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GCSE · Theme C: Religion, Relationships and Families

RS.TC7 Religious Upbringing and Its Influence on Belief in God

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Which one of the following best defines 'religious upbringing' as used in Theme C: the ways a child is brought up within a faith context?

A. The formal instruction of theology at university level
B. The process by which a child is raised within a set of religious practices, beliefs and values
C. A legal obligation to follow religious law
D. A one-off religious experience that changes belief

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Define the term 'upbringing' in the context of how families influence religious belief.

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

Give two ways parents or guardians can directly influence a child's belief in God in a religious upbringing.

(Total for Question 3 is 2 marks)

Outline three ways a local religious community, faith school and rites of passage together might shape belief in God. Give short points for each setting.

(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)

Explain two ways participating in regular worship and festivals during childhood might affect a person's belief in God.

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Explain two ways a non-religious or secular upbringing might lead someone to disbelieve in God. Refer to a sacred writing or another source of belief or teaching in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 5 marks)

Give three short reasons why a child raised with mixed-faith parents might have a different pattern of belief than a child raised in a single-faith home.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

State two symbols commonly used in the rites of passage for children in religious upbringing, and briefly explain what each symbol represents.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Explain two reasons why faith schools might be effective at maintaining belief in God among pupils.

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting religious views about the value of a religious upbringing. You must refer to a sacred writing or other source of belief or teaching in your answer.

(Total for Question 10 is 5 marks)

Explain the importance of parental modelling and community reinforcement in forming religious belief.

(Total for Question 11 is 6 marks)

Evaluate the view that a religious upbringing is the biggest influence on belief in God. In your answer you should: give reasoned arguments to support this view, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, refer to religious arguments and reach a justified conclusion. Include up to 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

(Total for Question 12 is 15 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TC7 Religious Upbringing and Its Influence on Belief in God

Question 1

B1 option B, the process by which a child is raised within a set of religious practices, beliefs and values, cao
Answer: B

Question 2

B1 a brief statement that upbringing is the way a child is raised by parents/guardians including habits, values and teaching, oe
Answer: Upbringing is the way a child is raised by parents or guardians, including the habits, values and teaching they receive.

Question 3

B1 point 1: parents model religious practice such as prayer or worship, oe
B1 point 2: parents teach religious beliefs and tell stories from their tradition, oe
Answer: Any two: parents model religious practice such as prayer or worship; parents teach religious beliefs and tell stories from their tradition.

Question 4

B1 outline point about the local religious community, for example: community provides role models and peer reinforcement, oe
B1 outline point about faith school, for example: faith school teaches religious knowledge and routines, oe
B1 outline point about rites of passage, for example: rites of passage give public signs of commitment and identity, oe
Answer: E.g. community provides role models and peer reinforcement; faith school teaches religious knowledge and routines; rites of passage give public signs of commitment and identity.

Question 5

B1 point 1: regular worship can normalise belief and make religious practices a habit, oe
B1 development: this habit can strengthen conviction and identity, making belief more likely to continue into adulthood, oe
B1 point 2: festivals provide memorable communal experiences that attach positive emotions to faith, oe
B1 development: such emotional memories can be recalled later and support a lasting belief in God, oe
Answer: E.g. worship normalises belief and makes practice habitual, strengthening identity; festivals create memorable emotional experiences that support continued belief.

Question 6

B1 point 1: a secular upbringing may give priority to scientific explanations and critical thinking, reducing reliance on supernatural explanations, oe
B1 development: this may lead to scepticism about religious claims if natural explanations are taught as authoritative, oe
B1 point 2: lack of participation in religious rites and community can mean there is no social reinforcement of belief, oe
B1 development: without ritual and community support, belief may weaken and be replaced by secular worldviews, oe
B1 reference: a relevant source made accurately, for example citing Luke 18:16-17 or Proverbs 22:6 as a contrast where scripture emphasises early religious formation, oe
Answer: E.g. secular upbringing emphasises scientific and critical explanations which can reduce belief; lack of rites and community removes social reinforcement. Reference might note Proverbs 22:6 which contrasts by advising early religious formation.

Question 7

B1 different practices at home leading to confusion or choice between faiths, oe
B1 exposure to more than one set of beliefs, increasing tolerance or scepticism, oe
B1 increased likelihood of choosing no religion or a blended identity, oe
Answer: Any three: mixed practices causing confusion or choice; exposure to multiple beliefs increasing tolerance or scepticism; greater chance of blended identity or no religion.

Question 8

B1 symbol 1: water in baptism or naming ceremonies, oe
B1 meaning 1: represents cleansing, new life or initiation, oe
B1 symbol 2: a candle or light, oe
B1 meaning 2: represents guidance, presence of God or enlightenment, oe
Answer: E.g. water in baptism (cleansing, new life); candle or light (guidance, presence of God).

Question 9

B1 point 1: faith schools include religious teaching in the curriculum, providing knowledge and reasons for belief, oe
B1 development: regular religious education lessons can reinforce belief and provide answers to doubts, oe
B1 point 2: the school environment often includes worship and community life which normalises faith, oe
B1 development: daily acts of worship and a peer culture of faith make religious commitment a lived experience, oe
Answer: E.g. religious teaching gives reasons and knowledge which can address doubts; school worship and community life normalise faith and create lived experience.

Question 10

B1 view 1: many religious traditions value religious upbringing as essential for moral formation and faith, oe
B1 development: for example Proverbs 22:6 advises to 'train up a child' which is often used to support early religious formation, oe
B1 view 2: some believers accept that faith must be personal and may argue forced upbringing is not sufficient, oe
B1 development: this view may point to teachings that faith must be a freely made choice and that true belief comes from personal conviction, oe
B1 reference: an accurate reference to a sacred writing or teaching is present, oe
Answer: Contrast e.g. Proverbs 22:6 supporting early training and moral formation versus the view that faith must be freely chosen and internalised to be genuine.

Question 11

Level 3 (5-6): A clear, well-structured explanation that explains both parental modelling and community reinforcement with developed reasons and links to how these support sustained belief.
Level 2 (3-4): A reasonable explanation that addresses parental modelling and community reinforcement with some development, though explanations may be partial.
Level 1 (1-2): A few simple relevant points about parental modelling or community reinforcement with little or no development.
Level 0 (0): No relevant material.
Indicative content:
- Parental modelling shows children how to live out belief through actions such as prayer, charity and worship, making belief tangible.
- Parents name and explain beliefs and respond to questions, which provides cognitive reasons and narratives that support faith.
- Community reinforcement offers shared rituals, peer support and public affirmation, which normalise belief and reduce social pressure to abandon it.
- Role models in the community, such as religious leaders and older peers, demonstrate lived faith and offer mentoring.
- Absence of modelling or community can leave children without reinforcement, increasing the chance of secularisation.

Question 12

Level 4 (10-12): A balanced and well argued evaluation that gives clear reasons for and against the view, uses religious and non-religious arguments appropriately, and reaches a justified conclusion. Arguments are well organised and supported by appropriate examples or sources.
Level 3 (7-9): A good evaluation that gives reasons for and against the view with some reference to religious and non-religious arguments and a supported conclusion, though development may be uneven.
Level 2 (4-6): A limited evaluation offering simple reasons for and/or against the view. Some attempt at a conclusion is made, but arguments lack depth or balance.
Level 1 (1-3): One or two simple statements relevant to the question with little or no development, and no real conclusion.
Level 0 (0): No relevant material.
Indicative content:
- Arguments supporting the view: parental teaching and modelling are powerful social and psychological influences, often determining early belief patterns; ritual and community reinforcement make belief a lived habit and part of identity.
- Religious argument in support: scriptures such as Proverbs 22:6 are used to justify early religious formation and suggest upbringing shapes lifelong faith.
- Counter-arguments: belief is also influenced by education, personal reasoning, life events, and scientific worldview which can overturn an early upbringing.
- Non-religious argument: a secular education or critical thinking skills can encourage scepticism and lead to non-belief despite a religious home.
- Other factors: charismatic personal experience, intellectual arguments, social mobility, and mixed-faith households can all alter or replace upbringing influence.
- Conclusion guidance: a balanced conclusion might accept that upbringing is often the strongest early influence but not always the biggest lifelong determinant, because other powerful influences can change belief later in life.

Religious Upbringing and Its Influence on Belief in God - Worksheets, Questions and Revision