What the Exam Questions mean …
Nature and Purpose of Religious Art
1
a. Examine the variety of ways in which religious art is used to convey religious teaching.
(30 marks)
How does religious communicate or express religious teaching?
For this essay, you would look at the purposes of religious art: didactic, iconographic,
creating a sense of the numinous, and discuss whether or not they were expressing religious
teachings.
b. To what extent is religious art a valid way of providing religious teaching? (15 marks)
How much does religious art help religious teaching?
For this essay you would do a two sided argument: it doesn’t help, followed by it does help,
followed by your conclusion with your own opinion.
2
a. Examine how religious art contributes to religious experience in one religion you have
studied. (30 marks)
How does religious art contribute to religious experience in Christianity?
For this essay you would look at the Iconographic, and how believers feel they are looking
through a window, you would discuss how the numinous connects with the awe and power of
God, how the aesthetic admires the beauty of God, and so on. You would also offer when
religious art does not do that: Institutional etc.
b. Assess the view that worship does not require visual art. (15 marks)
‘Worship does not need visual art’ Discuss.
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: it doesn’t need visual art, followed by it does
need visual art, followed by your conclusion with your own opinion.
3
a. Examine the distinctive features of religious art in one religion you have studied.
(30marks)
What are the key features of religious art in Christianity?
For this essay you would look at the ‘nature’ or types of religious art: architecture, statues,
symbols etc, and discuss in detail giving plenty of examples and so on, before concluding those
you think most important.
b. ‘Religious art must have a religious subject.’ Assess this view (15 marks)
“Religious art must have a religious subject.” Discuss
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree, disagree, followed by your conclusion
with your own opinion.
4
a. Examine the purpose of religious art. (30 marks)
What is the point of religious art?
In this essay you would discuss Howes four purposes, followed by the others, and in your
conclusion select those you think the most important.
b. ‘Only a person with religious belief can fully understand the significance of religious art.’
To what extent is this claim true? (15 marks)
“You need to be religious to understand religious art.” Discuss
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree, disagree, followed by your conclusion
with your own opinion.
5
a. Examine the range of religious art. (30 marks)
What are the key features of religious art?
For this essay you would look at the ‘nature’ or types of religious art: architecture, statues,
symbols etc, and discuss in detail giving plenty of examples and so on, before concluding those
you think most important.
b. To what extent would you agree that the main purpose of religious art is to represent
the divine? (15 marks)
‘The point of religious art is to represent the divine.’ Do you agree?
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree, disagree, followed by your conclusion
with your own opinion.
6
a. With reference to the art of one religion you have studied, explain the contribution of art
to worship. (30 marks)
How does religious art aid Christian worship?
For this essay you should discuss: Iconographic art, didactic art, creating a sense of the
numinous, art in worship: singing, prayer, dance.
b. Assess the view that the true significance of religious art can be understood only by a
religious believer. (15 marks)
“You need to be religious to understand religious art.” Discuss
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree, disagree, followed by your conclusion
with your own opinion.
Religion Pop Culture (Humour and fiction)
1
a. Examine some of the ways in which religion is used as the basis of humour. (30 marks)
What ways is religion used in humour:
For this essay you are looking at humour ABOUT religion, mocking, raising awareness, etc.
b. Evaluate the claim that humour is an accessible way of conveying religious teachings.
(15 marks)
‘Humour is a good way to give religious teachings.’
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree: Rhoda shutting the door on peter acts
12:14, and so on. Disagree: detracts from the message, lost in translation and so on.
Conclusion of stronger of the two, including your opinion.
2
a. With reference to two works of fiction, explain why religion is a popular theme in fiction
today. (30 marks)
Why is religion a popular them in fiction today, refer to two books.
For this essay you are looking at the purposes of religion and fiction: explaining what it is
there. You do not need to refer to smart or secular responses.
b. ‘Religion needs humour.’ To what extent is this claim true? (15 marks)
‘Religion needs humour’ Do you agree?
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: agree: IN humour positives, ABOUT humour
raising awareness of issues. Disagree: IN humour negatives, ABOUT humour everything else.
Conclusion of stronger of the two, including your opinion.
3
a. Examine connections between religion and humour. (30 marks)
Discuss the topic Religion and Humour.
For this essay you would look at Humour In Religion and then Humour About Religion.
Concluding where it’s place is today in your opinion.
b. Religion can never be a legitimate topic for humour. Assess this view. (15marks)
“Religion should not be a target for humour.” Do you agree?
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: Disagree: IN humour positives, ABOUT
humour raising awareness of issues. Agree: IN humour negatives, ABOUT humour everything
else. Conclusion of stronger of the two, including your opinion.
4
a. Examine, with reference to two works of fiction, the presentation of religious issues in
fiction. (30 marks)
What religious issues are found in fiction, refer to two different books.
For this essay, you would look at Smart’s Dimensions and the Purposes of Religion in fiction,
concluding what Religion has a relevant place in lieterature.
b. ‘Fiction makes a positive contribution to religion.’ Assess this view. (15 marks)
‘Fiction is good for religion.’ Do you agree?
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: Agree: IN humour positives, ABOUT humour
raising awareness of issues. Disagree: IN humour negatives, ABOUT humour everything else.
Conclusion of stronger of the two, including your opinion.
5
a. Examine the role of humour in religion today. (30 marks
Discuss the role of Religion and Humour.
For this essay you would look at Humour In Religion and then Humour About Religion.
Concluding where it’s place is today in your opinion.
b. Humour undermines religion. Assess this claim. (15 marks)
“Humour is bad for Religion.” Do you agree?
For this essay you would do a 2 sided argument: Disagree: IN humour positives, ABOUT
humour raising awareness of issues. Agree: IN humour negatives, ABOUT humour everything
else. Conclusion of stronger of the two, including your opinion.