1. Christianity

1.1 Christianity Key Beliefs: The Nature of God

1.1.1 Introduction to Christianity

1.1.2 The Nature of God

1.1.3 The Trinity

1.2 Christianity Key Beliefs: Creation

1.2.1 Christian Beliefs about the Creation of the World

1.3 Christianity Key Beliefs: Salvation

1.3.1 Christian Beliefs about the Afterlife

1.3.2 Resurrection of Jesus & Salvation

1.3.3 Christian Beliefs on the Role of Jesus in Salvation

1.3.4 Salvation in Christianity

1.4 Christianity Key Practices: Worship & Festivals

1.4.1 Christian Worship & Prayer

1.4.2 The Sacraments

1.4.3 Christianity - Festivals & Pilgrimage

1.5 Christianity Key Practices: The Role of the Church

1.5.1 Christian Church & the Local Community

1.5.2 The Worldwide Church

2. Islam

2.1 Islam Key Beliefs: Faith

2.1.1 Diversity in Islam

2.1.2 Difference Between Sunnii & Shi'a Core Beliefs

2.2 Islam Key Beliefs: The Nature of Allah

2.2.1 Tawhid

2.2.2 The Nature of Allah

2.2.3 Angels in Islam

2.2.4 Muslim Belief in Predestination

2.2.5 Akhirah

2.3 Islam Key Beliefs: Authority

2.3.1 Risalah

2.3.2 The Qur'an

2.3.3 Holy Books in Islam

2.3.4 The Imamate in Shi'a Islam

2.4 Islam Key Practices: Worship

2.4.1 Worship in Sunni & Shi'a Islam

2.4.2 Shahadah

2.4.3 Salah & its Significance

2.4.4 Salah in Islam

2.5 Islam Key Practices: Duties & Festivals

2.5.1 Sawm

2.5.2 Zakah

2.5.3 Hajj

2.5.4 Jihad

2.5.5 Id-ul-Adha & Id-ul-Fitr

2.5.6 Ashura

3. Buddhism

3.1 Buddhism Key Beliefs: Faith

3.1.1 Buddhism: The Concept of Dhamma (Dharma)

3.1.2 Dhamma: The Three Marks of Existence

3.1.3 Dhamma: The Human Personality

3.1.4 Dhamma: Human Destiny

3.2 Buddhism Key Beliefs: Authority

3.2.1 The Buddha

3.2.2 Buddha's Ascetic Life & Enlightenment

3.2.3 The Four Noble Truths

3.3 Buddhist Key Practices: Worship & Festivals

3.3.1 Buddhism: Places of Worship

3.3.2 Buddhism: Methods of Worship

3.3.3 Buddhism: Rituals of Death & Mourning

3.3.4 Buddhist Festivals

3.4 Buddhism Key Practices: Ethics

3.4.1 Buddhism & Ethics

3.4.2 Buddhism: The Five Moral Precepts & Six Perfections

4. Judaism

4.1 Judaism Key Beliefs: The Nature of God

4.1.1 Introduction to Judaism

4.1.2 The Nature of God

4.1.3 The Divine Presence (Shekhinah)

4.2 Judaism Key Beliefs: Life After Death

4.2.1 Judaism & Beliefs About the Afterlife

4.3 Judaism Key Beliefs: The Messiah

4.3.1 The Nature & Role of the Messiah

4.4 The Covenant & the Mitzvot

4.4.1 The Promised Land & the Covenant with Abraham

4.4.2 The Covenant at Sinai

4.4.3 The Mitzvot

4.4.4 The Mitzvot & Sanctity of Life

4.4.5 The Mitzvot & Free Will

4.5 Judaism Key Practices: Worship

4.5.1 The Synagogue

4.5.2 Services at the Synagogue

4.5.3 Worship in the Home & Synagogue

4.5.4 The Tenakh & the Talmud

4.6 Judaism Key Practices: Family Life

4.6.1 Judaism: Birth Ceremonies

4.6.2 Judaism: Marriage Ceremonies

4.6.3 Judaism: Mourning Rituals

4.6.4 Judaism: Dietary Laws

4.7 Judaism Key Practices: Festivals

4.7.1 Judaism: Rosh Hashanah

4.7.2 Judaism: Yom Kippur

4.7.3 Judaism: Pesach

5. Hinduism

5.1 Hinduism Key Beliefs: Nature of God

5.1.1 Brahman

5.1.2 What are the Three Features of the Divine?

5.1.3 How Does the Divine Present

5.1.4 Matter

5.1.5 The Cycle of the Four Ages

5.2 Hinduism Key Beliefs: Nature of Human Life

5.2.1 What is the Concept of Atman?

5.2.2 The Cycle of Birth & Death

5.2.3 Personal Virtues

5.2.4 The Four Aims of Human Life

5.3 Hinduism Key Practices: Worship

5.3.1 Hindu Places of Worship

5.3.2 Different Forms of Worship in Hinduism

5.3.3 The Focus of Worship

5.3.4 Hindu Festivals

5.4 Hinduism Key Practices: Lifestyle

5.4.1 What are the Four Paths Towards Yoga?

5.4.2 Pilgrimage in Hinduism

5.4.3 Environment & Charities in Hinduism

7. Catholic Christianity

7.1 Catholic Christianity Key Beliefs: The Nature of God

7.1.1 Introduction to Catholic Christianity

7.1.2 The Trinity

7.1.3 Creation

7.1.4 Incarnation

7.1.5 Redemption

7.2 Catholic Christianity Key Beliefs: Life After Death

7.2.1 Beliefs About Life After Death

7.3 Catholic Christianity Key Beliefs: Sacraments

7.3.1 The Nature of the Sacraments

7.3.2 Baptism

7.3.3 Confirmation

7.3.4 Reconciliation

7.3.5 Anointing of the Sick

7.3.6 Matrimony

7.3.7 Holy Orders

7.3.8 Eucharist

7.4 Catholic Christianity Key Practices: Worship & Prayer

7.4.1 Catholic Christianity & Prayer

7.4.2 Forms of Popular Piety

7.4.3 Catholic Christianity & Pilgrimage

7.4.4 Catholic Christianity & Funerals

7.5 Catholic Christianity Key Practices: The Work of the Church

7.5.1 Catholic Social Teaching & Work

7.5.2 Catholic Mission & Evangelism

8. Relationships & Families

8.1 Religion & Human Sexuality

8.1.1 Human Sexuality

8.1.2 Religious Beliefs about Contraception & Family Planning

8.2 Religion & Marriage

8.2.1 What is the Nature & Purpose of Marriage

8.3 Religion & Divorce

8.3.1 Religious Views on Divorce & Remarriage

8.4 Religion & the Nature of Families

8.4.1 The Nature of Families

8.4.2 The Purpose of Families

8.4.3 Contemporary Family Issues

8.5 Religion & the Roles of Men & Women

8.5.1 The Roles of Men & Women

9. Religion & Life

9.1 Origins of the Universe

9.1.1 What is the Big Bang?

9.1.2 The Theory of Evolution

9.1.3 Religious Teachings About the Origins of Life

9.1.4 Different Interpretations Regarding the Origins of Life

9.2 Value of the World

9.2.1 Religious Teachings & the Duty to Protect the Planet

9.2.2 Environmental Issues & Religious Teachings

9.3 The Use & Abuse of Animals

9.3.1 Religious Teachings Related to Animals

9.4 Sanctity & Quality of Life

9.4.1 Sanctity & Quality of Life

9.4.2 Religion & Abortion

9.4.3 Religion & Euthanasia

9.5 Death & the Afterlife

9.5.1 Death & the Afterlife

11. Peace & Conflict

11.1 Peace & Justice

11.1.1 Religion, Peace & Justice

11.2 Forgiveness & Reconciliation

11.2.1 Forgiveness & Reconciliation

11.3 Religion & Violence

11.3.1 Religion & Violence

11.4 Religion & Attitudes to Terrorism

11.4.1 Terrorism

11.4.2 Religion and Terrorism

11.5 Religion & War

11.5.1 Reasons for War

11.5.2 Religious Attitudes to War

11.5.3 Nuclear War

11.5.4 The Just War Theory

11.5.5 What is Holy War?

11.5.6 Religion as a Cause of War & Violence

11.6 Religion & Peace

11.6.1 What is Pacifism?

11.6.2 Religion & Peacemaking

11.6.3 Helping Victims of War

12. Crime & Punishment

12.1 Religion & Crime

12.1.1 Crime & Punishment

12.1.2 Reasons for Crime

12.1.3 Attitudes to Lawbreakers & Types of Crime

12.2 Religion & Punishment

12.2.1 Aims of Punishment

12.3 Religion & Suffering

12.3.1 Religious Attitudes to Suffering and Causing Suffering to Others

12.4 Religion & the Treatment of Criminals

12.4.1 Religious Attitudes to the Treatment of Criminals

12.4.2 Religious Attitudes to Forgiveness

12.5 Religion & the Death Penalty

12.5.1 Religious Attitudes Towards the Death Penalty

13. Human Rights & Social Justice

13.1 Human Rights & Social Justice

13.1.1 Human Rights & Social Justice

13.2 Prejudice & Discrimination

13.2.1 Prejudice & Discrimination: Sexuality & Disability

13.2.2 Prejudice & Discrimination: Race

13.3 Religious Freedom

13.3.1 Freedom of Religion

13.3.2 The Status of Women in Religion

13.4 Wealth & Poverty

13.4.1 Religious Attitudes Towards Wealth

13.4.2 Exploitation of the Poor

13.4.3 Poverty & Charity

Exam boards

• Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B

Study tools

• AQA GCSE Religious Studies A · Exam Questions
• AQA GCSE Religious Studies A · Past Papers

Related links

• GCSE Religious Studies · Revision Notes
• GCSE Religious Studies · Exam Questions
• GCSE Religious Studies · Past Papers
• GCSE Religious Studies · Glossary