OCR A Level Religious Studies Philosophy of religion
(H573/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
A Level Religious Studies
H573/01 Philosophy of religion
Time allowed: 2 hours
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer any three questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 120.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
Answer any three questions.
In all your responses, you should:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious and philosophical thought and teaching
• analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief (in philosophical
context), including their significance, influence and study.
1* Critically assess the idea that consciousness can be fully explained by material interactions. [40]
2* ‘Anselm’s ontological argument justifies belief in God.’ Discuss. [40]
3* Evaluate the claim that individual religious experiences are a union with a greater power. [40]
4* ‘Falsification successfully shows that religious language has no factual quality.’ Discuss. [40]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
, Indicative content – Responses might include: Guidance
1. Critically assess the idea that consciousness can be fully
explained by material interactions.
AO1 Candidates may demonstrate knowledge and understanding
through the use of some of the following ideas:
• some materialists apply the word soul or mind to that which people Credit metaphysical
describe as consciousness, for example, and might suggest that discussion of the idea
this will be explained by scientific methods in the future that mind and body are
• the materialist idea that the soul does not exist as a separate distinct substances and
substance to the body and that physical existence is existence in Descartes’ proposal of
its entirety material and spiritual
• materialists often suggest that thinking or consciousness does not substances as a
take place in a particular location in the human brain or body and solution to the mind/soul
might indicate evidence from brain scans to show how the brain is and body problem.
engaged at these times
• some materialists might suggest that human thoughts can be
described as learned behaviours and so consciousness can be
explained entirely at the physical level
• some materialists might describe consciousness as simply an
element of how a body behaves – in the same way that the ‘team
spirit’ is a part of how a sports team behaves.
AO2 Candidates may demonstrate evaluation and analysis through
the use of some of the following ideas:
• people identify themselves as a unity and so it makes sense to Other scholarly views
suggest that consciousness is not separate in any way to the on the discussion of
material (as would be suggested by a dualist) consciousness will be
• physically, the mind and body seem linked – and physical needs credited where relevant.
can influence mental ones
• the idea that the consciousness can be explained by material
events in the brain is the simplest – and therefore more easily
justifiable - explanation
• consciousness and the material are completely different
substances – the body can be divided into parts, but the mind
cannot (Descartes)
• language is the biggest barrier to exploring this issue: to try to
explain body and mind in the same way is a category error
• people identify as more than simply a physical body and mind and
body clearly are different (as observed by Descartes)
• forms of dualism need to identify how body and mind interact and
approaches such as that of Descartes create philosophical
questions
• materialism may be rejected as an over-simplification of the
fundamentals of human existence
• materialism does not explain the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions of the
interaction between body and mind.
2
(H573/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
A Level Religious Studies
H573/01 Philosophy of religion
Time allowed: 2 hours
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer any three questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 120.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
Answer any three questions.
In all your responses, you should:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious and philosophical thought and teaching
• analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief (in philosophical
context), including their significance, influence and study.
1* Critically assess the idea that consciousness can be fully explained by material interactions. [40]
2* ‘Anselm’s ontological argument justifies belief in God.’ Discuss. [40]
3* Evaluate the claim that individual religious experiences are a union with a greater power. [40]
4* ‘Falsification successfully shows that religious language has no factual quality.’ Discuss. [40]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
, Indicative content – Responses might include: Guidance
1. Critically assess the idea that consciousness can be fully
explained by material interactions.
AO1 Candidates may demonstrate knowledge and understanding
through the use of some of the following ideas:
• some materialists apply the word soul or mind to that which people Credit metaphysical
describe as consciousness, for example, and might suggest that discussion of the idea
this will be explained by scientific methods in the future that mind and body are
• the materialist idea that the soul does not exist as a separate distinct substances and
substance to the body and that physical existence is existence in Descartes’ proposal of
its entirety material and spiritual
• materialists often suggest that thinking or consciousness does not substances as a
take place in a particular location in the human brain or body and solution to the mind/soul
might indicate evidence from brain scans to show how the brain is and body problem.
engaged at these times
• some materialists might suggest that human thoughts can be
described as learned behaviours and so consciousness can be
explained entirely at the physical level
• some materialists might describe consciousness as simply an
element of how a body behaves – in the same way that the ‘team
spirit’ is a part of how a sports team behaves.
AO2 Candidates may demonstrate evaluation and analysis through
the use of some of the following ideas:
• people identify themselves as a unity and so it makes sense to Other scholarly views
suggest that consciousness is not separate in any way to the on the discussion of
material (as would be suggested by a dualist) consciousness will be
• physically, the mind and body seem linked – and physical needs credited where relevant.
can influence mental ones
• the idea that the consciousness can be explained by material
events in the brain is the simplest – and therefore more easily
justifiable - explanation
• consciousness and the material are completely different
substances – the body can be divided into parts, but the mind
cannot (Descartes)
• language is the biggest barrier to exploring this issue: to try to
explain body and mind in the same way is a category error
• people identify as more than simply a physical body and mind and
body clearly are different (as observed by Descartes)
• forms of dualism need to identify how body and mind interact and
approaches such as that of Descartes create philosophical
questions
• materialism may be rejected as an over-simplification of the
fundamentals of human existence
• materialism does not explain the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions of the
interaction between body and mind.
2
