Christians are monotheists — they believe in one God who is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), benevolent (all-loving) and just. Many understand God as the Trinity: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit — three persons, one God. This is not three gods, and it is a common mistake to describe it that way. Some Christians (especially those with an omnibenevolent view) struggle to reconcile a loving, powerful God with the existence of evil and suffering — this is the problem of evil.
Most Christians accept scientific explanations like the Big Bang and evolution but still believe God is ultimately responsible for creation, often reading Genesis symbolically rather than literally. Some, called creationists, take Genesis 1 literally — God made the world in six days. Genesis teaches humans have stewardship (responsibility to look after) the Earth, and dominion (authority over it) — exam answers should distinguish these two terms clearly.
Jesus is believed to be both fully God and fully human — this is the Incarnation. Key events: his death by crucifixion (atonement for sin), his Resurrection (rising on the third day, proving victory over death and giving hope of eternal life), and his Ascension (returning to heaven 40 days later).
Sin is disobedience to God, originating (for many) with Adam and Eve's Original Sin. Salvation is being saved from sin, achieved through Jesus's death and resurrection. Catholics emphasise a mix of faith and good works plus the sacraments; most Protestants emphasise salvation through grace by faith alone (sola fide). Most Christians believe in judgement after death, followed by heaven or hell; some also believe in purgatory (a Catholic teaching — a state of purification before heaven).
Christians worship in many ways: liturgical worship follows a set structure (eg Catholic Mass), non-liturgical worship is informal and spontaneous (common in Pentecostal and evangelical churches), and private worship happens alone at home. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, is the model prayer used by almost all denominations. Common mistake: don't say 'all Christians worship the same way' - liturgical and charismatic worship look very different.
Catholics and Orthodox Christians recognise seven sacraments; most Protestants recognise only two - baptism and Holy Communion (Eucharist) - because these are the two Jesus himself commanded.
Set/formal prayer uses fixed, traditional words (eg the Lord's Prayer, written prayers). Informal prayer is in the believer's own words. Set prayer gives structure and unity; informal prayer feels personal - exam answers should give a reason for each.
A journey to a holy place for religious reasons. Key sites: Lourdes (France, linked to healing miracles and Mary's appearances to Bernadette in 1858) and the Holy Land (Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth - places from Jesus's life). Reasons include to grow faith, seek healing, feel closer to God, and fellowship with other pilgrims.
The local church acts as a centre for the community: food banks, foodbank projects, and support for the vulnerable. Street pastors patrol town centres at night offering practical help. The worldwide church runs missionary work (spreading the gospel) and evangelism (converting others to Christianity).
Muslims believe in one God, Allah (Tawhid), and follow the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the final messenger. Around 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni; roughly 15% are Shi'a. The split began after Muhammad died in 632 CE, over who should lead the ummah (community). Sunnis accepted Abu Bakr, chosen by consensus, as the first caliph. Shi'a Muslims believed leadership should pass through Muhammad's family, starting with his cousin/son-in-law Ali.
Sunni Islam has six articles of faith: belief in Allah, angels, holy books, prophets, the Day of Judgement, and predestination (Al-Qadr). Shi'a Islam has five roots of Usul ad-Din: Tawhid, Adalat (justice), Prophethood (Nubuwwah), Imamate, and the Day of Judgement (Mi'ad). A common mistake is treating these as identical lists — they overlap but are not the same.
Angels (Malaikah) are messengers with no free will; Jibril delivered the Qur'an to Muhammad over 23 years, and Mikail controls nature. Muslims believe in earlier holy books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil) but hold the Qur'an as the final, uncorrupted word of Allah, revealed in Arabic.
Marriage is a legal union that most religions see as the proper setting for sex and family life. In the UK the legal minimum age to marry is 18 (raised from 16 in 2023, England and Wales). Christians see marriage as a sacred covenant before God, often quoting the vow 'till death us do part' and Genesis 2:24, 'the two will become one flesh'. Catholics view marriage as one of the seven sacraments and teach it should be permanent, exclusive and open to children. Muslims see marriage (nikah) as a religious and social duty, completed through a marriage contract (mahr) that protects the wife financially. Most religions are cautious about cohabitation (living together unmarried), though liberal believers accept it as a sensible step before marriage.
Many traditional Christians and Muslims teach sex belongs only within marriage. The Catholic Church opposes artificial contraception, permitting only natural family planning; other Christian denominations and most Muslims accept contraception within marriage for family planning. Religions generally value large, stable families but increasingly accept smaller families for practical or health reasons.
Divorce is legally available in the UK; since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 couples can get a 'no-fault divorce' after a minimum 20-week reflection period. Religious attitudes vary: the Catholic Church does not recognise divorce (marriage is indissoluble) though it allows annulment; the Church of England permits divorce and, since 2002, remarriage in church at a vicar's discretion. Islam permits divorce (talaq) as a last resort, though it is described as 'the most hated of permitted things'.
Religions traditionally value the family as the basic unit of society for raising children and passing on faith. Views on gender roles range from complementary (different but equal roles) to fully equal partnership. Most mainstream UK denominations now support equality between husbands and wives in decision-making and childcare.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014 (Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013). Religious views split sharply: liberal Christians and Reform/Liberal Jews accept same-sex marriage; the Catholic Church, Orthodox Christianity and most Muslims teach that sex and marriage should be heterosexual, based on readings of Genesis and Leviticus, but many also teach homosexual people should be treated with respect and not discriminated against.
Don't confuse civil partnerships with marriage, don't say all Christians agree (denominations differ hugely), and always back up views with a named source of authority (Bible, Qur'an, Church teaching).
AQA wants you to explain several causes, not just list them.
A common mistake is only naming causes without linking them to religious teaching on why humans sin (e.g. Christian idea of original sin, or the Islamic concept of Shaytan tempting people away from the straight path).
Know at least three types with an example: hate crimes, theft, murder, terrorism, cybercrime, and crimes against property. Be ready to give a religious response to at least two of these.
There are four aims - learn all four with a one-line definition:
Most exam answers lose marks by describing an aim without naming it correctly, so always use the exact word first.
UK abolished it in 1965 (formally 1969 for murder, 1998 for all crimes). Christians are divided: some support it citing 'an eye for an eye' (Exodus 21:24), others reject it citing 'do not murder' (Exodus 20:13) and the sanctity of life. Most Muslims accept it in principle for serious crimes like murder under Shari'ah law, but require very strict proof and mercy is encouraged. A common mistake is assuming all Christians or all Muslims agree - always show a range of views.
Christians often support forgiveness, linked to Jesus teaching 'turn the other cheek' and the Lord's Prayer ('forgive us our trespasses'). Muslims believe Allah is 'Most Merciful' (Ar-Rahman) and forgiveness is encouraged, though justice must still be served.