GCSE OCR Religious Studies- Christianity (J625/01)- Exam Revision Summary

RS- Christianity
Believing in God


 Agnosticism: Not being sure whether God exists.
 Atheism: Believing that God does not exist.
 Conversion: When your life is changed by giving yourself to God.
 Free Will: The idea that human beings are free to make their own
choices.
 Miracle: Something which seems to break a law of science and makes
you think only God could have done it.
 Moral Evil: Actions done by humans which cause suffering.
 Natural Evil: Things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with
humans. (these two can overlap)
 Numinous: The feeling of the presence of something greater than you.
 Omni- Benevolent: The belief that God is all- good.
 Omnipotent: The belief that God is all- powerful
 Omniscient: The belief that God knows everything that has happened
and everything that is going to happen.
 Prayer: An attempt to contact God, usually through words.

Religious Upbringing:

 Media: Conflicting messages from the media as they are growing up may
not lead to a belief in God.


Praying:
Community:
Forms an important part of everyday
Will see other people celebrating
life. Starts relationship with God and
festivels. Will believe what parents tell
think God listens. Wouldn't pray unless
them.
you thought it was real.
Sense of belonging and person can
Pray bedtime or say Grace at
express faith. Build friendships.
mealtimes.




Baptism: Church School:
Introdction the church. Surround the child with teachings about
‘Parents bring up children in the God which are taught as fact.
instruction of the Lord’. Part of normal life. Same belief system
Godparents promise to bring up child in as at home so the idea that God is real
Christianity and be a good example. reinforced.

,  Religious Upbringing Can Be Good:
 Can help in life.
 It’s better to experience faith than not at all.
 Christian’s parents are expected to bring their children up in the Christian
faith.
 Religious Upbringing Can Be Bad:
 Children are innocent minds, why indoctrinate them?
 You’re teaching as fact, when it’s just faith.
 Parents make the choice for children.

Religious Experience- ALL EVIDENCE GOD EXISTS


Numinous:
The first man on the moon, Neil Prayer:
Armstrong, felt there is something much
Someone who is terminally ill might pray,
greater when he saw how amazing space
gets better.
looked.
Believe that God has saved them. God
Can’t explain feeling and overwhelmed.
cares about them.
It's so powerful --> God. No other
explanation.



Conversion:
Miracle:
Saul had vision of Jesus ‘Saul why do you
Jesus fed 5000 people with only 2 fish persecute me’. Then he was nicer and
and 5 loaves. became St Paul the Christian.
God as no natural explanation. People might think that they are being
chosen to do something for God. Or some
life altering event convinces belief in God.


Arguments For Existence in God:

 Design Argument (Teleological).
 William Paley: Watch has a designer so world has a designer. So complex
there must be a plan. Scientists amazed by discovery of DNA.
 Causation (Cosmological).
 Thomas Aquinas: Nothing comes into existence by itself so everything
needs a cause. So universe must have a cause, which was God. He started
big bang  universe world.
Arguments Against Evidence in God:

 For:
 You can’t just keep going back forever. Must be some ‘uncaused cause’.
 Has to be something rather than nothing
 Everything has specific purpose- an eye for seeing.
 Everything in universe is perfectly balanced to sustain life.
 Only God could have intelligence and power to design this universe
 Against:
 Cause may not be God. May be some other designer(s).

,  If God caused/designed the universe, then who caused/ designed God?
 Big bang started universe we don’t need creator. Science shows everything without a need
for God.
 Too many faults in Universe to say universe is due to God's perfect design.
 Steady State Theory: New stars and galaxies form to fill any empty spaces when old ones
move apart.
 Unanswered Prayers: Evidence that God does not exist. Particular ones that for benefit for
others in need.




Big Bang: Most religiously accepted. Big Bang how God created universe.
The creation story starts with ‘Let there be light’.
Huge concentration of energy Nothing in theory proves there is no such thing as God.
causing an explosion- universe Evidence- red shift which shows all stars moving apart which
formed. suggests at the start there was a big explosion.



Evolution:
Darwin claimed humans evolved If parts of the Bible were wrong then other could be.
from apes through natural Evidence- fossils show life forms evolved rather than being created
selection. God did not create all exactly the same as today. But too many missing links in the chain.
life uniquely but evolved from May not believe in evolution from an ape. Would accept developed
one simple source 3 billion years in skills and thinking.
ago.



 Christians For:
 God ultimately responsible for the creation of the world. Scientific explanations are true but
needed God to make it happen. Conditions on earth had to be exactly right for life and for
big bang to form universe.
 Science explains how and religion explains why.
 If science and religion are saying different things then they don’t have to be contradicting
each other. Bible is not literal but interpretation of God’s plan.
 Seven day creation is seen as poem not historical account by some. God’s ‘days’ could be
‘millions’ of years.
 Christians Against:
 Bible is fact. Accounts of creation in Genesis are truth, supported by faith and evidence.
 God is ‘prime mover’- the first one to make things happen but doesn’t need anything to
make it happen (Ancient Greece Philosophy).
 Atheists:
 Science can account for creation of the world and animals on it.

Unanswered prayers:

 Help: With problems- illness, family and arguments. ‘Whatever you ask for
in prayers, it will be yours.

,  Forgiveness: Confession. Committed sin. “Forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us”.
 Company: Lonely.
 Praise: ‘Grace’. Thanking God for food before a meal.
 Christians:
 Can lead to belief in God.
 Or can lead to loss of faith. May get feeling that God is not listening. May
think God is unfair.
 Most Christians will continue to believe despite feeling prayers ignored.
E.g. Mother Teresa in Calcutta, did life- saving work despite feeling God
wasn’t listening.



No Faith:
Contradicting:
Bad motives or what we are asking for is
Some prayers contradict other people’s wrong.
prayers so God cannot answer these at
Jesus said that answers would only be
the same time.
answered if people have faith.




Omni- Benevolent:
Plan:
May have answered not in the way that
God has an plan and can't interfere. God
was expected. Gives you want you need
allows the world to run its natural course.
not what you want like a parent.
He may have different plans for person.
God may not answer because you aren’t
‘All the days ordained for me are written
ready for it. He's doing what's best-
in a book’.
omni- benevolent.


Problem of evil:

 ‘I will not be afraid Lord, for you are with me’. Christians believe God is
with them when they suffer.
 For:
 Free Will: If God stopped evil, then no free will. So God is not all loving.
Evil not result of God, but choices we make.
 Good: Good can come from evil- change some laws. People would not be
able to develop good character traits naturally like kindness and
compassion. God’s ultimate plan may need to brought by suffering.
Benevolent: God is benevolent, must have good reason.
 Test: Some may reject God but some grow closer to become more loving
and more patient characters. Results of test determines afterlife.
 Adam and Eve: God created perfect word but Adam and Eve sinned.
Punishment was separation from God leading to suffering. God’s plan then
involved Jesus to restore relationship and humanity.
 Against:
 An omni-benevolent God would not want people to suffer and would stop it.
 An omniscient God would know how to stop it and would be aware of it.

,  An omnipotent God would be able to remove.
 So, God is not omni-benevolent, omnipotent or omniscient or God does not
exist but evil and suffering do exist, therefore God cannot.



Media and Religion

 Bruce Almighty: Supports Christian belief that God does not answer all
prayers. When Bruce says yes to all prayers while being God, results in to
chaos. Some prayers contradict each other, some not ready for it and some
have bad motives. Also shows people positively believing in God. Makes
God appear humorous but still positive belief in God.
 Big Question: Documentary. Richard Dawkins disproves religious idea of
creation of universe by an intelligent designer- William Paley. Supports
evolution. Produced by well-known Discovery Channel and an Oxford
University Professor which convinces people. Some people may not realise
this is one sided point of view.

, Matters of Life and Death


 Abortion: The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can
survive.
 Assisted Suicide: Providing a seriously ill person with the means to
commit suicide.
 Euthanasia: The painless killing of someone dying from a painful
disease.
 Immortality of the Soul: The idea that the soul lives on after the
death of the body.
 Near- Death Experience: When someone about to die has an out of
body experience.
 Non- Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending someone’s life painlessly when
they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they
would want you to do so.
 Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending life painlessly when someone in great
pain asks for death.
 Paranormal: Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual
causes eg. Ghosts, mediums.
 Quality of Life: The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be
worth living.
 Reincarnation: The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new
body.
 Resurrection: The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave
until the end of the world when it is raised.
 Sanctity of Life: The belief that life is holy and belongs to God.

What happens aft er you die?

 Judgement: Reward for good and punishment for sinners. Live within
guidelines given in Bible and Church. Affects how they lead their life and
how they treat others. Gives a purpose for life.
 Afterlife: Forgiveness for some Christians who have done awful things but
repented and now hope for a better future. Offers comfort who have
suffered death of a loved one.
 Immortality Of Soul: Protestant belief.
 Resurrection of Body: Evangelical Protestant belief. Body remains in
grave until Judgement day, when everyone will be sent to heaven or hell.




Angels:
Rooms:
‘When the death rise to life,
‘In my father’s house are many
they will be like the angles in
rooms’.
heaven…’

, ‘The resurrection of the body'. ‘Believes in me shall never
Apostle's Creed. die’. The Burial Service.
Jesus resurrected. Gives them Hope of eternal life.
hope they will also rise.



 Non-Religious People:
 Against: No evidence of afterlife and religion offers no good reason,
fiction. Science shows that person’s body decays so impossible that they
can live again. Most evidence of religion in holy books but the different
religions and also within religions contradict. Mediums etc. trick people


Reincarnation: James Linegar
Young boy remembers his past life as an Ghosts: TAPS
American fighter pilot. Unexplainable Video evidence. Thought to be spirits of
dreams and recalls real people/ events. dead people who have not travelled onto
Some people think he may have heard this the next place.
information elsewhere. Believed that some ghosts may haunt
No involment of religion, essence moving living and some to support loved ones.
from one body to another.



Near death experience: Hilary Williams. Medium/ Contacting the Dead:
Car crash, died and came back. She Mediums claim to have special powers. 'A
experienced angels and heaven. man/ woman who contact the dead must
Different people have different be put to death’.
sensations. Some may have things in Some people attend seances to attempt to
common (proof). E.g. bright light, see contact dead. But people can easily find
themsevles dead, see loved ones etc. information.


Aborti on

 Past: Abortion was illegal. Many women had ‘backstreet’ abortion which
was dangerous. Those who had abortions were social outcasts if found out.
Sex should be within marriage.
 Today: Abortion legal in UK. Still illegal in many countries.
 The Law: Cut off 24 weeks if 2 doctors agree that: women’s
physical/ mental health/ life are greater than child’s if she continues
than end it. Or foetus to be born with severe physical/ mental
abnormalities. Or effects existing children.
 For: MENTION LESSER OF TWO EVILS AT ANY POINT HERE.
 Unfit: Financially or mentally unfit to raise a child.
Rape: Both mother and child can be affected mentally.
Women: Her body and her decision. Should not be forced.
'Backstreet': Stopping abortion would make women turn back to illegal
'backsteet' clinics.
 Against:
Rights: Unborn child has same rights as any other human being.
Adoption: Will be a loving parent willing to adopt the child.
Disability: Just because disabled doesn’t give right to kill it. Has equal right
to life.
Murder: Foetus is living thing. Just killing it.

,  Contemporary Issue: No passage which says abortion is bad however
there are references that that human life exists from earliest life of
pregnancy.
 Christians For: Methodist.
 The Doctrine of Double Effect: Deciding to perform one operation may
trigger another. E.g. if a women needs treatment for cancer which would
kill her unborn child, would be allowed.
 ‘Love your neighbour’. Abortion most loving thing to do in some
circumstances.
 ‘Live in abundance’. Mentally handicapped children can’t have that life.
Relieves suffering.
 Free Will: God gave humans free will to choose for themselves.
 Christians Against: Catholics.
 ‘You knit me together in my mother’s womb’.
 'You shall not murder’.
 ‘All the days ordained for me are written in a book’. God has plan and do
not interfere.
 ‘God created man in his image’. The foetus is alive with potential.

Euthanasia

 Law: In UK all forms of euthanasia illegal. Euthanasia is legal in
Netherlands and Switzerland.
 Active Euthanasia: Direct act by someone else to end life on purpose-
lethal injection or overdose of painkillers like morphine.
 Passive Euthanasia: When medical treatment or life support machine
stopped to end life. Or when treatment refused and person allowed to die.
Doesn’t do anything
to hasten death.
‘God made man in his image’
'You shall not murder' God created human beings in
his image so only God has
‘All the days ordained for power to take life away
'Love thy neighbour' me are written in a book’



Heal the sick Catechisms of Catholic
Free Will: ‘God sets the time for death’. Church:
Jesus. Christians believe
Patient dies in gentle, No one else has authority. ‘An act that causes death to
they should copy Jesus
pain free way. Uses right eliminate suffering is murder’
and help those with
to die as they choose.
medical issues.




 Against:
 Doctrine of Double Effect: Some doctors give painkillers to ease
suffering. Know it causes overdose over time, leading to death. Only form
of euthanasia Catholics agree.

,  Thin End of Wedge: If one law passed, the law can be pushed further
and further. Can’t guarantee sincere consent so vulnerable can be killed
easily. Pressure on patient, family and doctors.
 Resources: Takes away time and money for other diseases which could
be cured.
 Suicide: Suicide is not illegal so why is assisted suicide. Someone should
be allowed to help them if too weak to take their own life. Right to die.
 Hospice: Place where terminally ill people can live remainder of life.
Alternative to euthanasia. Palliative care- not actual illness but treatments
of symptoms of illness, e.g. pain. More like a home than hospital. Family
support during and after death. A Christian doctor, Dame Cicely Saunders
started first modern hospice in 1960s- St Christopher’s.



Good Samaritan Parable: Golden Rule:
The Samaritan helps someone who Do to others as you would expect
needed it regardless of race or religion. them to you.




Image:
'God made man in his image' Stewards:
God created everyone equal so wrong God created the universe and
to ignore suffering of others. appointed us stewards. So we must
The World's resources are a gift to be use our wealth to help others.
shared equally by all men and women.


Poverty

 Christian Aid: Catholic charity. Works to eradicate causes of world
poverty, regardless of nationality or faith. War- Iraq crisis.
 Causes of Poverty: Use geog case studies- development gap, causes of
global inequality.

Dirty Water:
Natural Disasters:
In LEDCs many don’t have
Many LEDCs are in areas
access to clean drinking water.
where natural disasters occur
Disease and death from
so suffer more.
dehydration.



Debt:
War:
LEDCs have to borrow money
Creates refugees. Money from
from more developed
development goes to weapons
countries. Pay back interests of
and war. Community and
which they could have spent
families are broken.
on development.


Media

,  Euthanasia- Million Dollar Baby. Boxer injures herself so she wants euthanasia. Religious- Priest
tells trainer it’s a sin however trainer does euthanasia on boxer anyway. Main character does
not agree with religion but everyone has free will. Terry pratchet documentary and my sister's
keeper.
 Life After Death- What Dreams May Come. Children and father die and end up in ‘heaven’ until
they’re reunited. Father is a ghost which is non- religious view. Mentions he is going to help
people to be re- born on earth which is after death- reincarnation.



Marriage and Family


 Adultery: A sexual act between a married person and someone other
than their marriage partner.
 Civil Partnership: A legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the
same legal rights as a husband and wife.
 Cohabitation: Living together without being married.
 Contraception: Intentionally preventing pregnancy from occurring.
 Faithfulness: Staying with your marriage partner and having sex only
with him.
 Homosexuality: Sexual attraction to the same sex.
 Nuclear Family: Mother, father and children living as a unit.
 Pre- Marital Sex: Sex before marriage.
 Procreation: Making a new life.
 Promiscuity: Having sex with a number of partners without
commitment.
 Re-Constituted Family: Where two sets of children (stepbrother/
sister) become one family when their divorced parents marry each
other.
 Re- Marriage: Marrying again after being divorced from a previous
marriage.
Changing atti tudes

 People have more open minds. Mixture of culture and ideas in UK so
general agreement is reached. Media has an impact. Reduced acceptance
of church teachings and influence.




Most have sex before marriage.
Socially acceptable for people to live together Contraception made sex free from pregnancy.
unmarried.




Age to get married has increased.
Christianity lost its influence.
Not many get married in church.
Social acceptance of unmarried mothers so more single parent families
Increase in reconstituted families.



Gay marriages introduced giving homosexual
couple same rights to heterosexual couple. Changes in the law make it easier to be openly homosexual.
Scientists have shown that homosexuality is probably genetic so not a
In the past people thought homosexuality was
choice.