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: The Existence of God
- 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 Christianity: The Existence of God covers
Christianity: The Existence of God is examined in Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Christian perspective (J625/06), if this is the perspective studied. That perspective must be one of the student's two Group 1 religions. It covers Christian understandings of God's relationship with the world and humanity, god's goodness and human suffering, the design argument and the anthropic principle, the first cause argument and Christian belief, the moral argument, soul-making and judgement, how Christians believe God is revealed and Christian religious experience: conversion, mystical, charismatic and sacramental.
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.
- Christian understandings of God's relationship with the world and humanityDeism and why most Christians reject it, 1 John 4:8, Exodus 34:14, Jeremiah 5:19, the Parable of the Lost Son, and why Christians differ over God's involvement in the world.Open →
- God's goodness and human sufferingGenesis 1:31 on creation, what God's goodness means, why a designed world raises a problem, Psalm 22 and its cry of abandonment, free will and suffering, God's response, and the case against a good God.Open →
- The design argument and the anthropic principleTeleology and Paley's version of the argument, examples of design, the anthropic principle and Genesis, the purpose of the world, evolution as a challenge and Christian replies, and awe and wonder.Open →
- The first cause argument and Christian beliefThe cosmological argument, Aquinas on a first cause, Genesis 1:1 and the Big Bang, Psalm 14:1 on unbelief, what caused God, whether the cause must be the Christian God, and the value of proofs.Open →
- The moral argument, soul-making and judgementConscience as evidence for God, moral consequence in the world, soul-making and the purpose of creation, judgement, ethical living, objections to the argument, and whether morality needs God.Open →
- How Christians believe God is revealedInspirational people and figures from Christian history, scripture, Jesus as the fullest revelation, conscience, biblical and modern-day miracles, God acting in the world, and reasons to doubt revelation.Open →
- Christian religious experience: conversion, mystical, charismatic and sacramentalSaul's conversion in Acts 9 and how it changed him, ecstatic experience, glossolalia and visions, worship and the sacraments as experience, denominational differences, and sceptical explanations.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is revelation, and how can inspirational people reveal God?
Key term
How do Christians argue from the universe to a first cause?
Key term
What do different Christians believe God is like?
Evaluation
What is the design argument?
Evaluation
What is the moral argument for God's existence?
Key term
What is a religious experience?
Key term
How do Christians understand God's relationship with the world?
Key term
What does Genesis 1:31 say about creation?
Key term
What does teleological mean?
Evaluation
What is the first cause argument?
Evaluation
What role does conscience play in the moral argument?
Key term
What is revelation?
Key term
What happened at Saul's conversion in Acts 9:1–6?
Key term
What is deism, and why do most Christians reject it?
Key term
What do Christians mean by saying that God is good?
Evaluation
How did William Paley present the design argument?
Evaluation
What is the cosmological argument?
Key term
How do Christians link the world to moral consequence?
Key term
How can meeting inspirational people reveal God?
Key term
How did Saul's conversion change his life?
Take Christianity: The Existence of God further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Teleological argument vs Cosmological argument
Teleological argument: reasoning from order and purpose in nature to a designer. Cosmological argument: reasoning from the universe's existence to a first cause.
Deism vs Theism
Deism: belief in a creator who no longer intervenes in the world. Theism: belief in a personal God who creates, sustains and acts in the world.
Mystical experience vs Charismatic experience
Mystical experience: a deep, often wordless sense of union with God. Charismatic experience: receiving gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tongues or healing.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What do different Christians believe God is like?
Model answer
Most Christians describe God as a loving Father, a just judge and a holy creator. Different traditions stress different aspects of God's character.
- 2
How do Christians understand God's relationship with the world?
Model answer
God created the world and continues to sustain it. Many Christians believe God acts in the world through providence and miracles.
- 3
What is deism, and why do most Christians reject it?
Model answer
Deism is the view that God created the world and then left it to run by itself. Most Christians reject it because they believe God is active and answers prayer.
- 4
How do Christians understand God's relationship with humanity?
Model answer
God made humans in God's image to know and love God. God seeks a personal relationship with every person.
- 5
What does 1 John 4:8 teach about God?
Model answer
1 John 4:8 says that God is love. Anyone who does not love does not know God.
- 6
What does Exodus 34:14 reveal about God?
Model answer
God tells Israel to worship no other god, for God is jealous. God demands exclusive loyalty from his people.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Christianity: The Existence of God revision questions
- What does Christianity: The Existence of God cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?
- 7 subtopics: christian understandings of god's relationship with the world and humanity, god's goodness and human suffering, the design argument and the anthropic principle, the first cause argument and christian belief, the moral argument, soul-making and judgement, how christians believe god is revealed and christian religious experience: conversion, mystical, charismatic and sacramental. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Christianity: The Existence of God organised?
- By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Christianity: The Existence of God, 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.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.