AQA GCSE RS Christianity Key Points and Exam Questions

Introduction

• Video creation took over four weeks.
• Content covers two main sections:
  • Beliefs and Teachings
  • Practices

Beliefs and Teachings

Creation

• Christians believe God created the universe, earth, and mankind.
• Story of creation in Genesis, starting with "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence on Christians today: nature as signs of God's work.
  • Beliefs about creation using sources like Genesis and John.

Nature of God

• Christianity: 1.5 billion followers, denominations include Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox.
• Monotheistic, belief in one God as per Nicene Creed.
• God's qualities: omnipotent, omni-benevolent, omniscient, just.
• Exam Questions:
  • Christian beliefs about nature of God with emphasis on qualities.
  • 12-marker: Discuss God's omnibenevolence in the context of suffering.

Incarnation

• Jesus as God in human form, birth stories in Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
• Concept of immaculate conception.
• Jesus' divine actions explained by his incarnation.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence on Christians today: understanding Jesus’ teachings.
  • 12-marker: Stories of incarnation proving Jesus as the Son of God.

The Holy Trinity

• Three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
• God is one in three forms.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence of Trinity belief on Christians today.
  • Two Christian beliefs about Trinity.

Crucifixion

• Jesus’ trial and crucifixion for treason, forgiving approach during crucifixion.
• Importance: teaches forgiveness, sin no longer destroys lives.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence of crucifixion belief on Christians: seeking forgiveness, staying sinless.

Resurrection and Ascension

• Jesus' resurrection on Sunday, appearances post-resurrection.
• Importance: life after death, foundation for Christian church.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence of resurrection belief on Christians.
  • 12-marker: Resurrection vs. God as creator.

Sin and Salvation

• Sin separates humans from God, originating from Adam and Eve.
• Salvation through good works (faith and obeying law) or grace (faith in Jesus).
• Exam Questions:
  • Christian beliefs about salvation, methods of achieving it.

Life After Death

• Resurrection of soul or body and soul.
• Afterlife views vary, eternal life as a gift from God.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence of afterlife belief on Christians.
  • Beliefs about life after death with sources.

Christ in Salvation

• Jesus’ death as atonement for sin.
• Salvation through sacrifice, resurrection shows defeat of death.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence on Christians: atonement and reconciliation of sins.

Heaven and Hell

• Heaven: eternal presence of God, Hell: eternal absence.
• Views on who gets to heaven vary.
• Exam Questions:
  • Influence on Christians: faith and prayer.

Practices

Worship

• Acts of praise, honor, devotion, private and public worship.
• Liturgical vs. non-liturgical vs. informal worship.
• Exam Questions:
  • Contrasting ways of worship.
  • Importance of private worship.

Holy Communion (Eucharist)

• Thanksgiving service using bread and wine, symbolic for Protestants, literal for Catholics.
• Community aspect.
• Exam Questions:
  • Contrasting ways of receiving communion.
  • Reasons for celebrating communion.

Prayer

• Communication with God, set prayers vs. informal prayer.
• Importance of Lord’s Prayer.
• Exam Questions:
  • Reasons for praying.
  • 12-marker: Best way to understand God through prayer.

Pilgrimage

• Journey to holy sites, acts of worship and devotion.
• Not compulsory but significant, examples in Lourdes and Iona.
• Exam Questions:
  • Reasons for pilgrimage.

Baptism

• Sacrament of initiation, infant vs. believer's baptism.
• Importance of baptism in Christian life.
• Exam Questions:
  • 12-marker: Believers vs. infant baptism.

Festivals

• Celebrations like Christmas and Easter.
• Significance of each.
• Exam Questions:
  • 12-marker: Christmas vs. Easter importance.

The Church in the Community

• Roles: schooling, medical care, justice, food banks.
• Organizations like Trussels Trust, Oasis project, Street Pastors.
• Exam Questions:
  • Roles of street pastors and other community projects.

Mission and Evangelism

• Spreading faith, Great Commission.
• Evangelism important for church mission.
• Exam Questions:
  • Importance of evangelism.

Church Growth

• Rapid growth in South America, Africa, Asia.
• Organizations like Christ for All Nations.
• Exam Questions:
  • Support for Christians in restricted countries.

Church Worldwide

• Reconciliation efforts, persecution challenges.
• Role of the church in restoring relationships.
• Exam Questions:
  • Ways worldwide church works for reconciliation.

Responses to Poverty

• Christian charities like CAFOD, Tearfund, Christian Aid.
• Aim to relieve poverty, follow teachings of Jesus.
• Exam Questions:
  • Ways Christians respond to world poverty.