Specification points
WJEC A-level Religious Studies 1120QS
257 points in 6 topics, with WJEC's codes and titles.
Codes and titles are read by a script from WJEC's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: WJEC’s specification.
1 Unit 1: An Introduction to the Study of Religion
- 1.A Option A: Christianity
- 1.A.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.A.1.A Jesus – his birth
- 1.A.1.B Jesus – his resurrection
- 1.A.1.C The Bible as a source of wisdom and authority in daily life
- 1.A.2 Religious concepts
- 1.A.2.A Religious concepts – the nature of God
- 1.A.2.B Religious concepts – the Trinity
- 1.A.2.C Religious concepts – the Atonement
- 1.A.3 Religious life
- 1.A.3.A Religious life – faith and works
- 1.A.3.B Religious life – the community of believers
- 1.A.3.C Religious life – key moral principles
- 1.A.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.A.4.A Religious identity through diversity in baptism
- 1.A.4.B Religious identity through diversity in Eucharist
- 1.A.4.C Religious identity through diversity in festivals
- 1.B Option B: Islam
- 1.B.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.B.1.A Muhammad in Makkah after the Night of Power
- 1.B.1.B The Hijrah and Muhammad in Madinah
- 1.B.1.C The Qur'an as a source of wisdom and authority
- 1.B.2 Religious concepts
- 1.B.2.A The concept of Allah – tawhid (oneness) and shahadah (bearing witness)
- 1.B.2.B Muslim beliefs about prophethood
- 1.B.2.C Malaikah (angels) and Akhirah (the Day of Final Judgement)
- 1.B.3 Religious life
- 1.B.3.A Three pillars for Muslims and the Ummah
- 1.B.3.B Zakah (purification through giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage)
- 1.B.3.C The five categories of action in Islam
- 1.B.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.B.4.A The role of the masjid (mosque) in Islam
- 1.B.4.B Festivals and Muslim identity
- 1.B.4.C Ramadan and Id-ul-Fitr
- 1.C Option C: Judaism
- 1.C.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.C.1.A Abraham and the establishment of the covenant of circumcision
- 1.C.1.B Moses and the establishment of the covenant of law
- 1.C.1.C The Torah as a source of wisdom and authority
- 1.C.2 Religious concepts
- 1.C.2.A Beliefs about the nature of God/concept of God
- 1.C.2.B Beliefs about God and humanity, the meaning and purpose of life
- 1.C.2.C Beliefs about judgement-the Messiah and the afterlife
- 1.C.3 Religious life
- 1.C.3.A The diversity of views within Judaism with regards to mitzvot (commandments)
- 1.C.3.B Tefillah (prayer) and tzedakah (charity)
- 1.C.3.C The Ten Sayings (Ten Commandments) in Judaism
- 1.C.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.C.4.A Jewish practices shaping religious identity
- 1.C.4.B The role of festivals in shaping religious identity
- 1.C.4.C Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
- 1.D Option D: Buddhism
- 1.D.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.D.1.A Accounts of the birth of the historical Buddha and the Four Sights
- 1.D.1.B The Awakening/Enlightenment of the Buddha
- 1.D.1.C Buddhist texts as sources of wisdom and authority
- 1.D.2 Religious concepts
- 1.D.2.A The three lakshanas: dukkha, anicca and anatta
- 1.D.2.B Pratityasamutpada, karma and rebirth
- 1.D.2.C Arhat and bodhisattva: Theravada and Mahayana teachings
- 1.D.3 Religious life
- 1.D.3.A The Four Noble Truths
- 1.D.3.B The Eightfold Path – key moral principles
- 1.D.3.C The dasa sila (ten precepts) – key moral principles
- 1.D.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.D.4.A Going for refuge
- 1.D.4.B Meditation
- 1.D.4.C The role and importance of dana (giving) and punya (merit)
- 1.E Option E: Hinduism
- 1.E.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.E.1.A Sources of authority-the origins of Hinduism
- 1.E.1.B Krishna and Arjuna
- 1.E.1.C Hindu texts as sources of wisdom and authority-their use in daily life
- 1.E.2 Religious concepts
- 1.E.2.A Hindu teachings on self, death and afterlife
- 1.E.2.B Trimurti
- 1.E.2.C Key moral principles of karma and reincarnation
- 1.E.3 Religious life
- 1.E.3.A Key moral principles of Varnashramadharma
- 1.E.3.B The status of the Dalits
- 1.E.3.C Key moral principle-the concept of ahimsa
- 1.E.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.E.4.A Hindu practices shaping religious identity
- 1.E.4.B Festivals and Hindu identity
- 1.E.4.C Durga Puja
- 1.F Option F: Sikhism
- 1.F.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 1)
- 1.F.2 Religious concepts
- 1.F.2.A Sikh teachings on self, death and afterlife
- 1.F.2.B The soul
- 1.F.2.C Karma, rebirth and mukti
- 1.F.3 Religious life
- 1.F.3.A Key moral principles for the Sikh community
- 1.F.3.B Kirat Karo and Vand Chhako
- 1.F.3.C The concepts of Sant Sipahi (saint-soldier)/Dharam Yudh (just war)
- 1.F.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 1)
- 1.F.4.A The expression of Sikh identity through the role of the gurdwara
- 1.F.4.B Diwali
- 1.F.4.C Vaisakhi
2 Unit 2: Religion and ethics; philosophy of religion
- 2.1 Ethical Thought
- 2.1.A Divine Command Theory
- 2.1.B Virtue Theory
- 2.1.C Ethical Egoism
- 2.2 Aquinas’ Natural Law-a religious approach to ethics
- 2.2.A Aquinas' Natural Law: laws and precepts
- 2.2.B Aquinas' Natural Law: virtues and goods
- 2.2.C Aquinas’ Natural Law: application of the theory
- 2.3 Situation Ethics – a religious approach to ethics
- 2.3.A Fletcher's Situation Ethics
- 2.3.B Fletcher's Situation Ethics: the principles as a means of assessing morality
- 2.3.C Fletcher’s Situation Ethics: application of the theory
- 2.4 Utilitarianism – a non-religious approach to ethics
- 2.4.A Bentham's Act Utilitarianism
- 2.4.B Mill's development of Utilitarianism
- 2.4.C Utilitarianism: application of the theories (Act and Rule)
3 Unit 3: A Study of Religion
- 3.A Option A: Christianity
- 3.A.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.A.1.A The Bible as a source of wisdom and authority
- 3.A.1.B The early church (in Acts of the Apostles)
- 3.A.1.C Two views of Jesus
- 3.A.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.A.2.A Christianity and the challenge of secularisation
- 3.A.2.B Christianity and the challenge of science
- 3.A.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.A.3.A Attitudes towards wealth
- 3.A.3.B Migration and Christianity in the UK
- 3.A.3.C The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.A.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 2)
- 3.A.4.A Religious identity through unification
- 3.A.4.B Religious identity through religious experience
- 3.A.4.C Religious identity through responses to poverty and injustice
- 3.B Option B: Islam
- 3.B.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.B.1.A Sources of shari'a
- 3.B.1.B The role of shari’a and its importance for Muslims
- 3.B.1.C Muslim understandings of jihad
- 3.B.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.B.2.A The Islamic state as a challenge to secularisation
- 3.B.2.B Islam and scientific views of the universe's origins
- 3.B.2.C Western perceptions of Islam
- 3.B.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.B.3.A Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.B.3.B The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.B.3.C Islam and migration: the challenges of being a Muslim in Britain today
- 3.B.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity
- 3.B.4.A Diversity within Islam
- 3.B.4.B Islam and change
- 3.B.4.C Ethical debate on crime and punishment in Islam
- 3.C Option C: Judaism
- 3.C.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.C.1.A The structure and development of the Talmud and its importance within Judaism
- 3.C.1.B Midrash in Judaism: the distinction between Halakhah and Aggadah
- 3.C.1.C 1B Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) and Moses Maimonides
- 3.C.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.C.2.A Judaism and the challenge of secularisation
- 3.C.2.B Judaism and the challenge of science
- 3.C.2.C Holocaust theology
- 3.C.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.C.3.A Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.C.3.B The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.C.3.C Judaism and migration: being a minority in Britain
- 3.C.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity
- 3.C.4.A Beliefs and practices distinctive of Hasidic Judaism
- 3.C.4.B Kabbalah: God and religious experience
- 3.C.4.C Ethical debate on embryo research in Judaism
- 3.D Option D: Buddhism
- 3.D.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.D.1.A The Pali Canon: its role in Buddhism as a whole
- 3.D.1.B The main themes and concepts in two Mahayana texts
- 3.D.1.C Contemporary Buddhist teachers
- 3.D.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.D.2.A Historical development of Buddhism in Japan
- 3.D.2.B Buddhist responses to the challenges from science
- 3.D.2.C Buddhist responses to the challenges from secularisation
- 3.D.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.D.3.A Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.D.3.B Historical development of Buddhism in Britain
- 3.D.3.C The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.D.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 2)
- 3.D.4.A Tibetan Buddhism: mudra, mandala and mantra
- 3.D.4.B Buddhism and change
- 3.D.4.C Socially Engaged Buddhism (SEB): ‘liberationist’ traditions
- 3.E Option E: Hinduism
- 3.E.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.E.1.A Nature and significance of the Upanishads
- 3.E.1.B Gandhi and Ramakrishna compared
- 3.E.1.C Shri Paramahamsa Ramakrishna
- 3.E.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.E.2.A The reasons for the development and growth of ISKCON
- 3.E.2.B Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.E.2.C Hindu liberationist thinking as defending the poor and oppressed
- 3.E.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.E.3.B Migration and Hindu identity in Britain
- 3.E.3.C The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.E.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 2)
- 3.E.4.A Bhakti movement
- 3.E.4.B Hinduism and change
- 3.E.4.C Hindu bioethics
- 3.F Option F: Sikhism
- 3.F.1 Religious figures and sacred texts (part 2)
- 3.F.1.A The Mul Mantra and the Japji of Guru Nanak
- 3.F.1.B Contributions to the development of Sikh thought
- 3.F.1.C Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the founding of the Sikh empire
- 3.F.2 Significant historical developments in religious thought
- 3.F.2.A The aspiration for Khalistan
- 3.F.2.B The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination
- 3.F.2.C Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.F.3 Significant social developments in religious thought
- 3.F.3.A Religion and society: attitudes to other beliefs
- 3.F.3.B Origins and development of the Sikh community in Britain
- 3.F.3.C Miri and piri: Sikhs as a minority in Britain
- 3.F.4 Religious practices that shape religious identity (part 2)
- 3.F.4.A The status and importance of Rahit Maryada and Rahit Namas
- 3.F.4.B Sikhism and change
- 3.F.4.C Sikhism and bioethics – infertility
4 Unit 4: Religion and Ethics
5 Unit 5: Philosophy of Religion
- 5.1 Challenges to religious belief (part 2)
- 5.1.A Freud: religious belief as a product of the mind
- 5.1.B Jung: religious belief as a product of the mind
- 5.1.C Atheism and the rejection of religion
- 5.2 Religious experience (part 2)
- 5.2.A Religious experience, practice and faith
- 5.2.B Definitions of miracles
- 5.2.C Two scholars' views on miracles
- 5.3 Religious language (part 1)
- 5.3.A Inherent problems of religious language
- 5.3.B Religious language as cognitive but meaningless
- 5.3.C Religious language as non-cognitive and analogical
- 5.4 Religious language (part 2)
- 5.4.A Religious language as non-cognitive and symbolic
- 5.4.B Religious language as non-cognitive and mythical
- 5.4.C Religious language as a language game
6 Unit 6: Textual Studies – New Testament
- 6.1 New Testament Literature - Parables
- 6.1.A Parables – types and characteristics
- 6.1.B Parables – purposes and interpretations
- 6.1.C Close study of New Testament texts (parables)
- 6.2 New Testament Literature - Miracles
- 6.2.A Miracles – types and characteristics
- 6.2.B Miracles – purposes and interpretations
- 6.2.C Close study of New Testament texts (miracles)
- 6.3 New Testament Literature - The Letters (1 Peter)
- 6.3.A The Letters (1 Peter) – authorship and readership
- 6.3.B The Letters (1 Peter) – purpose and place in the New Testament
- 6.3.C Close study of New Testament texts (1 Peter)
- 6.4 New Testament Literature - Apocalyptic
- 6.4.A Apocalyptic literature – definitions and characteristics
- 6.4.B Apocalyptic literature – purposes and interpretations
- 6.4.C Close study of New Testament texts (Revelation)