GCSE Religious Studies B Eduqas

This subject is broken down into 35 topics in 6 modules:

  1. Good and Evil 6 topics
  2. Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings 6 topics
  3. Judaism: Practices 5 topics
  4. Life and Death 6 topics
  5. Origins and Meaning of Catholic Theology 6 topics
  6. Sin and Forgiveness 6 topics
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  • 6
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  • 35
    topics
  • 13,345
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Religious Studies B

Good and Evil

Good, Evil and Suffering

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Good, Evil and Suffering

The Concepts of Good and Evil

  • Good is often defined as that which is morally right, beneficial and to the advantage of someone or society.
  • Evil is often defined as that which is morally wrong, harmful or to the disadvantage of someone or society.
  • Both concepts can be seen in different contexts - moral, natural, and metaphysical.

Moral Good and Evil

  • Moral good is behaviour that is considered to be good from a moral perspective, often expressed through virtues such as love, charity, honesty, and justice.
  • Moral evil refers to actions or behaviours that are considered morally wrong, such as lying, stealing, murder or cruelty.

Natural Good and Evil

  • Natural good refers to beneficial natural occurrences such as rainfall for crops or natural resources like fertile land.
  • Natural evil includes harmful instances in the natural world, often beyond human control, like natural disasters.

Metaphysical Good and Evil

  • In religious tradition, metaphysical good indicates alignment with God's will or divine command, and is often associated with virtue, holiness, and a divine purpose.
  • Metaphysical evil is seen as an alignment against the divine good or the presence of sin. It's generally associated with demons, devil, and spiritual corruption.

The Problem of Evil and Suffering

  • The problem of evil and suffering refers to questions about how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient God.
  • Solutions to the problem of evil and suffering include the Free Will Defence, the Soul-Making Theodicy, and Process Theodicy.

The Free Will Defence

  • Suggests that God provides humans with the capacity to choose, hence moral evil is a result of misuse of free will.

The Soul-Making Theodicy

  • Suggests that suffering is necessary for the development of moral character and spiritual growth.

Process Theodicy

  • Argues that God is not omnipotent in the traditional sense and that He is doing the best He can in a dynamic and evolving universe.

Remember, these are complex ideas that could be interpreted differently by different people. Always make sure to clarify what you mean when using these terms.

Course material for Religious Studies B, module Good and Evil, topic Good, Evil and Suffering

Religious Studies B

Life and Death

Eschatology

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Eschatology

Understanding Eschatology

  • Eschatology is a term that comes from the Greek word 'eschaton', meaning 'last'. It refers to the part of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind.
  • This study includes concepts such as death, judgement, and final destiny of the soul and of humankind, also known as afterlife.
  • Eschatological beliefs differ significantly among religions and even within religions.

Christian Eschatology

  • Christian eschatology focuses on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the Last Judgement.
  • Christians generally believe that the righteous will live forever with God in a place of happiness, referred to as Heaven.
  • They also believe in Hell, a place of punishment for the wicked or those who fail God's judgement.
  • Some Christian denominations believe in Purgatory, a place or state where souls are purified so they can enter Heaven.

Islamic Eschatology

  • In Islamic eschatology, the eschatological events include the end of the world, resurrection and The Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Qiyāmah).
  • Muslims believe in Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), as places of reward or punishment in the afterlife. Allah's mercy determines those who enter Jannah.
  • The Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer of Islam, plays a significant role in the eschatology of some Muslims sects.

Hindu Eschatology

  • Hindu eschatology is linked to concepts of cycles of epochs including Yuga Cycle, cosmic cycles, and continuous process of creation and destruction.
  • Hindus believe in reincarnation, where the soul is reborn in a new body after death.
  • The ultimate goal is to achieve Moksha, liberation or release from this cycle of rebirth, resulting in eternal peace and bliss.

Jewish Eschatology

  • Jewish eschatology is based around concepts like the Messiah, resurrection, and the afterlife.
  • Jewish texts often mention Sheol as a place of darkness, where all dead souls reside, but interpretations vary vastly.
  • Some Jews believe in the concept of Gehenna where incredibly wicked individuals are punished.

Buddhist Eschatology

  • In Buddhist eschatology, the ultimate goal is achieving Nirvana, freeing the individual from the cycle of death and rebirth.
  • Buddhists believe in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Samsara) determined by one's actions (Karma).
  • Buddhism mentions a future enlightened Buddha, Maitreya, who will appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma.

Different belief systems have varied eschatological teachings, highlighting diverse perspectives on the end of times, afterlife and the ultimate fate of human beings. These concepts have a profound impact on the moral, ethical and social behaviours of followers.

Course material for Religious Studies B, module Life and Death, topic Eschatology

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