GCSE RS at STM

Owing to popular demand, I have managed to complete another couple of revision slideshows, and if I manage to complete the fifth one, then I will add it here too. Then there will be a complete set of overview slideshows, one for each topic, showing four key points about each subheading in the syllabus, as well as a wide range of exam questions for you to practice. I know it’s short notice, but you never know, if even one of you finds something here that then helps you get a few extra marks in the exam, or reassures you that you know what you are talking about, then it will have been worth it.

Please leave a comment to let me know how you got on with these.

J1 Beliefs and Values

J2 Community and Tradition

J3 Worship and Celebration

J4 Living the Christian Life

J5 A Place of Christian Worship

Here are the exam questions from last year’s exam paper. I suggest that you look at the 2006 paper first, though, since I would not expect as much repetition from last year’s paper.

1.
a) What is the incarnation? (2)
b) Outline Christian beliefs about God as creator. (6)
c) Explain why the resurrection of Jesus is important for Christians. (8)
d) “All Christians should believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)

2.
a) What is reconciliation? (2)
b) Outline the parable of the Good Samaritan. (6)
c) Explain why the belief in God as Father is important for Christians. (8)
d) “It doesn’t matter if you sin, as long as you say sorry to God.” Do you agree? (4)

3.
a) What is celibacy? (2)
b) Outline Catholic beliefs about the Bible. (6)
c) Explain why Christians describe the Church as the Body of Christ. (8)
d) “The Church needs women priests.” (4)

4.
a) What is dogma? (2)
b) Outline the role of the laity. (6)
c) Explain why the Pope is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “The Church shouldn’t be called ‘One’ because there are so many different Christian Churches.” Do you agree? (4)

5.
a) What are vows? (2)
b) Outline the main features of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (6)
c) Explain why celebrating Holy Week is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “All Christians should celebrate the Eucharist in the same way.” Do you agree? (4)

6.
a) What is chrism? (2)
b) Outline the main features of the Sacrament of Confirmation. (6)
c) Explain why Catholics celebrate Christmas. (8)
d) “Only adults should be baptised.” Do you agree? (4)

7.
a) Who are the oppressed? (2)
b) Outline what the Sermon on the Mount teaches about displaying religion. (6)
c) Explain how keeping the Ten Commandments shows respect for God. (8)
d) “Serving others is too difficult.” (4)

8.
a) What is compassion? (2)
b) Outline how one twentieth century Christian has shown service to others. (6)
c) Explain why the Golden Rule is important for Christians. (8)
d) “The Ten Commandments are out of date.” (4)

9.
a) Describe the main features of a Catholic Church or cathedral. (4)
b) Explain why there are differences in Christian places of worship. (8)
c) “The priest has no role to play in the local community today.” (8)

I have uploaded a number of slideshows/presentations to the excellent slide sharing site, www.slideshare.net. Other students who are sitting your exams have left messages to say that they have found some of them helpful (and some not so!). Here they all are in one post. Remember, they are all intended just to support your other revision, and do not simply “play” them, but click through each slide at your own paste. Feel free to leave a comment to say whether or not you have found them useful!

Unit J Overview

J1: Beliefs and Values

J2: Community and Tradition

J2: C&T Revision Tasks

J4.1 10 Commandments

J4.2 10 Commandments

J4.3 Law of Moses

J4.4 Displaying Religion

J4.6 Judgement

J4.7 Golden Rule

J4.9 Helping those in need

Unit C Revision Slide

C3 Marriage and Family Life

Very basic revision notes.

During lessons last week, I did not hand out the exam questions, but instead set the homework as revision for this week’s end of unit assessment. The homework this week, therefore, will be to complete the set of exam questions as set for last week.

In the meantime, the key words that you need to know can be downloaded here, from the Edexcel website.

The words are:

agnosticism – not being sure whether God exists
atheism – believing that God does not exist
benevolent – the belief that God is good/kind
causation – the idea that everything has been caused (started off) by something else
conversion – when someone’s life is changed by giving themselves to God
design – when things are connected and seem to have a purpose (eg the eye is designed for seeing)
miracle – something which seems to break a law of science and for which God seems the only explanation
moral evil – actions done by humans which cause suffering
natural evil – things which cause suffering but which have nothing to do with humans eg earthquakes
numinous – the feeling of the presence of something greater than you eg in a church or looking up at the stars
omnipotent – the belief that God is all-powerful
omniscient – the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen
prayer – an attempt to communicate with God, usually through prayer

This week you will have your first end of unit assessment. So your homework will be to revise what we have studied so far, in particular the key words. So, to help you, I will list the key words below! (These definitions are taken from the older version of our textbook. Other definitions will also be accepted! All key words can be downloaded here, from the Edexcel website.)

Christ – the Messiah / the Anointed One
Crucifixion – the Roman death penalty suffered by Jesus when he was nailed to the cross
Dove – when used of the Holy Spirit, it implies an overshadowing by God, and sometimes peace
Faith – our attitude in the presence of someone, or some event, whose goodness and greatness and wonder is greater than we can fully grasp, describe or explain
Fire – when used of the Holy Spirit, it implies purifying power
Forgiveness – the willingness in the face of even great wrong deliberately done to us to seek no revenge and to take the first step in healing the relationship
Incarnation – the conviction that Jesus is God and fully a member of the human race
Monotheism – belief in one God
Reconciliation – bringing together those who were bitterly divided
Repentance – a willingness to be changed profoundly in feelings, heart and mind
Resurrection – the body being brought back to life after death / Jesus being raised from the dead
Trinity – the belief that God is three in one
Unity – God’s way of being one
Virgin birth – belief that the virginal conception of Jesus is a divine work that surpasses human understanding
Wind – when used of the Holy Spirit, it implies power and unpredictability