What does Theme B Religion and life cover?

It covers religious and scientific accounts of the origins of the universe and human life, the sanctity and quality of life, abortion and when life begins, euthanasia and end-of-life care, beliefs about death and the afterlife, and the use of animals and the duty of stewardship over the environment.

How does Theme B handle science and religion?

Theme B asks students to compare religious creation accounts with the Big Bang and evolution, and to evaluate whether they conflict. Many believers accept the scientific accounts as describing how God created, treating Genesis as a deeper truth, so science and religion can be seen as compatible.

How is Theme B assessed?

It is one of the four themes answered on Paper 2, examined with the standard 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 mark question pattern. Answers must use religious teachings from Christianity and usually one other religion, and the 12 mark question evaluates a statement with arguments for and against.

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Theme B: Religion and life overview - AQA GCSE Religious Studies A

An overview of Theme B, Religion and life, for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering origins of the universe and life, the sanctity of life, abortion, euthanasia and the environment.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.86 min readTheme BUpdated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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What the theme covers
How it is assessed
How to study it
For the official specification

Theme B: Religion and life is one of the thematic studies examined on Paper 2 of AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062). It applies religious teachings to origins, the value of life, medical ethics and the environment.

What the theme covers

Origins of the universe and life: religious and scientific accounts, whether they agree, and stewardship.
Sanctity of life and abortion: the sanctity of life, when life begins, and attitudes to abortion.
Euthanasia and death: types of euthanasia, end-of-life care and beliefs about death.
Animal rights and the environment: stewardship and dominion, use of animals, and caring for the planet.

How it is assessed

Theme B is one of the four themes on Paper 2. Questions follow the 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 mark pattern and require teachings from Christianity and usually Islam, with contrasting views in the evaluation question.

How to study it

Learn the religious and scientific accounts of origins and how they can be reconciled, and master the sanctity of life as the key idea behind abortion and euthanasia. Know the arguments for and against in each debate, with teachings on both sides.

For the official specification

AQA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA past papers.

Sources & how we know this

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)