Unit 3 REVISION GUIDE
The A question – The simplest form of knowledge appears in the (a) part of the question and ask you to give the
meaning of a keyword. That is easy!!! Check your knowledge of these keywords that you have already learnt
Numinous
Agnosticism
Miracle
Omnipotent
Moral Evil
Free Will
Now mark your answer
Partially Correct
Fully Correct
One Mark
Two Marks
The B question – Here is a typical (b) question which asks for your opinion and two reasons to support it
“Do you think Prayer is a waste of time?”
Do you agree? Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
Use the marking scheme below to mark your answer
Level
Level
Level
Level
1
2
3
4
*Your
*Your
*Your
*Your
opinion
opinion
opinion
opinion
and
and
and
and
brief reason
two brief reasons
ONE brief reason and ONE expanded reason
TWO expanded reasons
1
2
3
4
mark
marks
marks
marks
The C question – This question carries the most marks on the paper. Here is a typical question you might expect
to see on the exam paper.
Explain how a religious upbringing in a Roman Catholic Family can lead to belief in God. (8)
Here is how the examiner will be looking to mark your answer. Have a go!
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
*One brief reason that describes the issue
*Two brief reasons
*One expanded reason
*One fully developed reason
*Two reasons with ONE fully developed
*Two expanded reasons
*Three reasons with ONE fully developed
1 – 2 marks
3 – 4 marks
5 – 6 marks
7 – 8 marks
The D question – Here you are asked about something and then what people who disagree with you think. Have a
go at the one below!
“Evil and suffering prove that God does not exist”
(i)
(ii)
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
Explain why some people may disagree with you (3)
This is how the examiner will be looking to mark your answer for both parts (i) and (ii)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
One brief reason
One expanded reason
Or Two brief reasons
Two expanded reasons
Three brief reasons
1 mark
2 marks
3 marks
The marking grid shows that it is worth giving at least
two reasons to support your view, and the more you can
explain them the better
Remember to include reasons from Roman Catholic
Christianity in at least one part of your answer
1
Key Words
Numinous
Conversion
Miracle
Prayer
Design
Omnipotent
Agnosticism
Atheism
Moral evil
Natural evil
Free will
Omni Benevolent
Omniscient
Topic
The feeling of the presence of something greater than
yourself i.e. the church
When your life is changed by giving yourself to God
Something that seems to break a law of science and
makes you think only God could have done this
An attempt to contact God, usually through words
When things are connected and seem to have a purpose
e.g. eyes are designed for seeing
The belief that God is all-powerful
Not being sure whether God exists
Believing that God does not exist
Actions carried out by humans that cause suffering
Things which cause suffering but have nothing to do
with humans e.g. earthquakes
The idea that human beings are free to make their own
choices
The belief that God is all-good
That belief that God knows everything that has
happened and everything that is going to happen
Details
Catholic Upbringing
The Church, Reading the Bible, Praying, Parental
Influence
Religious Experience Numinous Experience, Miracles, Conversion Experience,
Prayer
Design Argument
Paley’s Watch, The Big Bang, DNA, Evolution
Causation
Domino Effect, There must have been a first cause
Science and nonbelief
Agnosticism, Atheism, Big Bang, Evolution, Bible, God
Unanswered Prayer
Prayer, God’s Presence, No-one Listening, Existence
Evil and Suffering
Omni Benevolent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, God
The Media
Songs of Praise, Soaps, Films, Critical of Religion,
Supportive of Religion
2
A Catholic upbringing can lead to belief in God because:
 Family life is important part of leading a child to belief in God.
Parents can pray and read the Bible with their children and teach
them about their faith
 The Church is an essential part to help lead children to believe in
God, this happens in a number of ways. The Sacraments of
Initiation would welcome you into the Church community - baptism,
confirmation and Eucharist!
 There is Sunday School as well which teaches children about God, how to pray and
read the Bible
 At Catholic schools you would pray and learn about God in Assemblies and R.E.
lessons.
Growing up in this environment, it is easy to see why the child would believe in God and
therefore might not question His existence because:
1. A young child accepts parents’ beliefs
2. They have answers to prayer
3. They feel close to God in worship
4. Are taught about the existence of
God at school and Sunday School
1. They will grow up thinking all
other religions are wrong
2. They are forced into the
religion
3. Against their human rights
b) Do you agree that a catholic upbringing is a good upbringing? (4)
3
What are the types of religious experiences that lead to belief in God?
Religious experience means the ways people come into direct contact with God.
The Conversion Experience: people who change their lives
around
after
a
definite
experience with God. Just like
St Paul had on the road to
Damascus. But could be mental
illness.
Prayer: - when your prayer is answered.
For example, when someone has a
problem or an illness they ask God to
help them and the problem or illness
disappears...this can lead to belief in
God. But could be coincidence – they
were getting better anyway
Different types of Religious
Experiences
The Numinous Experience: the
feeling
of
something
greater than yourself.
It is a
feeling you can get if you are in
a holy building or when you pray
or even when you look up at the
stars. But could just be naturenothing to do with God
Miracles:
cannot
-
Something
that
be
explained,
for
example...someone who is cured
from an incurable disease after
being
prayed
for
or
after
something else connected with
religion. But could be explained
by science at some future point
b) Do you think that religious experiences prove God exists? (4)
4
How design lead people to believe in God:
The universe appears to be designed: -ALWAYS GIVE EXAMPLES : the universe works
according to the laws of gravity and how we are the right distance from the sun not to burn.
How humans grow from a tiny blueprint of DNA, the complex mechanism of the eye allowing
people to see and the way the Big Bang worked with the laws of science to produce a universe
of order.
Paley’s Watch: – William Paley (1734-1805) argued that EVEN IF YOU
DIDN’T KNOW WHAT A WATCH WAS FOR (we don’t know what the universe is for) , you
could see just by looking that it is too complicated to just happen by chance. It must have
had a:
1. Designer and 2. A purpose.
So the universe must also have 1. A design and 2. A purpose
1.
What about bad design eg. Disease?
2.
Why does it have to be the Christian God?
3.
No need for a designer when we have
EVOLUTION
4.
Dinosaurs?
C) EXPLAIN why design might NOT lead to belief in God (8 marks)...
5
ARGUMENT FOR DESIGN
ARGUMENT FOR
CAUSATION
There is evidence of design in
Nothing can happen by itself
the world. Eg. Stick insects
look like sticks so they don’t
get eaten
If there is evidence of design
Everything that happens has to
the
be caused by something else.
something
must
have
designed it
The only thing great enough to
design it is God
The universe cannot have just
happened by itself
A very powerful force must
Therefore God exists
have caused the universe
This cause must have been God
and therefore God must exist
CAUSATION : Doesn’t prove God because 1. The universe could be eternal, big bang and big crunch
continually 2.It contradicts itself – if everything needs a cause then so does God. 3. Why the God of
Christianity why not an evil God starting it all off? 4.There’s no reason why the whole universe needs an
explanation – maybe it just exists full stop.
6
Scientific explanations for the world and the Christian response:
Agnosticism – Not being sure whether or not God exists
Atheism – Believing that God does not exist
Some people believe that science offers a better explanation for things such as miracles or
even the universe, rather than the account in the Bible.
1. THE BIBLE SAYS the universe is only 6000 years old BUT SCIENCE HAS PROVEN it is
14 billion years old
2. THE BIBLE SAYS the universe was made in 7 days by God, BUT SCIENCE SAYS the Big
Bang made it and it is still evolving over billions of yeas
3. THE BIBLE SAYS we came directly from Adam and Eve. BUT SCIENCE SAYS we evolved
from lower life forms like apes.
4. SCIENCE says we used to need God to explain gaps in our understanding but now we know
enough not to need God at all
Therefore if scientists can prove tell people where the world came from and how people
came into existence people will begin to think that God does not exist.
How do Christians respond to scientific explanation?
Most Christians say:

The Bible and science are both correct. God made the world by
creating a ‘Big Bang’ happened.

One of Gods days could be 2 billion of our years, so it was made in 7
days. The order of creation is exactly fitting with evolution.

The Bible message is morelike poetry. It was not intended for literal
interpretation but still contains truth

The universe is so finely tuned to support life that the chances of this
happening without God as next to none. It had to be not tooo hot, not
too cold etc – the “Goldilocks “ principle
Even if everything did
evolve, surely to get a
world so full of
beautiful things means
a higher power?
7
Why unanswered prayers might lead to atheism:
1.
If people don’t feel God’s presence when they pray, then they will doubt whether or not
he exists at all.
2. God is supposed to care for those who worship him, but if people DO EVERYTHING GOD
ASKS and God ignores their prayers, then does God really exist?
3. People might pray for really important things like their child to be cured from cancer.
When the child dies they would think God didn’t care.
4. If a billion people are praying every Sunday for world peace then there shouldn’t be any
wars. But there are. So God doesn’t exist.
However God might not answer all prayers because:
1. Would God also answer selfish prayers for people to become
millionaires…look at what happened in Bruce Almighty.
2. Some prayers are impossible if other people pray for the
opposite! Eg, Sunderland AND Newcastle to win their next derby
3. God may also answer no or not yet. He knows better what is good
for us.
4. He may give us the “opportunity” to do it for ourselves rather
than simply giving us it
5. Good parents don’t say yes to everything they’re asked for. This
is to help their children learn and grow. God is like our father. He
will not spoil us.
6. God has a plan that we are too simple to understand, but we
should just trust.
Cover the above and list reasons why God may not answer all prayers – think about a parent
saying yes to a child all of the time….
8
The problem of evil and suffering and the Christian response:
Religious and believers find the existence of evil and suffering a problem for the following
reasons:
1. They believe that God is all good (omni-benevolent), but if God is all good, He ought not to
want evil and suffering in his world;
2. They believe that God has the power to do anything (omnipotent) but if He is allpowerful, he must be able to rid the word of evil and suffering
3. They believe that God is all seeing and knowing in which case He knows what is happening
(omniscient), but if God all knowing and powerful He must not love us enough to make it
stop;
4. However, there is evil and suffering in the world and so either God is not good, or God is
not all-powerful, or God does not exist.
The Catholic response to evil and suffering:
1. Many Christians respond to the problem by believing that God knows the answer, but
people cannot understand. Jesus showed us that God wants us to fight against evil and
suffering so they follow the example of Jesus and pray for those who suffer and
offer practical help
2. Some Christians think that God could not give humans free will unless they had the
chance to do evil things (being free is part of being made in God’s image). Humans
have used their free will to do evil things and bring suffering into the world, not God.
3. Other Christians believe this life is a sort of test in which people prepare their souls
for heaven. If there was no evil and suffering then they would not be able to develop
as good people and help fight against evil and suffering.
4. All Christians believe they must respond to suffering by trying to help those who
suffer and to evil by fighting against it.
Moral evil: Actions carried out by humans that cause suffering
Natural Evil: Things that cause suffering buy have nothing to do with
humans
9
The show we watched was called BRUCE ALMIGHTY
The issue it showed was WHY GOD DOES NOT ANSWER PRAYERS
A brief summary of the film is:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_
Why it might NOT help
you to believe in God:
 It is just a film
not real life
 It pokes fun at
religious people
like Bruce who
have serious
issues with God
 It doesn’t explain
why God doesn’t
answer serious
prayers about
poverty and
illness
 Why would God
give his powers
to someone like
Bruce? It’s
ridiculous
How a programme
Why it might help you
to believe in God:
about religion
might affect
belief in God
 It shows what
would happen if
God said yes to
all prayers
 It shows the
importance of
free will to God
 It shows how
God expects us
to be the miracle
 It shows how
unrealistic it is to
expect God to do
everything for
us.
 It shows the
right way to pray
in the end
10
Self-evaluation checklist
How well have you understood the topics in this section? In the first column of the table
below use the following code to rate your understanding:
Green – I understand this fully
Orange – I am confident I can answer most questions on this
Red – I need to do a lot more work on this topic.
In the second and third columns you need to think about:

Whether you have an opinion on this topic and could give reasons for that opinion if
asked

Whether you can give the opinion of someone who disagrees with you and give reasons
for this alternative opinion
Self-Assessment Checklist
My
understanding
is red/
orange/green
Can I give
my
opinion?
Can I give
an
alternative
opinion?
Definitions of the Key Terms and how to use them to answer
a GCSE question
The importance of a Roman Catholic Christian upbringing in
coming to believe in God
Ways in which families encourage children to believe in God
How religious communities contribute to a religious
upbringing
The nature of religious experience and the different types
The understanding of different miracles and why God may
perform them
The nature of prayer and why believers associate prayer
with the nature of God
The design argument and the reason for the existence of
God based on causation
Why some people do not believe in God because they feel
that science offers a better explanation of the origin of
the world
The nature of evil and suffering and why it is a problem for
religious believers
How the media portrays belief in God
11
Matters of life and death
The A question – The simplest form of knowledge appears in the (a) part of the question and ask you to give the
meaning of a keyword. That is easy!!! Check your knowledge of these keywords that you have already learnt
Assisted Suicide
Paranormal
Resurrection
Sanctity of Life
Euthanasia
Abortion
Now mark your answer
Partially Correct
Fully Correct
One Mark
Two Marks
The B question – Here is a typical (b) question which asks for your opinion and two reasons to support it
“Do you agree with Euthanasia?”
Do you agree? Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
Use the marking scheme below to mark your answer
Level
Level
Level
Level
1
2
3
4
*Your
*Your
*Your
*Your
opinion
opinion
opinion
opinion
and
and
and
and
brief reason
two brief reasons
ONE brief reason and ONE expanded reason
TWO expanded reasons
1
2
3
4
mark
marks
marks
marks
The C question – This question carries the most marks on the paper. Here is a typical question you might expect
to see on the exam paper.
Explain why some Roman Catholics do agree with abortion. (8)
Here is how the examiner will be looking to mark your answer. Have a go!
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
*One brief reason that describes the issue
*Two brief reasons
*One expanded reason
*One fully developed reason
*Two reasons with ONE fully developed
*Two expanded reasons
*Three reasons with ONE fully developed
1 – 2 marks
3 – 4 marks
5 – 6 marks
7 – 8 marks
The D question – Here you are asked about something and then what people who disagree with you think. Have a
go at the one below!
“Your soul will never die”
(i)
(ii)
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
Explain why some people may disagree with you (3)
This is how the examiner will be looking to mark your answer for both parts (i) and (ii)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
One brief reason
One expanded reason
Or Two brief reasons
Two expanded reasons
Three brief reasons
1 mark
2 marks
3 marks
The marking grid shows that it is worth giving at least
two reasons to support your view, and the more you can
explain them the better
Remember to include reasons from Roman Catholic
Christianity in at least one part of your answer
12
Key Words
Abortion
The Removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive
Assisted Suicide
Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit
suicide
The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease
The idea that the soul lives on after death of the body
When someone who is about to die has an out-of-body
experience
Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask,
but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to
do so
Unexplained things that are thought to have spiritual causes,
e.g. ghosts or mediums
The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth
living
The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new body
The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until
the end of the world when it is raised
The belief that life is holy and belongs to God
Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for
death
Euthanasia
Immortality of the Soul
Near-death Experience
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia
Paranormal
Quality of Life
Reincarnation
Resurrection
Sanctity of Life
Voluntary Euthanasia
Topic
Belief in the Afterlife
Sanctity of Life
Abortion
Euthanasia
World Poverty
Details
Immortality of the soul, resurrection, Creed, Catechism, Jesus,
Near death experience, Paranormal, Reincarnation, Ghosts,
Mediums, Heaven and Hell
All life is holy and has a right to live, Bible
Abortion, human rights, Bible, the law, termination, foetus, womb,
Church of England, Liberals, Methodists, Ten Commandments
Assisted suicide, non-voluntary euthanasia, quality of life,
voluntary euthanasia, doctors, law, murder
LEDC, MEDC, third world countries, natural disasters, HIV, aids,
debt, war, corruption, CAFOD,
13
Christian teaching on Life after death:
Two Key Beliefs
Resurrection
Immortality of the Soul
The body is needed and will be
When you die your soul leaves
raised up on judgement day. Jesus
your body and goes to heaven or
had a BODILY resurrection
hell. Not the official teaching of
the Church
The proper Christian belief is based
Many Christians actually believe in
on Jesus’ resurrection . The tomb was
immortality – that the soul/mind is
EMPTY! He wasn’t just a spirit raised
immortal and lives on after death.
up! Punishment in hell will involve
When people die their soul goes
physical pain so you need a body. They
straight o heaven. They believe this
believe in resurrection of the body
because:
because:

 It is what St Paul teachers in 1
would be in paradise straight
Corinthians 15;
 It was Jesus’ body that rose from
after death;

the dead;
Christians can communicate with
go straight to heaven.
 The body will be the same but
The communion of saints
teachers that living and dead
 Some exceptional saintly Christians
 It is part of the Christian creeds.
Jesus said the criminal cross
each other;

Things like near-death
experiences when people say
different, like a caterpillar turns
their soul has left their body and
into a butterfly
gone down a tunnel of light to
God show the immortality of the
soul.
14
So...how does a belief in life after death affect Christians?
Hell – They want to avoid hell so they
avoid bad actions such as l
Judgement – They try to act like
lying and
stealing (breaking
the sheep not the
Goats (feed the hungry etc)
Commandments)
Heaven – They want to get into
heaven so they try to follow in
Confession
Jesus’ footsteps
They will try to confess
all sins to avoid
purgatory
Why do Christians believe in Life after Death and what evidence is there for it? (Give
examples, such as evidence in the Bible)
All Christians believe that there is life after death because:

Jesus rose from the dead;

The Bible says that there is life after death;

The Church teach that there is life after death;

The Creeds say there is life after death;

There is evidence of life after death from such things as near-death experiences and the
paranormal;

They believe that life after death gives life meaning and purpose
REMEMBER
C “HOW” questions need to be developed with practical examples:


Giving to Cafod

Visiting the sick
Campaigning for the poor

Going to confession
b) Do you agree God could send people to hell?
15
What do non-religious people think about life after death?
Near-death Experiences
This event is when your soul seems to
leave your body. IT IS NOT WHEN
YOU NEARLY DIE. This convinces
them there is an afterlife. This is no
present proof to support people’s
claims of near-death experiences, but
they all report very similar things.
Reincarnation
The belief that person’s soul is reborn
into another body when they die
because of déjà vu or memories from
past lives. Sikhs and Hindus believe in
reincarnation.
What happens when we die?
Presence of a Spirit World
Ghosts
People such as mediums claim to be
able to make contact with the dead.
These people claim to have paranormal
abilities.
There are photos and videos
although it is questionable how far
they have been “faked”
Why some people think there is no life after death – When you’re dead you’re dead

They say if resurrection was true there must be a physical space where heaven is. They
have been in aeroplanes and never seen it

They say that if reincarnation is true, how is it the same person that comes back ,when
the vast majority have no memories, different personalities and different bodies?

They say that if immortality of the soul is true then how can a soul be attached to a
body or be separate from other souls? It has no physical form so it can’t be separate
from anything, it’d be more like air.

They doubt the evidence of the paranormal because it can all be explained by scientific
investigation

How can an omnibenevolent God send anyone to Hell?
16
The Sanctity of Life:
TOP TIP:
Christians believe that life is precious and is given as a holy gift from God
and therefore it belongs to Him. Only God has the right to give life and only God has
the right to take it away.
The Sanctity of Life is a very important concept as it
shapes a Christians thinking about matters such as Abortion and Euthanasia. Different
denominations have different views on this issue and it’s very important to refer to
these in your exam questions.
What do Roman Catholics believe about this issue?
 Life is sacred because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
 Human life is holy and must be protected.
 Only God has the power to give and take life. Our duty to protect and preserve human
life.
What are the other reasons that they think this way?
 Wrong to take away life ‘Do not kill’.
 God created all humans in his image and saw life as good.
 Nobody has the right to take away another persons’ life.
Think: What would you do if you knew that an unborn child might be born with medical
problems or severe disabilities? What would be the most loving thing to do?
17
Abortion: the removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive, let’s have a
look at some of the social facts surrounding this issue.
Abortion is only allowed in Great Britain if two doctors agree one of the following:
1. The mother’s life is at risk;
2. The mother’s physical or mental health is at risk;
3. The child is very likely to be born severely handicapped;
4. There would be a serious effect on other children in the family.
Abortions cannot be carried out after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Most abortions are now carried out on women less than 12 weeks pregnant and the number
of abortions has gone down since 1991.
Use the timeline below to record the following information: At what stage in pregnancy
does it become illegal to perform an abortion in the United Kingdom?
Record the
date...then research if this has always been the case, if not record the dates and the
number of weeks it was illegal to perform an abortion in the UK.
Why abortion is a controversial issue- Controversial means argued about
1.: People argue about when a person begins- Is it as soon as an egg is
fertilised...how about when it receives a soul (about 15 weeks) or does life only begin
at birth?
People who argue about abortion often argue about when life beings:

Some say it begins as soon as an egg is fertilised;

Others say it begins when it receives a soul (about 15 weeks);

Others say life only begins when the foetus can survive outside the womb – AT
BIRTH
2. People argue about clashing rights – Should the woman’s right to decide what
happens to her body outweigh the foetus’ right to life?
18
But what do Christians think about Abortion?
There are three different viewpoints from different denominations about this issue.
Use the books to record what their views are:
Against Abortion: The Catholic Church and Evangelical Christians
Roman Catholics and most Evangelical Protestants think that all forms of abortion are
sinful and should not be allowed. They are the main organisers of groups such as LIFE and
SPUC (Society for the Unborn Child) which campaign for the rights of the foetus.
They base their beliefs on certain Christian teachings:
 The sanctity of life and the belief that all life is holy and belongs to God, therefore only
God has the right to end a pregnancy;
 The belief that life begins at the moment of conception;
 The belief that the unborn child is created in the image of God and is one for whom
Jesus, the Son of God died;
 The belief that ADOPTION IS A BETTER OPTION
Believes that abortion is wrong but will allow is in SOME circumstances: Church of
England
Other Protestants (e.g. the Church of England) disagree with abortion, but think that in
certain circumstances it is necessary to choose the less of two evils and so abortion must
be allowed. Although they would prefer there to be no abortion, they realise that there
would be too much suffering if abortion was banned. They have these views because:
Such Christians base their attitude on the following Christian teachers:




They do not believe that life begins at conception;
They believe Jesus’ command to love your neighbour is the most important command;
They believe it is the duty of Christians to remove suffering;
They believe that when faced with a choice between two evils, Christians should choose
the lesser evil
Against abortion but allows it as the LESSER OF TWO EVILS: Liberal Protestants
and other such as Methodists.
(Lesser of two evils means you’ve only got two choices – one is bad and the other is even
worse, so you chose the least bad one.)
19
Think: The lesser of two evils is a really important concept for Christians to consider
as it occurs when you are faced with a choice where whatever you choose will be wrong
but one choice will be less wrong. For example, the mother’s life is at risk, then what?
Euthanasia, some social facts and how it can be done:
2. Assisted Suicide where a person has such
a painful terminal
disease that they cannot
obtain the means for
suicide and they ask
someone to give them
the means to commit
suicide
1. Sucicide - where a
person knows they
have a very painful,
terminal (going to
end in death) disease
and commit suicide to
give themselves a
quiet and easy death
3. Voluntary
Euthanasia where a person
has a painful
terminal disease
and cannot do
anything for
themselves .
They ask someone
else to kill them
painlessly, for
example by the
doctor giving
them a lethal dose
of painkillers
EUTHANASIA the action of
inducing a quiet
and easy death
4. Double Effect - this
is the same idea as
used in abortion. That
if you give a patient
drugs to relieve their
pain knoing that it will
kill them over a period
of time
5.. Not striving To Keep
Alive - this is the idea
used in medicine that if
someone is suffering from
a terminal illness
everything possible should
be done to cure them. If
it doesntt work and they
had a heart attack for
example, then they should
not go through
resuscitation procedures
6. Non-Voluntary Euthanasia wheere a person is not kept alive
because they are regarded as
having a life wrose than death but
cannot make the decision for
themselves. Like a baby or a
person in a coma
20
The law in Britain does not allow anyone to end another person’s life either by giving
drugs or by switching off a machine, even if the person has requested it and could face
prison.
What do Christians think about Euthanasia?
Remember: Christians believe in the Sanctity of Life, only God gave life so only He can
take it away, therefore do we have the right to end someone else’s life?

All Christians oppose the practise of euthanasia

Most Christians (including Roman Catholics) accept that doctors should be allowed to
give lots of pain killing drugs even if they know it is shortening the patient’s life.

They also believe that expensive treatments need not be carried out to lengthen the
lives of a dying patient. Some Christians do not agree with switching off life-support
machines, but many Christians believe this must be allowed when there are NO signs
of life.
Christians have these beliefs because:
1. They believe that life is sacred and should only be taken by God.
2. The bible says quite clearly that Christians must not murder (sixth commandment).
3. There are many statements in the Bible stating that life and death decisions belong to
God alone.
4. Many Church leaders have said that life is sacred and comes from God, therefore only
God can decide when someone should die.
5. Christians believe that doctors are required to save lives not kill, and allow them to kill
people would be giving them double standards to follow.
When taking the list above into account, just think about the Quality of a person’s life
and if we have the right to play God.
21
Causes of World Poverty:
LEDC (Less Economically Developed Countries) – This is the name given to those
countries that are less wealthy and underdeveloped, countries such as, Ethiopia,
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
MEDC (More Economically Developed Countries) – These are wealthy, more powerful
countries. Countries that are classed as MEDC’s include the USA, UK, Australia and
France.
3. Dirty Water - Many
people living in LEDC's do
not have access to clean
drinking water and
suffer terrrible diseases
or even death from
dehydration
2. War - Many LEDC's
suffer from war when
homes, schools, crops and
buldings are destroyed in
power struggles.
Communities and families
are broken, leaving them
with no money.
1. - Natural Disasters Many LEDC's are in regions
where they regularly suffer
from disasters such as
earthquakes, floods and
droughts. This means
crops, lives and homes are
destroyed leaving a fragile
economy meaning they have
to boorow money to survive.
Causes
of world
poverty
4. Corrupt Governments Some LEDC's suffer from
their own leadres who receive
aid and assistance from other
countries through corruption.
They often get no money or
power so that the
governments keep control
5. HIV and AIDS - In many
LEDC's the spread of HIV
and Aids has destroyed
communities. In Zambia is
estimated that half the
population dies from the
diseases and the medication
to treat them is too
expensive to buy in from the
West. Children usually have
to go o9ut to work to support
the sick adults who are
unable to work.
6. Debt - LEDC's suffer from debt
as they have borrowed money from
banks in MEDC's and then struggle
to repay the loads due to some of
the other issues. The interest
rates and interests on the loans
rise and they just end up in more
and more debt.
22
CAFOD CAN HELP:
CAFOD
Is the major Catholic Charity in England and Wales that works to end world poverty.
CAFOD stands for Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
Why Does CAFOD help people?
- Caholics believe that God created the universe and appointed us stewards,
- The World's resoruces are a gift to be shared equally by all men and women.
- Good Samaritan - teaches Catholics to help people who are siffering regardless of their
race or religion
- Parable of the Sheep and Goat - confirms we should help each other.
Selfevaluation checklist
How well have
you understood
How does CAFOD help people?
1. Development Programmes - provides long-term support so that the people can work
themselves out of poverty.
2. Emergency Aid - for people caught up in disasters. This is a temporary measure to help
people after the aftermath.
3. Raising awareness - involved in campaigns
4. Education - Gives developing nations an opportunity to reduce poverty through
economic growth and improved education. It also educates the UK about the needs of the
poor and the work that CAFOD is doing.
23
the topics in this section? In the first column of the table below use the following code to
rate your understanding:
Green – I understand this fully
Orange – I am confident I can answer most questions on this
Red – I need to do a lot more work on this topic.
In the second and third columns you need to think about:

Whether you have an opinion on this topic and could give reasons for that opinion if
asked

Whether you can give the opinion of someone who disagrees with you and give reasons
for this alternative opinion
Self-Assessment Checklist
My
understanding
is red/
orange/green
Can I give
my
opinion?
Can I give
an
alternative
opinion?
Definitions of the Key Terms and how to use them to answer
a GCSE question
Why Catholics believe in life after death and how this belief
effects their lives
Non-Religious belief in life after death (near-death
experiences, ghosts, mediums, evidence of reincarnation)
Why some people do not believe in life after death
The current law on abortion and why it generates such
debate
The different Christian attitudes to abortion and the
reasons for them
What is meant by euthanasia, the law and the different
situations in which it occurs
Christian attitudes to euthanasia and why people have them
The causes of world poverty
How and why CAFOD is trying to end world poverty
How the media deals with life and death issues and how an
issue is presented in the media, including whether the
treatment is fair to religious beliefs and religious people
24
MARRIAGE & FAMILY- KEYWORDS
Adultery
A married person having sex with someone other than their
partner
Cohabitation
Contraception
Civil Partnership
Living together without being married
Intentionally preventing pregnancy from occurring
A legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal
rights as a husband and wife
The legal ending of a marriage
Grandparents/aunts/uncles living as a unit with Mother, Father
and the Children; or living very close and having a lot of
contact with each other
Staying with your marriage partner and only having sex with
them
Sexual attraction to the same sex
The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new body
Mother, Father and the children living as a unity
Sex before marriage
Making a new life
Having sex with a number of partners without wanting a
relationship
Where two sets of children become a family when their
divorced parents marry each other
Divorce
Extended Family
Faithfulness
Homosexuality
Marriage
Nuclear Family
Pre-Marital Sex
Procreation
Promiscuity
Reconstituted Family
Social Factors: The changing picture of family life
Fewer people are getting married
Cohabitation: living together without being
More one parent families
Remarriage: marrying again after divorce.
married.
Many more couples are now living
together before getting married.
Reconstituted family: two sets of children
25% more couples now live together
than 25 years ago.
marry each other.
Reasons:


Trial marriage to see if they are
compatible
No longer a stigma to live with
someone before marriage – the
accepted ‘norm’.
becoming one family when divorced parents
Nuclear family: Mum, Dad and children
living as one unit.
Extended family: Grandparents, aunts,
uncles, living as a unit with mum, dad and
children, or close by.
25
The marking grid shows that it is worth giving at least
THE CHANGING PICTURE
two reasons to support your view, and the more you can
OF FAMILY LIFE
explain them the better
Remember to include reasons from Roman Catholic
Christianity in at least one part of your answer
Divorce: the legal ending of a marriage.






More people getting divorced, resulting in
more one parent families.
Children suffering depression because of
parents splitting up
Less help from relatives. People are now
travelling around the country due to
careers and this is causing the break-up of
the extended family.
Fewer parents have help from their
parents to bring up children.
Often women are ‘left’ on their own to
bring up children. Can be very difficult
juggling children and work. Money is often
short.
People become disillusioned with marriage.
Do you think that the changes to society have
Christian teaching on sex outside of marriage
led to a better or worse lifestyle for most
people?
Sex outside of marriage covers two areas:
SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE
Pre-marital sex: sex before marriage
Promiscuity: having sex with a number of
partners without wanting a relationship
26
FUNDERMENTAL/CATHOLIC
Strongly AGAINST sex before marriage.
LIBERAL CHRISTIANS
Some liberal Christians now accept that
couples may want a ‘trial marriage’ to see if
they are compatible before getting married.
1. BIBLICAL REASONS
a) “And the two shall become one flesh””.
b) Ten Commandments “You shall not
commit adultery”.
c) “Your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit”
2. CATHOLICS: Sex before marriage is a
moral (grave) sin – excludes one from
taking Mass (Holy Communion).
However:1.
They see cohabiting as only an interim
thing – they DO INTEND to marry.
2. They WILL MARRY if they want
CHILDREN. They believe children should
be brought up in a stable relationship.
REASONS THEY MIGHT GIVE ARE:



Encourages a casual relationship
based on selfishness – not caring for
others.
It is too easy to break up. Couples will
separate over differences.
Because they follow the teaching of
the Bible strictly.
ADULTERY WITHIN A MARRIAGE
Faithfulness: staying with your marriage
Adultery: a married person having sex with
partner and having sex only with them.
someone other than their marriage partner.
All Christians believe adultery IS WRONG because of two reasons:
1. One of the Ten Commandments is that ‘You shall not commit adultery’.
2. In the Christian wedding ceremony, couples promise, in their vows, that they will stay
FAITHFUL – only have sex with their marriage partners. If they commit adultery
they are breaking their marriages vows.
Christian teaching on marriage
27
CHRSITAN BELIEFS (attitudes)
THE Catholic reasons for marriage
TO MARRRIAGE.
 ALL Christians believe that marriage
is intended as a lifelong union.
 Marriage ceremony gives the couple
grace of God to help make their
marriage work.
 Roman Catholic Church, the
Orthodox Church and the Church of
England believe that marriage is a
sacrament. Sacraments are public
actions by which Christians receive
grace, that is, experience the power
and love of God in their lives.
 Other Churches do not regard
marriage as a sacrament, but feel
that grace comes from the prayers.
1.
Lifelong faithfulness
2. Comfort and support
3. To have children (procreate)
4. To bring them up in a Christian
family
OUTLINE OF THE CHRISTIAN
MARRIAGE SERVICE
1. HYMNS/songs/music (both religious and secular)
2. BIBLE READINGS on love: Usually 1 Corinthians chapter 13
3. EXCHANGING VOWS (promises)
 To love (obey) and cherish (remain faithful)
 In sickness and in health
 Till death do us part
4. EXCHANGING OF THE RINGS – symbolising the unending nature of marriage
5. SERMON – talk about the importance of marriage
6. PRAYERS – through the Holy Spirit, asking God to bless their marriage and make it
work.
28
Christian teaching on divorce
CHURCHES WHICH DO ALLOW
CHURCHES WHICH DO NOT
DIVORCE
ALLOW DIVORCE
 Church of England
The Roman Catholic Church
 Methodist/Baptist Churches
 Orthodox Church
CATHOLICS ARE AGAINST
DIVORCE BECAUSE:
 Jesus banned divorce: Mark
Chap 10:10-12 “Anyone who
REASONS WHY THEY ALLOW
divorces his wife and marries
DIVORCE
another commits adultery
against her”.
1. BIBLICAL REASON: Matthew
19:8-9 “I tell you, anyone who
ROMAN CATHOLIC ANNULMENT
divorces his wife, except for
marital unfaithfulness, and marries
another woman commits adultery”.
Allowed on the grounds of adultery.
2. They believe that if people repent
of their mistakes they should be
allowed a second chance.
Roman Catholic Church does not allow
an annulment. This is when it was not a
proper marriage in the first place, and
so never existed in the eyes of God.
Catholics can have an annulment if:
REMARRYING IN CHURCH
1.
One of the partners was not
baptised at the time of marriage
2. One of the partners was forced
These churches will allow people, after
counselling, to remarry in church. The
Church of England though still leave it
up to individual priests – some will
into marriage
3. 3. One of the partners was
mentally unstable
4. 4. The marriage had never been
marry divorcees, others will not, but
consummated (they had never had
will give a blessing.
sex)
29
Christian Attitudes to Homosexuality
Catholics:
Evangelical Protestants:
Being homosexual is not a sin but that
having homosexual sex is. This is because
people can’t help their feelings but people
can stop themselves from acting on them.
All homosexual thoughts and acts are
wrong and that homosexuals should pray to
God to become heterosexuals.
So why do they think this?
But why do they think this?
 The Bible condemns homosexual acts
but does not say homosexual feelings
are a sin
 Sex should only take place within
marriage. Any sex which takes place
out of marriage is wrong and seeing as
marriage is the uniting of man and
women then homosexual sex is
 ‘No man is lie with another man : God
hates that.’ (Leviticus 8:22)
 God created man and woman to be in
a marriage relationship together
 Purpose of sex is to create children
and two same-sex partners cannot
have a child this way
 They think that homosexuality is
not good for society as it
undermines the family
forbidden
 Sex is for procreation and homosexual
sex cannot produce children
 All form of discrimination are wrong,
including homophobia because the bible
teachers that we are all equal
What
is
between
the
difference
marriage
and
a
civil partnership?
Liberal protestants:
Homosexual feelings and acts are not wrong providing that they occur within a stable relationship.
Different to Catholics, but why?
 Religion is a spiritual issue not a sexual one
 The Bible needs to be interpreted to suit today’s society
 Jesus taught it was love that mattered the most
 God made them this way so it can’t be wrong
The Church of England is divided on it’s view of homosexuality but generally:
 Homosexual partnerships are judged on the strength of love and commitment of the
partners rather than simply rejecting them as wrong, after all, God has created us all in His
image.
 Two people might enter into a homosexual relationship with hope of enjoying companionship
and the expression of love similar to that found in marriage
30
Christian Teaching on Family Life
Christian Teachings on Family Life:
 All
churches
believe
that
ideally
children should be brought up in a
family with a Mother and a Father
 The Christian marriage service says
that
one
of
the
REASONS
for
marriage is to have children and bring
them up in a CHRISTIAN HOME.
 Children are a GIFT FROM GOD, and
parents are expected to look after
them (feed, clothe them_ and help
them to be good Christians by having
them: Baptised/confirmed, Take them
to church regularly and Set a good
example,
celebrate
Christian
festivals.
 Children are expected to RESPECT and
HONOUR their parents.
One of the
TEN COMMANDMENTS is ‘Honour
your parent.’
This means look after
them in their old age.
Baptism - ensures child becomes part of
the Catholic faith. The church prays for
the family and they are given God's
blessing. Churhc help them as well as the
Godparents to raise the child a good
Catholic
How Churches help with Family Life:
 Christian parents will have their
children baptised and dedicated to
God. Churches will help with this.
Parents promise to provide a loving
Christian home for their children.
Having made this promise they try to
keep it and the church will help in this
 Most churches run Sunday Schools to
support the parents in bringing up
their children as Christians.
 Churches
have
special
Family
Services (erg. Christmas and Easter)
so families can worship together.
 Many churches run activities to help
parents bring their children up as
good people – eg, Youth Clubs, Cubs,
Scouts, Guides, Girls and Boys
Brigades.
 Marriage preparation courses help
couples understand marriage and
their duties and see how it all works.
 Divorce Prevention Work to help
families going through rough patches
Attending a Catholic School - teaches
the ethos of the Catholic faith and
teaches the National Curriculum and
emphasises shared faith and values
Catholic
Upbringing of
Children
Sunday School and Mass - for those who
find it hard to understnad full Mass and
children can worship and learn about their
faith at their own level
Church Groups - for all ages, scouts,
rainbows, guides, rainbows, organised
activities to learn about thier faith, youth
groups for older teenagers which are all
posiitive influences in young lives.
31
Contraception
2. The Pill - There are many
different forms of the 'pill' or
tablet that a woman can take that
will affect her hormones in order
to prevent a pregnancy from
occuring
3. Intra-Uterine
Device (IUD) - This is a
small T-shaped device
that is places in the
womans womb by a
doctor or a nurse. This
then stops the sperm
and egg meeting or
stops the ferilised egg
implanting in the womb.
It can last between 3
and 10 years
1. Condoms - These are male
and female condoms, and
they work by forming a
barrier to stop the sperm
reaching the egg.
Contaceptionthe different
methods
4. Diaphram or Cap - This is a
flexible rubber dome shaped
device that is places in the womans
vagina before she has sex and is
removed afterwards. It acts as a
barrier to stop sperm reaching the
egg.
5. Contraceptive
Injection/Patch/Implant - These
work in the same ways as the pill
but they are given in a different
way e.g. an injection that can last
for a number of weeks or a patch
that is worn daily. There is also an
implant that is placed under the skin
and can last for up to 3 years.
What is Contraception?
Contraception is the deliberate prevention of pregnancy. People may use it because:
 They want to plan when to have their families and how many children to have.
 They consider themselves too young or too old and would not be good parents
 Becoming pregnant would be harmful to the health of the Mother or one or both partners
carry a genetically inherited condition.
 They feel they could not provide financially or emotionally for a child
 They have a lifestyle they feel would not be compatible with having a child
Christian Attitudes to Contraception:
So...do you think that contraception helps to improve the quality of someone’s life or is it
a selfish act?
32
Who
Believe What
Why
Roman
Catholic
Christians
and
Conservative
Evangelicals
Every sexual act
should be open to the
possibility of
conception
The Church
of England
and more
Liberal
Christians
Do not regard
contraception as
against God’s plan
 Using artificial methods of contraception is
wrong because they prevent humans from
fulfilling God’s command ‘be fruitful and
multiply’ (Genesis 1:28)
 Sex was given by God for procreation and so
every sexual act should allow for the possibility
of conception taking place
 Contraception has encouraged promiscuity and
the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
 The purpose of marriage is to have children
 These views have been upheld and reaffirmed
by Popes
 The essence of Christianity is love and
contraception can be used to protect a woman’s
health
 Reducing the size of families gives children a
better standard of living
 God created sex for pleasure and to provide an
experience unique to the married couple;
contraception allows the sex to be free from
fear of pregnancy and provides the couple with
safe pleasure
 There is nothing in the Bible that says
contraception is wrong
Can Contraception be viewed as Abortion?
The coil and morning after pill which acts after conception and prevents implantation of the
egg in the womb are considered by some Christians to be the equivalent of an abortion
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:
Use of contraception to protect against sexually transmitted diseases is one of the strongest
arguments for its use...but then if sex only took place inside of marriage, then this may not be
such an issue.
What do YOU think?
33
ISSUE = ADULTERY
FAIR TO BELIEFS : Rarely do we see a
religious family struggling to make the
UNFAIR TO BELIEFS
Made keeping the family together
seem more holy than killing people
marriage work or the effects that an
affair can have upon the children.
FAIR TO RELIGIOUS
PEOPLE
Walter was portrayed as a genuine
loving father trying his best to
keep his family and his faith in
balance
Media – Use
Keeping MUM
UNFAIR TO RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
IT DID MAKE THE VICAR LOOK A BIT
OF AN IDIOT AT TIMES – He didn’t
notice his wife’s affair right under his
nose, he didn’t notice his mother in law
killing people. His daughter being
promiscuous or his son being bullied.
34
Self-evaluation checklist
How well have you understood the topics in this section? In the first column of the table
below use the following code to rate your understanding:
Green – I understand this fully
Orange – I am confident I can answer most questions on this
Red – I need to do a lot more work on this topic.
In the second and third columns you need to think about:

Whether you have an opinion on this topic and could give reasons for that opinion if
asked

Whether you can give the opinion of someone who disagrees with you and give reasons
for this alternative opinion
Self-Assessment Checklist
My
understanding
is red/
orange/green
Can I give
my
opinion?
Can I give
an
alternative
opinion?
Definitions of the Key Terms and how to use them to answer
a GCSE question
Christian and Catholic attitudes to sex outside marriage and
the reasons for them
The purposes of a Catholic marriage
The features of the Catholic wedding ceremony and how
this shows the purposes of marriage
Different Christian and Catholic attitudes to divorce, and
the reasons for them
Different Christian and Catholic attitudes to homosexuality
and the reasons for them
Christian and Catholic teachings on family life and its
importance
How Catholic churches help with the raising of children and
keeping families together
Different Christian and Catholic attitudes to contraception,
and the different reasons for them
How the media present issues about marriage and family and
whether their portrayal is fair to Christians
35
SECTION 4 : Religion and Community Cohesion
Community Cohesion
A common vision and shared sense of belonging for all groups in
society
Discrimination
Treating people less favourably because of their
ethnicity/gender/colour/sexuality/class
A member of an ethnic group (race) that is smaller than the
majority group
Marriage where the husband and wife are from different
religions
Many different races and cultures living together in one
society
Many different religions living together in one society
Believing some people are inferior or superior without even
knowing them
Different races/colours living together happily
The belief that some races are superior to others
The right to practise your religion and change your religion
Accepting all religions as having an equal right to coexist
Discriminating against people because of their gender
Ethnic Minority
Interfaith Marriages
Multi-ethnic Society
Multi-faith Society
Prejudice
Racial Harmony
Racism
Religious Freedom
Religious Pluralism
Sexism
Topic
Changing Attitudes
Racism and Community
Cohesion
Multi-faith Society
The Media
Details
Gender roles, Discrimination, Prejudice, Sexism, Equality, The
Bible, St Paul
Multi-Ethnic, Minority, Racial Harmony, Community Cohesion, The
Government, The Bible, Jesus, Asylum Seekers
Religious Freedom, Religious Pluralism, Exclusivism, Pluralism,
Catholicism, Bible, Jesus, Interfaith marriages
Homosexuality, Changing Gender Roles, The Simpsons, Coronation
Street, The Vicar of Dibley
1. How attitudes to the roles of men & women have changed
1. Women have equal rights now at work
2. Women & Men share roles at home
3. Women can vote and be MPs
4. Women can keep their own property separate from their husbands
36
Why attitudes to the roles of women have changed
1. During the war women had to take on many roles men had done
2. Women in other countries were getting better rights
3. The UN declaration of human rights had to be accepted
4. The Labour government were dedicated to equal rights for women
2. Different Christian attitudes to equal rights for women
Catholics think… women should have equal rights in society but they cannot be ordained in the Church because..
1. In creation story God made men & women in his image therefore equal but different
2. It is the teaching of the Catechism that they are equal
3. Jesus was a man however, and priest represents Jesus
4. Apostolic succession has only happened to men because the disciples were all men
Evangelical Protestants think… they do not have equal roles in society and not in religion because…
1. St Paul teaches that women should not speak in church
2. Adam was created first so should have more rights
3. Jesus only chose men as followers
4. It has always been tradition that only men should be church leaders
Liberal Protestants think women can be equal in society AND in church…
1. In creation story God made men & women in his image therefore are equal
2. St Paul also says men and women are equal in Christ
3. There is some evidence that there were women priests in the early days
4. Jesus treated women as his equals and they were the first witnesses to his resurrection
3. The problems of racism and discrimination:
1. employers may not give jobs to some racial groups – this may lead them to crime
2. landlords may not give housing to some groups – may lead to people feeling treat unfairly
37
and rioting
3. teachers may not help kids from some groups as much – may make them join terrorists group
where they feel wanted and successful
4. police officers may search or arrest more people from certain races – may stir up racial hatred
and make white people blame other races for crimes. The BNP may win power.
The benefits of living in a multi-ETHNIC society
1. People will get to know people from other cultures and intermarry
2. New ideas from other cultures will help society progress
3. Life is more interesting with different foods, fashions & music
4. Helps people work in multi-national companies and builds relationships between nations
3.4 HOW the government has taken action to promote community cohesion
1. Pass the RACE RELATIONS ACT making it unlawful to discriminate
2. Pass the Racial and Religious Hatred act which makes it an offence to use threatening words
or behaviour about religious beliefs or the lack of
3. Set up the Equality and Human Rights Commission which works to build good relations
between different groups
4. Making Community Cohesion part of the school curriculum which is why you have to learn all
of this stuff!
WHY the government has taken action to promote community cohesion
1. Without community cohesion there could be riots like in Bradford in 2001
2. The London Bombers on July 7th 2005 no longer felt part of Britain
3. Without community cohesion, violence becomes a way of life eg. In Iraq
4. Society cannot be civilised without different groups of people cooperating.
3.5 Why Catholics should help to promote community cohesion
38
1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan – about races who hate each other
2. St Paul taught that all people are equal in Christ
3. The Catholic community has people from all races and countries There are Bishops and
Cardinals of every colour
4. The Catechism says Catholics should fight racism in every form
3.6 HOW the Catholic Church to help asylum seekers & immigrant workers
1. Set up the ORP – Office for Refugee Policy which writes reports for the Bishops
2. In 2008 the Bishops told parishes to help asylum seekers by making leaflets in other
languages and collecting equipment to help them set up home
3. Some parishes have free legal advice clinics to help with application forms to stay in the UK
and to get benefits & schooling
4. Masses in other languages
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WHY the Catholic Church helps with Asylum Seekers
1. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
2. Jesus was once a refugee, Christians want to show love of Jesus
3. The Golden Rule – Treat others how you would want to be treated
4. It is the teachings of the Church
People who think the Catholic Church shouldn’t help will say that
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the more help they give, the more people will come
The government should help not charities
There should be more done to make their own countries better so they don’t need to leave
3.7 The benefits of UK as a
multi-faith society (about religion NOT race)
1. People can learn about other religions and they can spot the similarities
2. Other religions practices eg. Muslims praying 5 times a day might make you think more about
your own prayer life
3. People will be more understanding and respectful of others religions
4. Being able to practise your own faith without fear will make less conflicts in society
PROBLEMS INCLUDE: * People’s children might turn against their parents beliefs * People might lose their own
faith * people cannot spread their faith without upsetting others * Intermarriage creates problems for families
3.8 Different Christian attitudes to other religions
Catholics think…only Catholicism has the full truth but other religions can find partial truth.. This is called
inclusivism. They think this because…
The Catechism says so and it is the official teaching of the R C.C
The Bible teaches that you can only get into heaven through Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God so only Jesus can show us what God is like
The Catholic Church is the means to faith, there is no salvation outside of the Church
Evangelical Protestants think… all other religions are false and everybody needs to be converted to Christianity.
This is called “exclusivism”. They think this because..
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Jesus said “Nobody comes to the father except through me
Loving your neighbour means helping them get into heaven by converting them
Jesus told his disciples to go and convert everybody
When they convert people they themselves get into heaven
Liberal Protestants think…all religions are equal and are just different ways of finding God. This is called
“pluralism”. They think this because..
They do not regard the Bible as the literally true Word of god
Jesus said “there are many rooms in my father’s house”
They think God is like a force which can be discovered in different ways
They see people of other religions living good lives.
3.11 How an issue from religion & community cohesion has been presented in the media
1. The TV series is the “Vicar of Dibley” and the issue is ordination of female priests
2. In it, the parishioners are waiting for their new vicar, they expect a man. When a woman
arrives they complain
3. Religious beliefs are not presented fairly because the men don’t give serious reasons against
women priests, saying silly sexist things like “What next, topless sunbathing on the church
lawn?”
4. Religious people are dealt with unfairly because the female vicar is made to look daft and
more interested in chocolate, drinking and men than in serving as a vicar. In real life she
wouldn’t get the job.
3.10 Ways in which religions work to promote community cohesion in the UK (this seems to be about inter-faith
issues only)
1. Some religious groups (not Catholics) are trying to help with interfaith marriages eg . by
having mixed faith ceremonies
2. Some are helping with the issues of raising children in mixed faith marriages (not Catholics)
eg. Encouraging parents to bring them up in both faiths until they decide themselves.
3. Catholics and other religions are teaching about other faiths in schools
4. There are groups in most towns and cities eg. Glasgow inter-faith forum that get different
religiouns together to talk.
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3.9 Issues raised by a multi-faith society
1. Conversion – trying to bring people into your religion- is seen as their right by some
because…
* they “know” their religion is the one true religion
* They worry that non-believers will go to hell so they are duty bound to help them.
* Their holy book tells them they must convert others
. Others think conversion causes too many problems because…
* It discriminates against people who do not have the same faith as you
* You can’t know all other religions are wrong until you have studied them
* It can lead to violence and conflict when people are told they are wrong
2. Bringing up children: Children being taught about other religions and about atheism causes
problems for some people because:
* Parents want their children to be brought up in their faith and become a member of it
* Parents worry their children may not get into heaven if they believe false things
* Keeping the faith is important to preserving family culture and traditions
* Children taught in Britain are increasingly tempted away from religious lifestyles because
most schools are not religious
3. Interfaith marriages can cause problems because…
* What kind of ceremony should they have?
* Which religion children be brought up in if both religions only allow children to be raised in
their beliefs? The fear that the religion (esp. for Jews) will die out.
* What will happen after death – what if they end up buried separately?
* Families often feel betrayed and disown the couple
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