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June 2022

Q1.1: Which one of the following describes the event when Jesus rose from the dead?

Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer. A Ascension B Atonement C Incarnation D Resurrection

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Answer: D Resurrection

Q1.2: Give two reasons why the crucifixion of Jesus is important for Christians.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority considered for marking. Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice / for forgiveness of sin / as a ransom for human sin / form of atonement / it gives Christians confidence sin can no longer destroy their lives / because God gives forgiveness to those who ask in faith (the dying criminal) / Jesus showed the importance of forgiveness when forgiving those who crucified him (‘Father forgive them...’) / Jesus was prepared to die for the beliefs he held / he was faithful to God even though he knew it might lead to his death / it shows suffering is a part of life / God appreciates what the sufferer is going through / the crucifixion reunites humanity and God / God was responsible for giving humanity this second chance / Jesus' death saved people from their sins / his death provides the opportunity for salvation open to all people / the crucifixion allowed the resurrection to happen / proved that Jesus was the Son of God, etc.

Q1.3: Explain two ways in which belief in the afterlife influences Christians today.

Answer:

influence on individuals, communities and societies To be a ‘detailed explanation’ the ‘influence’ of the way must be included. • Christians believe that after death, God will decide whether they enter heaven to be with him / or hell to be completely outside of God’s influence / with the Devil. • Afterlife is determined by how well Christians have followed God throughout their lives / whether they have asked for and been granted forgiveness / shown repentance. • Afterlife is an eternal gift granted by God / helps provide comfort to friends and family when • They may be more accepting of death / loss of loved ones may not be forever / may be reunited in the afterlife / in a better place. • Begins at death / or at the Day of Judgement when Jesus will return / shows the idea that justice is gained, even at death and that injustice will not survive. • Influences Christians to follow Jesus’ teaching / live in a way that God requires people to do / serve other people / follow the example of Jesus. • Christians should regularly confess sins and receive forgiveness to be granted a place in heaven / should receive the sacraments and worship God during their life. • Threat of hell / should influence people to live as God requires / in order to escape the possibility of the torment of eternal suffering, etc.

Q1.4: Explain two Christian beliefs about sin.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Christian belief and teaching – 1 mark • Sin is an action or thought that separates a person from God / it is against God’s wishes and teachings / against God’s laws / against Christian morality. • Sinful thoughts can lead to sinful actions / so both are wrong. • Not all sinful actions are illegal / but they are still against God. • Not sinning is impossible for humans to achieve / humans are born with an inbuilt tendency to sin. • Sin originated when Eve was tempted to eat the forbidden fruit and tempted Adam to do so as well / this made them aware of the existence of sin for which they were punished by God / link to baptism for forgiveness of original sin. • Some believe the devil is the force of evil that tempts people to sin / so temptation and sin should be resisted / otherwise afterlife may be in hell with the devil / or a ‘place’ without God. • People can be saved from sin though faith in Jesus • The Holy Spirit helps people to turn away from sin • The gift of freewill gives humans the chance to choose between sinning and not sinning / Christian teachings help Christians to choose not to sin. • God will forgive people their sins provided they ask in faith and humility / Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection enables forgiveness for Christians / opens up the chance of heaven in the afterlife / • The Seven Deadly Sins – lust, gluttony, greed. sloth, wrath, envy, pride have Christian origins / are present in Christianity. • Sin (or the consequences of sin) can help people learn from mistakes / and become better people / reform, etc. Sacred writing or another source of Christian belief and teaching may include: Any attributed reference to the story of Adam and Eve / the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-19) / the Beatitudes (Matthew 2:1-12). ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life’ (Romans 6:23). ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it’ (Luke 11:28). Any attributed reference to Christian teachings that advise about sin eg parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:43-36) / parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), etc.

Q1.5: ‘The belief in the Trinity helps Christians to understand the nature of God.’

Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Christian teaching • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion.

[SPaG 3 marks]

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Answer:

In your answer you should: • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view [SPaG 3 marks] understanding of relevant evidence and information. References to religion applied to the issue. relevant evidence and information. Clear reference to religion. evidence and information. Only accept answers related to a Christian understanding of the nature of God.

Arguments in support

• It helps Christians to understand about God because it gives the different persons of the Trinity separate roles that show God’s nature but which are also present in all three persons. • These roles (aspects of the nature of God) are listed in the specification as omnipotent, loving and just. Any other aspects of the nature of God eg comforter, holy, creator, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, etc, can be used in this answer. • God the Father has the role of creator / without which nothing would exist. • God the Father is seen as the ‘Supreme Being’ / omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent / the Bible portrays God the Father as supremely important, especially in the Old Testament / establishing covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses and giving people his law which they must obey. • Jesus (God the Son) prayed to God the Father and experienced him when he was baptised and at the transfiguration. • ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son’ (John 3:16). • God the Son (Jesus) displayed qualities of God during his life on earth / he is seen as God from his conception and birth / he was loving, compassionate, just in his interactions with others / role model to help Christians become closer to God in terms of their nature to him and others. • The resurrection shows his power to defeat death and return to Heaven for eternity. • God the Holy Spirit is seen as the continuing earthly presence of God / especially the comforter, and sustainer / offers guidance / which are parts of the nature of God / the work of God the Father that Christians can experience directly, etc.

Arguments in support of other views

• The Trinity makes it more difficult to understand the nature of God / it causes confusion in people’s minds because they cannot fully understand it. • The nature of God is better seen in people who are perceived to be good and selfless followers / God is remote from the earth and more difficult to understand. • It was a man, Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity / gave teachings for people to follow which provided a new way of living / he was not part of the Trinity but was a teacher of ethics and morality. • God the Holy Spirit has never been seen / and the work he is supposed to do cannot be proved / many struggle to find evidence of it. • As God is omnipotent he has no need of any other assistance / he could do everything the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are said to have done. • The Trinity is ‘one in three and three in one’ but God should be treated as a complete entity and not subdivided / seeing God as the Trinity is not at all helpful in understanding his nature because the true nature of God is total and universal. • No other theistic faith sees God as a Trinity / they describe God’s nature in a similar way to Christianity / this does not cause the problems in understanding the nature of God, etc.