Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies

Theme B: Religion + life

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies revision on Theme B: Religion + life. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0 specification. This bank has 8 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 8)

  1. Question 1

    The Christian view on creation is mostly...

    • A) The universe is meaningless
    • B) God created the universe (Genesis 1-2); some interpret literally (creationism), most accept scientific account as how God created
    • C) Big Bang only - no God
    • D) Universe is eternal
    Show answer

    Answer: God created the universe (Genesis 1-2); some interpret literally (creationism), most accept scientific account as how God created

    Genesis 1-2: God created in 6 days. LITERAL view (creationism, common in evangelical Protestants): 6 24-hour days, ~6000 years ago. METAPHORICAL view (mainstream Catholic + most Protestants): Genesis is theological truth, not scientific; God created THROUGH evolution + Big Bang. Pope Francis: 'The Big Bang... does not contradict the divine act of creation.'

  2. Question 2

    Christian teaching on environmental stewardship is based on the idea that...

    • A) Humans can do anything with the Earth
    • B) Genesis - humans are 'stewards' (caretakers) of creation, accountable to God
    • C) Animals don't matter
    • D) Climate change is irrelevant
    Show answer

    Answer: Genesis - humans are 'stewards' (caretakers) of creation, accountable to God

    Genesis 1:28: humans given 'dominion' over creation. Many Christians interpret as STEWARDSHIP - to look after, not exploit. Pope Francis's encyclical 'Laudato Si' (2015) called for action on climate change. Christian environmentalism: protecting biodiversity, sustainable living, opposing pollution. Some still hold older view of dominion = use freely; this is now a minority among educated Christians.

  3. Question 3

    The sanctity of life means...

    • A) Life is cheap
    • B) All human life is sacred + valuable because given by God / Allah
    • C) Only Christian lives matter
    • D) Animals are sacred
    Show answer

    Answer: All human life is sacred + valuable because given by God / Allah

    Foundation for Christian + Muslim views on: abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, war. Verses: 'You shall not murder' (commandment 6). 'I knew you before I formed you in the womb' (Jeremiah 1:5). For Muslims: 'Whoever kills a soul... it is as if they killed all of humanity' (Qur'an 5:32). Used by both pro-life + (some) opposed-to-death-penalty positions.

Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?

5 more questions on Theme B: Religion + life — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Religious Studies spec.