Exam-style questions by topic — Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies
One question for each of 54 topics. These are written for this specification by MasteryMind. They are not past-paper questions, and they are not from Pearson Edexcel.
Philosophical issues and questions: Arguments for the existence of God (Design, Cosmological, Ontological)
In Anselm's Ontological argument, what is the key difference between 'existing in the understanding' and 'existing in reality'?
Practise Philosophical issues and questions: Arguments for the existence of God (Design, Cosmological, Ontological)The nature and influence of religious experience
How might a religious believer respond to the criticism that religious experiences are merely psychological projections?
Practise The nature and influence of religious experienceProblems of evil and suffering
Which of the following best describes the logical problem of evil?
Practise Problems of evil and sufferingReligious language
In the context of religious language, what does 'univocal' mean?
Practise Religious languageWorks of scholars: Critiques of religious belief (Dawkins and Westphal; Russell and Copleston)
Which of the following best summarises Richard Dawkins' central critique of religious belief in 'The God Delusion'?
Practise Works of scholars: Critiques of religious belief (Dawkins and Westphal; Russell and Copleston)Influences of developments in religious belief: Life after death and religion and science debates
Which of the following is a key Christian belief about life after death?
Practise Influences of developments in religious belief: Life after death and religion and science debatesSignificant concepts in issues or debates in religion: Environmental ethics and equality
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'stewardship' in environmental ethics?
Practise Significant concepts in issues or debates in religion: Environmental ethics and equalityA study of three ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, and Natural Moral Law
Which ethical theory would most likely justify telling a lie to protect a Jewish family from the Nazis, and why?
Practise A study of three ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, and Natural Moral LawApplication of ethical theories to issues of importance: War and peace, and Sexual ethics
A soldier refuses to fight in a war because they believe that every person has an intrinsic worth that must never be violated, regardless of the consequences. Which ethical theory does this soldier most likely follow?
Practise Application of ethical theories to issues of importance: War and peace, and Sexual ethicsEthical language: Meta-ethics and the relationship between religion and morality
Which statement best represents the Divine Command Theory?
Practise Ethical language: Meta-ethics and the relationship between religion and moralityDeontology, Virtue Ethics and the works of scholars: A comparison of Immanuel Kant and Aristotle
A student argues: 'If everyone lied to get what they wanted, society would collapse, so lying is wrong.' How would Aristotle critique this reasoning?
Practise Deontology, Virtue Ethics and the works of scholars: A comparison of Immanuel Kant and AristotleMedical ethics: Issues in medical ethics with a focus on beginning and end of life
A pregnant woman has a life-threatening condition, and continuing the pregnancy will likely kill her. In Catholic teaching, which action would be considered morally permissible?
Practise Medical ethics: Issues in medical ethics with a focus on beginning and end of lifeSocial, historical and religious context of the New Testament: Prophecy regarding the Messiah and the world of the first century
Which Old Testament book contains the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
Practise Social, historical and religious context of the New Testament: Prophecy regarding the Messiah and the world of the first centuryTexts and interpretation of the Person of Jesus: The Prologue in John, titles of Jesus, and miracles and signs
In John's account of the raising of Lazarus (John 11), what does Jesus say to Martha that reveals his divine authority over death?
Practise Texts and interpretation of the Person of Jesus: The Prologue in John, titles of Jesus, and miracles and signsInterpreting the text and issues of relationship, purpose and authorship
Why is understanding the purpose of a biblical book important for interpretation?
Practise Interpreting the text and issues of relationship, purpose and authorshipWays of interpreting Scripture
Which of the following best describes the literalist approach to interpreting Scripture?
Practise Ways of interpreting ScriptureTexts and interpretation: The Kingdom of God in Luke, the death of Jesus, and the crucifixion and resurrection narratives
Which of the following best describes the role of the 'Son of Man' in Luke's account of the crucifixion and resurrection?
Practise Texts and interpretation: The Kingdom of God in Luke, the death of Jesus, and the crucifixion and resurrection narrativesScientific and historical-critical challenges, faith and history, and ethical living
Which of the following is a key ethical teaching of Jesus that is often applied to modern issues of social justice?
Practise Scientific and historical-critical challenges, faith and history, and ethical livingBuddhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Four Noble Truths as the basis of Buddhism
What is the fundamental purpose of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
Practise Buddhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Four Noble Truths as the basis of BuddhismBuddhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Buddha and the Tipitaka
Which of the following is the correct order of the three 'baskets' (pitakas) in the Tipitaka?
Practise Buddhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Buddha and the TipitakaBuddhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, and meditation
How does the practice of meditation differ between Theravada and Mahayana traditions?
Practise Buddhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, and meditationBuddhism – Social and historical developments: The spread of Buddhism, Triratna Buddhism, and the role of women
Which of the following is a distinctive feature of the Triratna Buddhist Community (founded by Sangharakshita)?
Practise Buddhism – Social and historical developments: The spread of Buddhism, Triratna Buddhism, and the role of womenBuddhism – Works of scholars: Comparison of the bodhisattva doctrine
What is a key difference between the bodhisattva ideal as presented by Har Dayal and the interpretation of D.T. Suzuki?
Practise Buddhism – Works of scholars: Comparison of the bodhisattva doctrineBuddhism – Religion and society: The interpretation and application of ahimsa in the modern world
In the context of ahimsa, how do many modern Buddhists interpret the first precept ('I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures') when it comes to insects in daily life?
Practise Buddhism – Religion and society: The interpretation and application of ahimsa in the modern worldChristianity – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The nature of God as personal and as Creator, the Trinity, the nature of the Church, and key moral principles
What is the significance of the Church as the 'Body of Christ'?
Practise Christianity – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The nature of God as personal and as Creator, the Trinity, the nature of the Church, and key moral principlesChristianity – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Bible and the nature and role of Jesus
According to Christian teaching, what is the primary role of Jesus as 'Saviour'?
Practise Christianity – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Bible and the nature and role of JesusChristianity – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The diversity of practice in the Eucharist
In the Orthodox Church, the Eucharist is often referred to as the 'Mystery of Mysteries'. What does this title emphasize?
Practise Christianity – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The diversity of practice in the EucharistChristianity – Social and historical developments: Science, secularisation, and new movements in theology
How did the 'Death of God' movement in the 1960s challenge traditional Christian theology?
Practise Christianity – Social and historical developments: Science, secularisation, and new movements in theologyChristianity – Works of scholars: Atonement theory; comparison of Karl Barth and John Hick
Which statement best summarises Karl Barth's view of the atonement?
Practise Christianity – Works of scholars: Atonement theory; comparison of Karl Barth and John HickChristianity – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discrimination
Which of the following is a Christian argument against discrimination based on gender?
Practise Christianity – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discriminationHinduism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Beliefs about Brahman, avatars, and key moral principles
In Hinduism, Brahman is best described as:
Practise Hinduism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Beliefs about Brahman, avatars, and key moral principlesHinduism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Emergence of Hindu traditions
How did the Upanishads contribute to the emergence of Hindu traditions?
Practise Hinduism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Emergence of Hindu traditionsHinduism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Sanatana dharma and yoga
Which of the following best describes the goal of Karma Yoga?
Practise Hinduism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Sanatana dharma and yogaHinduism – Social and historical developments: Movements (Neo-Vedanta, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Hindutva)
What was the primary purpose of the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897?
Practise Hinduism – Social and historical developments: Movements (Neo-Vedanta, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Hindutva)Hinduism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Shankara and Ramanuja
How does Ramanuja's concept of 'Vishishtadvaita' differ from Shankara's 'Advaita'?
Practise Hinduism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Shankara and RamanujaHinduism – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discrimination
How do Hindu teachings on 'dharma' and 'karma' relate to the issue of discrimination based on birth?
Practise Hinduism – Religion and society: Pluralism and diversity, and equality and discriminationIslam – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Six Beliefs and key moral principles
How does the belief in the Day of Judgement influence Muslim moral behaviour?
Practise Islam – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Six Beliefs and key moral principlesIslam – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Prophet Muhammad, the Hadith and Sunnah, and the Qur'an
What is the significance of the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) in the life of the Prophet Muhammad?
Practise Islam – Sources of wisdom and authority: The life and work of the Prophet Muhammad, the Hadith and Sunnah, and the Qur'anIslam – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The Five Pillars and the ummah
Which of the following best describes the concept of the ummah in Islam?
Practise Islam – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The Five Pillars and the ummahIslam – Social and historical developments: Sunni and Shi'a differences, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Sufism, and Islam and science
How does Sufism primarily differ from other forms of Islamic practice?
Practise Islam – Social and historical developments: Sunni and Shi'a differences, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Sufism, and Islam and scienceIslam – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Jihad
How does the understanding of Jihad in the works of Sayyid Qutb differ from that of Muhammad Abduh regarding the concept of 'offensive Jihad'?
Practise Islam – Works of scholars: Comparative study of JihadIslam – Religion and society: Multi-faith societies, pluralism, gender, and interfaith dialogue
Which Qur'anic verse is often cited to support the idea of religious freedom and the rejection of forced conversion?
Practise Islam – Religion and society: Multi-faith societies, pluralism, gender, and interfaith dialogueJudaism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Ethical monotheism, God's revelation in the Torah and Talmud, and values
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Torah and the Talmud in Jewish tradition?
Practise Judaism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Ethical monotheism, God's revelation in the Torah and Talmud, and valuesJudaism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Tenakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim) and the development of Rabbinic Judaism
Which of the following best explains why the Torah is considered the most authoritative part of the Tenakh?
Practise Judaism – Sources of wisdom and authority: Tenakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim) and the development of Rabbinic JudaismJudaism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Orthodox and Reform Judaism
Which statement best explains why Reform Judaism allows women to become rabbis, while Orthodox Judaism does not?
Practise Judaism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: Orthodox and Reform JudaismJudaism – Social and historical developments: Modern development of Judaism, Zionism, and the Holocaust
Which of the following best explains the significance of the Balfour Declaration of 1917 for the development of Zionism?
Practise Judaism – Social and historical developments: Modern development of Judaism, Zionism, and the HolocaustJudaism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Maimonides and Moses Mendelssohn
Which statement about Maimonides' 'Guide for the Perplexed' and Mendelssohn's 'Jerusalem' is accurate?
Practise Judaism – Works of scholars: Comparative study of Maimonides and Moses MendelssohnJudaism – Religion and society: Religious pluralism and equality and discrimination
In Judaism, the concept that all humans are created in the image of God (b'tzelem Elohim) is often used to support which principle?
Practise Judaism – Religion and society: Religious pluralism and equality and discriminationSikhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Sikhs and the divine, the importance of sangat, and key moral principles
In the Guru Granth Sahib, the divine is often referred to as 'Waheguru'. What does this term convey about the Sikh understanding of God?
Practise Sikhism – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: Sikhs and the divine, the importance of sangat, and key moral principlesSikhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Guru Granth Sahib and the lives of the ten Gurus
Which of the following statements about the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib is accurate?
Practise Sikhism – Sources of wisdom and authority: The Guru Granth Sahib and the lives of the ten GurusSikhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The affirmation of a distinctive Sikh identity and the Singh Sabha movements
Which of the following best describes the role of the Akali movement in relation to Sikh identity?
Practise Sikhism – Practices that shape and express religious identity: The affirmation of a distinctive Sikh identity and the Singh Sabha movementsSikhism – Social and historical developments: The impact of migration, secularisation and non-Sikh culture on the Sikh Diaspora
How has secularisation in Western countries influenced the practice of Sikhism among younger generations in the diaspora?
Practise Sikhism – Social and historical developments: The impact of migration, secularisation and non-Sikh culture on the Sikh DiasporaSikhism – Works of scholars: The importance of the feminine principle in Sikh thought (N K Singh and D Jakobsh)
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'feminine principle' in Sikh thought as discussed by scholars?
Practise Sikhism – Works of scholars: The importance of the feminine principle in Sikh thought (N K Singh and D Jakobsh)Sikhism – Religion and society: Religious freedom, tolerance, and responses to pluralism and diversity
Which Sikh teaching or practice best exemplifies the principle of 'seva' (selfless service) in the context of responding to social diversity?
Practise Sikhism – Religion and society: Religious freedom, tolerance, and responses to pluralism and diversity
Practise every topic and see your weak topics.
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