Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies Route B Specification - Origins and Meaning

Theme 1: Origins and Meaning

• Catholic beliefs and teachings about the origin of the universe and the concept of creation ex nihilo as expressed in the writing of St Augustine (specifically Confessions XII, 7)
• The relationship between Catholic views and other Christian views on the origin of the universe and the extent to which these conflict
• The relationship between Catholic and non-religious views about  the origins of the universe and of human beings (Stephen Hawking's theory of the Big Bang) and the extent to which these conflict
• Comparison of scientific theory of evolution (Charles Darwin, Richard Dawkins), with Catholic beliefs about the purposeful creation of human beings; the extent to which creation and evolution are compatible, with reference to Pope John Paul II’s Message To The Pontifical Academy Of Sciences: On Evolution (22 October 1996, paragraphs 3 & 4)
• Catholic beliefs and teachings about the origin and sanctity of human life and the concept of imago Dei as expressed in the writings of St Catherine of Siena (specifically The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena, of Discretion)
• The relationship between Catholic views, other fundamentalist Christian views and non-religious views about the value of human life, including attitudes toward abortion
• Humanist critiques of Catholic beliefs about the…