AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 1.

Creation

Key Words Key Quotes

Image of God—The belief that all humans share some of the qualities of God.  ‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the
image of God he created them; male and female
Omnipotent—All-powerful.
he created them’ – Genesis
Sanctity of life—The belief that all human life is precious and holy.  ‘Then the LORD God took the man and placed him
in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it.’ –
Stewardship—The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment Genesis
on behalf of God.  ‘The Big Bang does not contradict the act of
creation, but requires it’ – Pope Francis
Transcendent—The belief that God is beyond and outside life on earth and the
 ‘Then God said, ‘let there be light’; and there was
universe; he is unlimited
light’ - Genesis

 Humanity is created last and scripture tells us that “God created humankind in his image, in the image of
God he created them” (Genesis 1:27). This means that humans share qualities with God like love and
Creation in Genesis

knowledge.
 God does not require more than his own word in order to create. God is beyond the created world, which
means he is transcendent.
 Genesis 1 shows us that God has the power to do whatever he wants: he can create things from nothing
(ex nihilo).
 Catholics do not believe that this is a scientific account of creation. It is meant to give a reason for creation
rather than how it was done. It is not interpreted literally or as a historical document.
Old Testament New Testament
1) The Law (Torah). The first five books show how Jews 1) Gospels, which record the actions and teachings
became the people of God. The Law includes God’s guidance of Jesus.
on how He wanted the Jews to live. 2) Acts of the Apostles which tell of the events in
2) The history books. These were included to show how God the early Church up to 60CE.
The Bible

guided people and how the people often refused to listen. 3) Epistles which show how to live like Jesus
These are to help people avoid making the same mistakes. instructed and what it means to be a Christian.
3) The wisdom books. These show people how to use their 4) Book of Revelation which is an apocalyptic book
God given talents to do what is right to stay close to God. featuring John’s visions.
4) The prophets. These contain the words of inspired figures
who were sent by God to teach people how God is active in
the world and to teach people to stay faithful to God.
 Natural Law are moral principles and values that  The Big Bang Theory argues that the universe
Science and Natural Law

are considered to be inherent to all humans
 Catholic teaching states that God made everything
good. Humans are part of this whole, beautiful and
good creation; and they find their fulfilment in
becoming the people that God wants them to be.
 The basic natural law is to do good and avoid evil.
This principle applies to humans because they are
created in the image of God.
- Stewardship means Christians have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God and for future generations
Stewards
started as a dense collection of mass which
massively expanded creating stars, galaxies and
planets
 The Theory of Evolution comes from Charles
Darwin who observed that animals change over
time and argued that humans were not
designed by God but evolved from apes
 These theories do not fit with a fundamentalist
Christian’s view but could fit with a Catholic
view

- This can be seen where Christians campaign for environmental charities or choose to reduce waste and recycle
hip

“Rule over [..] every living creature” - Genesis 1:28

- Laudato si' is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. The encyclical has the subtitle "on care for our common home".

Adam God
The perfect man, full of strength and potential Powerful (muscular body) but ancient
Creation in Art

(white hair and beard).

Man is created in God’s image. God is transcendent – represented by the
angels.
Humans have a unique place in creation, as Painting shows the moment God brings
they are created specially by God. Adam to life, revealing God’s
omnipotence and love.
The outstretched hands represent a longing for a relationship between God and humanity.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 2. Incarnation

Key Words Key Quotes

Grace—God’s free gift of his unconditional love to the believer.  ‘When I was hungry you gave me food, when I was
thirsty you gave me drink…’– Gospel of Matthew
Incarnate Son—The belief that Jesus is God made man.
 ‘Do not kill.’ – Exodus
Sacrament—An outward sign of inward grace; there are seven sacraments.  ‘Do not make for yourself an idol.’ – Exodus
 ‘In the beginning was the Word’ – Gospel of John
Son of God—A title used in the Bible for Jesus, stressing his divinity.  ‘The eternal word became so small, small enough to fit
into a manger’ – Verbum Domini 12
Son of Man—A title that Jesus used for himself, which refers to both his
suffering as a human and to the authority given to him by God.  ‘Jesus Christ is the word made flesh’ – Dei Verbum 4

 ‘Incarnate’ means ‘being Matthew Luke

Incarnation in the Gospels

made flesh.’ The doctrine

of the incarnation teaches
that God took on the full
limitations of the human
condition when he
became Jesus.
 God in Jesus knows all the
trials, stresses and issues
of being a human.
Statues and Art
 Writing for Jewish Christians  Writing for non-Jewish Christians
 Women had limited roles in Judaism  Women had higher value
 No woman’s evidence was accepted  Therefore, he could write about Mary’s role
as having value in Jesus’ birth.
 Therefore Matthew focuses on
Joseph’s role in Jesus’ birth
Similarities
 Mary was a virgin
 God worked through human beings to enable his plan for humanity to come about
 Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit
 An angel announced Jesus’ birth

1. Jesus has two natures — He is God and man. 2. Each nature is full and complete — He is fully God and fully man.
3. Each nature remains distinct. 4. Christ is only one Person.
Theology

 As the Son of Man Jesus is fully human. For example he felt pain, emotions etc – ‘Jesus wept’
 As the Son of God Jesus is fully God. He was divine and did things humans cannot do – miracles, resurrection etc.
Beliefs that contradict this are known as heresies. Dei Verbum 4 and Verbum Domini 12 create a balance of understanding.
 St Irenaeus believed that Jesus was a meeting point between God and Humanity.
Throughout his teachings, Jesus led his followers to a new understanding of the law (the commandments and rules
laid down in the Old Testament).
 In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is the new lawgiver, building upon the law given to Moses in the New Testament.
Moral Teachings

 The old law was given so that people could know how to respond to God’s will. Jesus transforms this law by focusing
on what people’s attitudes should be.
 Christians believe that Jesus took the old law and made it perfect. People are not just to avoid murder, they are to
avoid being angry. Instead of not committing adultery, no lustful thought is allowed as it is the first step to adultery.
Jesus believed that having the right attitude would allow his followers to care for other people. Jesus shows the need for this in
the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats  Jesus tells his followers that they must care for people who are in need, and
identifies himself as one of these people. He says that anyone who claims they are following him, but who ignores the needs of
other people, will be damned, while anyone who cares for those in need will be rewarded and taken into heaven.
 The Church forbids abortion as all people are created ‘imago dei’ and therefore all human life is holy.
Grace is God’s free gift of love to all people. There are seven sacraments that give grace to the believer:
 Baptism - In Baptism we receive new life in Christ. Baptism takes away original sin and gives us a new birth in the Holy
Spirit. Its sign is the pouring of water.
Grace and the
Sacraments

 Confirmation - Confirmation seals our life of faith in Jesus. Its signs are the laying on of hands on a person’s head.
 Eucharist -The Eucharist nourishes our life. Its signs are the bread and wine we receive—the Body and Blood of Christ.
 Reconciliation - Through Penance we receive God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness requires being sorry for our sins.
 Anointing of the Sick - This sacrament unites a sick person’s suffering with that of Jesus and brings forgiveness of sins.
 Marriage - A man and woman are united with each other as a sign of the unity between Jesus and his Church.
 Holy Orders - In Holy Orders men are ordained as priests, deacons, or bishops. Priests serve as spiritual leaders of
their communities.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 3. Triune God

Key Words Key Quotes

Baptism—The sacrament in which a person becomes a child of God and a  ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
Christian. baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ – Gospel of
Evangelism—Preaching the good news about Jesus to other people.
Matthew
Mission—’Sending out’ people with a job or function to perform.  ‘He who sings prays twice’’ – St Augustine of
Hippo
Prayer—The raising of the heart and mind to God; listening and speaking to God.  ‘Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary,
use words’ – St Francis of Assisi
Trinity—the belief that there are three persons in one God.
 ‘I believe in one God’ – Nicene Creed

‘The Lord our God, The Lord is One’ - This passage from Deuteronomy states the oneness of God.
Christians believe that God has revealed himself in three Persons: Father, Son and Spirit. This is ‘the central mystery of Christian
Trinity in the Bible

faith and life’ (Catechism).

 The Baptism of Jesus confirms that God is a Trinity of three Persons, shown in this passage by the dove (the Holy
Spirit), the voice from heaven (the Father), and Jesus himself (the Son).
 In the writings of St Paul, Christians leans more about the Trinity, and he summarises the importance of the Trinity to
the lives of believers in his letter to the Galatians.
 When a Christian is baptised, they become a child of God, and a brother/sister to Jesus. God pours out the same Holy
Spirit that unites God the Son with God the Father.
Council of Nicaea (325 CE) Council of Constantinople (381 CE)
 Sometimes the Pope and
Why was the Council called? Why was the Council called?
bishops come together to A priest called Arius was teaching that only Further disputes about the nature of
Trinity and the Church

discuss and make decisions

God the Father was eternal, not God the the Trinity, including the nature of
about important issues for Son. Jesus, led the bishops to call a second
the Church. This is known as
Outcome Council to reaffirm Catholic beliefs.
a Council.
The Council confirmed that: Outcome
 The Nicene Creed is a
- The Son is eternally begotten from the The Council confirmed that:
statement of faith that
Father - The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of
presents what Catholics
- The Father and Son have always co- the Trinity and fully God
believe. It teaches the
existed together - Jesus is both fully God and fully
following about each Person - They are both equal and of the same human
of the Trinity.
nature

 Missionaries may be sent out by the Church to work with people in poverty, by providing medical care or education.
Impact of the

 Evangelists share their knowledge and experience of Christianity to influence the lives and attitudes of others.
Trinity

 For St Augustine, God can be understood ‘from the inside’ looking at the interrelationship between each part of the
Trinity.
 For Catherine LaCugna, the mystery of the Trinity is revealed to us ‘from the outside’ as the focus is on the
relationship within the Trinity that flows out to all people through redemption
The bishops at the Second Music helps bring the liturgy to life and Mass Settings
Vatican Council stressed that allows people to participate more: The Gloria: based upon the hymn of the
music: - Plainchant: an ancient form of music angels and shows great praise to God.
Music in Worship

used in monasteries that is usually The Alleluia: means praise God, it is sung to
 Unites people in unaccompanied. greet the presence of Christ the Word of God
praise - Traditional hymns: these passed the test in the Gospel
 Increases the of time and have been used by generations Sanctus: Latin for ‘holy’ and is the first word
beauty of worship of believers of the hymn sung before the Eucharistic
 Helps people to feel - Contemporary hymns: songs use a wider prayer.
more involved in range of musical instruments and reflects Mystery of Faith: shows everyone accepts
their prayer. what they want to say to God. the depth of God’s love.
Why is Baptism Important?
- It is the sacrament of initiation through which a person becomes a
Baptism and Prayer

member of the Church

- It cleanses a person of all of their sins
- It fills the person with the Holy Spirit, to give them the strength to
resist evil
- It is a pledge that the person will join God in heaven after they die
- It shares the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with the person
- Christians join in with Jesus’ death and resurrection, to share in
Christ’s victory over the power of sin and death.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 4. Redemption
Key Words Key Quotes
Conscience—The voice of God in the heart of a person, guiding him/her to do what is  ‘If Christ had not been raised, your faith if
right. futile’ – St Paul
 ‘Do this in memory of me’ – Jesus
Eucharist—Means ‘thanksgiving’; it is another name for the Mass.
 ‘The Mass is the source and summit of
Salvation—The belief that Christians are set free from sin through the death and Christian life’ – Catechism
resurrection of Jesus.  ‘Conscience is man's most secret core and
his sanctuary. There he is alone with God
The ascension—Forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in whose voice echoes in his depths’ –
heaven. Gaudium et Spes 16

The resurrection—Three days after the crucifixion when God raised Jesus from the dead.

1) God made his creation perfect but gave humans free will, because God wants humans to choose to follow him.
2) Humans can use their free will to sin, which means rejecting the will of God.
3) All people are born with original sin, which is the inbuilt tendency to commit sin.
4) Sin has broken the relationship between God and man, God the Son became Jesus to help
restore the relationship with God.
Redemption

 Jesus’ death helped to restore the relationship between God and humans that had
been broken by sin
 Three days after his death, Jesus was raised back to life. This destroyed the power
of sin and death and people are now able to be with God after they die.
 Jesus’ ascension have helped to restore the cosmic order, by making the whole of creation perfect as God intended it
to be.
Jesus is described as the example, restorer and victor. This is because he set a good example for others to follow; he restored the
relationship between God and humanity; and he was victorious over the power of sin and death.
Salvation (being saved):  St Irenaeus used the metaphor of a tree. Adam
Different Views on

Was in the past – Jesus’ death and resurrection destroyed and Eve broke humanity’s relationship with God by
the ultimate power of sin eating from a tree. Jesus healed this by dying on a
Salvation

Is in the present – it is an ongoing process, the Holy Spirit tree (cross).

guides people towards salvation  St Anselm used the metaphor of a ransom. The fall
Will be in the future – it will only happen at the end of time made humanity a slave to sin. Only total obedience
when the Kingdom of God is established could atone for this. Jesus obedience through his
death paid the price for our sins.
Catholics believe that in the Mass the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. This means that Christ is truly
present in the consecrated Bread and Wine (also called the Blessed Sacrament).
- Catholics believe that Christ is present among them
when they gather together. Orthodox Orthodox Christians believe that Christ is fully present in
The Eucharist

Christians the consecrated bread and wine.

- The readings remind Catholics that God has guided
his people. Anglican Some believe the same as Catholics. Many believe the
- The command “do this in memory of me” reminds Christians Spirit of Christ is received when Communion is given.
Christians that each time they celebrate the Eucharist, Quakers They do not celebrate the Eucharist. No symbols needed.
they make the event a reality, not just a past event. Nonconformist The Eucharist is a memorial of the Last Supper; this
- Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ binds Christians means its purpose is to remember the Last Supper.
Catholics to the new covenant.
- Eucharistic adoration refers to adoring or honouring the real presence of Christ in the consecrated Bread and Wine.
A church is a space where they can meet to worship together. The most important service in Catholic worship is the Mass.
Church’s built after 1965 have different architecture due to Vatican II.
Church Architecture

 The altar is the focal point in a Catholic church. The priest offers Mass on the altar to remember Jesus offering himself
as a sacrifice to God on the cross.
 The consecrated bread is kept in the tabernacle.
 The lectern is a book stand where the priest and readers stand to read to the congregation. It is from here that the
Word of God is read to the congregation.
 A crucifix is a visual reminder of the suffering and death of Jesus. It reminds Catholics of the price Jesus paid for their
salvation.
Christians believe that a person’s conscience is the voice of God in their heart and soul, guiding them to do what is right.
 People should not ignore what they believe God is telling them in their hearts
Conscience

 Natural law means that all people know what the right thing to do is
 Listening to others can help a person to understand the effects of their actions, as well as to be confident they are
interpreting their conscience correctly
 The Church’s teachings have been guided by the presence of the Holy Spirit for hundreds of years. Therefore, they
have authority for Catholics and should not be ignored.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 5. Church and the Kingdom of God

Key Words Key Quotes

Apostolic Succession—The authority and power of Peter and the apostles passed  ‘Let justice flow like water’ – Amos
on to the next generations of popes and bishops.  ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
Discipleship—Following Jesus.
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
Justice—Fairness in the way people are treated. loosed in heaven’ – Jesus to Peter (Matthew)
 ‘My soul magnifies the Lord’ – Mary (Luke)
Pilgrimage—A religious journey to a holy place.  Christians, on pilgrimage toward the heavenly
city, should seek and think of these things which
Reconciliation—Bringing people back to a good relationship with God and with
are above’ – Gaudium et Spes 57.
one another.

 The Church is One united body.  The presence of God makes the church Holy.
 The Church is Catholic meaning beliefs are  The teachings are Apostolic as they are built on
universal. the teachings of the apostles.
Pope: the Bishop of Rome and the worldwide leader of the Catholic
Church.
The Church

Cardinals: They have the authority to elect a new Pope in the case of death
or resignation.
Bishops: These are in charge of diocese and ordain new priests.
Priests: These perform the liturgy of the Eucharist for members of the laity
and look after a parish
Laity: Members of the Church who are not ordained.

The Pope may call a Council when he wants to consult formally with bishops over issues that affect the whole Church. Pope John
XXIII, who wanted to ‘open the windows of the Church’, summoned the last council. He felt the Church has become too cut off
from the world, and the Second Vatican Council addressed this between 1962 and 1965.
Catholics believe that they are part of the Church’s mission to take out the message about Jesus, his life and his teaching to the
people they meet, particularly through their actions. Evangelism is the preaching of the Gospel, particularly in words.
Drama

Les Mis Scene 1 – The Bishop: The Bishop helps Les Mis Scene 2 – Valjean lets Javert Les Mis Scene 3 – Epilogue: The message of
Valjean by providing him with shelter and food. go: Valjean sets Javert free. Valjean is the whole film can be summed up in one
He is following the teaching of Jesus expressed in following Jesus’ teaching to love others, lyric - 'To love another person is to see the
the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats even your enemies face of God.'
Our Father, who art in heaven, The Magnificat
This is saying who our prayer is going to. God is Our Father and  Mary praises God for his greatness.
people are His children  God has fulfilled the promises he made to the people of
Hallowed by thy Name, Israel through the prophets.
Hallowed means "Holy". By saying, "hallowed be thy Name", it is  When Mary accepted God’s will for herself. She became
saying that God's name is holy. mother of Jesus, who himself brought God’s Kingdom on
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. earth.
What God wants people to do, is what people should do so that 
Prayer

Mary is always humble in this hymn of praise. “All

earth will be as perfect as heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
This means that people trust God to give them what they need.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against
us.
Trespass means to do a bad thing. When people trespass against
God, its called sinning.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We ask God to help us resist the temptation of sin by his grace.
Justice: Fairness in the way people are treated. Pope Francis increased the number of priests working with the poor.
Kingdom Values
generations will call me blessed”
 The prayer also contains a great deal of trust in the
power of God working on behalf of the poor and
oppressed.
 There is also a sense of revolution in this prayer: “he has
brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted
up the lowly.” Also, the prayer makes people believe that
God is on the side of the weak and helpless.

Peace: a state of total trust and unity between all people. Pope Francis uses his public address to pray for peace.
Reconciliation: Bringing people back to a good relationship with God and with one another. Pope Francis washes the feet of
twelve prisoners every Maundy Thursday.
 The SVP help individuals in need in their local area eg. food banks and community projects
 CAFOD help those overseas who are living in poverty eg. provide disaster relief and teach life skills
Catholics can show Kingdom Values through their vocation (priesthood, family life, religious life etc.)
The final stage of Jesus’ journey on Earth is set out in fourteen images in Catholic churches – the Stations of the Cross. During
Lent, many Christians like to make the Stations of the Cross. They walk between the Stations and say a prayer at each one as
Pilgrimage

they think about Jesus’ last journey. This is a form of dramatised prayer.
Jerusalem: The city in Israel where Jesus died. Catholics visit Rome: This is the centre of the Catholic faith. Catholics visit
to share in Jesus’ life and suffering. to show unity with the Pope and all Catholics
Lourdes: Bernadette had visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Walsingham: This contains the national Catholic shrine.
Catholics visit for spiritual and physical healing Pilgrims may visit to spend time in prayer with others
without having to go abroad.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Catholic Christianity. 6. Eschatology
Key Words
Eschatology—The study of what will take place at the end of time.
Heaven—The state of eternal happiness in God’s presence.
Hell—The state of total separation from God.
Purgatory—A state of cleansing to remove the effects of sin.
The last rites—Prayers and actions that prepare a dying person for death.
Key Quotes
 ‘I am the resurrection and the life...everyone who lives
and believes in me will never die’ – Gospel of John
 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life’ – Gospel of John
 ‘Do not kill’ – Exodus
 Human life is sacred because from its beginning it
involves the creative action of God - Catechism

The - Jesus is the central figure, emphasising his role as

Paschal the judge of all people.
Candle has - The painting shows the dead being raised from their
Symbols and The Last

graves. Christians believe all people will be raised up

an
for judgement on the last day.
important
Judgement

- The saints hold the tools that were used to torture

role in and kill them. Despite their terrible deaths, they have
many perfect bodies in the afterlife.
church - The seven angels are a reference to the Book of
services, Revelation. One angel holds a book of the names of
particularly all those who will be raised to heaven, while the
the Easter other holds a book of those who are destined for hell.
- The bottom right of the picture shows people
Vigil.
moving towards hell, and they are in despair.
Eschatology looks at what happens at the end of time. Jesus’ resurrection is important as it gives us an insight of the the
afterlife. St Paul believed that the resurrected body would be different from out earthly body.
The bishops at the Second Vatican Council said: ‘Since we know not the day nor the hour, on Our Lord’s advice we must be
Eschatology

constantly vigilant.’ As nobody knows when this might be, Catholics must live their lives by doing good deeds and committing
themselves to God. Cosmic reconciliation means that, at the end of time, the whole of creation will be reconciled with God:
 God the Father created the universe through God the Son (the Word). All of creation was seen to be “good.”
 However, the arrival of sin broke this harmony and threw creation out of balance.
 Jesus was able to destroy the power of sin and death. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus helped to restore harmony to the
world.
 At the end of time, the whole of creation will be fully restored and made perfect. This is known as cosmic reconciliation.
Catholics believe in the sanctity of life so all life should be cared for and respected until the moment of death. As such Catholics
Euthanasia

are against Euthanasia (killing someone painlessly to end suffering) for the following reasons:
 It is considered to be murder and morally unacceptable
 Only God has the right to take away life
 It lowers the value and dignity of life – all life should be valued and respected, even is a person is ill and suffering
 Suffering is part of being human but may be reduced with medication.
The Last Rites Funeral Rites Memorials for the Dead
The Anointing of the Sick is one 1) Reception of the Body: The body is taken to Tombstones - Indicates the
of the seven sacraments. It is church in its coffin, representing the person location of a person’s grave and
given to a person who is seriously being taken back to God. contains basic biographical details.
ill and may be facing death. It is 2) The Funeral Mass: The priest holds a Requiem Some features represent key
The End of Life

centred on the action of anointing Mass. The Mass is centred around praying that Christian beliefs.
a sick person with holy oil to the deceased person’s sins have been forgiven Monument - Structure built to
provide spiritual/physical healing. and they are now with God in heaven. remember an important person or
The Commendation of the Dying 3) The Committal and Burial/Cremation: The event. Some have been built for
is a short service that is held for a priest waves smoke from burning incense over Catholic saints to remember how
person who is dying. In this the coffin. The rising smoke represents people’s important they were.
service, they receive their last prayers rising up to God. The Lord’s Prayer is Remembrance Garden - Area
Holy Communion (called Viaticum said, the coffin is sprinkled with holy water for where the ashes of people who
– food for the journey). the final time as a reminder of Baptism. have been cremated are kept. They
reflect the beauty of heaven.
Catholics believe that after death people are judged by God. If they do not die in a state of complete grace, they may enter
purgatory. This is a cleansing process, where the effects of sin are removed.
Four Last Things: In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the rich man does nothing while alive to
Life After Death

Death – transition into a new phase help Lazarus, a poor beggar, and when he dies the rich man goes to Hell whilst
of life Lazarus goes to Heaven. While in Hell the rich man asks Abraham for some relief and
Judgement – God judges the good he is declined, in the same way that he did nothing to help Lazarus.
and bad deeds during life  Showing love and kindness to others will lead people to heaven.
Heaven – a state of eternal  Hell is a place of torment and people in hell are aware of people in heaven.
happiness  It is not possible to move between heaven and hell.
Hell – eternal separation from God  Following Jesus’ teachings, will lead people to heaven.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Judaism. 9. Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings
Key Words Key Quotes
Charity—This refers to the requirement for Jews to give at least 10% of their income to those in need.  ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God,
the LORD is one’ – Deuteronomy
Covenant—God’s agreement to look after the Jews as his chosen people, subject to Israel’s obedience.
 I will make you a great nation, and I
Free will—The belief that God gives people the opportunity to make decisions for themselves. will bless you’ – Genesis
 ‘In the beginning God created the
Healing the world—The Jewish idea that is about making the world a better place.
heavens and the earth’ – Genesis
Judge—The belief that God is fair. The qualities of justice and forgiveness are perfectly balanced.  He who destroys one soul of a
human being, the scripture
Merciful—Refers to the nature of God as compassionate.
considers him as he should destroy a
Resurrection—A belief of many Jews that in a future age the dead will rise from their graves to live again. whole world’ – Sanhedrin
 ‘Do justice and love goodness’ –
Sanctity of human life—The belief that all human life is precious and holy. Micah

One Creator Lawgiver & Judge/Divine Presence

Jews believe G-d has The Torah begins by telling Jews how G-d To help Jews exercise freewill properly G-d
no parts and it is created the universe out of nothing- exactly provided them with the Mitzvot (613
The Nature of God

only G-d who is the how he wanted it to be. Ultra-orthodox and commandments that govern how people should
source of all Jewish Orthodox Jews believe the creation story to be behave). G-d will judge them for how well they
morality. Jews use literal (that the world was made in 6 days), followed those laws. God’s judgements are fair and
‘G-d’ rather than Liberal Jews may believe in evolutionary merciful.
God as a sign of theories but still hold that G-d is responsible The Shekhinah means ‘G-d’s manifested glory’ or
respect. the Shema, for it. Jews believe that God is the creator of ‘G-d’s divine presence on Earth’. Jewish writings
an important Jewish everything- except evil. Evil is a product of refer to the Tabernacle a portable structure and an
prayer that exclaims freewill- a gift from G-d enabling us to either early dwelling place for the Shekhinah. The Jews
the oneness of God. choose to do good or bad. G-d is also the carried the Tabernacle with them on their exodus
sustainer of the world. from Egypt to the land of Canaan (Israel).
Jews believe that G-d has made numerous ‘covenants’ with his people; the word ‘covenant’ means agreement or promise.
Abraham – Promised Land Moses – Mount Sinai
G-d told Abraham ‘Go forth from your native land and from Moses led the Jews to freedom from Egyptian slavery. After
your fathers house to the land that I will show you’, this land wandering in the desert, Moses went up Mount Sinai,
Covenant

had been Israel. Abraham kept his promise to G-d and
circumcised all the men in the family, G-d responded by
enabling Abrahams wide (Sarah) to become pregnant
despite the fact that she was unable to conceive due to age
and thus producing a ‘great nation’.
leaving the Jews at the base. While on Mount Sinai, G-d gave
Moses the Ten Commandments carved on stone, Moses
carried them down the mountain. This is how the ten
commandments were given. Jews would have to obey these
laws and in return God would protect them from harm.

 G-d breathed life into Adam and into the whole of creation. Life is therefore seen to be holy and sacred because it is
Life and Life after Death

given by God. It particularly applies to humans because they were made in G-d’s image.
 As life belongs to God, preserving life is a duty in Judaism. Death cannot be made to come more quickly than it would
from natural causes.
 The obligation to save life – pikuach nefesh – emphasises how valuable human life is for Jews, as it takes precedence
over other responsibilities and other Jewish laws.
There is little teaching about life after death in Jewish holy books so there are different beliefs: some believe life after death
will be physical, others spiritual. The good will enter paradise (Gan Eden) while others will go to a place some call Sheol. It is
believed Heaven will be with God (but it is not known if this will be physical or spiritual).
One reason for lack of agreement is that the consensus among Jewish people is that the present is more important.
The word messiah means the anointed one, and was originally used in the Tenakh to refer to the first king of Israel. Today Jews
use it to refer to a future leader of the Jews- a descendent of King David- who will rule the Jews during what is known as the
Messiah

Messianic age.
Orthodox Jews believe that in every generation there is a descendent of King David who has the potential to be the Messiah:
who will be directed by God to become the redeemer, rule over humanity with kindness and justice and uphold the laws of the
Torah. Many in Reform Judaism reject the idea of a Messiah- instead of one person to unite everyone should work together for
peace and harmony. Jews DO NOT believe Jesus was the Messiah.
The foundation of the mitzvot are The Ten Commandments. The Mitzvot form the basis of the Halakhah (code of conduct for
Mitzvot and Key
Moral Principles

Jewish life). Mitzvot between man and G-d give further guidance on how an individual can improve their relationship with God.
The Mitzvot between man and man cover areas such as the treatment of workers, how to settle disputes etc.
Key Moral Principles
 Justice – bringing about what is right and fair
 Healing the World – taking actions to help God’s work in sustaining the world
 Kindness to Others – showing positive caring actions towards all people
 AQA Religious Studies B. Judaism. 10. Judaism: Practices
Key Words Key Quotes
Bar Mitzvah—Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13. Literally “Son of the Commandment.”  ‘Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads’ –
Bat Mitzvah—Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12. Literally “Daughter of the Commandment.”
Deuteronomy
Brit Milah—Ceremony of circumcision at which a boy becomes a member of the Jewish People of God.  ‘Remember the sabbath day and
keep it holy’ – Exodus
Kosher—Food that is ‘clean’ and ‘fit’ and that meets the requirements of the Jewish dietary laws.
 ‘You must cut off the flesh of your
Pesach—Festival that celebrates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. foreskin as a sign of the covenant
between me and you’ – Genesis
Rosh Hashanah— The Jewish New Year, which recalls the Genesis creation story.
 ‘You shall not boil a kid in its
Shabbat –The Jewish holy day, which begins at sunset on Friday and continues to nightfall on Saturday. mother’s milk’ – Exodus

Yom Kippur—The Day of Atonement—a day of penitence and fasting.

A Synagogue is a house of assembly (Beit K’nesset) where Jews meet for prayer, worship, study and social events.
 The Ark is regarded as the holiest place in a synagogue, this is because it is where the Torah scrolls are kept
 The ever burning light (Ner Tamid) is a light that is kept burning all the time, it is placed above the Ark. It symbolises
God’s presence
 The reading platform (Bimah) is a raised platform and is used for reading the Torah. It is a focal point.
Orthodox Judaism is the traditional form of Reform Judaism is progressive, it changes its practises to suit modern
Judaism, they emphasise the importance of day life. They believe that it is the overall spiritual and moral code
The Synagogue

obeying God’s instructions as laid out in the Torah. within the Torah and Talmund that must be obeyed, rather than each
They believe that there are different roles for men individual laws. Many reform synagogues do not have daily services
and women resulting in different duties. In an but concentrate on Shabbat and festivals. Men and women sit
Orthodox service the person will have the back to together and a person leading the service will face the congregation,
the congregation, the service is in Hebrew and women are able to have a greater role by taking an active part in the
unaccompanied. Men and women sit separately, ceremony. During the ceremony the congregation are able to use
although now there is a dividing structure. Musical instruments to accompany the songs, the service is conducted
in both Hebrew and English.
 Tallit – a prayer shawl that reminds Jews of G-d’s words and law
 Tefillin – a pair of small leather boxes that that contains extracts from the Torah reminding Jews to focus on G-d.
Weekday services in the Synagogue consist of a number of prayers, including the Amidah, which is central to Jewish worship.
Shabbat is the Jewish Holy day which starts of on a Friday night and finishes on a Saturday night., it is seen as a gift from God as
day of rest and renewal. All shopping, cooking and cleaning is done in advance, as any work is not allowed during shabbat. God
instructed Jews in the 10 commandments to keep the Sabbath day holy, this also links to God creating the world in 6 days and
on the 7th day he rested. Jews will focus on spending time with their families.
Shabbat

Synagogue - Friday evening: there is a brief service (45 mins) Home - The house is cleaned, food is prepared and the
in the synagogue. At the end of the service, the prayer family change into smart clothes.
leader takes a cup of wine and recites blessing (Kiddush) A female member of the family has the honour of lighting
thanking God for Shabbat. the candles to welcome Shabbat into the home.
Saturday morning: this service is longer than weekday The family eat a special meal which ends with a prayer of
services, and includes prayers and blessings and a reading thanksgiving for the food.
from the Torah. The end of Shabbat is marked with the Havdalah service.
Birth Bar/Bat Mitzvah Marriage
- Orthodox Jews to bless their baby When Jewish boys reach 13 years old and girls At the wedding ceremony the
Ceremonies

on the first Shabbat after their birth, 12 years old enough to take full responsibility couple will smash a plate of glass
baby girls names are announced. for practicing their faith. Boys have a ceremony as a symbolism of the destruction
- Boys (usually 8 days old) will have called a Bar Mitzvah, and girls have a ceremony of the temple. The couple will
their foreskin removed just like called a Bat Mitzvah. To celebrate the festival spend time together in a private
Abraham promised God, and they will they will read from the Torah at a normal room to mark themselves as a
be given a name (Brit Milah). service, will wear a Tallit and lead prayers. couple, then celebrate.
 The Tenakh is the main Jewish sacred text and contains the written law. The Talmud is a commentary which helps
them put this into practice.
Prayer and
Festivals

Rosh Hashanah is a time for Jews to reflect on their year, including their good deeds and their bad deeds. The shofar is blown to
symbolise a call for repentance. Jews spend time in the synagogue with prayers being said and parts of the Torah read.
Yom Kippur means Day of Atonement. It is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day to reflect on the
past year and ask God's forgiveness for any sins. Pesach remembers the story of Moses freeing the slaves from Israel, and is
commonly called the Passover.
 Jews have strict rules (dietary laws) about what they can and cannot eat, food that is permitted is called Kosher, food
Traditions

that is not allowed is called Trefah. The Kosher laws are found in the Torah, and the Talmund tells Jews how to put it
into practice. For example, pork is forbidden and meat and dairy cannot be eaten together.
 Following a bereavement, Jews tear an item of their clothing, this is over their heart for parents and on the collars for
other family members. It is important that the deceased is buried within 24 hours whenever possible. The family still
mourn for 30 days after the death, where the family are not allowed to go to parties, listen to music or cut their hair.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Themes. 11. Religion, Relationships and Families

Key Words Key Quotes

Annulment—The declaration by the Catholic Church that there was no valid marriage in the first place.  ‘God created humankind in his image’
– Genesis
Compassion—The ability to ‘suffer with’ or deeply understand how another person is feeling.
 ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ – Genesis
Discrimination—Treating people differently; acting on prejudice  ‘Two become one flesh’ – Gospel of
Mark
Divorce—The legal ending of a marriage.
 ‘…for better for worse, for richer for
Equality—Accepting that all people have the same dignity and rights simply because they are human. poorer, in sickness and health, to love
and cherish, till death do us part’ –
Marriage—The sacrament in which a man and a woman pledge their love to each other for life.
Wedding Vows
Prejudice—Unfairly judging someone before the facts are known; rejection of facts with no valid reason.  ‘Do not commit adultery’ – Exodus
 There is no male or female; for all of
Sanctity—The belief that something is blessed by God and is holy.
you are one in Christ Jesus’ – St Paul

- Marriage is a religious and legal ceremony in which two people make vows (promises) in front of their friends and family and
(if in a church) in front of God. There are legal and religious conditions for a marriage to be considered valid.
- During the ceremony you agree to be together for life saying “til death do us part” (Marriage Ceremony)
Marriage is a sacrament, it should be loving, exclusive and a sign of the love of Christ for the Church
- Divorce is the legal break-up of a marriage. It is legal in the UK and many marriages currently end in divorce.
Marriage

- Many Christians do not like it as it is seen to break the promises made in a marriage.
 The Catholic Church do not support divorce. They believe that sex after divorce is a form of adultery and you cannot get
remarried in a Catholic Church once you have been divorced. Jesus says “if a man divorces his wife [...] he involves her in
adultery” (Matthew 5:32)
If there is a reason why a marriage was not valid according to the Church it will allow an annulment.
 Other Christians may accept divorce, especially if it is for reasons of abuse but you have to receive special permission to get
remarried in a church. They might see it as a merciful option.
The Bible says that God created men and women ‘in his image’ and they are designed to complement each other.
Sexual Orientation Adultery and Sex Outside Marriage
- The Catholic church forbids sex between people of the same sex - Roman Catholics argue that all sex before marriage
Human Sexuality

- They argue that homosexual relationships are banned by the
Bible as it is not procreative
- Liberal Christians teach that Jesus wanted people to love each
other and show mercy and that we should be accepting of
homosexuals
- Gay marriage is banned in the Catholic Church. The Church of
England supports civil partnerships.
“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a
woman” – Leviticus 18:22
The Church teaches that sex should be marital, unitive and procreative. Pope John Paul II’s ‘Theology of the Body’ summarises
Sex and Contraception
and after a divorce is unacceptable. Sex should only
take place inside a marriage which is a lifelong, loving
relationship.
- Adultery means the act of having sex with someone
who is not your husband or wife.
- It is prohibited by the Bible and Christians argue it is
wrong as it undermines marriage involves lies and
secrecy.
“You shall not commit adultery” - Exodus 20:14

Catholic teaching about the human body and sexual relationships.

- Artificial contraception means using something to stop yourself from getting pregnant. This could be a condom, the pill or a
device like the coil.
- Family planning means using the natural cycle of fertility which women go through to predict when a woman would be least
fertile. It is much less effective than artificial contraception.
- God tells Adam and Eve (the first couple) to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:2) which encourages them to have children.
 The Catholic Church argues that all sexual acts inside marriage must be open to procreation (having babies) and that a baby
is a gift from God. They may use family planning as it is a natural method.
 Other Christians argue that contraception should be allowed so that couples can consider if they want to have children.
Purpose of the Family Nuclear Family is a
Family

- Procreation – the family should be for the purpose of having and bringing up children. family with a
- Stability – the family should be for providing a secure, stable environment for children. mother, father and
- Faith – the family should be a way of bringing children up as good Christians. children.
The Church believes that people play different roles within a family, with the purpose of working together to produce a
harmonious whole. Much of is based on St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
- Gender equality means that men and women should be equal and given the same rights and opportunities as each other
Gender Equality

-In the UK women can face gender prejudice and discrimination where they are not treated equality
- The Catholic Church do not allow women to be priests as Jesus was a man and only chose male disciples.
- The Church of England has allowed women priests since 1994
Gender discrimination is illegal in Britain today (Sex Discrimination Act 1975), but it still happens (e.g. women being paid less
than men; men hold higher number of senior positions). The Church believes it is not acceptable to treat men and women
differently in the same situation. On the gender pay gap, Pope Francis described “the disparity [as] a pure scandal.”
 The foundation for Catholic teachings about the equality of women and men comes from the Bible. The equality of
women and men is stated constantly in Church teachings. However, the Church also stresses that equality is not the
same as uniformity.
 AQA Religious Studies B. Themes. 12. Religion, Peace and Conflict
Key Words Key Quotes
Forgiveness—Pardoning someone for the wrong he/she has done.  ‘Do not kill’ – Exodus
 ‘Let justice flow like water’ – Amos
Holy war—Fighting for a religious cause or God, to defend the religion and belief which is felt to be
under attack.  ‘Father, forgive them for they do not
know what they’re doing’ – Gospel of
Just War Theory—The Christian set of conditions that a war needs to meet before it can be justified. Luke
Martyrdom—Accepting death rather than denying what the person’s religion stands for.  Peace I leave you; my peace I give to
you’ – Gospel of John
Pacifism—The belief of people who refuse to take part in war and any other form of violence.  ‘In war, there are not victors, only
victims’ – Pope Benedict XVI
Peace making—Trying to get rid of the causes of tension that lead to conflict.
 ‘War never again! Never again war!’ –
Radicalisation—Adopting extreme views on religious, social or political issues. Pope Francis I
 Love your enemies, do good to those
Reconciliation—Restoring harmony after relationships have broken down.
who hate you’ – Gospel of Luke

In the beginning, God created a world that was “very good.” However, the Bible says that humans rejected God’s rules and this
obedience brought sin, which corrupted human nature. Sin brought feelings of anger, which lead to violence and bullying.
Christian Responses

Genesis: Cain and Abel were brothers. They made sacrifices to God, each of his own produce, but God favoured Abel's sacrifice
instead of Cain's. Cain then murdered Abel, whereupon God punished Cain by condemning him to a life of wandering.
 If people want God’s forgiveness they must forgive others
 Jesus taught that reconciliation is important and should take place before giving an offering to God
The Catholic Church teaches that it is God’s desire that everyone should be treated fairly. The prophet Amos taught that
creating justice is more important than ensuring worship is done correctly. Injustice can cause people to lose their sense of self-
worth and self-respect. It can deny people dignity because they have been treated unfairly. Two responses to injustice are
righteous anger and violent protest.
Just War Theory is a Christian moral theory for working out if a war meets internationally accepted criteria for fairness. These
are some of the conditions that must be met in order for a war to be just:
Just War
Theory

 Just Cause – fought in self-defence or to protect others

 Just Intention – fought to promote good and defeat wrongdoing
 Last Resort – only going to war if all other methods have been tried first
 Proportional – excessive force should not be used and innocent civilians must not be killed
A Holy War is a war which is fought for religious reasons, often with the backing of religious leaders. An example of this was the
Crusades fought from the 11th-14th Century by Christians, backed by the Pope. Religion can still be a cause for war today such as
in Northern Ireland where Protestant and Catholic Christians fought a civil war between 1968-98.
Pacifism is the idea that all forms of violence are wrong. Each week the Pope highlights the need to pray for peace as
Pacifists such as Quakers refuse to take part in war and often he addresses the crowd in Vatican square
Religion and War

choose to be a conscientious objector (someone who - CAFOD set up orphanages to help children who had been
doesn’t go to war for moral reasons) or to assist in medical forced to be child soldiers get back to normal life
tasks like ambulance driving. - Aid to the Church in Need provide medicine and food
Christians try to follow Jesus’ teaching that “blessed are the - Cartias International provide food water and shelter
peacemakers”
The Bible teaches that an end to war will be a sign of God’s Kingdom having come on earth, so Christians should help to solve
conflicts. Many people believe in non-violent resistance to pursue justice:
 Martin Luther King, a Baptist minister, used non-violent resistance in the USA to gain equal rights for black people.
 Pax Christi (The Peace of Christ) the Catholic organisation was set up after the Second World War to try and bring
reconciliation between war-torn countries.
Nuclear weapons work by a nuclear reaction and devastate huge areas and kill large numbers of people. They are a type of
and Consequences
Modern Warfare

WMD (weapons of mass destruction) which also includes chemical and biological weapons. All these weapons are not allowed
under the Christian Just War Theory and would therefore be rejected by most Christians. War has the following consequences:
 Civilian Casualties – innocent people are likely to be attacked, threatened or killed.
 Refugees - thousands flee their homes, either because they face serious risk of death if they stay. Most have difficulty
in finding somewhere safe to rebuild their lives. Many end up in refugee camps in very poor conditions.
 Environmental Damage - great damage can be done to the environment and huge areas of land can be destroyed.
Using chemical weapons can affect the vegetation for decades after a war has ended.
Examples of terrorism include suicide bombing, mass shootings or using vehicles to injure pedestrians.
The aim of terrorism is to make society aware of a cause or issue and to make people frightened to go about their business.
Christians do not promote political violence and believe terrorism is wrong as it targets innocent people.
Torture and
Terrorism

 Some people believe that using torture to get information to prevent a greater wrong may be justified. The Church
forbids it as it is illegal, barbaric and denies the victim their basic human rights.
 The Catholic Church focuses on mutual respect, so it is concerned about radicalisation (adopting extreme views) as it
can make people unwilling to accept any alternative views.
 A martyr is a Christian who has been put to death for refusing to give up their beliefs. Catholic martyrdom does not
include people who, for example, have acted as suicide bombers in the name of their religion.