Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 8 Religious education Guides

Year 8 - Religious education

Anthropology of Jesus

Jesus: how do Abrahamic faiths view Jesus differently?

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will build on their understanding of Abrahamic worldviews to investigate how Jesus is seen by Christians, Muslims and Jews. They will compare theological intepretations of his significance.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the evidence for the existence of Jesus from both Christian and non-Christian perspectives and the significance of these sources.

Key Notes

  • Many historians agree that there is evidence of Jesus as a historical figure.
  • Evidence for Jesus as a historical figure includes the New Testament and writings from non-Christian scholars.
  • Sources of authority tell us that Jesus was a Jewish man, born in Bethlehem.
  • The writings of non-Christians on the existence of Jesus may be considered more reliable.
  • Jesus has had significant historical as well as religious influence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • anthropology/anthropological: relating to the study of humankind
  • figure: a person who is important or distinctive in some way
  • historian: a person who studies and writes about events from the past
  • theologian: a person who studies religion, religious texts and religious beliefs

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Non-Christians reject the existence of Jesus completely.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Many historians agree that there is evidence of Jesus as a historical figure. Evidence for Jesus as a historical figure includes the New Testament and writings from non-Christian scholars.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'anthropology/anthropological'

relating to the study of humankind.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Non-Christians reject the existence of Jesus completely. Correction: Many non-Christians, including non-religious people, do accept that Jesus existed as a person, but reject that he existed as anything more than a historical figure.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 Religious education guide library.