Theme C: the Existence of God and Revelation | AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062)
Theme C: the Existence of God and Revelation
- 95 questions
- 7 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation is examined in Paper 2, Thematic studies — one of the four themes chosen, marked out of 24.
It covers the Design argument, the First Cause argument, the argument from miracles, evil and suffering as an argument against God, science, atheism and humanism, special revelation: visions and enlightenment and general revelation and ideas about the nature of God.
Sample questions from Theme C: the Existence of God and Revelation
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The Design argument
Give two examples of apparent design in nature.
Show the answer
The human eye and the orbits of the planets are common examples. Each example shows parts working together for a purpose. -
The Design argument
Which biologist called natural selection a blind watchmaker?
Show the answer
Richard Dawkins used the phrase in his book The Blind Watchmaker in 1986. Dawkins argued that natural selection has no purpose and no foresight. -
The First Cause argument
What is meant by an infinite regress?
Show the answer
An infinite regress is a chain of causes going back for ever with no starting point. Aquinas argued that such a chain could never get started. -
The First Cause argument
How does the Big Bang theory relate to the First Cause argument?
Show the answer
Some believers argue that the Big Bang is the moment of creation and still needs a cause. Critics reply that the Big Bang is simply where explanation stops. -
The argument from miracles
What happens at Lourdes, and why does it matter to this argument?
Show the answer
Lourdes in France is a shrine where pilgrims go in the hope of healing. The Roman Catholic Church has officially recognised about seventy cures there as miraculous. -
The argument from miracles
Why does the rarity of miracles count against the argument?
Show the answer
An all-loving God would be expected to heal everyone rather than a few. Selective miracles look unfair to critics. -
Evil and suffering as an argument against God
Set out the inconsistent triad.
Show the answer
The inconsistent triad states that God is all-powerful, that God is all-loving, and that evil exists. Critics argue that all three cannot be true at the same time. -
Evil and suffering as an argument against God
Give one practical Christian response to suffering.
Show the answer
Christians pray for those who suffer and give to charities that help them. Following Jesus is understood as sharing the burden of others.
The 7 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The Design argument | These questions set out the Design argument and Paley's watch, apparent design and fine-tuning, the argument's strengths, the challenges from Hume, evolution and suffering in nature, and the humanist response. | 14 |
| The First Cause argument | Students learn the First Cause argument and the thinker most linked to it, infinite regress, necessary and contingent being, its link to the Big Bang, its strengths and weaknesses, and Bertrand Russell's objection. | 12 |
| The argument from miracles | The subtopic covers what a miracle is and the argument from miracles, examples from the Gospels and Lourdes, how cures are judged, Hume's objection and alternative explanations, and Christian and humanist responses. | 14 |
| Evil and suffering as an argument against God | These questions explain moral and natural evil, the problem of evil and the inconsistent triad, theodicies including free will, Augustine and soul-making, Job and the suffering of Jesus, and why atheists see evil as evidence against God. | 14 |
| Science, atheism and humanism | Students learn atheism, agnosticism, humanism and theism, how the Big Bang and evolution are used against belief, religious replies, believing scientists, Richard Dawkins, the burden of proof, and humanist sources of meaning. | 13 |
| Special revelation: visions and enlightenment | The subtopic covers special revelation through visions, with examples from scripture, Saul and Bernadette, the first revelation of the Qur'an, enlightenment and the Buddha, and why such claims are trusted or doubted. | 14 |
| General revelation and ideas about the nature of God | These questions explain general revelation through nature and scripture and how it differs from special revelation, ideas of God as omnipotent, omniscient, personal or impersonal, transcendent and immanent, and humanist views. | 14 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,734 questions with their answers.