X213/201 NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 2008 WEDNESDAY, 28 MAY 9.00 AM 11.00 AM RELIGIOUS, MORAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES INTERMEDIATE 2 There are four Sections in this paper. Section 1 World Religions: This section is mandatory. This section has one question for each World Religion. You should answer all parts of the question on the World Religion you have studied. Answer either Buddhism or Christianity or Hinduism or Islam or Judaism or Sikhism. Section 2 Morality in the Modern World: This section is mandatory. This section has one question for each of the optional issues. You should answer all parts of the question relating to the issue you have studied. Answer either Crime and Punishment or Gender or International Issues or Medical Ethics or War and Peace. Section 3 Existence of God This section has one optional question. You should answer all parts of the question in this section if you have studied the Existence of God Unit. Section 4 Christianity: Belief and Science This section has one optional question. You should answer all parts of the question in this section if you have studied the Christianity: Belief and Science Unit. The skills of knowledge and understanding (KU) and analysis and evaluation (AE) are being assessed in this paper. When answering each question you should note the number of marks allocated to each skill as indicated after each part of the question. *X213/201* SA X213/201 6/4170
SECTION ONE WORLD RELIGIONS 1. BUDDHISM Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Buddhism in the World Religions Unit. The best of paths is the path of eight. The best truths, the four sayings. The best of states, freedom from passions. The best of men, one who sees. Dhammapada 273 (a) What is meant by the four sayings? (b) What is the link between the path of eight and the four sayings? (c) Why is the path of eight described as the Middle Way? (d) The path of eight is organised into three sections. State two of these sections and describe their purpose. (e) Explain what Buddhists understand by Right Intention. (f) The passage above refers to passions. In what ways might these passions lead to suffering? (g) How important is meditation to the spiritual life of a Buddhist? 2KU 2 AE 6 KU Page two
2. CHRISTIANITY Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Christianity in the World Religions Unit. The Jewish High Priest goes into the most holy place every year with the blood of an animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times... he has appeared, once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9 v 25 26 (a) What is meant by the phrase through the sacrifice of himself? (b) At his crucifixion Jesus experienced physical pain. Describe one other way he suffered. (c) The suffering of Jesus helps Christians to accept their own suffering. Do you agree? Give two reasons for your answer. (d) Explain what Christians understand by salvation. (e) Describe how baptism is carried out in two different Christian traditions. (f) How does the Bible describe heaven? (g) How important is belief in heaven to Christians? 6 KU [Turn over Page three
3. HINDUISM Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Hinduism in the World Religions Unit. When a man surrenders all desires that come to the heart and, by the grace of God, finds the joy of God, then his soul has indeed found peace. Bhagavad Gita 2:55 Even desires disappear when the soul has seen the Supreme. Bhagavad Gita 2:59 (a) Describe what Hindus mean by the grace of God. (b) Describe the role of the grace of God in one Hindu tradition. (c) What is meant by ahimsa? (d) Explain the benefits and difficulties for Hindus of practising ahimsa. (e) Describe two of the margas. (f) Explain what Hindus mean by the Supreme. (g) How important is belief in moksha for Hindus? Page four
4. ISLAM Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Islam in the World Religions Unit. Allah. There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal. It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the Criterion (of judgement between right and wrong). Surah 3:2 3 (a) Allah sent down the Law and the Gospel. Why did he also reveal the Qur an? (b) State what the word Qur an means. (c) Who do Muslims call ahl al-kitab? (d) Explain one way in which the Qur an s teaching about ahl al-kitab might influence Muslims. (e) Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets. Describe why Muslims believe this is important. (f) In what ways can salah help Muslims submit to Allah? (g) What difficulties might Muslims experience when trying to perform salah in Scotland? (h) How important is it for Muslims to recognise the Qur an as the only source of spiritual guidance? 1 KU 2 AE 6 KU 5 AE [Turn over Page five
5. JUDAISM Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Judaism in the World Religions Unit. And He will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the dispersed of Israel, and gather together the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12 (a) What do Jewish people understand by an ensign for the nations? (b) In what ways do Jewish beliefs differ about what will happen when God s ensign comes? (c) Describe two things Jewish people do in their everyday lives to observe the Torah. (d) Describe the festival of Pesach. (e) What is the purpose of a Bar Mitzvah ceremony? (f) How important is the authority of the Torah for Jewish people? 6 KU Page six
6. SIKHISM Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Sikhism in the World Religions Unit. The Lord Himself is priceless; His worth cannot be estimated. If you meet such a True Guru... Your soul belongs to Him; remain united with Him, and the Lord will come to dwell in your mind. Guru Granth Sahib 920 921 (a) What word do Sikhs use for the soul? (b) Explain two Sikh beliefs about the soul. (c)... and the Lord will come to dwell in your mind. How might this statement help someone who becomes gurmukh? (d) How easy is it for Sikhs to make progress on the path to reunion with God? Give two reasons for your answer. (e) Describe what Sikhs mean by Kirt Karna. (f) Explain the importance of the Ten Gurus. (g) Describe how Guru Tegh Bahadur became a martyr. (h) How important to Sikhism is belief in the equality of all human beings? 1 KU 2 AE 4 AE 3 KU [Turn over for SECTION TWO on Page eight Page seven
SECTION TWO MORALITY IN THE MODERN WORLD In this section there is one question for each of the optional areas of study. Candidates must only answer the question for their chosen area of study. 1. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Crime and Punishment in the Morality in the Modern World Unit. Singapore tops execution league Singapore has the world s highest per capita execution rate, according to a report by Amnesty International. By carrying out high numbers of executions, Singapore is going against global trends towards abolition of the death penalty. Amnesty Statement (a) Describe two arguments which support the abolition of the death penalty. (b) Name a religion you have studied. What does it teach about capital punishment? (c) Describe two possible benefits of carrying out high numbers of executions. (d) The death penalty is an easy way out for a murderer. To what extent do you agree with this statement? (e) You have studied a viewpoint independent of religious belief. What does it teach about crime and punishment? (f) People who have broken the law should be given the chance to put right the wrongs they have done. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. Page eight
2. GENDER Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Gender in the Morality in the Modern World Unit. Stereotyping is a dangerous thing in our society. It damages people because it leads to disrespect. The sad thing is too many of us stereotype people for a lot of reasons but one of the worst examples is gender stereotyping. (a) What does stereotyping mean? (b) Describe three stereotypes of women in the work place. (c) Describe what women can do if they feel they have been discriminated against at work. (d) You have studied a viewpoint independent of religious belief. To what extent might it agree that gender stereotyping is a dangerous thing in our society? (e) Describe the role of men in one religious tradition you have studied. (f) Gender inequality is most likely to end when people are properly educated about it. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer. 6 KU [Turn over Page nine
3. INTERNATIONAL ISSUES Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied International Issues in the Morality in the Modern World Unit. However, as long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. Nelson Mandela, Make Poverty History Address 2005 (a) Explain why world poverty is described as an injustice. (b) Do you agree that teaching people skills is the best form of aid? Give reasons for your answer. (c) Give two reasons why politicians should be concerned about global hunger. (d) Explain how armaments can be understood as a form of international aid. (e) Describe a religious viewpoint about the effects of globalisation on the environment. (f) The process of globalisation benefits everyone. You have studied a viewpoint independent of religious belief. To what extent might it agree with this statement? Page ten
4. MEDICAL ETHICS Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied Medical Ethics in the Morality in the Modern World Unit. Processes such as genetic engineering, therapeutic cloning and embryo research may be accepted as normal in a few years time. However, they will still be moral issues for many people. (a) Describe what is meant by therapeutic cloning. (b) What does UK law state about therapeutic cloning? (c) Therapeutic cloning should be allowed for anyone who can benefit from it. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. (d) You have studied a viewpoint independent of religious belief. What does it say about the use of human embryos in genetic research? (e) Describe two circumstances in which euthanasia might be requested. (f) It is unacceptable to legalise euthanasia because it ends human life. How far might religious people agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer. 6 KU [Turn over Page eleven
5. WAR AND PEACE Reminder: You should answer this question if you have studied War and Peace in the Morality in the Modern World Unit. Tanks and guns are bad enough. Nuclear weapons are totally evil. (a) Nuclear weapons are one type of Weapon of Mass Destruction. Describe two other types of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). (b) Explain two arguments in favour of possessing WMD. (c) Choose an International Convention on WMD. Describe what it states about the possession and use of these weapons. (d) Choose a religion you have studied. Describe why it might teach that using WMD is wrong. (e) Using conventional weapons like tanks and guns is morally more acceptable than using WMD. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. (f) You have studied a viewpoint independent of religion. To what extent might it disagree with going to war? 4KU Page twelve
SECTION THREE EXISTENCE OF GOD This is an optional Unit. Answer all parts of this question if you have studied the Existence of God Unit. It is clear that evil exists in the world. The Holocaust, the killing fields of Cambodia and the genocide in Rwanda are just a few examples of the suffering caused by evil. This seemingly unending tide of human suffering causes many to question the existence of an omnipotent and omniscient God. (a) What do the terms omnipotent and omniscient mean? (b) Describe two ways in which the existence of suffering and evil challenges belief in the existence of God. (c) Describe how the Freewill Defence Argument is used to explain the existence of evil. (d) Do you think the Freewill Defence Argument is an effective explanation for the existence of evil and suffering? Give one reason for your answer. (e) Describe ways in which the process of evolution is said to challenge the existence of God. (f) Natural evil is one of the most effective pieces of evidence against belief in God as the Designer of the universe. Do you agree? Give two reasons for your answer. (g) To what extent does the First Cause Argument prove the existence of God? 2 AE 6 KU 4 AE [Turn over for SECTION FOUR on Page fourteen Page thirteen
SECTION FOUR CHRISTIANITY: BELIEF AND SCIENCE This is an optional Unit. Answer all parts of this question if you have studied the Christianity: Belief and Science Unit. Many Christians believe in the importance of revelation. Other people would regard the methods of science as being a superior basis of knowledge. However, it could be argued that science and Christianity do not need to be in conflict about the origin of life. (a) What do Christians mean by revelation? (b) In what ways is the scientific method an important source of knowledge? (c) State two limitations of the scientific method. (d) Analyse two strengths and two limitations of belief in revelation. (e) Describe the origins of human life according to Genesis 2. (f) How does science explain the origin of human life? (g) Science and Christianity do not need to be in conflict about the origin of human life. How far do you agree? Give reasons to support your opinion. [END OF QUESTION PAPER] Page fourteen
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