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June 2023

Q1.1: Which one of the following is the term used to describe Jesus’ return to heaven to his

Father?

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

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Answer: A: Ascension

Q1.2: Give two Christian beliefs about atonement for sin.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Atonement removes the effects of sin / allows people to restore their relationship with God / ask for forgiveness / God forgives / atonement removed the barrier between God and humans / it is why God sent Jesus / atonement became possible when Jesus died and rose again to atone for the sins of mankind / Jesus paying the debt of sin makes it possible for Christians to receive eternal life with God / and avoid hell / some believe the only way to atone is through total obedience to God / ‘He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world’ (1John 2:1–2) / make amends for wrong doing / state of being reconciled / make reparations etc.

Q1.3: Explain two ways in which believing in salvation influences Christians today.

Answer:

influence on individuals, communities and societies To be a ‘detailed explanation’ the ‘influence’ of the way must be included. • Salvation was brought about for Christians by the death and resurrection of Jesus / which makes up for the original sin of Adam and Eve / link to baptism / and can bring people back to God / because he will forgive those who ask in faith. • Being forgiven by God will give confidence of an eternal life with God in heaven (salvation) / they may pray for forgiveness / or worship / or attend church (e.g.confession). • Salvation by law (works) influences Christians to follow their faith as God intends / live their lives in the way God wants them to / follow teachings of the church, Jesus and the Bible • Links the need for faith and good works (following the Law) in order to be gifted salvation / influences Christians to follow God’s Law as recorded in the Bible by being loving towards God and other people and to follow his teachings / to make amends for wrong doing / make reparations / encourages the state of being reconciled by confessing sins, forgiving others and obeying God / release from guilt. • Salvation by grace is gifted to those who God chooses / for those who are faithful during their lives / so people seeking salvation will be faithful to God, etc.

Q1.4: Explain two Christian beliefs about the Trinity.

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 • God in three ‘persons’ but still one God / Father, Son, Holy Spirit, each with their own • Although Father, Son, Holy Spirit are different forms and experienced in different ways, they are • God the Father – first person of the Trinity / creator / omnipotent / omnipresent / omnibenevolent / • God the Son – Jesus, incarnate in the world / fully human and fully God at all times. • God the Holy Spirit – a source of strength for humans / influence and guide / unseen power of God at work in the world / seen by some as the feminine aspect of God. Sources of Christian belief and teaching can be related to any ‘person’ of the Trinity or the Trinity as a concept eg references to God the Father in Genesis creation story, Psalms etc, to Jesus’ divinity in gospels and epistles etc / and Holy Spirit in Jesus’ baptism, Pentecost etc. References to Nicene or Apostles Creed etc are creditable / ‘In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’ / ‘according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ…’ (1 Peter 1:2) etc.

Q1.5: ‘A loving God would not allow people to suffer.’

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. evidence and arguments must be credited.

Arguments in support

• Suffering can cause extreme pain and sadness which, if he is loving, God should not want his people to experience. • Suffering is caused by Satan, the power of evil so he should be blamed for suffering. • God doesn’t care or cannot / or will not / do anything about suffering. • An all loving God should use his all-powerful nature to prevent his creation from experiencing pain • God has given many teachings to prevent moral evil and suffering from happening but some choose to ignore them – it is not God’s fault that people reject God’s solution. • Natural suffering is a result of an imperfect earth that God created so he should prevent suffering because it is his fault. • He allowed Jesus, other great Biblical figures and persecuted Christians to suffer. • Belief that those who live in the way God wants them to, will not suffer in the afterlife / their suffering will be over.

Arguments in support of other views

• To appreciate good, humans must experience bad, so suffering helps humans to appreciate good things that help rather than harm so its existence is necessary. • Suffering can be the result of human choices and actions (moral evil) / from war / which result from the gift of freewill / which it would be wrong for a loving God to interfere with. • Suffering can be seen as a test of faith that people should endure to gain a great reward / reference to experiences and suffering of Job / helps humans to grow spiritually and maybe encourages them to help others who suffer. • Suffering can be beneficial to humans because it can highlight and identify an underlying problem so God allowing it to happen is an act of love. • Christian teaching instructs people to show love by caring for others, if God did not allow people to suffer, this would not be possible. • To appreciate good humans must experience bad so suffering helps humans to appreciate good things that help rather than harm so its existence is necessary. • Belief that God condemns people to suffer in the afterlife if they deserve to / it is their own fault.