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
Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings
- 9 subtopics
- 27 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 Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings covers
Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings is examined in Component Group 1, the Christianity beliefs and teachings & practices paper (J625/01), if Christianity is one of the two religions studied. It covers Christian terms for the nature of God, why God's nature matters to Christians, the Christian Trinity and different attitudes to it, Christian beliefs about creation in Genesis and John, evil, suffering and a loving God, Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, Lord and Saviour, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, salvation, atonement, law, sin and grace and Christian eschatology: the Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hell.
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 9 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Christian terms for the nature of GodBenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent, what monotheism means, God as eternal, personal and forgiving, God as judge, and how one God can be both transcendent and immanent.Open →
- Why God's nature matters to ChristiansWhy benevolence, omniscience and omnipotence matter, the Parable of the Lost Son, the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, the first four Commandments, Matthew 25 on judgement, and the Orthodox stress on transcendence.Open →
- The Christian Trinity and different attitudes to itThe three Persons and how they relate, what the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds say, John 14 and Philippians 2, Unitarian and Christadelphian objections, and the filioque dispute.Open →
- Christian beliefs about creation in Genesis and JohnGod as creator in Genesis 1–2, the Spirit's part in creation, the Word of John 1 and Jesus' pre-existence, human purpose and the Fall, Romans 1:20, and literal and metaphorical readings of Genesis.Open →
- Evil, suffering and a loving GodNatural and moral evil, Genesis 3 and the origin of evil, free will and original sin, the problem of evil and suffering, the Book of Job, and denominational views of original sin.Open →
- Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, Lord and SaviourWhat each title means today, Jesus' life as an example, agape in the Good Samaritan and the healing miracles, the Two Great Commandments, and the ideal set out in the Sermon on the Mount.Open →
- The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionThe annunciation in Luke 1, Mark's account of the death of Jesus, the empty tomb in Matthew 28, why each event shapes Christian life and worship, and where denominations place the emphasis.Open →
- Salvation, atonement, law, sin and graceThe function of the law, Paul on sin in Romans 3 and 6, grace in Ephesians 2, the Holy Spirit's role, the ransom view of Christ's death, repentance, and how Christians differ over salvation.Open →
- Christian eschatology: the Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hellResurrection and life after death, early Church apocalyptic hopes, the Parousia and differing views of it, purgatory and the disagreement over it, Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, and differing views of hell.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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What is agape, and what are the Two Great Commandments?
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What is the Sermon on the Mount, and what ideal does it set out?
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What does benevolent mean when Christians describe God?
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Why is God's benevolence significant for Christians?
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What is the Trinity?
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What do Christians mean by calling God the creator?
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What is the incarnation?
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What is salvation?
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What does eschatology mean?
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What does omniscient mean?
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Why is God's omniscience significant for Christians?
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How is the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit described?
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What is the role of God the Father in the Genesis creation narrative?
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What is evil in Christian thought?
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What does Luke 1:26–35 describe?
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What is atonement?
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What do Christians mean by resurrection after death?
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What does omnipotent mean?
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Why is God's omnipotence significant for Christians?
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What does the Nicene Creed say about the Son?
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What role does the Spirit play in Genesis 1–2?
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What is the difference between natural evil and moral evil?
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What does the title Messiah mean?
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What is the crucifixion?
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What is the function of the law in salvation?
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What does life after death mean for Christians?
Take Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Transcendent vs Immanent
Transcendent: beyond and outside the physical universe. Immanent: present and active within the world and people's lives.
Omniscient vs Omnipotent
Omniscient: knowing everything past, present and future. Omnipotent: having unlimited power to do anything.
Natural evil vs Moral evil
Natural evil: suffering caused by earthquakes, floods and disease. Moral evil: suffering caused by human choices such as war and theft.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does benevolent mean when Christians describe God?
Model answer
Benevolent means all-loving and all-good. Christians believe God wants only what is best for every person.
- 2
What does omniscient mean?
Model answer
Omniscient means all-knowing. God knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen.
- 3
What does omnipotent mean?
Model answer
Omnipotent means all-powerful. Christians believe nothing is beyond God's power to do.
- 4
What does monotheistic mean?
Model answer
Monotheistic means believing in only one God. Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all monotheistic religions.
- 5
What do Christians mean by calling God a judge?
Model answer
God judges every person's actions and beliefs fairly. Christians believe God will judge everyone at the end of time.
- 6
What does it mean to say God is eternal?
Model answer
God has no beginning and no end. God exists outside time and always has existed.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings revision questions
- What does Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?
- 9 subtopics: christian terms for the nature of god, why god's nature matters to christians, the christian trinity and different attitudes to it, christian beliefs about creation in genesis and john, evil, suffering and a loving god, jesus as messiah, son of god, lord and saviour, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, salvation, atonement, law, sin and grace and christian eschatology: the second coming, judgement, heaven and hell. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings organised?
- By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings, 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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