Key term
OCR GCSE Religious Studies J625
Christianity: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Topic overviewChristian terms for the nature of GodWhy God's nature matters to ChristiansThe Christian Trinity and different attitudes to itChristian beliefs about creation in Genesis and JohnEvil, suffering and a loving GodJesus as Messiah, Son of God, Lord and SaviourThe incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionSalvation, atonement, law, sin and graceChristian eschatology: the Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hell
Christianity: PracticesGroup 1
Topic overviewChristian worship and the structure of servicesChristian sacraments: baptism and the EucharistChristian prayer and the Lord's PrayerChristian pilgrimage and festivals: Lourdes, Jerusalem, Walsingham, Rome, Christmas and EasterChristian rites of passage and support for familiesChristian mission, evangelism and new forms of churchThe worldwide Church, ecumenism and Christian aid agencies
Islam: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Topic overviewThe six articles of faith in Sunni IslamThe five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a IslamThe 99 names of AllahTawhid, shirk and Allah's attributes in actionRisalah and the prophets from Adam to DawudIsa, Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a ImamsThe Kutub: Muslim holy books and the Qur'anMalaikah: the angels in IslamAl-Qadr: predestination and human freedom in IslamAkhirah: barzakh, judgement, Jannah and Jahannam
Islam: PracticesGroup 1
Topic overviewThe Five Pillars of Sunni IslamThe Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a IslamSalah and wudu: how and why Muslims prayShahadah, Jummah prayer and the khutbaDu'a: private prayer in IslamHajj: origins, obligation and ihramThe rituals of Hajj and their meaningZakah: meaning, origins and nisabKhums, sadaqah and the distribution of almsSawm: fasting in RamadanEid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-FitrEid-ul-Ghadeer and Ashura in Shi'a IslamGreater and lesser jihad
Judaism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Topic overviewG-d as One, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge and EternalG-d's characteristics and the problem of suffering in JudaismShekinah, the divine presence of G-dThe Covenant at Sinai and the role of MosesThe Messiah and the Messianic AgeThe Promised Land and the Covenant with AbrahamMitzvot, free will and Divine ProvidenceEthical and ritual MitzvotThe sanctity of life and Pikuach NefeshJewish beliefs about the soul and life after death
Judaism: PracticesGroup 1
Topic overviewThe synagogue: design, features and the TempleSynagogue services and worship in the Jewish homeJewish public prayer and the AmidahJewish private prayer, the Shema and blessings at homeThe Tenakh, the Talmud and Jewish lawShabbat in the Jewish home and synagogueRosh Hashanah and Yom KippurPesach and the SederShavuot, Sukkot, Hanukkah and the Jewish calendarKashrut: the Jewish dietary lawsJewish birth ceremonies and Brit MilahBar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Bat ChayilKiddushin and the Jewish weddingJewish burial and mourning rites
Buddhism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Topic overviewThe life of the Buddha and his EnlightenmentThe Dhamma and dependent originationThe Three Marks of ExistenceThe First Noble Truth: dukkhaThe Second Noble Truth: tanha and the three poisonsThe Third Noble Truth: nibbana and EnlightenmentThe Fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path and Threefold WayThe five khandhas, sunyata and buddha-natureArhats, bodhisattvas, Buddhas and the Pure LandBuddhist ethical teachings: kamma, compassion and the preceptsSkilful action and the Middle Way in modern life
Buddhism: PracticesGroup 1
Topic overviewBuddhist worship: puja, chanting, mantras and offeringsBuddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, zazen and visualisationBuddhist temples, shrines, pilgrimage sites and retreatsThe Buddhist Sangha: monastic and layBuddhist festivals: Wesak, Vassa, Uposatha and moreBuddhist death rites and mourning
Hinduism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Topic overviewAtman, the eternal selfSamsara, maya, detachment and mokshaHindu teaching on karmaLokas, devas and asurasPrakriti, the gunas and the cycle of creationSaguna Brahman, the Trimurti and the TrideviAvatars of Vishnu and the murtiBrahman as impersonal, indwelling and personalDharma and the four aims of lifeHindu virtues, free will and suffering
Hinduism: PracticesGroup 1
Topic overviewThe four margas: jnana, bhakti, karma and raja yogaVarnashrama dharma, svadharma, sewa and danaHindu worship: havan, puja, japa, bhajan and darshanHindu temples, shrines, holy people and sacred natureHindu pilgrimage to Varanasi, the Ganges and other sitesHoli, Navaratri and DiwaliMaha Shivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha BandhanHindu ethical concerns: animals, environment and society
Christianity: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Topic overviewThe purpose of Christian marriage and family lifeChristian attitudes to same-sex marriage and civil partnershipChristian attitudes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and celibacyChristian attitudes to contraceptionChristian ethics of divorce, annulment and remarriageThe roles of men and women in Christian families and communitiesChristian understandings of equality and gender discrimination
Christianity: The Existence of GodGroup 2
Topic overviewChristian understandings of God's relationship with the world and humanityGod's goodness and human sufferingThe design argument and the anthropic principleThe first cause argument and Christian beliefThe moral argument, soul-making and judgementHow Christians believe God is revealedChristian religious experience: conversion, mystical, charismatic and sacramental
Christianity: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Topic overviewChristian teachings about violence and conflictChristian attitudes to terrorismThe Just War theory, Holy War and conduct in warChristian attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfareChristian pacifism: absolute and conditionalChristian peacemaking and non-violent actionChristian teachings on forgiveness and reconciliationChristian views on justice, injustice and social justice
Christianity: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Topic overviewChristianity in British public lifeSecularisation and the rise of humanism in BritainReligious and secular values in educationChristian teachings and secular law on marriage and equalityChristian teachings and science in medical ethicsChristian attitudes to other religions: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralismEcumenism, inter-faith dialogue and proselytisationChristianity and atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism
Islam: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Topic overviewThe Muslim family: roles and purposesMuslim marriage: purposes, contract and practiceMuslim views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnershipSex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception in IslamMuslim teachings on divorce, annulment and remarriageRoles of Muslim men and women in family and communityGender equality and discrimination in Islam
Islam: The Existence of AllahGroup 2
Topic overviewMuslim views on what Allah is likeAllah's goodness and the problem of evil in IslamMuslim responses to sufferingMuslim arguments from design and first causeKhalifah, purpose and moral testing in the Muslim view of the worldRevelation and miracles as Muslim evidence for AllahMuslim religious experience: fitrah, Sufism and worship
Islam: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Topic overviewMuslim teachings on violence and conflictMuslim responses to terrorismHoly War, the Just War theory and Muslim conduct in warMuslim attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfarePacifism, non-violence and Muslim peacemakingForgiveness and reconciliation in IslamJustice and social justice in Islam
Islam: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Topic overviewMuslim perspectives on Christianity in British public lifeSecularisation, humanism and Muslim faith schoolsMuslim marriage customs and UK secular lawEuthanasia, abortion and genetic science in Muslim ethicsMuslim exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralismUnity within the ummah, national identity and da'wahIslam in dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism
Judaism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Topic overviewThe purpose of family and marriage in JudaismJewish views on same-sex relationships and civil partnershipJewish views on sex, cohabitation, celibacy and contraceptionJewish divorce, annulment and remarriageRoles of men and women in Jewish families and communitiesJewish teaching on gender equality and discrimination
Judaism: The Existence of G-DGroup 2
Topic overviewJewish beliefs about G-d's nature and relationship with the worldJewish responses to evil and human sufferingJewish views on the design and first cause argumentsMorality, covenant and the value of arguments for G-d in JudaismHow Jews believe G-d is revealedJewish religious experience and perception of the divine
Judaism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Topic overviewJewish teachings on violence and its justificationJewish attitudes to terrorismMilchemet Mitzvah, Milchemet Reshut and conduct in warJewish attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfareJewish views on pacifism and working for peaceJewish teaching on forgiveness and reconciliationJewish views on justice and social justice
Judaism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Topic overviewJewish perspectives on Christianity's place in British public lifeJudaism in a secular BritainJewish schools, marriage and equality law in BritainJewish medical ethics and scientific developmentJewish views of other faiths: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralismIntra-faith and inter-faith dialogue in British JudaismJudaism and non-religious worldviews
Buddhism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Topic overviewBuddhist views on the family and the Sigalovada SuttaBuddhist attitudes to marriage and its cultural formsBuddhist ethics of sex, the Third Precept and same-sex relationshipsBuddhist views on cohabitation, celibacy, contraception and divorceBuddhist views on the roles of men and womenBuddhist teaching on equality, caste and gender discrimination
Buddhism: The Existence of Ultimate RealityGroup 2
Topic overviewBuddhist understandings of Ultimate Reality without a creator GodBuddhist views on goodness, evil and sufferingBuddhist responses to design, first cause and the unanswered questionsThe world as samsara: kamma, cycles and human rebirthHow Buddhists believe Ultimate Reality is revealedBuddhist religious experience: refuge, jhanas, kensho and visions
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Topic overviewBuddhist teachings on violence and non-harmBuddhists in violent conflict and attitudes to terrorismBuddhist views on justified war, holy war and modern warfareBuddhist pacifism and non-violent actionBuddhist peacemakers and engaged BuddhismBuddhist teachings on forgiveness and reconciliationBuddhist views on justice, injustice and social justice
Buddhism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Topic overviewBuddhists in British society and public lifeBuddhist responses to secularisation and secular educationBuddhist responses to clashes with secular law on marriage and equalityBuddhist responses to medical ethics and the value of lifeBuddhist views on other religions and inter-faith dialogueBuddhist dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, Humanism and secularism
Hinduism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Topic overviewThe Hindu family and the purposes of marriageThe significance of a Hindu weddingHindu views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnershipHindu views on sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraceptionHindu views on divorce, annulment and remarriageRoles of Hindu men and women in family, community and upbringingHindu teaching on gender equality and discrimination
Hinduism: The Existence of Ultimate Reality and DeityGroup 2
Topic overviewBrahman, the gods and the Hindu question of deityHindu responses to evil and sufferingHindu arguments about cause and creationThe purpose of the world in Hindu thought: cycles, samsara and karmaHow Ultimate Reality is revealed to HindusHindu religious experience: conversion, mysticism, visions and murti puja
Hinduism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Topic overviewHindu teachings on violence and the Kshatriya's dutyHindus, terrorism and religious politicsDharma yuddha, holy war and Hindu conduct in warHindu attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfareHindu pacifism, satyagraha and peacemakingHindu teaching on forgiveness and reconciliationHindu views on justice and social justice
Hinduism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Topic overviewHindus and the Christian heritage of British public lifeHindus in a secular Britain: secularisation, humanism and schoolsHindu marriage, equality and British lawHindu responses to euthanasia, abortion and genetic scienceHindu views of other faiths and inter-faith dialogueHindu conversion, proselytising and national identityHinduism in dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism
Buddhism: Practices
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component Group 1
- Component Group 1, beliefs and teachings and practices of one of the two religions studied, chosen as any pair from five
What Buddhism: Practices covers
Buddhism: Practices is examined in Component Group 1, the Buddhism beliefs and teachings & practices paper (J625/04), if Buddhism is one of the two religions studied. It covers Buddhist worship: puja, chanting, mantras and offerings, Buddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, zazen and visualisation, Buddhist temples, shrines, pilgrimage sites and retreats, the Buddhist Sangha: monastic and lay, Buddhist festivals: Wesak, Vassa, Uposatha and more and Buddhist death rites and mourning.
Where it is assessed
Component Group 1
Beliefs and teachings & practices of one of the two religions studied, a one-hour paper worth 25% of the GCSE.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Buddhist worship: puja, chanting, mantras and offeringsBowing before Buddha images, chanting in Pure Land and Nichiren practice, malas, shrine offerings and Tibetan water bowls, worship in the temple and at home, and how devotion relates to ending dukkha.Open →
- Buddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, zazen and visualisationThe aim of calm meditation, metta bhavana, how insight and calm work together, Rinzai koans, mindfulness, links to the Eightfold Path, differing emphases between groups, and Dhammapada 273–276.Open →
- Buddhist temples, shrines, pilgrimage sites and retreatsThe vihara and the gompa, what a shrine contains, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath, the four main sites, why Buddhists go on pilgrimage, the mudras and features of Buddha images, and retreats.Open →
- The Buddhist Sangha: monastic and layThe Sangha as a Jewel, monastic and lay roles, the alms round, the Ten Precepts and full ordination, the founding of the nuns' order, the garudhammas, women's ordination today, and Dhammapada 360–369.Open →
- Buddhist festivals: Wesak, Vassa, Uposatha and moreHow Wesak is celebrated, Hanamatsuri and its story, the origin of Vassa and lay observance of it, the purpose of Uposatha days, Parinirvana Day, Lama Tsong Khapa Day, and local culture's influence.Open →
- Buddhist death rites and mourningThe six realms, Theravada funerals and the water-pouring ceremony, the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the bardo, Obon and the story behind it, local customs, impermanence, and Dhammapada 37 and 170–171.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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What is Vassa, and why did it begin?
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What is samatha meditation, and what does it aim for?
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What features of Buddha images carry meaning?
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What is puja?
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What does Sangha mean as one of the Three Jewels?
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What do Buddhists believe happens at death?
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What is the purpose of devotional ritual for Buddhists?
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What is samatha meditation?
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How do Buddhist groups define the Sangha differently?
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What is Wesak?
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What are the six realms of existence?
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Why do Buddhists bow before images of the Buddha?
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What is the aim of samatha meditation?
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What is a Buddhist temple and what happens there?
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What is the role of the monastic sangha?
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How do Buddhists celebrate Wesak?
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How is a death marked in Theravada communities?
Take Buddhism: Practices further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Samatha vs Vipassana
Samatha: calming meditation that focuses on one object to build concentration. Vipassana: insight meditation that observes body and mind to see impermanence and not-self.
Mantra vs Mudra
Mantra: a sacred sound or phrase repeated to focus the mind. Mudra: a symbolic hand position shown on images of the Buddha.
Vihara vs Gompa
Vihara: a monastery where monks live, especially in Theravada countries. Gompa: a Tibetan monastery or temple, literally a place of meditation.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is puja?
Model answer
Puja is an act of devotion or honour, usually before an image of the Buddha. Puja can include bowing, chanting, making offerings and meditating.
- 2
What is the purpose of devotional ritual for Buddhists?
Model answer
Devotion expresses gratitude and respect for the Three Jewels. Ritual also calms the mind and strengthens qualities such as humility.
- 3
Why do Buddhists bow before images of the Buddha?
Model answer
Buddhists bow to show respect for the Buddha and his teaching, not to worship a god. Three bows honour the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
- 4
What is chanting and why do Buddhists use it?
Model answer
Chanting is the rhythmic recitation of texts such as the Three Refuges or a sutra. Chanting can help Buddhists memorise teachings and focus the mind.
- 5
What is a mantra?
Model answer
A mantra is a sacred sound or phrase repeated to focus the mind. Tibetan Buddhists chant Om mani padme hum, the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
- 6
How do Pure Land and Nichiren Buddhists use chanting?
Model answer
Pure Land Buddhists recite the nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu, to call on Amida Buddha. Nichiren Buddhists chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in honour of the Lotus Sutra.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Buddhism: Practices revision questions
- What does Buddhism: Practices cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?
- 6 subtopics: buddhist worship: puja, chanting, mantras and offerings, buddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, zazen and visualisation, buddhist temples, shrines, pilgrimage sites and retreats, the buddhist sangha: monastic and lay, buddhist festivals: wesak, vassa, uposatha and more and buddhist death rites and mourning. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Buddhism: Practices organised?
- By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Buddhism: Practices, 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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