AQA GCSE Religious Studies 9-1

ChristianityBeliefs and Teachings

Name: _______________________________________________________ Class: ___

Christianity is the main religioustradition in Great Britain.

It is the state religion – the Queen is the Head of the Church of England.

It is not offensive to other religions to state that Christianity is the main religious tradition in Great

Britain or that the state religion is Christianity.

Lesson Two

Branches of Christianity

Key branches of Christianity

Based in Rome and led by the Pope.

Split from Catholic Christianity in 1054 CE and practised in Eastern Europe.

Split from Catholic Christianity in the 16th century and branched out into different denominations.

Protestant Christianity

Denomination means

Authority

Catholic

Protestant

Quaker

Protestant denominations

Lesson Two

What do Christians believe about God?Draw an image to remind you about each of these key Christian beliefs about God.

There is only one God. There are 3 persons of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists.

God works throughout history and inspires people to do God’s will.

People can have a relationship with God through prayer.

God is spirit (John 4.24) – neither male nor female – but has qualities of both.

God is holy (set apart for a special purpose and worthy of worship).

Jesus is God’s son – the true representation of God on earth.

Lesson Two

The Nature of God (Qualities of God)Characteristic Meaning

Omnipotent

Benevolent

Fair and Just

Immanent

Transcendent

How does belief in God’s nature influence Christians today?

Omnipotent

Benevolent

Fair and Just

Immanent

Transcendent

Lesson Two

The Oneness of God and the TrinityChristians believe that there are three persons in one God.

This belief is called the Trinity.Each person of the Trinity is fully God.

The persons of the Trinity are not the same.

Person of God Facts and scripture about this Person of God

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

Lesson TwoThe Apostles’ Creed

This is a summary of the Christian faith handed down over the centuries. It is not part of the Bible.

Lesson Two

Christian views about creationThe exam specification states that you must know and be able to give different

interpretations of Genesis 1: 1-3 and John 1: 1-3.

Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:3

Genesis 1

Number of days of

creation

Which persons of

God are involved in creation?

How did God create

everything?

Lesson TwoGenesis: What happened on each day of creation?

Fundamentalist Christians believe that the statements in the Bible are literally true. Some believe that the creation stories describe exactly how the universe was created. Others believe that the seven days describe seven long periods of time.Liberal Christians believe that the creation stories are symbolic, where the main message is that God created the universe. They might look to science to understand how God did this.

Day What happened on this day? Image to remind you about this day

1

2

3

Lesson Two

4

5

6

7

Lesson TwoJohn: What happened on each day of creation?

John 1:1

John 1:2

John 1:3

John 1

Who is the Word?

Which persons of

God are involved in creation?

The Word became flesh

Lesson Two

Scientific Explanations for the Origins of the World and of Life

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory

The Theory of EvolutionThe Big Bang Theory

Answer these questions on the other side of this page. 1) How believable are these two theories, in your opinion?2) What are the faults / problems with them?3) What questions do you want to ask about them?4) What questions can you identify about the creation of the world /

origin of life / humanity that the scientific theories haven’t answered?

Lesson Three

Jesus, Son of GodDefinitions

Incarnation means

Crucifixion means

Atonement means

Resurrection means

Ascension means

Incarnation

Incarnation

How was Jesus

conceived?

How did Mary know that she

was pregnant?

The Word became flesh (John 1:14)

The Messiah

Where was Jesus born?

Why is belief in incarnation so important?

Lesson Three

Crucifixion

Why is Jesus’ crucifixion important?

Christians believe that God understands human suffering because…Christians accept that suffering is a part of life because…

Jesus had to die to fulfil God’s plan. Without his death…

Crucifixion

Why did Jesus suffer at

crucifixion?

Jesus' last words

What happened to the temple

curtain and why was this

significant?

Who buried Jesus and where?

Why was Jesus' burial rushed?

Lesson ThreeThe resurrection

Christianity would not exist without the resurrection!

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… you are still in your sins. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead... For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

1 Corinthians 15: 14, 17, 20, 22

Lesson Three

The significance of the resurrection to Christians today

1.

2.

3.

The ascension

The significance of the ascension to Christians today

1.

2.

Ascension

What does ascension

mean?

When was the

ascension?

Scripture (Luke 24:51)

Lesson Three

What does this image tell us about key Christian beliefs and teachings?Add labels to the image to show what it tells us about Christian beliefs and teachings.

Lesson Three

Judgement and the afterlifeDefinitions

Afterlife

Day of Judgement

Eternal life

Afterlife

Heaven

Hell

Purgatory (a Catholic concept)

What does the Apostles' Creed

tell us about judgement and the afterlife?

What happens at the Day of Judgement?

What are people judged

on?

Lesson Three

What are Christians judged on?

Add scripture to the image below.

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Lesson Three

Sin and salvationDefinitions

Free will

Sin

Original sin

Salvation

Original sin – what happened as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience?

1.

2.

God’s guidance to people to make good choices

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20: 1-19

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Lesson Three

Jesus’ Golden Rule Love thy neighbour

Means of salvation

Salvation by Meaning Supporting scripture

Law (works)

Grace

Spirit

Lesson Three

Who can enter heaven?

There is contradictory information in different parts of the bible – which makes this an ideal topic for an exam question!

Just Christians (believers in Jesus)?

Christians and other religious people who have pleased God by living good lives?

Baptised Christians, regardless of how they have lived their lives?

People who have both faith and actions?

The role of Christ in salvation

Lesson Three

Definitions

Atonement

Reconciliation

The role of Jesus in salvation

Jesus’ death made up for the…

The death of Jesus, as an innocent man, was necessary to…

Jesus’ resurrection shows that…

Jesus’ resurrection was proof that…

Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for…

Atonement (at-one-ment = people are at one with God because of Jesus’ death)

Lesson Three

The problem of evil and suffering

Lesson Three

Definitions

Natural evil

Moral evil

The inconsistent triad

Some solutions

Lesson Three

Moral evil 1.

2.

3.

Natural evil 1.

2.

3.

12-mark question structure

Judge opens the case.Introduce the key words.

Make your thesis statement.

Prosecution lawyer.1 or 2 arguments in support of your thesis statement.

Outline the strength of the 1st arguments.

Defence lawyer.1 argument against your thesis statement.

Cross-examination by prosecution lawyer.Outline the weakness of the 2nd argument.

Judge’s summing up and jury’s verdict.Summarise key arguments and conclude.