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
Judaism: Peace and Conflict
Milchemet mitzvah and Holy War in Judaism
- 3 things to know
- Paper 2
Overview
The wars Maimonides classed as obligatory, why the wars of conquest no longer apply, the kind that still does, 2 Samuel 22 on God's role in war, and Humanist criticism with a Jewish reply.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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Key term
What is milchemet mitzvah?
Key term
Which wars did Maimonides class as milchemet mitzvah?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a Holy War, and how do Jews respond to the idea?
Model answer
A Holy War is fought for religious reasons, believed to be commanded by God. Most Jews today reject fighting to spread or impose religion.
- 2
What is milchemet mitzvah?
Model answer
Milchemet mitzvah is an obligatory war, commanded by God. Every Jew must take part, and nobody is excused.
- 3
Which wars did Maimonides class as milchemet mitzvah?
Model answer
Maimonides listed the war against the seven Canaanite nations and the war against Amalek. A war to defend Israel from an attacking enemy is also obligatory.
- 4
Why do most Jews say the biblical wars of conquest no longer apply?
Model answer
The rabbis taught that the Canaanite nations and Amalek can no longer be identified. The command to fight them therefore cannot be carried out today.
- 5
Which kind of milchemet mitzvah still applies today?
Model answer
Self-defence against an attacking enemy remains a milchemet mitzvah. Many Jews see Israel's defensive wars in this way.
- 6
What does 2 Samuel 22 describe?
Model answer
2 Samuel 22 is David's song of praise after God rescued him from his enemies and from Saul. David calls God his rock, his fortress and his deliverer.
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