Judaism: The Existence of G-D

What Judaism: The Existence of G-D covers

Judaism: The Existence of G-D is examined in Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Jewish perspective (J625/08), if this is the perspective studied. That perspective must be one of the student's two Group 1 religions. It covers Jewish beliefs about G-d's nature and relationship with the world, Jewish responses to evil and human suffering, Jewish views on the design and first cause arguments, morality, covenant and the value of arguments for G-d in Judaism, how Jews believe G-d is revealed and Jewish religious experience and perception of the divine.

The 6 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Jewish beliefs about G-d's nature and relationship with the worldGenesis 1:1, ethical monotheism in Deuteronomy 5, Deuteronomy 11 on the natural world, Psalm 24:1, the principle drawn from Deuteronomy 20:19, Numbers 35:2, and why the Torah speaks of G-d in human terms.Open →
• Jewish responses to evil and human sufferingAbraham questioning G-d, the Flood, Psalms 28:7 and 112:7, the free will defence, hester panim, Holocaust responses from Berkovits, Rubenstein and Fackenheim, and answering an atheist.Open →
• Jewish views on the design and first cause argumentsRabbi Akiva's design argument, the cosmological argument in Judaism, the anthropic principle, a world formed for humanity, the Big Bang, evolution and Jewish responses, Psalm 14:1, and atheist objections.Open →
• Morality, covenant and the value of arguments for G-d in JudaismThe moral argument, covenant and moral consequence, judgement and the purpose of the world, ethical living, Heschel on awe and wonder, the Kuzari argument, and why practice matters more than proofs.Open →
• How Jews believe G-d is revealedScripture, inspirational people and figures from Jewish history, G-d acting in the world, conscience, biblical and modern miracles, how the Mishnah and Maimonides explained them, and an atheist challenge.Open →
• Jewish religious experience and perception of the divineMystical and ecstatic experience, the Baal Shem Tov, visions in the Tenakh, worship and community, the lamp commanded in Exodus 25 and 27, Leviticus 19:27, the fringes, and daily reminders of G-d.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Judaism: The Existence of G-D further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Payot vs Tzitzit

  Payot: sidelocks left uncut in obedience to Leviticus 19:27. Tzitzit: fringes on the corners of a garment as a reminder of the commandments.

• Kabbalah vs Hasidism

  Kabbalah: the Jewish mystical tradition seeking closeness to G-d through meditation. Hasidism: the joyful devotional movement founded by the Baal Shem Tov.

• Menorah vs Ner Tamid

  Menorah: the seven-branched golden lampstand of the Tabernacle. Ner Tamid: the eternal light kept burning above the Ark.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What does Genesis 1:1 imply about G-d's relationship with the world?

   Model answer

   The world exists because G-d chose to create it, so it depends on G-d completely. G-d is separate from creation, not part of it.

2. 2

   What does Exodus 20:1–4 teach about the nature of G-d?

   Model answer

   G-d is known as the one who freed Israel from slavery in Egypt. G-d alone is to be worshipped, and no image may represent G-d.

3. 3

   What is ethical monotheism, and how does Deuteronomy 5:6–7 express it?

   Model answer

   Ethical monotheism is belief in one G-d who demands just and moral living. Deuteronomy 5:6–7 declares that Israel must have no other gods besides the G-d who freed them.

4. 4

   How do Jews use Deuteronomy 6:4–9 to describe G-d's relationship with humanity?

   Model answer

   The passage calls Jews to love G-d with heart, soul and might. G-d is a personal G-d who seeks a loving relationship with people.

5. 5

   What does Deuteronomy 11:13–21 teach about G-d's relationship with the natural world?

   Model answer

   G-d promises rain and good harvests if Israel obeys, and drought if it turns to other gods. G-d is pictured as governing nature in response to human behaviour.

6. 6

   What does Psalm 24:1 teach about the world?

   Model answer

   Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it”. Humans are stewards of the world, not its owners.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Judaism: The Existence of G-D revision questions

What does Judaism: The Existence of G-D cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?

6 subtopics: jewish beliefs about g-d's nature and relationship with the world, jewish responses to evil and human suffering, jewish views on the design and first cause arguments, morality, covenant and the value of arguments for g-d in judaism, how jews believe g-d is revealed and jewish religious experience and perception of the divine. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Judaism: The Existence of G-D organised?

By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.