and WalsinghamAdvent, Christmas, Holy Week and EasterChristian mission, evangelism and Church growthThe local church in the communityThe worldwide Church, reconciliation and Christian Aid
Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe purpose of marriage for ChristiansChristian teachings on sexual relationshipsThe purpose of the Christian familyHow the local church supports Christian familiesChristian attitudes to contraception and family planningChristian attitudes to divorce and remarriageMen and women in the Christian familyChristian responses to gender prejudice and discrimination
Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewChristian responses to the Big Bang and the value of the universeThe sanctity of life in Christian teachingChristian responses to evolution and the origins of human lifeChristian attitudes to abortionChristian arguments for life after deathChristian responses to non-religious arguments against life after deathChristian attitudes to euthanasia and hospice careChristian responses to environmental issues and animal rights
Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Topic overviewChristian attitudes to justiceChristian attitudes to crime and the work of Prison Fellowship and Street PastorsChristian teachings about good actions, evil actions and why people sufferChristian attitudes to punishment and Luke 12:35–48Christian attitudes to the aims of punishmentChristian teachings on forgiveness and restorative justiceChristian attitudes to the treatment of criminalsChristian attitudes to the death penalty
Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Topic overviewChristian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemakerChristian peacemaking and the work of Pax ChristiChristian attitudes to conflict and its causesChristian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther KingChristian attitudes to the Just War theoryChristian attitudes to Holy WarChristian attitudes to weapons of mass destructionChristian responses to violence, war and terrorism
Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewRevelation as evidence for God in ChristianityVisions as evidence for God in ChristianityMiracles as evidence for God in ChristianityReligious experience and the burning bushAnswered prayer as evidence for GodThe design argument and Christian beliefThe cosmological argument and Aquinas's First Three WaysReligious upbringing and belief in God
Christianity: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewChristian teaching on human rightsChristian attitudes to equalityChristian attitudes to religious freedomChristian attitudes to prejudice and discriminationChristian attitudes to racial harmony and the work of Desmond TutuChristian attitudes to racial discriminationChristian attitudes to social justiceChristian attitudes to wealth and poverty
Islam: Muslim BeliefsAny paper
Islam: Living the Muslim LifeAny paper
Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe purpose of marriage in IslamMuslim teaching on sexual relationshipsThe purpose of the family in IslamHow the ummah supports Muslim familiesMuslim attitudes to contraceptionMuslim teaching on divorce and remarriageMen and women in the Muslim familyMuslim teaching on gender prejudice and discrimination
Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewMuslim teaching on the origins and value of the universeThe sanctity of life in IslamMuslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human lifeMuslim attitudes to abortionMuslim responses to arguments for life after deathMuslim responses to arguments against life after deathMuslim attitudes to euthanasiaMuslim responses to issues in the natural world
Islam: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Islam: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewRevelation as proof of the existence of AllahVisions and the existence of AllahMiracles and the existence of AllahMuslim attitudes to religious experienceThe design argument in IslamThe cosmological argument and al-Ghazali's kalamSuffering and Allah as compassionateMuslim responses to the problem of suffering
Islam: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewMuslim teaching on human rightsMuslim attitudes to equalityMuslim attitudes to religious freedomMuslim attitudes to prejudice and discriminationMuslim teaching on racial harmonyMuslim responses to racial discrimination and Malcolm XMuslim attitudes to social justiceMuslim attitudes to wealth and poverty
Buddhism: Buddhist BeliefsAny paper
Topic overviewThe life of the BuddhaDhamma, dependent origination and the Three Marks of ExistenceThe First Noble Truth: dukkhaThe Second Noble Truth: samudaya and the Three PoisonsThe Third Noble Truth: nirodha, samsara and nibbanaThe Fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path and the Threefold WayThe Five Khandas, Buddha-nature and the Arahant and Bodhisattva idealsBuddhist ethics: kamma, merit, the Five Precepts and the Six Perfections
Buddhism: Living the Buddhist LifeAny paper
Topic overviewBuddhist meditation: samatha, metta bhavana, vipassana and zazenBuddhist chantingMantra recitation, mala beads and offeringsBuddhist places of worship: temples, viharas and gompasBuddharupas and other objects of devotionBuddhist puja in the vihara and the homeBuddhist death and mourning ritualsBuddhist festivals and retreats
Buddhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe purpose of marriage in BuddhismBuddhist teaching on sexual relationshipsThe Buddhist family and its purposeHow the Buddhist sangha supports familiesBuddhist attitudes to contraceptionBuddhist attitudes to divorce and remarriageMen and women in the Buddhist familyBuddhism, gender prejudice and discrimination
Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewBuddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universeThe sanctity of life in BuddhismBuddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittestBuddhist attitudes to abortionBuddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlifeBuddhist responses to arguments against life after deathBuddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice careBuddhist responses to the environment and animal rights
Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Topic overviewBuddhist attitudes to justiceBuddhist attitudes to crime and its causesBuddhist teaching on good, evil and sufferingBuddhist attitudes to punishmentBuddhism and the aims of punishmentBuddhist teaching on forgiveness and restorative justiceBuddhist teaching on the treatment of criminalsBuddhist attitudes to the death penalty
Buddhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Topic overviewBuddhist attitudes to peaceBuddhist peacemaking and the Buddhist Peace FellowshipBuddhist attitudes to conflict and its causesBuddhist pacifism and passive resistanceBuddhist responses to the Just War theoryBuddhist attitudes to warBuddhist attitudes to weapons of mass destructionEngaged Buddhism and Buddhist responses to violence and terrorism
Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewBuddhist teaching on the non-existence of a personal GodThe devas, the Realm of Gods and the Wheel of LifeEnlightenment as a Buddhist religious experienceBuddhist teaching on miraclesBuddhist prayer and the Avalokitesvara mantraBuddhist teaching on visionsBuddhist attitudes to religious experienceA Buddhist upbringing
Buddhism: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewBuddhist teaching on human rightsBuddhist attitudes to equality and the Lotus SutraBuddhist attitudes to religious freedomBuddhist attitudes to prejudice and discriminationBuddhist teaching on racial harmonyBuddhist attitudes to racial discrimination and the Dalai LamaBuddhist attitudes to social justiceBuddhist attitudes to wealth and poverty
Hinduism: Hindu BeliefsAny paper
Topic overviewThe nature of Brahman in HinduismNirguna Brahman, Saguna Brahman and VaikunthaBrahman, Antaryami and Bhagavan: three aspects of the divineHindu deities: avatars, murti, Vishnu, Shiva and ShaktiAtman, karma, samsara and mokshaThe Purusharthas, sanatana dharma and varnashrama dharmaHindu responses to suffering, knowledge and ignoranceHindu cosmology: yugas, prakriti, tri-guna and maya
Hinduism: Living the Hindu LifeAny paper
Topic overviewHindu yoga: karma, jnana, raja and bhaktiHindu focuses of worship and representations of the divineHindu places of worship: temple, home and heartHindu forms of worship in the temple and homeHindu sacred festivalsHindu pilgrimage: the Ganges, Varanasi and VrindavanaHindu environmental projects and cow protectionHindu charity, dana and seva
Hinduism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe importance and purpose of Hindu marriageHindu teachings on sexual relationshipsThe purpose of the Hindu family and types of familyHow the Hindu community supports familiesHindu attitudes to contraception and family planningHindu attitudes to divorce and remarriageHindu teachings on men and women in the familyHindu opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination
Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewHindu responses to the origins and value of the universeHindu teachings on the sanctity of lifeHindu responses to evolution and the origins of human lifeHindu attitudes to abortionHindu teachings and arguments about life after deathHindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after deathHindu attitudes to euthanasiaHindu responses to the natural world and animal rights
Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Topic overviewHindu attitudes to justiceHindu attitudes to crime and its causesHindu teachings on good, evil and sufferingHindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascittaHindu attitudes to the aims of punishmentHindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justiceHindu teachings on the treatment of criminalsHindu attitudes to the death penalty
Hinduism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Topic overviewHindu attitudes to peaceHindus as peacemakers: ahimsa and Mahatma GandhiHindu attitudes to conflict in societyHindu attitudes to pacifism and satyagrahaHindu attitudes to the Just War theoryHindu attitudes to holy war and dharma yuddhaHindu attitudes to weapons of mass destructionHindu responses to violence, war and terrorism
Hinduism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewRevelation in Hindu scriptureHindu attitudes to visionsHindu attitudes to numinous experiencesHindu attitudes to miraclesHindu teaching about prayer and the Gayatri MantraHindu teachings on the non-existence of a personal GodHindu attitudes to religious experience as evidence for GodHindu attitudes to religious upbringing
Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewHindu teaching on human rightsHindu attitudes to equality and casteHindu attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith societyHindu attitudes to prejudice and discriminationHindu attitudes to racial harmonyHindu attitudes to racial discriminationHindu attitudes to social justiceHindu attitudes to wealth and poverty
Judaism: Jewish BeliefsAny paper
Judaism: Living the Jewish LifeAny paper
Topic overviewJewish public worship and synagogue servicesThe Tenakh, the Talmud and kashrutJewish prayer three times a day and in the homeThe Shema, the Amidah and the mezuzahJewish rituals of birth, coming of age, marriage and mourningShabbat in the home and the synagogueRosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Shavuot and SukkotThe design and objects of the synagogue
Judaism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Topic overviewThe purpose of marriage in JudaismJewish teachings on sexual relationshipsThe purpose of the Jewish familyHow the Jewish community supports familiesJewish attitudes to contraception and family planningJewish teachings on divorce and remarriageMen and women in the Jewish familyJudaism and gender prejudice
Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Topic overviewJewish attitudes to justiceJewish attitudes to crime and its causesJewish teachings on good, evil and sufferingJewish teachings on punishmentThe aims of punishment in JudaismJewish teachings on forgiveness and restorative justiceJewish teachings on the treatment of criminalsJewish attitudes to the death penalty
Judaism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3
Judaism: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewJewish teaching on human rightsJewish attitudes to equality and ahavat ha-beriotReligious freedom and the story of EstherJewish attitudes to prejudice and antisemitismJewish work for racial harmonyJewish attitudes to racial discriminationJewish attitudes to social justiceJewish teaching on wealth and poverty
Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper
Sikhism: Living the Sikh LifeAny paper
Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1
Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1
Topic overviewSikh responses to the origins and value of the universeSikh teaching on the sanctity of lifeSikh responses to evolutionSikh attitudes to abortionSikh responses to arguments for life after deathSikh responses to arguments against life after deathSikh attitudes to euthanasiaSikh responses to the natural world and animal rights
Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2
Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2
Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3
Topic overviewGurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the riverVisions and mystical experiences in SikhismNuminous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in SikhismMiracles and Sikh beliefSikh attitudes to religious experienceThe design argument and Sikh beliefThe cosmological argument and Sikh beliefA Sikh upbringing and belief in God
Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3
Topic overviewSikh teaching on human rightsSikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequalitySikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith societySikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religionsSikh teaching on racial harmony and BegampuraSikh responses to racial discriminationSikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh FatehSikh attitudes to wealth and poverty
Hinduism: 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 Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death covers
Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death is examined in Paper 1, Area of Study 1: Religion and Ethics, if Hinduism is the religion studied for that area. It covers Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe, Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life, Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life, Hindu attitudes to abortion, Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death, Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death, Hindu attitudes to euthanasia and Hindu responses to the natural world 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.
- Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universeThe Big Bang and cyclical cosmology, the length of a day of Brahma, Carl Sagan on Hindu cosmology, Rig Veda 10.129 and openness to science, Vaishnava creation accounts, and the universe as a commodity.Open →
- Hindu teachings on the sanctity of lifeWhy a human birth is precious, the chariot image of Katha Upanishad 1.3.3 and 1.3.4, ahimsa, suicide, the sanctity of life in medical ethics today, and Hindu and Humanist reasons for valuing life.Open →
- Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human lifeSurvival of the fittest as a guide to living, the avatars of Vishnu as a mirror of evolution, samsara, ISKCON's rejection of Darwin, Rig Veda 10.129, and the claim that humans are only animals.Open →
- Hindu attitudes to abortionWhen the atman enters the embryo, Atharva Veda 6.113, abortion and bad karma, the circumstances many accept, liberal views, sex-selective abortion, the law in India and Great Britain, and Humanist arguments.Open →
- Hindu teachings and arguments about life after deathBhagavad Gita 2.22 on rebirth and 4.23 to 4.30 on karma and sacrifice, remembered past lives and Shanti Devi, ghosts and mediums, arguments from logic and reward, and scripture as the real basis.Open →
- Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after deathBelief as mere comfort, the lack of evidence, fraudulent mediums and past-life accounts, karma as social control, and Bhagavad Gita 15.6 to 15.11 on the living soul, its departure and Krishna's supreme abode.Open →
- Hindu attitudes to euthanasiaActive and passive euthanasia, leaving the time of death to God, Bhagavad Gita 7.26 to 7.30, the state of mind at death, prayopavesa, Gandhi and the suffering calf in 1928, and Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan.Open →
- Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rightsPollution and global warming as religious issues, the 1986 Assisi Declaration on Nature, Bhagavad Gita 13.27 to 13.34, eating meat, animal sacrifice and experimentation, and Peter Singer set against ahimsa.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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How do Hindu cosmology and Rig Veda 10.129 show openness to science?
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How does the chariot image in the Katha Upanishad show that life is special?
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What is the theory of evolution, and how do many Hindus respond to it?
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What is abortion, and why is it a serious issue for Hindus?
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Why do Hindus believe there is life after death?
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What is euthanasia, and why is it controversial for Hindus?
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What threats to the world concern Hindus today?
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What does the Big Bang theory say, and how do many Hindus respond to it?
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What does sanctity of life mean for Hindus?
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Why do Hindus reject survival of the fittest as a guide for how humans should live?
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When do many Hindus believe the atman enters the embryo?
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What image does Bhagavad Gita 2.22 use for rebirth?
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Why do some atheists say belief in life after death is only a comfort?
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What is the difference between active and passive euthanasia in Hindu debates?
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Why do Hindus see pollution and global warming as religious issues?
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Why do many Hindus find their cyclical cosmology compatible with modern science?
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Why might human life be regarded as holy in Hinduism?
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Why do some Hindus see the avatars of Vishnu as mirroring evolution?
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What does Atharva Veda 6.113 suggest about killing an embryo?
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What does Bhagavad Gita 4.23 teach about action and karma?
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How do Hindus respond to the claim that belief in rebirth is just a comfort?
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Why do many Hindus oppose euthanasia?
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What was the Hindu Declaration on Nature made at Assisi in 1986?
Take Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Prayopavesa vs Euthanasia
Prayopavesa: fasting to death by the very old or terminally ill. Euthanasia: deliberately ending a life to relieve suffering.
Utilitarianism vs Situation ethics
Utilitarianism: doing whatever brings the greatest good to the greatest number. Situation ethics: doing the most loving thing in each circumstance.
Ahimsa vs Karma
Ahimsa: non-violence towards all living beings. Karma: the law that every action brings consequences.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does the Big Bang theory say, and how do many Hindus respond to it?
Model answer
Scientists say the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago from a hot, dense state. Many Hindus accept this as describing how Brahman's creation unfolded.
- 2
Why do many Hindus find their cyclical cosmology compatible with modern science?
Model answer
Hindu scriptures describe vast cycles in which universes are created and dissolved. Scientific timescales of billions of years fit this picture well.
- 3
How long is a day of Brahma in Hindu cosmology, and why is this significant for science?
Model answer
A day of Brahma, or kalpa, lasts about 4.32 billion years. The figure is on the same scale as the timescales modern science describes.
- 4
What did the astronomer Carl Sagan say about Hindu cosmology?
Model answer
Carl Sagan noted that Hinduism is the only great religion whose timescales match those of modern scientific cosmology.
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How do Hindus use Rig Veda 10.129 to show that their beliefs are open to science?
Model answer
The hymn admits that no one may truly know how creation happened. Hindus say this questioning spirit welcomes scientific inquiry.
- 6
Why might many Hindus reject the idea that the universe arose by chance alone?
Model answer
Many Hindus believe the universe is an expression of Brahman's power and purpose. The Big Bang may describe the process, but not why anything exists.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death revision questions
- What does Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death cover in Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B?
- 8 subtopics: hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe, hindu teachings on the sanctity of life, hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life, hindu attitudes to abortion, hindu teachings and arguments about life after death, hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death, hindu attitudes to euthanasia and hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Hinduism: 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 Hinduism: 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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