WJEC
RE Model
Answers
Unit 1

Relationships
Relationships
1.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term conflict.
Conflict refers to the stresses and strain that take place in all relationships. For
example a husband and wife argue about how to bring up their children.
b. Explain how religious believers might help someone having marriage problems.
Some Christians might offer advice or give some practical support. For example if a
married couple were not speaking to each other a Christian might act as a go between
so that communication could begin and hopefully lead to reconciliation, or if the
problem was money worries a Christian might be in a position to offer financial
support. Some Christians might pray for people with marriage problems because
Christians believe God loves us and can give people the strength and inspiration to
overcome their problems.
c.
‘Family life is out of date’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians disagree with this claim. They believe that the family unit is the
most important group we will ever belong to. It is in the family that people first learn
and experience love and values. The commandments teach children to ‘honour your
parents’ and other parts of the bible teach parents to provide for their children.
Children and parents will always need each other and the family celebrates this
special bond.
(ii)Some other Christians agree with this claim because they think it doesn’t really
matter who people live with as long as they love God and one another. A child might
live with just one parent and still be loved and valued or people might choose or be
forced to live in a community such as an orphanage or a religious community as a
priest, nun or monk.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the teachings about civil
partnerships.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to)
(i)Catholic view = The Catholic Church is against civil partnerships. They believe
that only a man and a woman should be united together through marriage and that this
involves a lifelong commitment based on love. Catholicism teaches that homosexual
relations are unnatural and immoral. Instead they believe that sex should only take
place within marriage and always be open to the possibility of children – ‘go forth and
multiply’. The Church does not accept or recognise gay marriages.
(ii)Quaker view = At their Yearly Meeting in York in 2009, Quakers in Britain
sought a change in the law so that same sex marriages can be prepared, celebrated,
witnessed, reported to the state, and recognised as legally valid, in the same way
as opposite sex marriages are celebrated in Quaker meetings. Quakers consider
that they should be able to follow the insights of their membership in celebrating lifelong committed relationships between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman,
in exactly the same way as they currently recognise the marriage of opposite sex
couples. In 2011 it became law that civil partnerships could now take place within
religious buildings/ceremonies and this has been supported by most Quakers.
e. ‘Only married people should have sex’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some Christians agree with this view. Catholics believe that God gave sex for
the procreation of children who should be brought up in a loving Christian family, so
sex should only take place within marriage. Also both the bible and the teachings of
the Catholic Church (catechism) clearly say that sex outside of marriage is wrong and
Catholics should follow these teachings. For example extra marital sex (having
affairs) goes against one of the Ten Commandments – ‘thou shall not commit
adultery’. It is an act of betrayal and is always wrong. Catholics also believe
premarital sex (sex before marriage) is wrong too because people have not committed
themselves fully to each other. Marriage provides security and reassurance meaning
people are a lot less vulnerable and likely to get hurt. Therefore unmarried people
should live a life of chastity.
Some Christians (including many Anglicans and Quakers) disagree with this
statement. They believe that provided two people genuinely love one another and are
in a committed relationship then it is perfectly natural and acceptable for those
people to have sexual relations.
I disagree with this statement. I think the decision a person makes in relation
to their sex life is an entirely private matter. Therefore if a particular individual
wanted to have one night stands, numerous affairs or even remain celibate then that is
their choice and this should be respected by other people. I personally think sex
should only take place between two people that truly love one another and are
committed to each other. In an ideal world I think this probably should be within
marriage however this is not always practical or possible this may be due to family or
work commitments or even financial reasons. To prevent two people that love each
other dearly from enjoying a healthy sex life in these situations does not make any
sense to me at all.
2.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term love.
Love is one of the most powerful human emotions that join people together. For
example the love between a husband and wife or a parent and child brings them closer
together.
b. Explain how having a religious faith might encourage a person to support the
view that contraception is wrong.
Some Christians believe that only God has the right to decide when a new life begins.
Therefore when a couple conceive and have a child this is seen as a blessing from
God and a cause for great joy and celebration. Humans have a moral responsibility to
procreate whereas contraception prevents this. In the book of Genesis God said ‘go
forth and multiply’. Some Christians for example Catholics believe artificial
contraception is unnatural and its use is regarded as sinful. In some cases artificial
contraception brings about a very early abortion which is against the teachings of the
Catholic Church that ‘all life is sacred including that of the unborn’ (Pope John Paul
II).
c.
‘Religious wedding ceremonies
are just an excuse to dress up’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians would disagree with this view. The marriage ceremony is very
important and marks a major event in a couples lives when ‘two become one flesh’ –
a holy union based on love and commitment. The ceremony involves an act of
worship, the exchanging of vows and rings and it is fitting that people dress
accordingly. A traditional white wedding dress was worn by the bride to symbolise
sexual purity. The groom and guests would dress smartly to show their respect to God
and the occasion.
(ii)Other Christians might also disagree. Quakers for example are not materialistic.
They are not concerned about fancy clothes but they still consider wedding
ceremonies to be very important events. A Quaker marriage ceremony is another
opportunity to seek and experience God directly. For them it does not matter what the
room is like e.g. small and plain or grand and luxurious. The same applies to what
people wear what remains important is the love and commitment between two people
and how it is experience and shared with God.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the teachings about chastity.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to).
(i)Catholic view = Catholics believe that everybody should remain a virgin until they
are married. Abstaining from sex until marriage is called chastity, which means
purity. St. Paul taught about the importance of chastity when he wrote ‘God wants
you to be holy and free from sexual immorality (sin)’. For Catholics chastity is
important before marriage and sex is important within marriage.
(ii)Quaker view = Quakers do not believe that a person must remain sexually inactive
until they are married. They take the view that sex is an important and powerful
emotional and physical bond that can strengthen a relationship between two people.
Quakers cherish values such as love, responsibility and mutual respect. If sex was
used simply to meet a desire rather than an expression of love and commitment then
it would hold no worth and ought to be avoided.
e. ‘Same sex marriages should be allowed in a place of worship’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some liberal Christians (including most Quakers) agree with this statement.
They argue that ‘we are all made in the image and likeness of God’ and therefore we
should treat each other equally. To deny a gay couple the same rights and freedoms as
a heterosexual couple is according to some an act of discrimination that causes
conflict in society. Discrimination denies a person their human and civil rights and
according to many Christians this goes against the teachings of Jesus - ‘my temple
will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations’. Jesus is clearly saying
here that his temple (God’s house) is open to all regardless of colour, creed, gender, or
sexuality.
Some Christians disagree with this statement. The traditional teaching of the
Christian churches is that marriage was ordained by God for one woman and one man
to be joined together - ‘A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and the two will become one flesh’. Therefore same sex marriages have not
been allowed to take place in Christian places of worship. Furthermore many
Christians i.e. Catholics believe that marriage is the basis for having children, and the
vows exchanged in church are a practical guideline as to how marriage should work.
Same sex marriages are not open to the possibility of children.
I think same sex marriages should be allowed in places of worship. Whilst
traditions are important we should not continue to do something just because it is
what we have always done in the past. Progress is often made when we break from
the past! Marriage is based on love and commitment not prejudices and
discrimination and thankfully modern day Britain seems to be increasingly accepting
this.
3.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term responsibilities.
Actions that you are expected to carry out. For example looking after family members
is a responsibility.
b. Explain how having a religious faith might encourage a person to think that
remarriage is acceptable.
Some Christians believe that remarriage is acceptable. They believe that if a man and
a woman really love one another and are committed to each other then they ought to
get married even if one of them had been previously married and got divorced. Some
marriages do fail and when this happens some Christians believe it is better for a
couple to divorce. If a second chance to find love happiness occurs then a person
should be free to remarry and be happy. God does not want people to live in misery
and therefore would approve.
c.
‘Sex outside marriage is
never right’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians might agree with this view. For example the Catholic Church
teaches (catechism) that sex outside of marriage is wrong. This means premarital sex
(sex before marriage) and extra marital sex (having affairs) should be avoided – ‘thou
shall not commit adultery’. Instead of having sex outside of marriage a person should
practice chastity.
(ii)Some Christians might disagree with this view. Many Anglicans and Quakers
believe that sex should take place between two people in a committed and loving
relationship. These people need not necessarily be married.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the teachings about
contraception.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to)
(i)Catholic view = Catholics are against all forms of artificial contraception because
these are unnatural and prevent creation which is a wonderful gift from God. To use
them is regarded as sinful. Some forms of artificial contraception also bring about a
very early abortion which is also against Catholic teachings – ‘all life is sacred
including that of the unborn’ (Pope John Paul II) and Catholics believe they have a
responsibility to protect all life.. The Catholic Church teaches that couples should
limit family size by using natural family planning.
(ii)Quaker view = Many Quakers support the use of contraception. Contraception is
an effective method of family planning. If a couple are not yet ready to have children
then contraception can allow them to enjoy a sexual relationship without the threat of
having children. Some forms of contraception i.e. condoms can also be effective in
the fight against sexually transmitted diseases.
e. ‘Personal relationships are nothing to do with religion’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some Christians disagree with this view. At the heart of the Christian faith is
the commandment given by Jesus to ‘love one another’. Therefore all our
relationships are important and religion tries to teach people about how they ought to
live their lives so that they can love God and each other. The Christian Churches
teach people about the importance of family life – children have a responsibility to
‘honour their mother and father’ whereas parents have a responsibility to love,
protect and provide for their children. Christianity also teaches about the importance
of marriage and friendship and this helps its followers to develop proper relationships
with each other.
Some Christians disagree with this view. They believe that personal
relationships are private matters. As long as the people in the relationship are happy
then it doesn’t really matter what other people might think. Jesus told people not to
judge one another. Perhaps if people were less quick to judge others and instead
became more understanding, respectful and tolerant then the world might become a
happier and more peaceful place.
I think our personal relationships are a very important part of religion. How
we relate to each other will determine the sort of society we create. If we want a
world wherein people treat one another with love, dignity and respect then people
must be encouraged and taught how to do this. Religion can show people how to
follow the golden rule – ‘treat others the way you would like to be treated’. I think
this rule should form the basis of all our relationships.
4.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term commitment.
Commitment involves a sense of dedication and obligation to someone or something.
For example a person might make a commitment to keep a promise.
b. Explain how having a religious faith might inspire someone to remain a virgin
until they are married.
Some Christians believe that their faith inspires them to remain celibate until they are
married. The ‘Silver Ring Thing’ is an Evangelical Christian group that helps
teenagers to abstain from sex before marriage - chastity. Through this programme,
teens are able to understand that abstinence until marriage is not only God’s plan for
their lives, but also the best and only way to avoid the harmful physical and emotional
effects of premarital sex.
c.
‘One night stands harm
nobody’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians might disagree with this view. They might say ‘the body is a
temple’ and we have a responsibility to value and respect our bodies and the bodies
of others. By having casual sex we increase the risk of being harmed physically and
emotionally.
(ii)Some Christians might also disagree because they believe sex should only take
place within marriage or at the very least within a committed relationship. This forms
part of the basic teachings of the different Christian Churches.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the teachings about divorce.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to)
(i)Catholic view = The Catholic Church teaches (catechism) that marriage is a
lifelong commitment between two people. This belief is reflected in the marriage
vows – ‘until death do us part’ and in the rings which symbolise the eternal nature of
marriage. It also says in the bible ‘what God has joined man must not separate’. This
is why the Catholic Church teaches that divorce is wrong.
(ii)Quaker view = Quakers tend to believe that every effort should be made to
preserve a marriage but accept that in some cases people will separate or divorce. This
is accepted within Quakerism though people are encouraged to maintain some
compassionate communication so that arrangements can be made with a minimum of
fuss. This is particularly the case if children are involved because they need stability
and love and parents have a responsibility to provide this.
e. ‘A family shapes the person you become’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some Christians agree with this view. They believe that the family is the most
important unit a person will ever belong to. It is within the family that a person first
learns and experiences the need to love and be loved. One of the commandments says
that children have a responsibility to ‘honour your father and mother’ and in other
parts of the bible parents are reminded of their responsibilities to love, protect and
provide for their children. Within the family people learn and develop values and
attitudes such as love, compassion, commitment and responsibility. It is within the
family that many people first learn about and practice faith i.e. biblical stories,
prayers, taken to church or sent to a faith school etc. These things help a person to
grow and develop.
Some people will disagree with this view. They might say that it is our nature
that makes us the people we become. Or, some people will say that it is our
experiences that shape the type of people we become. These experiences can and
often do take place beyond the family – at school, in the street, with our friends etc.
I think the family unit is largely responsible for shaping the type of people we
become. If a person is shown love and affection from an early age in the home then I
think it is more likely that they will grow into loving and affectionate people
themselves. Likewise I think negative experiences in the family can affect the type of
person someone will become. For example if a child is neglected or witnesses
arguments and violence (conflict) on a regular basis they might grow up and act in a
similar manner, or this negative experience might inspire them never to make the
mistakes they were forced to experience as a child.
5.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term chastity.
This means no sex before marriage. For example a person will remain sexually pure
(virgin) until they are married.
b. Explain how a religious believer might support a gay couple wanting to get
married.
Some Christians would show their support by congratulating the couple and then
offering to help and support them in a variety of ways. They might pray for the
couple’s future happiness. They might (if they were married themselves) offer words
of advice about what makes a successful relationship. They might offer some practical
help in organising a civil partnership i.e. booking a venue, selecting readings,
reflections and music etc.
c.
‘Christian wedding promises
are unrealistic’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians would disagree with this view. There are many people who have
been successfully married for a life time. These people worked hard and took very
seriously the vows of commitment they made to each other. The vows ask people to
love, honour and respect one another and whilst this may at times be difficult it is
certainly not unrealistic.
(ii)Some Christians might agree with this view. They may feel that at times the vows
become too demanding and impossible to keep. Take for example the vow ‘until death
do us part’ many Anglicans and Quakers would accept that at times relationships do
break down and can’t be fixed in these situations a person should be free to divorce in
order to avoid ongoing conflict.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the teachings about
homosexuality.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to)
(i)Catholic view = The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual relations are
unnatural and immoral. Sexual acts between members of the same sex are viewed as
sinful. Parts of the bible may be used to support this view - “if a man lies with a man
as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable (wrong/sinful)”.
The Church teaches that all sexual acts should only take place within marriage and be
open to the possibility of children. The homosexual condition itself is not regarded as
sinful but ‘objectively disordered’. The Catholic Church teaches that people who are
of a homosexual orientation should live a life of chastity.
(ii)Quaker view = Quakers pride themselves on trying not to make prejudiced
judgements about the life journeys of others. Friends consider each person to be
unique, precious, a child of God. Their attitude towards homosexuality can be
summed up by the following statement – “People fall in love with each other’s souls
and what they do with the bodies those souls come in is a lot less relevant” (Sarah, a
lifelong Quaker). Quakers try to accept people for who they are whether that be
heterosexual, lesbians, homosexuals or bisexual. For them there are no absolute rules
or truths that everyone must follow. People are free to experience God and the truth in
their own unique and individual way. However it must be noted that not all Quakers
are so supportive of homosexual relationships.
e. ‘Religious belief should be a matter of choice; parents should not teach their
children about religion’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some Christians disagree with this view. It is within the family unit that a
child first learns the difference between right and wrong and between truth and
falsehood. Many Christian parents believe they have a moral responsibility to teach
their children about God the father and what it means to lead a Christian life. Most
Churches encourage parents to spend time with their children praying, reading the
bible and going to church on a Sunday. Most Christians will have their children
baptised and during this ceremony they will make promises to bring their child up as a
member of the Christian community. Within the Catholic tradition most children will
also receive the Sacraments of Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. Many
Christian children will also be sent to faith schools because their parents believe it is
important that they learn and experience what it means to be a Christian.
Some Christians agree with this view. They believe that a person should not be
baptised until they are an adult as was the case with Jesus. Only a mature and
responsible person is capable of deciding whether or not they accept the values,
beliefs and traditions of a particular faith. This way at least if they choose to become
members of a faith community they are far more likely to stick with their choice.
Whereas if a person has a faith forced upon them by their parents there is a fair
chance that when they are older they will reject this way of life in favour of one of
their own choosing.
I think parents do have a responsibility to introduce their children to the faith
that they belong to. Parents always want the best for their children so it seems only
natural then that they would want their children to follow in their footsteps. By
introducing children to a faith community you are giving them the opportunity to
grow and develop within that community. This means the child will develop a deeper
knowledge and understanding of that faith as they get older.
6.
a. Explain what religious believers mean by the term reconciliation.
Reconciliation involves saying sorry and making up after an argument. For example
a person might apologise to their friend if they have been mean or selfish so that they
can be forgiven and become friends again.
b. Explain how having a religious faith might encourage a person to recognise the
importance of a marriage ceremony.
Some Christians believe that marriage is part of God’s plan. They believe marriage is
more than a family event. It must take place in a church where God and other
Christians can witness the ceremony. At the altar the couple make vows of
commitment to each other in front of the congregation and God. This shows just how
serious and sacred the promises are. The whole marriage ceremony is part of a
Christian act of worship involving prayers, hymns, sermons and bible readings.
c.
‘Cohabitation makes perfect
sense’
Give two reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with this
statement.
(i)Some Christians agree with this view. Provided two people are above the age of
consent and in a loving and committed relationship then they ought to be free to
experience and enjoy the closeness and intimacy of a sexual relationship outside of
marriage. Sex is a natural part of life and many Christians see it as a gift from God,
and a joy to humanity.
(ii)Some Christians disagree with this view. Many Catholics and Evangelical
Christians believe that sex should only take place within marriage and that all other
forms of sexual activity are immoral (sinful/wrong). These Christians practice and
promote chastity outside marriage. By practicing abstinence until marriage a person
protects themselves against the harmful physical and emotional effects of premarital
and extra marital sex.
d. Explain from two different religious traditions the important features of a
marriage ceremony.
(You must state the religious traditions you are referring to)
(i)Catholic view = A Catholic marriage ceremony will usually take place in a church
because this is an important part of their religious life. The congregation witness the
marriage and are likely to be a support to the couple. The couple will stand before the
altar showing their marriage is a religious one that takes place in the presence of God.
Vows will also be taken before the congregation and God who are witnesses. These
are holy promises of commitment that cannot be broken. A Catholic marriage
ceremony is an act of worship that will usually involve prayers, hymns, a sermon and
some bible readings. Rings will also be exchanged before the union is made by God.
This is normally followed by the signing of the marriage register.
(ii)Quaker view = In the Quaker tradition, the couple marry each other in the sight of
God and witnessed by the Meeting. This may take place in any type of building. No
priest or vicar performs the ceremony or pronounces the couple to be married. The
union of husband and wife as ‘one flesh’ cannot be created by any outside individual
or organisation. Neither can it be prevented by anyone. The Lord brings the couple
into unity. Friends present at the ‘wedding’ are simply onlookers who can only
recognise and celebrate what has happened. After a Quaker marriage has taken place
it will be reported to the state so that it can be legally recorded. However within the
Quaker tradition it is made very clear that a marriage between two Friends is ‘not a
mere civil contract but a religious act.'
e. ‘Sexual relationships are a personal decision’.
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer, showing that you have
thought about more than one point of view. You must include reference to
religious beliefs in your answer.
Some Christians agree with this view. They will argue that only the people
involved in the relationship will truly know how they feel and what is in their best
interests. On this basis some Christians will support sexual relationships that exist
outside of marriage such as a couple that are cohabiting but committed to each other.
The same attitude may also be applied to a couple involved in a homosexual
relationship. Some of these people feel that sexual relationships like all other
relationships in society are often diverse and complex. This of course does not make
them wrong. Therefore they believe that personal relationships are a matter for the
people involved in the relationship and God.
Some Christians disagree with this view. Many Catholics and Evangelical
Christians would point out that there are certain ‘rules’ relating to all types of
relationships. Some might argue that a personal relationship that was not open to the
possibility of children (i.e. it involved contraception or homosexuality) was wrong
because in the book of Genesis God says to Adam ‘go forth and multiply’ and this
clearly cannot happen under these conditions. Some Christians also believe that sex
outside marriage is wrong/sinful because for them sex is a special gift given by God
to those that have made a lifelong commitment to each other through marriage.
I think we should for the most part respect the choices made by people about
their personal relationships. However I feel it would be irresponsible to forget that
people do sometimes make the wrong choices and when this happens I hope I would
be in a position to offer words of advice, possibly constructive criticism and lots of
practical support.