OCR GCSE Religious Studies J625
Christianity: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Christianity: PracticesGroup 1
Islam: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Islam: PracticesGroup 1
Judaism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Judaism: PracticesGroup 1
Buddhism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Buddhism: PracticesGroup 1
Hinduism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Hinduism: PracticesGroup 1
Christianity: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Christianity: The Existence of GodGroup 2
Christianity: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Christianity: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Islam: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Islam: The Existence of AllahGroup 2
Islam: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Islam: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Judaism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Judaism: The Existence of G-DGroup 2
Judaism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Judaism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Buddhism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Buddhism: The Existence of Ultimate RealityGroup 2
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Buddhism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Hinduism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Hinduism: The Existence of Ultimate Reality and DeityGroup 2
Hinduism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Hinduism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Component Group 2
- Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics from the perspective of one of the two Group 1 religions; all four themes are studied
What Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict covers
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict is examined in Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Buddhist perspective (J625/09), if this is the perspective studied. That perspective must be one of the student's two Group 1 religions. It covers Buddhist teachings on violence and non-harm, Buddhists in violent conflict and attitudes to terrorism, Buddhist views on justified war, holy war and modern warfare, Buddhist pacifism and non-violent action, Buddhist peacemakers and engaged Buddhism, Buddhist teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation and Buddhist views on justice, injustice and social justice.
Where it is assessed
Component Group 2
Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world, a two-hour paper worth 50% of the GCSE, if this religion is the perspective studied.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Buddhist teachings on violence and non-harmThe First Precept, Dhammapada 129–130 and Dhammapada 5 on hatred, the Sangama Sutta, why violence breeds violence, force against an attacker, intention, and teachings applied by individuals and communities.Open →
- Buddhists in violent conflict and attitudes to terrorismCauses of terrorism, the Dalai Lama after 11 September 2001, the Tokyo subway attack and Aum Shinrikyo, Buddhists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka's civil war, and Zen leaders in Japanese militarism.Open →
- Buddhist views on justified war, holy war and modern warfareThe Mahavamsa and why most Buddhists reject its case for war, the Middle Way applied to war, the ship's captain in the Upayakausalya Sutra, drones, nuclear weapons, and Josei Toda's 1957 declaration.Open →
- Buddhist pacifism and non-violent actionAbsolute and conditional pacifism, upaya, ahimsa, right action and non-violence, the Abhisanda Sutta on the precepts, non-violence as a force, the value of peace, and conscientious objection.Open →
- Buddhist peacemakers and engaged BuddhismThich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama, Maha Ghosananda, the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement, Peace Pagodas, individual and community work for peace, and why inner peace is linked to world peace.Open →
- Buddhist teachings on forgiveness and reconciliationWhy there is no divine forgiveness, Dhammapada 3–4, the stories of Angulimala and Prince Dighavu, the Buddha and the monks of Kosambi, loving-kindness meditation, compassion and wisdom, and forgiveness in society.Open →
- Buddhist views on justice, injustice and social justicePeace in a just society, the Kutadanta Sutta on crime, how Buddhists pursue social justice, punishment and the death penalty, work with prisoners in Britain, and differing views on justice and forgiveness.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Why do Buddhists believe violence breeds violence, and how do they avoid it?
How have Buddhist teachings on violence shaped society, and when might force be allowed?
How did the Dalai Lama respond to the attacks of 11 September 2001?
What is the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement?
How do Buddhists view the idea of holy war?
Why do many Buddhists take a pacifist stance?
What does forgiveness mean for Buddhists?
How do Buddhists understand justice?
How does Buddhist teaching explain the causes of terrorism?
How has the Mahavamsa been used to justify war?
What would absolute pacifism mean for a Buddhist?
What is engaged Buddhism?
Why is there no divine forgiveness in Buddhism?
How do Buddhists understand injustice?
How do Buddhists respond to terrorism?
Why do most Buddhists reject the Mahavamsa's justification of war?
What would conditional pacifism mean for a Buddhist?
How did Thich Nhat Hanh work for peace?
What do Dhammapada 3–4 teach about forgiveness?
What is the relationship between peace and a just society for Buddhists?
Take Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Ahimsa vs Upaya
Ahimsa: non-harming, the refusal to injure any living being. Upaya: skilful means, acting in the wisest way the situation needs.
Sangama Sutta vs Abhisanda Sutta
Sangama Sutta: a teaching, after a battle between two kings, that the plunderer is plundered in turn. Abhisanda Sutta: a teaching that the five precepts are great gifts of safety to all beings.
Cakkavatti Sihanada Sutta vs Kutadanta Sutta
Cakkavatti Sihanada Sutta: a teaching that a king's failure to relieve poverty led to theft, violence and war. Kutadanta Sutta: a teaching that giving seed, capital and wages ends crime without punishment.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What forms of violence do Buddhists recognise?
Model answer
Buddhists recognise violence of body, speech and mind. Harsh words and hateful thoughts are forms of harm as well as physical attacks.
- 2
How does the First Precept apply to violence?
Model answer
The First Precept commits Buddhists to refrain from harming living beings. Buddhists see any intentional violence as unskilful and a source of bad kamma.
- 3
What do Dhammapada 129–130 teach about violence?
Model answer
All beings tremble at violence and fear death, and all love life. Seeing others as oneself, a person should neither kill nor cause others to kill.
- 4
What does Dhammapada 5 teach about hatred?
Model answer
Hatred is never ended by hatred but only by non-hatred. The Buddha called this an eternal law.
- 5
What does the Sangama Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya 3:15) teach about violence?
Model answer
King Pasenadi defeated King Ajatasattu in battle but spared his life. The Buddha taught that the plunderer is plundered in turn, and the killer finds a killer.
- 6
How do Buddhists explain why violence breeds more violence?
Model answer
Violent acts plant seeds of hatred in both victim and attacker. Kamma ensures that violence returns to the one who uses it.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict revision questions
- What does Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?
- 7 subtopics: buddhist teachings on violence and non-harm, buddhists in violent conflict and attitudes to terrorism, buddhist views on justified war, holy war and modern warfare, buddhist pacifism and non-violent action, buddhist peacemakers and engaged buddhism, buddhist teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation and buddhist views on justice, injustice and social justice. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict organised?
- By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Buddhism: Religion, Peace and Conflict, 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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