B602 Revision Guide

b602 revision guide

GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES Table of Contents How to answer the questions Good and Evil Christianity Religion and Science Christianity Good and Evil Origins of the world and life The Devil; the Fall; Original Sin and Redemption Scientific theories about the origins of the world and humanity The Problem of Evil Teachings about the origins of the world and humanity What is the problem of evil for Christians? Science and Religion Responses to the problem People and animals Ways of coping with suffering Environmental issues Sources and reasons for moral behaviour Example Questions Example Questions

How to answer the questions

Parts a, b and c are point marked. This means that each mark requires one point to be made e.g. part b is worth 2 marks, so make two points

Examples:

a) What is death? (1)

Death is the end of life One point made – one mark given

b) Give two examples of environmental issues. (2)

Global warming and pollution. Two points made – two marks given

c) Describe Christian beliefs about God. (3)

Christians believe God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-seeing) and God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, known as the Trinity.

Three points made – three marks given

Parts d (6 marks) and e (12 marks) are level marked. This means you do not need to make 6 or 12 points, but you need to write a detailed answer. Spend most of your time on these questions.

o d) questions - in these questions, you need to give full explanations.  Accurately state the beliefs and teachings you are explaining, using specialist terms  Use quotes to back up these points of view  Remember there are often ranges of views / beliefs that need to be explained

o e) questions - in these questions, you need to give discuss different opinions.

 This means you have to show understanding of a range of different views, including religious views, giving detailed supporting reasons for each one. In your discussion, you should show how one view agrees or disagrees with other points of view.  You also need to include a conclusion, showing clearly what you think of the different views in your discussion.

Good and Evil Christianity

Good and Evil

Concepts of good and evil; God and the Devil (Satan); the Fall, original sin and redemption

Good - anything that brings a person closer to God is considered to be good.

Evil - anything that frustrates humans’ relationship with God is evil

The Devil; the Fall; Original Sin and Redemption  Genesis - the creation story. The devil (in the form of a serpent) tempts Adam & Eve to disobey God. This event is referred to as the Fall. At this point, the perfect creation is ruined and evil enters the world. For fundamentalist Christians this is the source of all evil in the world. The disobedience of Adam & Eve is referred to as original sin and, since we are all descended from Adam & Eve, all human beings are tainted with original sin. i.e. we are not perfect.

After Adam & Eve had sinned, they were banished from the Garden of Eden. However, since God is omnibenevolent, he offered humans the chance of redemption (to make up for their sin). God came to earth as Jesus to offer a ‘bridge’ back to God. Those who believe in Jesus can be saved and go to Heaven.

Beliefs about the devil can be seen developing in Christian thought throughout the Old and New Testament.

 Genesis - a serpent tempts Eve (there is no actual mention of the devil here)  The story of Job - the devil and God have a bet as to whether Job will lose his faith if his life is full of suffering. At no point does the devil have power over Job.  The Gospels - in the New Testament the devil becomes Jesus’ enemy, tempting him to turn his back on God.  The book of Revelation - the final book of the Bible tells the story of Lucifer, God’s brightest angel, who was cast out of Heaven by the archangel Michael and became ‘the devil’. At this point in the Bible, the serpent in the story of creation is identified as being Lucifer, the fallen angel.

Christian beliefs today

Fundamentalist Christians Liberal Christians believe that

believe the devil is a real being the story of the devil is simply a

at work in the world, tempting metaphor for the ‘evil’ that humans away from God. humans are capable of doing. It is our duty to fight against temptation and try to do good.

The Problem of Evil

Concepts of natural and moral evil; Approaches to why there is evil and suffering in the world; Responses to the problem

Two types of evil

Natural Evil Moral Evil

Evil caused by nature e.g. earthquakes, Evil caused by humans e.g. war, crime, disease, floods emotional pain

What is the problem of evil for Christians?

If God is all loving, then he would want to stop evil and suffering.

If God is omnipotent (all powerful), the he is able to stop evil and suffering.

Why, then does evil exist? Why doesn’t God do something about it?

Responses to the problem

Perhaps the simplest response, though not the Christian response, is to say that God does not exist.

St. Augustine – The Augustinian Theodicy

Augustine argued that God created a good and perfect world. Part of this was to give humans (Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) free will. This free will was abused and humans chose to disobey God. This ‘original sin’ caused the creation to be corrupted, that is, it went wrong. The consequence of this was natural and moral evil. All this means that evil is the fault of humans, not God.

St. Irenaeus – Irenaean Theodicy

St. Irenaeus argued that humans were created by God and given free will. They were not created perfect, but given the ability, through free will, to become perfect. This means that humans make mistakes and do things wrong, causing evil and suffering. Humans should learn from this and slowly develop into the ‘children of God’. Again, this answer blames humans for evil and not God.

Ways of coping with suffering

Understanding ways of coping with suffering

 The suffering of Christ – the story of the suffering of Jesus is called the Passion Story and is told in each of the four Gospels. Jesus was arrested, beaten and whipped by Roman soldiers. He was then crucified. This involved being nailed to a cross, resulting in a slow and agonizing death. This has become a metaphor for suffering, as people sometimes say that they have a ‘cross to bear’. Christians try to follow Jesus and live a life like him, and if the life of Jesus involved suffering, then they can accept that their life may also involve suffering. Suffering can make them more ‘Christ-like’.

 Faith in God – the suffering of Jesus also reminds Christians that the death of Jesus was God’s way of showing his love for humanity. By taking on the burden of the world’s sins and sacrificing his life to make amends for these sins, Jesus brings salvation to the world. This belief is known as the atonement.

 Christians might also say that they have to trust in God. Even though suffering and evil seem horrible and unfair, they have to believe that somehow it is all part of God’s plan.

 Prayer / Reading the Bible – Christians might pray to God for strength to cope with suffering or read examples in the Bible of how others have coped with suffering as inspiration.

 Support of other Christians – being part of the Christian community might help Christians cope with suffering. Sharing and helping others in need can be very comforting.

Sources and reasons for moral behaviour

 The Bible – Christian might look in the Bible for guidance on how to behave. Examples such as the Ten Commandments give clear rules about what is right and what is wrong, while the teachings of Jesus often give principles (“Love your neighbour as yourself”) from which you can work out what is the right thing to do.

 Conscience – your conscience is the voice in your head that tells us when you are doing something wrong. Some Christians say that your conscience is the voice of God.

 Faith in Christ – Some Christians use the idea of ‘What would Jesus do?’ This helps them to think about a situation and work out what Jesus’ answer would be. Following this helps them to be more ‘Christ-like’.

Example Questions

(a) What is meant by evil? [1]

(b) Give two examples of human suffering. [2]

(d) How might Christians explain the problem of evil in the world? [6]

(e) ‘It is God who makes people suffer.’

Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by conscience? [1]

(b) Suggest two causes of evil in the world. [2]

(d) A Christian might say that suffering is a necessary part of human life. Explain why. [6]

(e) “You should only help people if you will get something in return.”

Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What does ‘immoral’ mean? [1] (b) Describe one way in which Christians might try to cope with suffering. [2] (c) How does the idea of free will explain why there is evil in the world? [3] (d) Explain why Christians might feel it is important to behave morally. [6] (e) “There is no such thing as evil.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by the term ‘evil’? [1] (b) Give two examples of actions a Christian might consider evil. [2] (c) State three things which might guide Christians in their moral behaviour. [3] (d) Explain how the suffering of Christ might help Christians to cope with suffering. [6] (e) “Doing the right thing will never cause suffering.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by the term ‘original sin’? [1] (b) Give two examples of natural evil. [2] (c) Describe how Christians might use the Bible to make moral choices. [3] (d) Explain how the devil might be linked with human suffering. [6] (e) “Good things always come out of suffering.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

Religion and Science Christianity

Origins of the world and life

Scientific theories about the origins of the world and humanity

Big Bang Theory

This scientific theory deals with the origin of the world. It proposes that about 14 billion years ago, a massive cosmic explosion occurred. This was the start of what we now call the universe. To begin with, basic particles were very hot and as they cooled they began to stick together to form stars and planets.

The evidence for this can be found in the Red Shift, which shows that the universe is expanding, and Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, which is the ‘afterglow’ of the Big Bang.

The Theory of Evolution

This scientific theory helps explain the origins of humanity. It was put forward by Charles Darwin in his book The Origin of Species in 1859. He claimed that life evolved by natural selection through a process of survival of the fittest. Life began as simple bacteria and over millions of years has evolved into the complex animals and plants we see around us. This theory suggests that humans evolved from apes.

Evidence for this can be found in fossils and by observing the way organisms live today.

Teachings about the origins of the world and humanity

Biblical creation accounts

There are two creation accounts in the Bible, found in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 1

This contains the account of God creating the world and life in 6 days:

Day 1 – God creates light and separates light from dark

Day 2 – God separated sea and sky

Day 3 – God created dry land and plants This account covers both the origins of the world and humanity. Day 4 – God created sun, moon and stars

Day 5 – God created birds and sea creatures

Day 6 – God created animals and humans (Humans are created “in the image of God”, told to “fill the earth and subdue it”.)

Day 7 – God rested

Genesis 2 the second creation story concerns the creation of Adam and Eve. Adam was created first from the dust of the ground and had the “breath of life” breathed into his nostrils by God. Not wanting the man to be alone, God created the animals to find him a suitable “helper”. No animal was suitable, This account covers the origins so causing Adam to fall into a deep sleep, God took one of Adam’s ribs and made woman, who of humanity. was thus named “because she was taken out of man.” After they sinned against God, they were sent out from the Garden of Eden to work the ground “by the sweat of their brow” for their food.

Science and Religion

The relationship between scientific and religious understandings of the origins of the world and humanity

Clearly, the scientific and religious accounts of the origins of the world and humanity are different. For some, this means that only one of them can be regarded as true, while for others it is possible to accept both accounts.

Fundamental Christians

Fundamental Christians have a literal interpretation of the Bible. They believe it is the Word of God. They therefore accept the Genesis account and reject the Big Bang and evolution theories, believing that since the Bible contains the words of God, it cannot be wrong.

For Creationists, the scientific and religious accounts are in opposition and only one can be right – for them it is the creation account.

Liberal Christians

Some liberal Christians have a symbolic interpretation of the Bible, meaning that they accept that parts of the Bible may have metaphorical meaning. They accept the scientific theories and the evidence on which they are based, but argue that God is the creator behind all this. They argue that the Genesis accounts are not factually true, because they were written so long ago, but should be seen as stories that contain symbols of a different kind of truth, that God is the creator.

For Theistic evolutionists, science and religion are not opposed to each other, but rather science can explain HOW while religion explains WHY.

People and animals

The place of humanity in relation to animals; Attitudes to animals and their treatment

Key quotes:

 Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish, the birds, the cattle and all the earth.”

 Genesis 1:28 “God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it . . have dominion over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”“

 Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

For some Christians, these quotes mean that humans have superiority over animals. As humans were created “in the image of God” and have “the breath of life” in them, they are to be seen as of greater importance than the animals. This superiority also brings with it dominion or authority over creation.

Roman Catholic Christians therefore believe that only humans have rights and animals do not, though they should be treated with respect as part of God’s creation. Humans dominion over animals means that animals can be used for our benefit e.g. food, clothing, work

However, Quaker Christians believe that animals do have rights and should be treated with kindness, as they, like us humans, are part of God’s creation. Many Quakers are vegetarian, but not all. Quakers think that using animals for our benefit without thinking about the welfare of the animal is wrong. This includes hunting, circuses and breeding animals for fur.

Environmental issues

Responses to environmental issues; Concept of stewardship; Religious teachings relating to environmental issues

Stewardship

The idea of stewardship comes from the creation accounts at the start of the book of Genesis, but looks to emphasize that authority over creation brings with it responsibility to look after creation.

A steward is someone, like a caretaker, who has responsibility to look after something that does not belong to them. Christians argue that creation belongs to God but that he has put us in charge of looking after it.

Christian churches have been very keen to promote activities such as recycling and reducing pollution as part of the idea that we should look after God’s creation. The teaching of Jesus to “Love your neighbour as yourself” can also be used here if we think of future generations as our neighbour who needs a healthy planet.

Key examples:

Christian charities, such as Christian Aid, CAFOD, A Rocha and Tear Fund all work in less developed countries, where part of their work concerns environmental issues, such as deforestation and global warming, especially focused on how these affect poorer people.

Example Questions

(a) What is stewardship? [1] (b) Give two examples of environmental issues. [2] (c) What are the main scientific theories concerning how the world and humanity began? [3] (d) Explain why some Christians might not accept scientific theories about the origins of the world. [6] (e) ‘The world is ours to treat as we like.’ Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by ‘the origins of humanity’? [1] (b) State TWO uses of animals that some Christians might find unacceptable. [2] (c) Give THREE reasons why some Christians believe we should care for our environment. [3] (d) Explain what Christians believe about how the world began. [6] (e) “Scientific theories and Christian teachings have nothing in common.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by ‘environmental problems’? [1] (b) Give two reasons that Christians could use to support medical testing on animals. [2] (c) Why might Christians reject the theory that human beings evolved from apes? [3] (d) Explain what Christians believe about the role of humanity in the world. [6] (e) “If humanity is here by chance then my life has no purpose.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by the term ‘stewardship’? [1] (b) Give two ways in which human beings are damaging the environment. [2] (c) Give three reasons that Christians might use to support being eco-friendly. [3] (d) Explain Christian attitudes towards the treatment of animals. [6] (e) “The human race is more important than the environment.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

(a) What is meant by the term ‘scientific theory’? [1] (b) Give two uses of animals which Christians might find acceptable. [2] (c) Describe one Christian belief about the origins of the world. [3] (d) Explain different attitudes Christians might have towards environmental issues. [6] (e) “God wants people to make scientific discoveries.” Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]