General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Religious Studies Syllabus

Religious Studies syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Religious Studies in General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings

   3 topics

   • The nature of God
     • Omnipotence and benevolence
     • The Trinity
     • The problem of evil
   • Creation and afterlife
     • Genesis and creation
     • Salvation, resurrection and judgement
   • Jesus Christ
     • Incarnation and crucifixion
     • Resurrection and ascension
2. 2

   Christianity: Practices

   3 topics

   • Worship and sacraments
     • Prayer and forms of worship
     • Baptism and Eucharist
   • Festivals and pilgrimage
     • Christmas and Easter
     • Lourdes and Iona
   • Mission and charity
     • Evangelism
     • Church in the community
3. 3

   A Second Religion: Beliefs and Practices

   3 topics

   • Key beliefs
     • Nature of God or ultimate reality
     • Sources of authority and scripture
   • Worship and observance
     • Prayer and rituals
     • Places of worship
   • Festivals and lifestyle
     • Major festivals
     • Duties and practices
4. 4

   Themes: Relationships and Life Issues

   3 topics

   • Relationships and families
     • Marriage, divorce and the family
     • Gender equality
   • Life and death
     • Sanctity of life
     • Abortion and euthanasia
   • Religion and the media
     • Religious expression
5. 5

   Themes: Peace, Crime and Justice

   3 topics

   • Religion, peace and conflict
     • Just war and pacifism
     • Terrorism and weapons
   • Crime and punishment
     • Aims of punishment
     • Forgiveness and the death penalty
   • Human rights and social justice
     • Prejudice and discrimination
     • Wealth and poverty

Religious Studies flashcards for General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

22 of 50 cards from the Religious Studies deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In Christianity, what is meant by describing God as omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient?

   Omnipotent means all-powerful, omnibenevolent means all-loving (and morally perfect), and omniscient means all-knowing. These are key attributes of the Christian God.

2. What is the Christian doctrine of the Trinity?

   The belief that God is one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Each is fully God, yet there is only one God.

3. What problem do the qualities of God raise in 'the problem of evil', and what is one Christian response?

   If God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, why does evil and suffering exist? A common response is the free will defence: God gave humans free will, and suffering can result from human choices or be a test/opportunity for growth (soul-making).

4. In Christianity, what is the difference between God as immanent and God as transcendent?

   Immanent means God is present and active within the world and human lives. Transcendent means God is beyond and outside the universe, not limited by space or time.

5. What does the Genesis account say about how and why God created the world?

   God created the universe out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo) in six days through the power of his word, resting on the seventh. Creation was deliberate, ordered and 'good', with humans made in the image of God (imago Dei).

6. Define 'imago Dei' and explain its significance for Christians.

   'Imago Dei' means humans are made 'in the image of God'. It gives human life special value and sanctity, and underpins beliefs about stewardship, human dignity and equality.

7. What do Christians believe about the afterlife, including resurrection and judgement?

   Christians believe in life after death. The soul faces God's judgement; believers hope for resurrection of the body and eternal life in heaven, while rejection of God leads to separation from him (hell). Some accept purgatory (mainly Catholics).

8. What is the distinction between the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul?

   Resurrection of the body is the belief that the whole person (transformed body) is raised by God after death. Immortality of the soul is the belief that the non-physical soul survives death and continues to exist.

9. What is the Christian belief about the Incarnation?

   The Incarnation is the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully human ('the Word became flesh').

10. Why is the crucifixion of Jesus significant for Christians?

    Christians believe Jesus' death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice that reconciles humanity with God, paying for human sin and making salvation possible.

11. What do Christians believe happened at the Resurrection of Jesus, and why does it matter?

    They believe Jesus rose bodily from the dead on the third day. It proves Jesus is the Son of God, shows victory over sin and death, and gives believers hope of their own resurrection and eternal life.

12. What is the Ascension of Jesus and when is it celebrated?

    The Ascension is when the risen Jesus returned to heaven, 40 days after Easter. It is celebrated on Ascension Day and marks Jesus taking his place with God the Father.

13. Define a sacrament and name the two sacraments accepted by most Protestants.

    A sacrament is an outward, visible sign of an inward, invisible grace from God. Most Protestants accept two: Baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

14. What are the seven sacraments recognised by the Roman Catholic Church?

    Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (Penance), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage (Matrimony).

15. What is the difference between infant baptism and believers' baptism?

    Infant baptism (e.g. Catholic, Anglican) baptises babies, with godparents making promises and water poured on the head. Believers' baptism (e.g. Baptists) is for those old enough to choose faith, usually by full immersion in water.

16. What do Christians believe the Eucharist (Holy Communion) commemorates?

    It commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. The bread represents his body and the wine his blood, recalling his sacrifice on the cross.

17. What is the difference between transubstantiation and a memorial view of the Eucharist?

    Transubstantiation (Catholic) is the belief that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ. The memorial view (many Protestants) sees the bread and wine as symbols that help believers remember Jesus' sacrifice.

18. What do Christians celebrate at Christmas and at Easter?

    Christmas celebrates the birth (Incarnation) of Jesus. Easter celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus, the most important Christian festival.

19. What is a pilgrimage, and name two important Christian pilgrimage sites.

    A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place undertaken for religious reasons. Important Christian sites include Jerusalem, Lourdes (France), Rome and Iona.

20. Why do many Christians go on pilgrimage to Lourdes?

    Lourdes is where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in 1858. Pilgrims go to pray, bathe in or drink the spring water, and seek healing or spiritual renewal.

21. What is meant by 'mission' and 'evangelism' in Christianity?

    Mission is the duty of Christians to spread the message of Jesus and serve others. Evangelism is specifically the work of sharing the Christian gospel to convert people, following the Great Commission to 'go and make disciples of all nations'.

22. Name one Christian charity and describe the kind of work it does.

    Christian Aid works to fight global poverty and injustice, providing emergency relief, long-term development and campaigning for fairness, motivated by the belief in helping others (e.g. the parable of the Good Samaritan).

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