FHShumanities

 

 

In this section you will find everything you need to know about the first half of the GCSE, which is worth 50% of your final grade. The exam is made up of four sections, and for each section you will be required to complete 4 questions. You need to know Christian opinions.

 

​

​Section 1: Christian Beliefs

You should have an understanding of:

• The Trinity: the nature and significance of the Trinity as expressed in the Nicene Creed; the nature and significance of the oneness of God; the nature and significance of each of the Persons individually.

• The creation of the universe and of humanity: the biblical account of creation and divergent ways in which it may be understood by Christians, including as literal and metaphorical.

• The Incarnation: the nature and importance of the person of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God; the biblical basis of this teaching.

• The last days of Jesus’ life: the Last Supper, betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; the accounts of these within the Bible, including Luke 22–24 and the significance of these events to understanding the person of Jesus Christ.

• The nature and significance of salvation and the role of Christ within salvation: law, sin, grace and Spirit, the role of Christ in salvation including John 3:10–21 and Acts 4:8–12; the nature and significance of atonement within Christianity and its link to salvation.

• Christian eschatology: divergent Christian teachings about life after death, including the nature and significance of resurrection, judgement, heaven, and hell and purgatory.

• The problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God: the problems it raises for Christians about the nature of God, including reference to omnipotence and benevolence.

• Divergent solutions offered to the problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God: biblical, theoretical and practical, including reference to Psalm 119, Job, free will, vale of soul-making, prayer, and charity; the success of solutions to the problem.

​

Section 2: Marriage and the Family

​

You should have an understanding of:

• The importance and purpose of marriage for Christians: Christian teachings about the significance of marriage in Christian life; the purpose of marriage for Christians.

• Christian teachings about the nature and importance of sexual relationships: divergent Christian teachings about sexual relationships; Christian attitudes towards sexual relationships outside of marriage and homosexuality.

• Christian teachings about the purpose and importance of the family including: procreation, security and education of children.

• Support for the family in the local parish: how and why the local church community tries to support families, including through family worship.

• Christian teaching about family planning and regulation of births: divergent Christian attitudes about contraception and family planning, including teachings about the artificial methods of contraception by some Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church, with reference to Humanae Vitae.

• Christian teachings and attitudes towards divorce and remarriage: Christian teachings about divorce and remarriage.

• Christian teaching about the equality of men and women in the family: Christian teachings and attitudes about the role of men and women in the family.

• Christian teachings about gender prejudice and discrimination: Christian opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination.

​

Section 3: Living the Christian Life

 

You should have an understanding of:

• Christian worship: liturgical and non-liturgical forms of worship, including activities which are informal and individual, including reference to the Book of Common Prayer.

• The role of the sacraments in Christian life and their practice in two denominations: the role of the sacraments/ordinance as a whole; the nature and importance of the meaning and celebration of baptism and the Eucharist in at least two denominations.

• The nature and purpose of prayer: the nature of and examples of the different types of prayer; set prayers; informal prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.

• Pilgrimage: the nature, history and purpose of pilgrimage, including interpretations Luke 2:41–43; the significance of the places people go on pilgrimage; the activities associated with, and significance of, Jerusalem, Iona, Taize and Walsingham.

• Christian religious celebrations: the nature and history of Christian festivals in the church year, including Christmas and Easter; the significance of celebrating Advent and Christmas; the significance of celebrating Holy Week and Easter.

• The future of the Christian Church: Church growth, the history and purpose of missionary and evangelical work including divergent ways this is put into practice by Church locally, nationally and globally.

• The role and importance of the local church in the local community: how and why it helps the individual believer and the local area; local parish activities.

• The role and importance of the Church in the worldwide community: how and why it works for reconciliation and the problems faced by the persecuted Church.

​

Section 4: Matters of Life and Death

 

You should have an understanding of:

• Christian teachings about the origins and value of the universe: scientific explanations for the origins of the universe and Christian responses to them.

• Christian teachings about the sanctity of life: why human life is holy.

• Christian responses to scientific and non-religious explanations about the origins and value of human life, such as evolution and survival of the fittest.

• Implications of the value and sanctity of life for the issue of abortion: the nature of abortion; divergent Christian pro-life and pro-choice teachings about abortion and Christian responses to them.

• Christian teachings and beliefs about life after death: Christian teachings and beliefs that support the existence of a life after death, including the resurrection of Jesus.

• Christian responses to non-religious arguments against life after death: why Christians reject arguments against belief in life after death.

• Implications of Christian teachings about the value and sanctity of life for the issue of euthanasia: the nature of euthanasia; Christian teachings and divergent responses to euthanasia, including support for hospice care and interpretations of Job.

• Christian responses to issues in the natural world: Christian responses to threats to the world, including pollution, global warming and the use of natural resources; stewardship and humanity’s role as stewards.