RELIGIOUS STUDIES LONG COURSE REVISION MATERIAL

Transcription

1 RELIGIOUS STUDIES LONG COURSE REVISION MATERIAL Death and Afterlife Good and Evil Religion and Human Relationships Religion and Medical Ethics Religion and Equality Religion Peace and Justice

2 Contents Answering Exam Questions Topic 4: Death and Afterlife Topic 5: Good and Evil Christianity Practice exam questions Christianity Practice exam questions Topic 6: Religion and Human Relationship Christianity Practice exam questions Topic 7: Religion and Medical Ethics Christianity Practice exam questions Topic 8: Religion and Equality Christianity Practice exam questions Topic 10: Religion Peace and Justice Christianity Practice exam questions 1

3 Answering Exam Questions In your exam you will have to answer on 4 different topics on each paper. Each topic is divided into 3 sub questions. They are a), b) and c). You must answer all three for each topic from the same religion. Question a) Knowledge question This usually starts by asking you to discuss Christian views on a set topic. It is worth 8 marks and easy to pick up at least 5 or 6. In your answer you must make sure you Include as much detail as you can Give more than one opinion from within that religion Use the correct names for the different Christian groups. For high-level marks you must refer back to the Bible and use correct terminology. Question b) Understanding question. This usually starts by asking you to describe why a Christian might be for or against a certain issue. It is worth 7 marks and is the question most people let themselves down on. In your answer you must make sure you You don t need to include as much detail, what is important is to look at why they believe it. You must extend your answers further and always back them up with evidence. You must also include more than one viewpoint within Christianity/Islam (even though the question does not state this). You have to link the different viewpoints together into a larger answer. For higher level you must have at least 2 Bible references and use correct terms. A suggested writing frame for section a) and b) is as follows: Christianity The Bible teaches.. The Church of England teaches.. The Roman Catholic Church teaches (Plus these where appropriate) The Methodist/Baptist church teaches.. Other Christian teaching is.. A famous Christian called believed Question c) Evaluation question This usually gives a statement and asks if you agree or not. This is worth 5 marks and they are the easiest 5 marks to pick up as long as you follow the following structure. Make sure you refer to the Bible and Church views plus famous Christian view where appropriate. Some Christians agree with this statement because. Other Christians might disagree with this statement because. I have considered both view points and my view is because... 2

4 Topic 4: Death and Afterlife: Christianity Funeral Service The Christian Funeral Service Church of England The body is processed down the aisle and laid on the altar at the front before God. The People will be formally dressed often in black as a sign of respect. The Vicar/Priest will lead the service from the front. Hymns will be sung (often the dead person s favourite) which symbolises thanks to God for his/her life and sadness at their loss. A reading from the bible such as Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd. Often the vicar will talk about the Christian belief of heaven and life after death. A friend or family member might speak in order to remember the deceased person. The deceased person is offered up to God and then taken from the Church to either be buried* or cremated. * Traditionally Christians are buried with their heads pointing towards Jerusalem, as that is where Jesus will arrive when he returns. The Christian Funeral Service Quaker (Society of friends) The service starts when all people are sat down. 2 Elders start and finish the service. The service is a time of silence and reflection. People only speak if they feel the need to share something about the deceased person. Long periods of silence and prayer may occur. No person leads the service but it simply runs by itself with people joining in how they like. It is finished when the two elders shake hands and the coffin is removed. There isn t the great procession or ordered service of the Church of England services. Quakers will often be happy that the person has passed on to a better life. People may also talk about life after death and their beliefs. The idea of a funeral service for Christians is to say goodbye to the deceased, to thank God for their lives and to offer them up to him for looking after. Roman Catholics however will also pray for the Soul s of the deceased. They believe that if a person has not quite made it into heaven they will go to Purgatory (a middle place also known as limbo, between heaven and hell). Only Roman Catholics hold this view and they believe that praying for the Soul s of dead people will speed their transition from Purgatory into Heaven. 3

5 Topic 4: Death and Afterlife: Christianity Life After Death Different religions have different opinions on what happens once we die. All religions however believe that something happens to us, whether it is coming back in another form (re-incarnation) or living forever in paradise (heaven). The Christian belief in Life after death comes from several different places. Jesus talks about rewards in heaven and about the Kingdom of God. By these, Christians believe he was talking about an afterlife. The bible mentions prophets such as Isaiah, who had a vision of God in which he went into heaven and spoke with God. Genesis 14:19 talks about God being the creator of heaven and earth. On the cross Jesus turned to the thief next to him and told him that today you will be with me in paradise, Luke 24:43. Only God can decide who gets into heaven In order to get in we must remove our wrongs (sins). Christians believe that Jesus in dying for them took away this problem by taking the punishments due to us onto himself, thus making us perfect before God. We cannot get into heaven on our own because only a perfect person would deserve to go there. Therefore it is what we do wrong that stops us. How to get into Heaven according to Christians? Roman Catholics believe you must have confessed your sins before going to heaven or you will go to purgatory (see next page) until you work off your outstanding sins. You can only get to heaven because of what Jesus did; therefore those who believe and serve him will be guaranteed a place. God will judge nonbelievers, so Christians do not know if non-believers will gain entry or not. If you believe in Jesus you can gain entry into heaven because of what he did. 4

6 Topic 4: Death and Afterlife: Christianity Terms and Ideas Re-incarnation: Christians DO NOT believe in reincarnation (this is a view held by Buddhists and Hindus). This is the belief that our Spirit or Soul are reborn in another form. Christians do not believe in it as they think that once you die you go to Heaven or Hell where you stay forever.. Purgatory: Roman Catholics believe there is a place between Heaven and Hell where people go to work off any unconfessed sins before going to Heaven. They believe that praying for these Souls may speed up their passage to Heaven. Angels: Christians believe that Angels exist and are the messengers and servants of God. They live with him in heaven but do on occasions come to Earth. Some Christians claim to have seen Angels even today. They do not play harps or sit on clouds however but are spiritual beings. Life is a Test: Christians believe that this life is a test and that it is not how the world was meant to be. We were designed to live in companionship with God but because of human greed we were separated by what we do wrong. As God is perfect only through Jesus gift of life can we be with God. Therefore if we pass the test we will be as we were designed to be which is with God. Judgement: Christians believe that when the end of days comes all people will be judged on their lives. Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus (which gained forgiveness for all people) can they gain eternal life. The Devil: The Devil (Lucifer or Beelzebub) rules in Hell and is the enemy of all that is good. Most Christians believe he exists (though some don t think he is really a being) and that he was an Angel who was thrown out of Heaven and turned evil. The Soul: Christians believe in the Soul. This is your Spirit or Consciousness. It is the part of you that lives on after death. It is what makes you who you are and what makes you human. Some Christians believe the Soul is an actual physical part of them, others that it is like the wind, something you cannot 5see.

7 Topic 4: Death and Afterlife: Christianity Heaven and Hell There are many different opinions over what Heaven and Hell are. Many different Christians hold different opinions because they have not been and because the bible does not specifically say what the afterlife will be. Christians believe that to get to heaven you must not only believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but you must give your life to him as well. By this they mean living their lives for God, doing what he wants and saying sorry (asking for forgiveness) when they do something wrong (commit a sin). Heaven is where God lives; it is a physical place where those who are rewarded will one day go. Heaven is a place of outstanding beauty which physically exists. It is also known as paradise and is perfect. Heaven is a world like ours at the moment but a perfect one without any flaws and without any evil or greed. Hell is the absence of God, it is a place without his love and his warmth. Hell is the residence of the Devil who delights in pain and suffering, if you are sent there you are his for eternity. Heaven is being without pain and suffering, it is existing and being at peace. Hell is a place that exists where there is no happiness or joy. It is a place were people simply exist without any pleasant things. Hell is not existing. When you die you do not go to a physical place but rather cease to exist anymore. That is hell. Hell is a pit of fire where you will suffer eternal damnation and pain. It is a place without any happiness where there is only suffering, hate, greed and other evil things. 6

8 Topic 4: Death and Afterlife Practice Exam Questions Christianity a) Describe Christian teachings about Life after death [8] b) Explain the significance of a Christian Funeral Service [7] c) Christians are more concerned with the next life than this. [5] Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. 7

9 Topic 5: Good & Evil Use the information from your previous lessons and the information boxes to answer the following questions. When you can answer all these questions without the extra information you can attempt the practice exam question that follows 1. Where does good come from? God: Genesis 1: 31 God looked at everything he had made and it was very good Free Will: Exercising your free will correctly see box 9 2. Where does evil come from? Genesis 3: Adam and eve have free will, are tempted by the devil (snake) and commit the original sin. All descendants of Adam are sinners and must seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The Devil works in a similar way in the world today 3. What different types of evil are there? Human/ Moral: caused by man s bad decisions Eg. Murder of James Bulger Natural: caused by nature Eg. Tsunami December What do Christian s believe about God? God is omnipotent= All powerful God is omnibenevolent= All loving God is omniscient= All knowing 5. What do Christian s believe about the Devil or Satan? The Devil is a fallen angel who tempts people to do wrong. The devil can take many forms and presents him self as temptation to abuse our freewill. 6. How do Christian s explain why is there suffering in the world? Original sin: The world is now in a fallen state Free will: Humans choose to do wrong The Devil: Tempts us to do wrong 7. Do these explanations work for atheists (people who are not religious)? No! Evil and suffering is precisely why many people do not believe in God. If God is all powerful (omnipotent) and all loving (omnibenevolent) how can he allow suffering in the world? He is either unable to stop it or does not want to. This leads many to believe that God does not exist and therefore that evil and suffering has no purpose. 8

10 8. How do people cope with suffering? A Test: to test faith God has a plan: we have to just accept God s plan (Job) God s compassion: God carries us through bad times (footprints) Ultimate reward: in heaven there is no suffering for eternity 9. How do Christian s know how to be good? Bible: 10 commandments, 2 greatest commandments, Good Samaritan, Sermon on the mount, Example of Jesus, Conscience 10. Why be good? Heaven! KEY RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS Genesis 1 and 3 Job Matthew 4 10 commandments 2 Greatest commandments Matthew 5-7 9

11 Topic 5: Good & Evil: Exam Questions CHRISTIANITY a) Describe what Christians believe about the power of Good and Evil (8) b) Explain how Christians cope with suffering (7) c) If God really loved the world we would never have to suffer Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (5) 10

12 Topic 6: Religion and Human Relationships Key words and terms. Marriage: This is where a man and woman are united, legally joined together as man and wife, usually to live together or have children. Cohabitation: This is where a couple live together without being married. Promiscuity: where a person has a number of sexual partners. Polygamy: This is where a man or woman has more than one husband or wife. Monogamy: Being married and faithful to one person. Adultery: sex with someone other than your marriage partner Celibacy: Abstaining from sex Fornication: sex outside of marriage Love The word love has many interpretations. The Ancient Greeks as a result had four main definitions to explain the different types of love. 1. STORGE: The love of objects. 2. EROS: Sexual love. 3. AGAPE: Christian love, unselfish love. 4. PHILOS: love between friends. 11

13 Sex Before Marriage. Christian View: Christianity teaches that Sexual intercourse should take place within marriage. True Love Waits The true love waits campaign is a programme for young Christians where they decide to remain a virgin until they get married. They take part in a ceremony where their parents will give them a ring to wear until they get married. When they get married they will give it to their husband or wife as a symbol of their purity. They also take vows. Contraception. The majority of Christian groups, including the Church of England, agree with contraception as long as it is agreed upon by both partners. The Bible does state that God said Have many children but Christians today think this applied to a time when the population was small. Today in the world there is overcrowding and poverty and it would be unfair to bring children into such an environment. Family life quality is more important than quantity. Many Christian would find contraception acceptable if it did not allow conception to take place e.g. combined pill & condom but would not use contraception that allowed conception but prevented further development e.g. IUD, mini pill & morning after pill, if life starts at conception some would view these methods as early abortions. Roman Catholic Church: Roman Catholics think that contraception goes against human nature. It is generally believed that any use whatsoever of any method that stops the natural power of sex to generate life is forbidden. Contraception prevents conception and therefore it is against Gods will. The only contraceptive method that is acceptable is the rhythm method, where intercourse takes place at a time when a woman is not as fertile. Mutual support. To give one another comfort and companionship. To unite the couple but also their families. Why get married? Error! Sex: Many people believe that marriage is the best context for people to enjoy sexual intimacy. It is also an expression of their love. To procreate. To have children and to bring them up in a stable and secure environment. Commitment. Many religions say you should get married to prove that you are committed to your partner 12

14 Main features of a Wedding Service. In Christianity marriage is seen to be a divinely blessed union. The marriage ceremony is usually a public affair. This is because traditionally marriage is seen to bond the two individuals involved and also their families. Christians believe that marriage is part of God s plan and purpose for mankind. The Service:- For Christians the wedding service usually takes place in a church. This is because Christians believe that when they say their wedding vows in church, they are not only making promises to each other, but also to God. The service is taken by a vicar, pastor etc. who will remind the couple about the purpose of marriage. The couple vow to love, honour, comfort and protect each other and to be faithful as long as they live. The taking of the wedding vows bind them in front of witnesses and in front of God. It is also a public declaration of their love for one another. The couple then exchange wedding rings as a symbol of their eternal love for each other. The ring is a neverending circle which represents enduring love. Wedding Vows I,, take you,.. to be my husband/wife, To have and to hold from this day forward: for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God s holy law: and this is my Solemn vow. This shows that marriage is for life & the couple are committing to stay together in the good times & the bad. Marriage and the Bible: Many Christians believe that it is part of God s grand plan, to unite and procreate. (Genesis 2:23,24) A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:24) (note the order, leave home then marry then have sex with his wife use this as an argument against sex before marriage) Because marriage is seen to be one of God s creations, it is protected as stated by one of the Ten Commandments. You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14) Many Christians believe that you should marry a Christian. This is because it is believed that someone who does not share in the same belief may weaken your faith. (2 Corinthians 6:14) 13

15 Christian view of Divorce Many Christians believe that marriage is a commitment made for life, which is reflected in the marriage vows for better for worse until dearth us do part This means couple should seek to work through problems & ace that there will be difficult times in any relationship. No human being then must separate what God has joined together (Mark 10:9) Most Christians believe in this however many understand that marriages do break down, and in some cases lead to divorce. Many Christians believe that in certain circumstances divorce is the best option. e.g. if the marriage has become violent. The Church of England church will allow remarriage depending on the circumstances e.g. will re-marry the innocent party if their previous marriage partner had an affair & left them. Re-marriage in church is often down to the discretion of the minister involved. The Roman Catholic Church is the exception to this. They believe that even if a state divorce has been granted the couple are still married in the eyes of God until one partner dies. Roman Catholics no not allow divorce but they do allow annulment which is when the marriage is dissolved (it is declared that the marriage did not exist in the first place), it is only permitted in certain situations such as someone being forced into marriage, if there is an inability to carry out marital duties, mental illness or f the couple never had sex. Why do people get divorced? Too high expectations. Romantic ideas of what married life will be like. Divorce is quicker and easier today than it used to be. Money problems. Concerns about money can lead to arguments and tensions a reason for divorce. Lack of commitment. People are not prepared to work through difficulties. They are too willing to abandon their marriage at the first sign of trouble. Social pressure. TV and the media in general show extramarital sex to be acceptable. There are also more opportunities for men and women to have affairs e.g. meeting people at work etc. 14

16 The Family. Why do families exist? To provide support and to provide a secure environment to bring up children. To prepare us for adult life and teach us how to look after our selves. Family provides us with an identity, a history, a sense of belonging. Teaches how to live together happily with others. Types of family. Nuclear family: Two parents live with one or more children in the same house. Extended family: Includes many generations living in the same house or very near by. It includes parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Reconstituted family: Where a couple have divorced or a partner has died, and they have remarried bringing their children up in the new relationship. One parent family: One parent brings up a child/children by themselves. Christian idea of family: Christianity teaches that the family is part of God s plan for humanity. God is seen by Christians to be a loving, caring and forgiving father. e.g. the story of the Lost Son told by Jesus. (Luke 15:20) The fifth Commandment states that children should respect their parents (Exodus 20:12) It also says that parents should treat their children with respect. (Ephesians 6:4) Homosexuality: Some Christians may argue that that society is changing and that the Bible should be adapted to suit the times. In Biblical times Paul accepted many things that are no longer the norm, e.g. slavery and the status of women as second-class citizens. Likewise the church needs to be updated. For: Arguments for and against: Against; Same sex relationships can be *Leviticus 18:22 stable, loving and committed. Says No man is to have These feelings are the most natural relations with another man. feelings in the world so how can *It is against the natural they be wrong. Purpose of humans to There are few references in the Bible reproduce. About homosexuality and lesbianism. * The physical act itself is un- All people are equal in God s eyes, natural. therefore who are we to judge. * The story of Sodom Genesis Christians are taught through Jesus teachings to Love thy neighbour * Certain groups of Christians which means everyone, not just people accept that people can be who you like or agree with. Gay as long as they abstain from having sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex. 15

17 Topic 6: Religion and Human Relationships: Exam Questions Christianity: (a) Describe the Christian teachings on divorce. (8) (b) Explain the Christian view concerning sex before marriage. (7) (c) You cannot be a true Christian and be homosexual! Discuss (5) Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer 16

18 Topic 7: Religion and Medical Ethics Abortion There are several different groups involved in the debate over the right and wrongs of Abortion. Pro life: This is a non-religious movement that believes life should be preserved at all costs. Despite being non-religious many religious groups agree with their stand. Pro choice: This is a movement that believes it is up to the mother whether she chooses to have an abortion or not. Roman Catholic Church: This believes that abortions are always wrong. They think that it is murder as life is sacred (special) and a gift from God. Church of England: They believe that abortions are almost always wrong but there are some circumstances when it might be acceptable (These are marked below with CofE ). Arguments given for and against abortion For: It s the Woman s body; it s up to her what she does with it. The mother may not be able to support the child once born. The child may be severely handicapped and not have a worthwhile life (CofE). The Mother s life may be at risk (CofE). The Mother may have been the victim of rape (CofE). The baby may be unwanted or be a reminder of an unhappy relationship. The mother may not feel emotionally equipped to deal with the baby. V Against: The baby has a right to life. Why should the Woman s life be more important than the baby s. If she didn t want a child then she should have used precautions. The baby might not have a good life either for lack of money or because of a disability but still it may enjoy what life it can have. The mother could put the baby up for adoption if she couldn t cope with it. Life is a gift from God and shouldn t ever be taken away (Sanctity of life). Only God has the right to decide whether someone lives or dies. 17

19 Euthanasia Euthanasia is the taking of your own life with the assistance of another. It is also known as assisted suicide. Euthanasia can be divided into two categories. o Active this is when someone physically takes an action to end a life such as a lethal injection. o Passive this is when the person will die naturally anyway but is being kept alive by artificial means, then what is keeping her alive is stopped (ie: turning off a life support machine). Christians believe in the sanctity of life. Only God should be able to choose when people die. We will die when the time is right and should not end it before then. Euthanasia is always wrong! The act turns the accomplice into a murderer. People could take advantage of it and use it to commit murder eg: Harold Shipman It is all right if it is passive (see above for explanation) as that is just going with God s will. It is a person s own choice whether they end their life or not. Thou shall not murder: Exodus ch 20 v 13 Euthanasia is sometimes right! It is acceptable if it ends pain and suffering as they are not things from God. The Christian viewpoint on Euthanasia is mixed just as it is on abortion. The two viewpoints are summed up by two important statements. 1. Thou shall not kill This is one of the 10 commandments which are of vital importance to a Christian. 2. Christians believe in compassion, they believe that you should always be kind and caring to people. (Story of the adulteress who Jesus says you shouldn t judge unless you are innocent John ch 8 v 2-11) The Christian Viewpoint: Most Christians believe Euthanasia in general is wrong but some think it is acceptable in some circumstances. Usually it is Roman Catholics who believe it is always wrong and more moderate views are found amongst the Church of England or Methodists. 18

20 IVF / Cloning What is IVF: In Vitro Fertilisation this refers to the medical act of taking a woman s egg and man s sperm combining them in a lab and then placing the fertilised egg back into the woman. What is cloning: The act of making an exact genetic replica of a living being. Why are Christians against them? It goes against the natural order of things (ie: the way God intended it to be). There are many children needing adopting out there so why go through this process when other children are in care homes. If God intended them to have children he wouldn t have made them infertile. IVF can lead to multiple births and then the baby s often die or some require aborting to save the others. Experiments in these areas have involved taking aborted cells from foetuses and testing on them this is testing on and killing living beings. If God had meant us to become cloned it would happen naturally. It could easily be misused to create specific human beings Just because we can do something doesn t mean we should. Why are Christians for them? If God didn t intend us to use IVF then he wouldn t have given us the resources to achieve it. God designed man and woman to create life and have a family. The Catholic Church sees the family as a sacrament (something special). Cloning can help to find cures for medical diseases such as Alzheimer s which affect many people. Generally Christians are divided on IVF as it is not the natural way of having children. As is often the case Roman Catholics are stricter and think it is going against God s plans. The Church of England sees it more that it is simply us using God s gifts to help people who are suffering from infertility which is not from God. Most Christians however agree over cloning and other forms of genetic engineering that it is mostly wrong. This is because it is playing God and also because it involves testing and killing of undeveloped foetuses which many see as living beings. 19

21 When does life begin? There are many different arguments as to when life begins. Here are some of the most influential ones along with the reasons given for why they mark the beginning of life. Stage 1: Sex Some people in particular most Roman Catholics believe that as Sex is the beginning of the process it is also the beginning of life. Therefore this means that contraception is preventing life and therefore wrong. Stage 2: Fertilisation The second view point is that once the sperm meets the egg and fertilises it, then life begins. This is because sex doesn t necessarily lead to life but once fertilisation takes place life will undoubtedly begin. Many Christians (mainly Methodists or Church of England) will agree with this (but not all). This makes contraception that prevents fertilisation acceptable but not forms that kill the foetus after conception such as the morning after pill or the coil Stage 3: Heart starts to beat (4-5 weeks) This view believes that as the heart is what keeps you alive then when it starts beating life begins. Some more liberal Christians might agree with this view point. This view believes that all contraception is right and abortion is acceptable before this occurs. Stage 4: Baby can survive outside the womb (20 weeks) This is the main medical opinion on the beginning of life as after this point abortion is no longer thought acceptable unless necessary. This is important as is marks the point when a baby could survive outside the womb and therefore is independent. Stage 5: When the baby is born Some people believe that while the baby remains in the womb it doesn t have its own life but is simply part of the mother. Therefore life begins with birth itself. This view would mean abortion is acceptable in any circumstance. 20

22 Topic 7: Religion and Medical Ethics: Exam Questions Christianity a) Describe Christian teachings about Euthanasia [8] b) Explain why a Christian might disagree with abortion [7] c) Only God should choose when people die. [5] Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. 21

23 Topic 8: Religion and Equality Sex Discrimination Sex discrimination or Sexism is something that the Christian Church is against but has sometimes been accused of being. The Church believes that all people are equal in the eyes of God. However some Christian Churches still believe that men and women have different roles and because of this have Some Churches do not allow Women leaders Marriage vows say Women should obey their Husbands Women s roles have often been to educate children but not teach adults Adam was created first and therefore Men are seen as being dominant been accused of Sexism. Yes No Is the Church Sexist? The Church teaches that Men and Women are equal in the eyes of God Both partners have to take marriage vows Many Churches now allow Women leaders Traditional Women s roles of educating is seen as being just as important as that of leading. The Roman Catholic Church as well as many Free Churches believe Women shouldn t be allowed to be Church leaders. They believe this because: All of Jesus disciples were men so church leaders should be men Paul says that Women shouldn t be allowed to speak out in Church or teach. Might distract the male clergy from their jobs. Women are more suited to other roles such as bringing up and educating children. Adam was made first and Eve told to obey him. Traditionally God is referred to in the Bible with male characteristics e.g. King & Father The Church of England, Methodists, Baptists and Quakers are examples of Churches that do allow Women priests (though some people in the Church of England still believe it is wrong). There arguments are that: In Genesis God created men & women in His image and they are equal Jesus followers were men because that s how society was back then, but he did have women followers such as Mary & Martha Women are just as suited to lead as men. When Paul spoke out against Women he was speaking to the women because of their behavior & because they were not educated and so could not teach, as women are now educated like men this is not an issue. The fist women become vicars in the Church of England in 1994 Female qualities are also used such as a mother comforting her child. Paul taught against inequality within the church he said there is no difference between men & women you are all one in Christ. Galatians 3:28 22

24 Race Discrimination BNP (British National Party) This is a political party that rose to popularity recently in some areas of this country, in particular Burnley and Blackburn. Their main policy is the idea of Britain for the whites. Stephen Lawrence was a black teenager waiting at a bus stop when he was attacked and killed by a gang of white youths for no other reason that the colour of his skin. Police Many people have claimed that some police are racist in their attitudes and the way they act. This is because people claim they pick on black and Asian people more than white. Racism in society. Many people have claimed that we live in a racist society. Examples of this are: The Christian Church teaches that Racism is always wrong. It is one of the issues that it is united on. Black on White Not all racism is carried out by white people. Black gangs attacking white people on race issues is also a problem in this country and is also an example of racism. Roman Catholics, Church of England, Methodists, Free Churches etc They all agree that Racism is wrong. Examples of Racism within Religion. Despite all Churches condemning Racism, some Churches in the past have however supported racist activities. The most famous ones are the Dutch Reform Church who supported the Apartheid in South Africa. The Apartheid was when separation took place in South Africa, black people were not allowed in white areas, or on white buses, or to eat in white restaurants. Also they were treated very badly often as servants. If a white person attacked or killed a black person it was overlooked. This was a clear case of Racism but the Dutch Reform Church supported it and believed black people were inferior despite the bibles teachings. 23

25 Equality Key Christian Teaching PREJUDICE DISCRIMINATION STEROTYPING Pre-judging, making up your mind about something or somebody before or without knowledge or experience. Acting out your prejudices verbally, physically. Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Apartheid et. Labelling people, e.g. all young people are loud Christian Teaching is opposed to all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Creation God is the creator & Father of all people; people are made in God s image and are all of equal value. Good Samaritan Parable (Luke 10) Through this story Jesus teaches people to love one another and to look after everyone even your enemies and people of different races 1 Corinthians 13 (Love) Paul talks about what love is and says that it doesn t anger and doesn t show prejudice, by this he meant that Christians should love all people no matter what their race or background was. Jesus Jesus frequently shows that you should respect and treat people equally of any race, religion or Sex. In his teachings he doesn t discriminate against people and often tells his disciples to do as he does. e.g. he heals both Jews & no-jews such as the officers son, he speaks to a Samaritan woman (people did not speak to Samaritans & Jewish men did not speak to women so he is breaking down racism & sexism in this case. Jesus taught to love your neighbour as yourself Galatians 3:28 Paul taught In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal showing that division on the basis or race, sex or social class was wrong. Churches The Church of England has a Race & Community Relations Committee to address issues relating to racial discrimination. The Roman Catholic Church has The Catholic Association for Racial Justice which campaigns against racism. Martin Luther King Martin Luther King was a Black American Baptist Minister who believed that all people were created by God and were, equal he campaign against racism in the USA by organising peaceful protests marches & speaking out against inequality, he made his famous I have a dream speech where he talked about his dream of a time when there would be no more racism. He was assassinated in April South Africa & Apartheid Apartheid was a system in South Africa that saw the separation of black & white people and was enforced by law. Apartheid came to an end in the 1990s. Many Christians who believed in the Bible s teaching about equality campaigned against Apartheid. Trevor Huddleston was a white vicar who lived in a black township, he organised non-violent protests & urged countries to boycott sporting & cultural links with South Africa until Apartheid came to an end. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a black bishop who used his sermons & speeches to explain how apartheid was against Jesus teaching, he travelled to pursued other governments to help bring apartheid to an end. He led non-violent protests & saw prayer as vital to seeing change. 24

26 Are all Religions Equal? Christians try to always respect other cultures and beliefs. This fits in with Jesus teaching and the way he lived his life (He helped all people, Jews and non- Jews eg: The story of the Good Samaritan Luke ch 10). However because of their faith Christians believe that they are right, that there is one God and that Jesus was the Son of God. This means that Christians believe other religions to have got bits wrong (ie: their view on Jesus is wrong). Therefore they are able to respect and appreciate other religions but at the same time believe that their way is the one true way. This is a view shared by all religions (eg: Muslims believe that Allah is the one God and Muhammad the true messenger and everybody else is wrong). Christians believe in religious freedom i.e. everyone has the right to follow or not follow any religion. However they believe that Christianity is the only religion that has the whole truth. Other religions may have elements of truth e.g. Muslims believe Jesus was born of a virgin & performed miracles but not the whole truth e.g. Muslims don t believe that Jesus was God. Jesus make a bold claim by saying I am the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the father expect through me. Jesus was claiming that he was the only way to God. Christians believe that all people sin (do things wrong) and that to know God & ultimately get into heaven you must be forgiven of your sin. Christians believe that nobody is perfect and all people have sinned & that the punishment for sin is separation from God & eternal death. Being good isn t enough; you need your sins forgiven. Therefore according to Christians the only way to heaven is by having your sins forgiven which they believe they can achieve by believing that Jesus died on the cross in their place to take the punishment for their sin. A famous quote from the Bible in John s gospel says: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life What about converting others? Should Christians evangelise? i.e. tell others about their faith with the aim of converting them to the faith so they too can have forgiveness for sins & eternal life. In Matthew 28 Jesus said to his followers Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Mission is a vital part of what is means to be a Christian & many Christians will tell others about their faith to try and bring other people to belief in Jesus. There are also missionary organisations that try to concert others. Here is an example: YWAM (Youth With a Mission) this is organisation that trains Christian to share their faith with others this is done through evangelism (tell others about the Christian faith), missions abroad (spreading the faith to non-christians), mercy missions (showing Jesus love to people in practical ways such as working with street children in South America) 25

27 Ecumenism The Christian Church has divided over the years as various groups have split from one another due to disagreements about beliefs & how the church should be ran e.g Romans Catholic & Protestant, Church of England & Methodist. These different groups are known as denominations. Over the years there has been arguments & deep divisions between different denominations. However, in the Twentieth Century a movement began which sought to heal divisions amongst Christians. This is known as The Ecumenical Movement (from the Greek oikoumene meaning 'one world'). The Ecumenical Movement began at the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in Differences between different denominations were seen as a hindrance to the spread of the Christian message because people were often seen to be working 'against' each and arguments between Christian groups were putting non-christians off the Christian faith. The Ecumenical Movement looks for unity but this does not mean that all churches have to be the same but encourages them to co-operate with one another. In 1948 the World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded. The WCC works in three main areas: Faith and witness (spreading the Christian message) Justice and service (promoting peace and justice in the world) Communication (promoting tolerance and understanding in the world) Iona One example of an ecumenical community is Iona which is Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland, where a Celtic monastery built in 563. The Iona Community, founded in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod, then a parish minister in Glasgow is an ecumenical Christian community that is committed to seeking new ways of living the Gospel in today's world. The Community is committed to exploring new more inclusive approaches to worship, all based on an integrated understanding of spirituality. It has 250 members from different denominations who meet regularly together for worship and Christian action. Its work focuses on issues of Justice, peace and including opposing nuclear weapons and campaigning for environmental issues. It also works to combat racism and looks for ways to discovering new and relevant approaches to worship. 26

28 Topic 8: Religion and Equality: Exam Questions Christianity d) Describe Christian teachings on Racial Equality [8] e) Explain Christian attitude towards the role of women [7] f) All religions cannot be right. [5] Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. 27

29 Topic 10: Religion Peace & Justice Causes of crime: Poverty. Unemployment. Lack of morals knowing what is right or wrong. Nature verses Nurture. Are people born criminals or are criminals made? Inequality. Homelessness. Drugs. Why Punish: People are punished for committing crimes because it is believed to be in the best interests of society. People can only live happily together if rules are accepted and stuck to. If we didn t have any laws at all people would be free to do as they please, leading to chaos. Reasons for punishment. Protection:- society needs to be kept safe from criminals. Retribution:- This is based on the belief that victims have the right to make criminals pay for what they have done. Deterrence:- If people are punished they are less likely to commit crime again (in theory in reality this is not always true). Reparation:- criminals have the right to pay for their crime so that they can gain a clean start free from guilt. Reform:- This type of punishment is positive and constructive to allow criminals the opportunity to change and learn from their mistakes. Criminals are helped to change for the better, making a useful contribution towards society. 28

30 Should we kill murderers? For: People who know exactly what they are doing deserve to die for their crime. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. People need to be protected from coldblooded murderers. It is a good deterrent; it stops that person from killing again. It puts others off who might be tempted to kill, seeing what the consequences are. It shows that society will not put up with antisocial and harmful behaviour. Against: Life is sacred, it is wrong to take a life. Two wrongs don t make a right. God gives and God takes away. A criminal can change. If he or she is murdered they are being deprived of the chance to reform. There is little evidence to suggest that capital punishment is a deterrent. People still commit murder in countries that have the death penalty, e.g. America. It could turn executed terrorists into religious martyrs. Mistakes could be made and innocent people executed. Is war ever right? To some people all war is wrong. Others believe that there are certain circumstances under which war is acceptable and justified. Some Christians worked out the conditions of a Just War Just War Theory Thomas Aquinas. He outlined several conditions for a Just War. 1.There must be a just cause. 2. A proper authority e.g. the government must start war. 3.Fighting must stop when the aim is achieved. 4. Only the correct amount of violence should be used that is necessary. 5. There must be a chance that it will be a success. If there is no chance of winning it is wrong to send people out to fight. 6. It must be a last resort. Everything else must have been tried. 7. A war must only be started if it is possible to gain a positive outcome, good should outweigh evil. 29

31 Holy War: A war made against people who are seen to be unbelievers such as people who believe in other faiths. E.g. the Crusades in the 11 th and 12 th century between Christians and Muslims. The idea of a Holy War raises many issues;- 1) It goes against religious tolerance and takes away peoples religious freedom. 2) It may mean that one religion sees themselves as being the true religion and being better than other faiths. 3) All religions promote peace so how can it be justified? Nuclear War: With the advancement of modern technology and the use of chemical weapons, it is impossible to limit the damage caused. For this reason many Christians feel that there can never be such a thing as a Just War. Bruce Kent; Bruce Kent left his profession as a priest to campaign and speak out against nuclear war. He believed that nuclear war went against the sanctity of life, he believed God created life and therefore God should be the only being to take it away. Pacifist: Someone who is against war. Two famous pacifists were :- 1) Mahatma Gandhi ( ). 2) Martin Luther King ( ) 3) Both of these men were against violence. Both led peaceful protests in an attempt to over come what they felt was injustice. They led mass marches, meetings and boycotts: sit down protests, strikes and prayer pilgrimages. Should we forgive? It is very hard in reality to forgive someone who has done something that has hurt you or those close to you. Many people have forgiven, even when you would think it was impossible to do so. The wife of the murdered head master Philip Laurence of a school in London forgave his murderers. Survivors of the holocaust atrocities forgave those who had tortured and tormented them. Survivors of the Vietnam War who had been hit by napalm bombs forgave the Americans who had launched the attacks. 30

32 Why do people forgive? Forgiveness is central to the Christian belief. Jesus taught that people should forgive one another. He taught us to pray and say sorry for the things we have done wrong.(mathew 5:12) He said that we should not seek revenge on those who hurt us. e.g. murderers. (5:39) He said Love those and pray for those who persecute you. (Mathew 5:44) Jesus himself forgave those who persecuted him. Even when he was on the cross dying he said Forgive them, Father! They don t know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) Even when Jesus was in great distress he still taught a message of peace. (Mathew 26:51-52) Jesus taught that God forgives those who have done wrong, no matter how bad, if they ask for his forgiveness and are truly sorry (repentant) Woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11) Should Christians fight for Justice? Many Christians over the years have felt a need to fight against injustice, e.g. Martin Luther king and his fight against racism. However generally it is believed that this should be done in a peaceful way. Liberation Theology: This is a movement that developed out of the work of a bishop from El Salvador called Oscar Romero. It states the belief that Christians have a moral responsibility to fight against social injustice and the misuse of power by the government. Many Christians believe in fighting for justice and equality and do this in a number of positive and peaceful ways, e.g. boycotts, non-violent protests, petitions and rallies. Oscar Romero: Romero was a quiet gentle man who was appointed Bishop of El Salvador in Because of his kind nature the government took advantage and tortured and tormented priests. It was not until; he witnessed the death of a fellow priest and close friend that Romero changed his thinking and attitude. From that point on he didn t see his role as being on the side of the government and set up a campaign to overcome the injustice in this place. He encouraged and introduced a new way of worshipping, one that was more suited to the oppressed. Romero came to believe that it was wrong to ill-treat the oppressed but it was also equally as bad to remain silent and do nothing about it. Romero was prepared to die for this just cause and said If I am killed, I will rise again in the people of El Salvador. He believed that his work would bring justice nearer. In 1980 Romero was shot and killed but is still remembered as a martyr who gave his life up in the name of freedom and justice. 31