Religious Studies
World religions, ethics and big philosophical questions.
1. Pick your year group
World religions overview.
2. Pick a topic from Year 7
Year 7 · Religious Studies
The six major world religions
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism.
Key things to remember
- Each has core beliefs, practices and a holy text.
- Christianity is the largest globally (~2.4bn).
- Hinduism is the oldest still practised.
- Three are Abrahamic (Christianity, Islam, Judaism); three are Dharmic (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism).
In-depth sections
Explore each area
Christianity
Founded ~2,000 years ago, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Around 2.4 billion followers worldwide.
- Holy book: the Bible (Old + New Testament).
- Believe in one God as Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
- Place of worship: church. Leader: priest, vicar or pastor.
- Main festivals: Christmas (birth of Jesus) and Easter (resurrection).
Islam
Founded in 7th-century Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Around 1.9 billion followers — the world's second largest religion.
- Holy book: the Qur'an, revealed to Muhammad.
- Believe in one God (Allah); Muhammad is the final prophet.
- Place of worship: mosque. Leader: imam.
- Five Pillars: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj.
Judaism
The oldest of the three Abrahamic faiths; ~15 million Jews worldwide. Centred on a covenant between God and the Jewish people.
- Holy book: the Torah (first five books of the Tenakh).
- Believe in one God who made a covenant with Abraham and Moses.
- Place of worship: synagogue. Leader: rabbi.
- Shabbat (rest day) from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall.
Hinduism
The oldest still-practised religion (~4,000 years), with ~1.2 billion followers, mostly in India.
- Holy books: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita.
- One ultimate reality (Brahman) expressed through many gods (e.g. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva).
- Place of worship: mandir (temple). Leader: pandit/guru.
- Belief in karma, dharma, reincarnation, and moksha (liberation).
Buddhism
Founded ~500 BCE in India by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha ('awakened one'). ~500 million followers.
- No creator god; focus on overcoming suffering.
- Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
- Place of worship: temple, vihara or monastery. Leader: monk/lama.
- Goal: nirvana — the end of suffering and rebirth.
Sikhism
Founded in 15th-century Punjab by Guru Nanak. ~30 million Sikhs worldwide.
- Holy book: Guru Granth Sahib (the eternal Guru).
- One God (Ik Onkar); equality of all people, regardless of caste, gender or race.
- Place of worship: gurdwara. Leader: granthi.
- Khalsa community wears the Five Ks: Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kachera, Kirpan.
Worked example
What is the holy book of Islam?
Approach: Revealed to Muhammad.
Answer: Quran
How to study this
- 1.Read the key points above out loud — say them in your own words.
- 2.Cover the page and re-write the key points from memory.
- 3.Attempt today's questions before peeking at hints.
- 4.Come back tomorrow — spaced repetition locks it in.
Memory hooks
- AEach has core beliefs, practices and a holy text.
- BChristianity is the largest globally (~2.4bn).
- CHinduism is the oldest still practised.
- DThree are Abrahamic (Christianity, Islam, Judaism); three are Dharmic (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism).
Tip: turn each letter into a single word and chain them into a silly sentence — your brain remembers weird stories.
Deep dive
Everything you need to know about The six major world religions
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism. This sits inside the Year 7 Religious Studies curriculum and builds the foundation for the topics that follow — so getting really confident here pays off across the whole course.
Why it matters
The six major world religions shows up in homework, class quizzes and end-of-year exams. Mastering it now means fewer silly mistakes later and a much easier time when harder topics build on it.
Where you'll see it
Expect questions in Religious Studies lessons, end-of-unit tests, and revision booklets. It also links to real-world situations, so examiners love wrapping it inside word problems.
Key vocabulary & ideas
Idea 1
Each has core beliefs, practices and a holy text.
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Idea 2
Christianity is the largest globally (~2.4bn).
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Idea 3
Hinduism is the oldest still practised.
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Idea 4
Three are Abrahamic (Christianity, Islam, Judaism); three are Dharmic (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism).
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Rushing the question. Read it twice — underline what's actually being asked before you start writing.
- Skipping working out. Show every step. You get method marks even when the final answer is wrong.
- Forgetting key vocabulary. Use the proper terms from the key points above — examiners reward precise language.
- Not checking your answer. Estimate first, then sense-check — does the answer feel about right?
Exam & assessment tips
Read the command word
"Describe", "explain", "evaluate" and "calculate" all want different things — match your answer to the verb.
Watch the marks
1 mark = one point. 4 marks = four distinct points or steps. Don't over- or under-write.
Use specialist terms
Drop in vocabulary from this topic — that's how examiners see you actually understand it.
Leave time to check
Spend the last 5 minutes re-reading answers. Most lost marks are silly slips, not knowledge gaps.
Am I ready? Self-check
- I can explain The six major world religions in my own words without looking at notes.
- I can list every key point above from memory.
- I got at least 7/10 on today's practice questions without peeking.
- I can teach this to someone else for 60 seconds straight.
- I've spotted where this topic links to other things I've learned.
Stretch yourself
Already confident? Push further with these challenges — perfect for top-grade revision.
- Generate +6 fresh AI questions below and aim for 100% first try.
- Write your own exam question on The six major world religions — then mark a friend's answer.
- Make a one-page mind-map linking every key point above.
- Ask Spark to give you the hardest possible question on this topic.
Downloads
Printable study sheets
Unlock downloadable cheat sheets, help sheets and worksheets for every topic — £2.99/month.
Today's practice
3 questions. Generate unlimited brand-new ones — never repeats.
- 1
Which religion is the oldest still practised?
- 2
What is the holy book of Islam?
- 3
Name the three Abrahamic religions.
Need it explained your way?
Spark can re-teach this topic in plain English, give you more questions, or help with a tricky part.
Ask Spark about The six major world religions