Click on links below to find model answers
(a) State two Christian beliefs about God. [2]
(b) Explain Christian teaching about the crucifixion of Jesus. [5]
(c) Explain Christian teachings on why heaven is important [8]
(d) “Jesus was just an ordinary man.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what the atonement means. [2]
(b) Explain Christian teaching about the ascension of Jesus. [5]
(c) Explain what the story of Job teaches Christians about suffering. [8]
(d) “Genesis teaches that God made the world in 6 literal days.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what the resurrection means. [2]
(b) Explain the significance of the last supper in Christian teaching about Jesus. [5]
(c) Explain Christian teachings on the significance of ‘the fall’ of Adam and eve. [8]
(d) “Paul is right it only makes sense to believe Jesus actually rose from the dead if you are a Christian.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what the Trinity means. [2]
(b) Explain the significance of the resurrection in Christian teaching about Jesus. [5]
(c) Explain why many people would say that the problem of evil means God cannot exist. [8]
(d) “Jesus death was to atone for people’s sin.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what is mean by the problem of evil and suffering. [2]
(b) Explain Christian teaching about the incarnation of Jesus. [5]
(c) Explain why Christians believe in the Trinity. [8]
(d) “A loving God would not allow innocent people to suffer.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what religious believers mean by Resurrection. [2]
(b) Explain the role of the Spirit in creation. [5].
(c) Explain how different Christians interpret the story of creation in Genesis 1 and 2. [8]
(d) “Suffering has no purpose.” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what is mean by incarnation. [2]
b) Explain Christian views on why suffering exists [5]
c) Explain Christian teaching about the importance of the crucifixion of Jesus
(d)“Belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus is necessary to receive eternal life in heaven.”
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.) Marks for spelling, punctuation and the accurate use of grammar are allocated to this question
(a) Explain what is mean by judgment. [2]
(b) Describe Christian teaching about the role of humans. [5]
c) Explain the importance of Bible for Christians. [8]
(d)‘Christian beliefs about hell are out of date.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.) Marks for spelling, punctuation and the accurate use of grammar are allocated to this question
(a) Explain what is mean by atonement. [2]
(b) Explain why the belief in the salvation is important to Christians. [5]
(c) Explain Christian teachings about Judgement
(d) "‘For Christians, the Bible is the most important source of authority.’ “The Sacraments are necessary to overcome original sin” [15 + 3]
(a) Explain what is mean by . [2]
(c) Explain Christian teachings about the fall of Adam and eve [8]
(d) “The Sacraments are necessary to overcome original sin” [15 + 3]
(d) "The ascension is the most important event in Jesus’ life.” [15 + 3]
B-type question: ‘Explain Christian teaching about the crucifixion of Jesus.’
Model answer: (This is just one way to answer and many different answers are creditworthy. What is important is the answer meets the band descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
The crucifixion is very important for Christians and is found in the Bible. The death of Jesus was part of a divine plan. Jesus was crucified on a cross with other people, but Christians believe his death was an act of atonement for the sins of the people. It was part of the process of salvation or redemption for humanity. Christians teach that the crucifixion was a fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus tells his disciples that they were going to Jerusalem where everything foretold by the prophets would come true
Exam practice, p.65
D type question - ‘Jesus was just an ordinary man.’ Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. [You must refer to religion and belief in your answer].
Model Answer: (In order to meet the level descriptors for a Band 5 – detailed analysis; use of religious language; use of sources of wisdom; and shows an understanding of how beliefs influence individuals, communities and societies – an answer would need to include detail for four of the following points. Refer to the descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
Explanations of the six statements shown:
• Son of God/God incarnate. This argues against the statement in the question. Christians believe that Jesus was God incarnate. That is, he was born as a human being but was at the same time God in human flesh. Sometimes this is described as Jesus being the Son of God. In this sense therefore he was not just an ordinary person. For Christians this is vitally important. As human he could identify with all other humans; as God he could absorb the punishment for sin that justice demanded.
• Christians believe Jesus is part of the Trinity. This argues against the statement in the question. The Trinity is the belief that God is one, yet is known or experienced in three different ways: God the Father (Creator), God the Son (Jesus), God the Holy Spirit (the power of God at work in the world). This belief means that Jesus was not just an ordinary person like any other, but was in some extraordinary way, part of God whilst also truly human. Some Muslims, for example, believe Jesus was an important prophet, but not God incarnate.
• Jesus was also human; he was physically born. This could support the statement, or be used to argue against it. On the one hand, this statement is suggesting that as Jesus was born in the same way any other person is born, that he was just an ordinary person. On the other hand, in the context of the belief of Christians that Jesus is fully human and fully God at the same time, then his human-ness was different to that of every other human being. Also some people would say Jesus was one of the most influential figures who ever lived, and so not ordinary.
• If Jesus was ordinary lots of people wouldn’t worship him. This argues against the statement in the question. The reason that people worship Jesus is that he seemed to be more than just an ordinary person: he performed miracles, and he came back to life after being crucified and entombed. Taking the specialness of Jesus away, results in there being no reason to follow or worship him, even though he said and did good things. If he was just ordinary, millions of followers would not have followed him, or be influenced to change their lives because of his teachings and example.
• Christians believe Jesus was resurrected and ascended. This argues against the statement in the question. If Jesus was just an ordinary person, as the statement in the question suggests, then he could not have risen to life after death, and would not have ascended into heaven: both these things are out of the realm of normal ordinary human beings. Therefore, if Jesus was resurrected and ascended, then he was no ordinary person.
• Many people believe salvation came through Jesus This argues against the statement in the question. Christians believe that salvation, which includes the cleansing of sin and the overcoming of the death that such sin demands, was possible through Jesus because he was both human and divine. The belief in Jesus as God incarnate – fully man and fully God – is an essential element of the Christian belief in salvation.
Exam practice, p.72
Sorting of the jumbled meanings of the command terms used in the exam paper. The correct meanings for the commands are shown below:
Command
What is meant by… [2 marks]
Meaning
Definition of a key term (linked to one of the key terms identified for each unit), e.g. ‘What is meant by sin?’
Describe… [5 marks]
Explain… [8 marks]
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view.
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
15 marks
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding by describing a belief, teaching, practice, event, etc., e.g. ‘Describe views on the death penalty.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a topic by explaining the statements made with reasoning and/or evidence, e.g.:
• Explain how…
• Explain why…
• Explain the main features of…
• Explain the importance/significance of…
e.g. ‘From two different religions or two religious traditions, explain views about free will.’
Evaluation of a view from more than one perspective. These perspectives can all be ‘for’ the statement, all be ‘against’ the statement, or be a mixture of both ‘for’ and ‘against’, e.g. ‘The existence of suffering proves there is no God.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)