AQA A-Level Religious Studies 3.3 Study of religion (Christianity): a complete overview of authority, God, the afterlife, the Church, society and identity

What the Study of religion section demands

The Study of religion is Section A of Component 2. Candidates study one religion in depth, most commonly Christianity, across six themes: where its authority comes from, how it understands God and the human person, what it teaches about death, how it organises itself as a community, how it engages modern society, and how its identity is expressed and sustained. The examiners test accurate, specific knowledge of the chosen religion (AO1) and the confident evaluation of claims about it (AO2).

This guide walks through all six Christianity topics in specification order, then sets out the exam patterns AQA repeats. Each topic has a matching dot-point page with practice questions; this overview ties them together.

Authority, God and the afterlife

Sources of wisdom and authority asks where Christian authority rests: in the Bible, in tradition, and in the Church (the magisterium in Catholicism), and how scripture should be read (literalist, conservative and liberal approaches).

God and the self covers the Trinity (one God in three persons), the divine attributes (omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence) and their philosophical problems, and Christian teaching on the human person: the imago Dei, the Fall, original sin (Augustine) and salvation by grace.

Life after death sets out resurrection of the body, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory (a Catholic teaching), and the debate between literal and symbolic interpretations, including Hick's universalism.

Community, society and identity

The nature of the religious community explains the Church as the body of Christ, its worship and sacraments (especially baptism and the Eucharist), its varied leadership and authority, and the diversity of denominations.

Religion and society covers Christianity's engagement with the modern world: secularisation, gender and feminist theology (Ruether, Hampson), religious pluralism (exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism), and the relationship with science (conflict, NOMA, integration).

Expressions of religious identity examines how identity is sustained and shown: migration and diaspora, responses to social and political issues including liberation theology (Gutierrez), and the ecumenical movement towards unity.

How the Study of religion section is examined

A typical AQA profile:

• AO1 explanation. Explaining a doctrine or practice: the Trinity, original sin, the sacraments, or resurrection.
• AO1 examination. Setting out a debate within the religion, for example literalist versus liberal readings of the Bible.
• AO2 evaluation. A 25-mark essay assessing a claim, such as "Secularisation has fatally weakened Christianity" or "The Church should pursue Christian unity above all".
• Synoptic links. Connecting to the dialogues in Section B, for example how Christian teaching on the afterlife relates to the philosophy of religion.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall and evaluation prompts covering the Study of religion (Christianity) section. Attempt them under timed conditions, then check against the solutions.

1. Explain the difference between a literalist and a liberal approach to the Bible. (4 marks)
2. Explain the doctrine of the Trinity. (3 marks)
3. Explain Augustine's teaching on original sin. (3 marks)
4. Explain the Christian teaching on the resurrection of the body. (3 marks)
5. Define a sacrament and give two examples. (3 marks)
6. Distinguish exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism. (6 marks)
7. Explain what is meant by secularisation. (2 marks)
8. Explain what is meant by liberation theology. (4 marks)