GCSE RS Paper 2 denominational beliefs (Christianity & Judaism)

also some other religious views other than christianity/judaism

reconciliation is a sacrament

catholic

day of prayer for victims of human trafficking

salvation army

offer food banks, emergency assistance, employment support, debt advice

salvation army

CAFOD - fair trade initiatives (fair wages, good conditions)

catholic aid charity

relationships must only be loving, monogamous and committed

quaker

which 2 christian denominations have usually similar beliefs

catholic & orthodox

what christian denomination is usually more strict

evangelical

science and faith work together, accepting evolution and the Big Bang as part of God’s creation while believing that the human soul is directly created by God.

recognises the process of science in explaining creation & origins of life. the big bang happened but god was behind it

• the earth is as old as scientists say (~4 bil years)

• genesis as a metaphor - most important thing is the message

catholic

(christian) the soul is immediately judged on your actions when you die

protestant

(christian) when you die your soul waits until the day of judgement when the dead will be raised & return to god. everyone will come before god to be judged based on christian faith & behaviour. non christians & christians who haven’t repented for sins will go to hell

evangelical protestant

soul is immediately judged and go to heaven / purgatory / hell straight away. on the day of judgement jesus will come back to earth, raise the dead, and souls will be reunited with their bodies. god will judge everyone and souls in purgatory go to heaven

catholic

provides widespread community support through services like homelessness aid, financial advice, food banks, and programs that bring people together and support families

salvation army

jews who emphasise the importance of following the laws & guidance of the Torah, and that it was given directly to Moses so should be followed as closely as possible

orthodox

jews who believe that the laws & guidance in the Torah was inspired by God but written by men, so can be interpreted according to the times

reform

Jews who are more committed to strictly following the laws and guidance in the Torah. They try to adhere to all of the Mitzvot, don’t believe in modernisation, and are often more segregated communities.

ultra-orthodox

(judaism) the creation story the literal truth and that it happened around 6000 years ago, and they reject the scientific research on evolution.

orthodox

(judaism) accept that evolution may be correct and that the universe is older, but that God still made everything happen. They still believe that God is the creator, but believe the Genesis story to be more of a metaphor.

reform

(judaism) life is a gift from God, so euthanasia and assisted suicide are wrong, emphasising care, hope, and support through suffering instead.

orthodox

(judaism) in cases where life is being artificially prolonged without cure, such as through a ventilator, it may be acceptable to withdraw treatment to allow a natural and dignified death, especially to relieve severe suffering.

reform

the Torah and all mitzvot remain divinely important and must be fully observed, rejecting modernisation of religious law and maintaining traditional Jewish practice in daily life. follow all mitzvot

orthodox

The Pittsburgh Platform teaches that Judaism is a modern, ethical religion rather than a national or ritual system, accepting scientific understanding and other faiths, and focusing on moral laws while rejecting many traditional practices like dietary laws, ritual purity, belief in bodily resurrection, and the expectation of a return to Israel.

reform

believe they are ‘stewards of the earth’ meaning that they have to protect the earth, and this includes Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tzedakah (obligatory charity)

reform + orthodox

Tikkun Olam is very important, and 10% of their earnings will go to charity

orthodox

it is believed this the torah was told to Moses on mount Sinai by God, so it is of divine origin, hence being considered the words of God.

orthodox

view the Mishnah as the Oral Torah, with almost equal importance to the Written Torah. Many study a page of the Talmud daily.

orthodox

see the talmud as divinely inspired, but not divinely authored - written by humans. The Talmud guides their lives, but does not dictate them.

reform

partners aren’t allowed any physical touch before marriage, so sex is definitely not an option

When they date, they date one person at a time with the intention of marriage, but without any physical contact - not even holding hands

orthodox

has generally changed most marriage traditions to be more equal and modernised the ceremony

reform

2 denominations: believe the bible/torah contains god’s actual words which must not be changed or questioned. Judaism - the word of god was revealed through moses

fundamentalist christians, orthodox jews

3 denominations: the bible/torah was inspired by god but the words must be seen in their original context and may be understood differently in today’s world

reform jews, liberal christians, liberal jews

2x teach that heterosexual relationships within marriage are the ideal, and part of god’s plan for humanity

orthodox judaism + the majority of christianity

2x accept homosexual relationships that are loving & committed

reform jews, some christians eg quakers

teaches that same sex relationships are unacceptable because se x should have the possibility of creating new life

catholic

welcomes same sex couples living in committed relationships but doesnt allow same se x marriage in church. can bless but not marry same sex couples

cofe

judaism - same sex relationships are wrong

• It’s considered to be unnatural

• Many biblical (Torah) teachings are against it

• They result in childless couples, which doesn’t fulfil God’s request to ‘be fruitful and multiply’

God’s commandments should be obeyed in a literal sense, in the same way that they are with food laws

orthodox

judaism - loving committed same sex relationships are as valid as heterosexual ones. today’s culture is very different to that of the Ancient Hebrews. God also created gay people, so both male and female homosexuality can be considered natural.

god created mankind in his own image

genesis

Some synagogues offer same-sex couples a Shutafut - a partnership ceremony

reform

christian - accepts same sex relationships

quaker, methodist

‘every sexual act must be within the framework of marriage’

catholic

are non-judgemental about sex, which they see as a gift from God. attention is focused on the way in which it is used in human relationships. sex isn’t naturally good or bad, but can be used for good or bad like many other things.

quaker

sex before marriage - casual sex is wrong but in a long term, committed relationship it is acceptable.

cofe

Natural moral law: a theory that states that there are five basic principles that are known innately by everyone (Preservation of life, Reproduce to continue the species, Educating our young, Live in society, Know and worship of God)

These principles are unchanging and true for everyone because we all have the same innate human nature. The principles reflect God’s plan for the world and are believed to help humans be happy and flourish

catholic

artificial contraception goes against the natural law. children are a gift from god x2

catholic, orthodox church

the purpose of sex is for making new life and expressing love (bonding & babies) and these can’t be separated. Artificial contraception is believed to be sinful because the couple aren’t open to new life and are preventing God’s plan

catholic

judaism - allow contraception

reform

judaism - only allow some types of contraception (ones that don’t cause wasting of the seed). allow use of some contraception for different reasons e.g. mother’s health and poverty in the family

orthodox

‘Every sexual act should have the possibility of creating new life’

catholic

contraception: ‘other methods may be used provided that this is done in the light of Christian principles’

cofe

marriage is a sacrament

partners can separate but can’t remarry while their partner is still alive

catholic

‘For homosexual men and women, permanent relationships characterized by love can be an appropriate and Christian way of expressing their sexuality’

methodist

‘Homosexual people are called to chastity’

catholic

use teachings from the Torah and religious traditions to oppose same-sex marriage.

orthodox

Divorce is wrong, as Jesus taught. Marriage is binding until death - couple becomes ‘one flesh’ and are always married in the eyes of God. Remarriage is not allowed and it is considered adultery. Marriage is seen as a sacred covenant and a sacrament between the couple and God.

However, annulment is sometimes possible

roman catholic

believe that sometimes divorce can be the ‘lesser of two evils’. Church re-marriage is possible in some circumstances

cofe

‘The home is the first school of Christian life and a school for human enrichment’

catholic

women can be rabbis, sit with men, and handle Torah scrolls

reform

Reverence for all life on earth is central. Nature can’t be destroyed without man being destroyed too. Nature is believed sacred, and many deities have been connected with animals.

Ahimsa is the principle of non violence and doing no harm, which is closely linked to protecting the planet.

hinduism

karma is the consequences of our actions. Bringing suffering to the environment or the animals that live in it is seen to give us negative karma, so is to be avoided.

believe that animals feel the same feelings as us, and that every being is reincarnated and connected to every other being.

buddhism

believe that humans are the stewards of earth. The Sharia law provides moral guidance to muslims, and is also known as the ‘straight path’. Humans are rewarded for taking care of the earth.

islam

charity/group: works with faith groups to care for God's creation, including encouraging renewable energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and educating people to use resources responsibly. It supports Jewish values like tikkun olam and promotes sustainable development

The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)

Ahimsa - principle of not doing harm in what three religions

Hinduism, Sikhism & Buddhism

eating meat is not a black and white topic. they are encouraged to use their brain and think about the impact of their actions.

Eating meat is not recommended because people mostly eat meat for taste, instead of energy or sustenance.

Compassion (’daya’) is very important, so they should have compassion for every animal, even ones they eat.

sikhism

C: don’t accept evolution as it goes against Genesis. they are creationists

evangelical protestants

Ensoulment - soul enters body at 120 days of pregnancy (abortion ok before then)

islam

Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you.’

islam

abortion is generally wrong because life begins at conception and is sacred, though treatments that unintentionally result in the death of the foetus may be permitted under the doctrine of double effect to save the mother’s life.

catholic

sees abortion as a serious issue that may be permitted in difficult circumstances as the lesser of two evils, while also encouraging compassion, adoption, and better sex education to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

cofe

abortion is permitted for serious reasons e.g. mother's life in danger (decision is taken after consultation with a rabbi). Abortion is allowed if continuing pregnancy would cause distress & damage to mental health of mother

orthodox

judaism - doesn’t oppose abortion completely but also doesn’t accept abortion 'on demand'. Would accept abortion if pregnancy was a result of rape or child would be born with severe disabilities

orthodox

euthanasia is wrong because life is sacred, suffering can still have meaning, and suicide should not be encouraged, while belief in resurrection offers hope for life after death.

‘direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of the handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.’

catholic

life and death are determined by Allah, so euthanasia and suicide are generally forbidden, although some may accept passive euthanasia when there is no hope of recovery.

islam

reject traditional concepts of bodily resurrection and literal afterlife. emphasises the importance of living a righteous life on earth (e.g. performing the mitzvot and studying the torah) rather than focusing on what happens after death. They still believe in a form of spiritual afterlife or immortality of the soul, although it’s not a central tenet & often personal interpretation

reform

judaism - believe in resurrection during or after the Messianic Age:

Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake,

resurrection one of the 13 Principles of Faith in Judaism - ‘The belief in the resurrection of the dead’

orthodox

judaism - reject the idea of resurrection.

reform

miracles are signs of Allah’s power given to prophets to confirm their message, with the Qur’an regarded as the greatest miracle, while Muslims also believe God can still work through extraordinary events and answered prayers today.

islam

3x examples of miracles

• jesus walking on water

• lourdes healing

• stairwell B (16 people survived the collapse of the north tower of the world trade centre during the September 11 attacks)

miracles are signs of divine presence and guidance in the universe, often working through saints, yogis, or gods to inspire spiritual growth and liberation from the material world.

hinduism

judaism - reject evolution as they believe that the creation in Genesis should be taken literally

orthodox

x2: all people inherited the tendency to sin from Adam and Eve - original sin. all humans are born with a tendency towards evil and the ability to cause suffering.

catholic & cofe

Satan and other fallen angels actively work to tempt and deceive humanity, and that this is a real spiritual struggle. Humans are still free to resist these temptations.

catholic

special revelation: God spoke to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril to reveal message which became the Qur’an.

islam

x2: enlightenment is the gaining of freedom from cycle of rebirth. They hope to achieve enlightenment, and seek understanding of what is true and not.

buddhism, hinduism

englightenment is the aim of life 2x

All a person’s life’s work and focus builds to achieving this aim. It gives a person the answers to why there is suffering in this life and allows them to see the way forward e.g. Four Noble Truths to Noble Eightfold Path.

The Buddha was enlightened which gave him insight into the true nature of things and allowed him to teach others the way to enlightenment.

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism

enlightenment (Bodhi) is the ultimate goal, achieved through overcoming greed, hatred and ignorance, leading to liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth (Nirvana) through a deep understanding of reality, including the idea of interconnectedness (śūnyatā), ego-transcendence, and compassion.

buddhism

the divine is ultimately Brahman, the eternal and formless reality underlying everything, expressed through many deities such as the Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva—who represent creation, preservation and destruction, along with other gods like Ganesha and Lakshmi as different manifestations of the one ultimate reality.

hinduism

teaches Tawhid, the absolute oneness of Allah, who is indivisible and beyond physical form, with the 99 names describing his attributes to help believers understand his power, mercy, and closeness to humanity while maintaining his transcendence and uniqueness.

islam

teaches Ahimsa (non-violence) as the highest ideal, but allows war when it is just and part of one’s dharma, as shown in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna advises Arjuna to fight to uphold duty and justice against evil.

hinduism

use of weapons of mass destruction is an evil action that can follow a person into their next life & cause bad effects

buddhism

charity/group: believe nuclear weapons are wrong because they can kill millions of innocent people and destroy God’s creation.

use Jesus’ teachings about peace and love, people should work for peace instead of threatening violence. believe nuclear weapons go against the sanctity of life and the idea of stewardship, because nuclear war would cause huge suffering and environmental damage.

campaigns through protests, prayer vigils, marches, and political pressure to encourage governments to get rid of nuclear weapons and reduce conflict peacefully.

Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

(linked to the wider Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)

life is sacred and humans have a duty to protect creation and work for peace, so weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weapons are generally considered wrong because they cause indiscriminate harm and threaten innocent lives.

islam

teaches the Just War theory, which allows war only under strict conditions such as defending against serious aggression, protecting the common good, and ensuring that the harm caused by war is not greater than the evil being opposed.

catholic

Lesser Jihad (/ holy war) allows war only under strict conditions such as self-defence, justice, and last resort, with clear rules protecting civilians, animals, and the environment, while emphasising that peace is always preferable to conflict.

Lesser Jihad is about defending the religion from threat. Some people still take up arms against anybody they see as an enemy of the religion. However, many believe that the lesser jihad is of less relevance today than in the past, when believers were being persecuted.

islam

teaches Dharam Yudh (“righteous war”), allowing fighting only as a last resort to defend justice and protect others, with strict rules requiring selfless motives, minimum force, respect for civilians and places of worship, and compassionate treatment of enemies.

sikhism

the Troubles in ireland between which 2 denominations

The The Troubles were a period of violent political and sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland involving tensions between 2 communities, resulting in thousands of deaths before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement helped establish peace.

catholics & protestants

Greater Jihad is the personal spiritual struggle to become a better person by following religious teachings, resisting temptation and harmful behaviour, and living a life of worship, justice, and compassion.

islam

war is ‘ incompatible with the teaching and example of Jesus’

cofe

teaches complete pacifism, believing that war and violence are never justified, so they promote peace, reconciliation, conscientious objection, and non-violent service to others.

quakers

does not believe in war – it leads to greater problems than it solves. It is often the result of the Three Poisons, while also encouraging these in people.

The First Precept (to refrain from harming others) is ahimsa and is a core principle of the religion

buddhism

War is not in keeping with core virtues of ahimsa, tolerance, peace, compassion and respect.

they see that if war is just one, it is a duty to fight and not doing so brings bad karma. In protecting others, fighting may be the only way.

All life is believed sacred because Brahman is within all (the atman - one with Brahman)

hinduism

allows war in self-defence and for justice. The Gurus suggested military training for all, went into battle against oppression and an army was set up after the Khalsa. Many fought in the British Army in the First and Second World Wars and still join their nations’ Armed Forces today.

The Khanda includes two swords and they wear the kirpan, showing a willingness to fight when necessary.

sikhism