June examination memorandum
G12 ~ Religion Studies
RELIGION STUDIES
PAPER 1/2
GRADE 12
JUNE EXAMINATION 2014
MEMORANDUM
TOTAL: 150
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
(Bloom’s level 1 – 3)
1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
1.1.5
Arya Samaj.
Theravada.
Ritual.
Tanach.
Islamic.
1.2.1
To lead or influence people of another faith/religion to repentance (to assume your
'faith').
(4)
To explain your faith to another person in the hope that they will accept it. The
word sometimes serves as a synonym for "repentance" – to actively try to
convince another person to accept your beliefs.
(4)
The term/concept is derived from Greek and refers to the "whole inhabited world"
(oikomene) and it promotes a vision/ideal of the unity of the various Christian
communities.
(4)
A faith that is founded from the merger of concepts from two or more religions. (2)
This means to renew, to find a new life and meaning in Christianity. The 18th
century was a great period of reawakening/revival when many people began to
follow the Christian lifestyle. The word/concept is now to be found even in the
Islamic faith.
(6)
A person's religious identity shows other people what religion you follow. This can
be seen in behaviour, especially words (they hear what you say, particularly when
you talk to them about your own religious practice) and the way you dress (think
for example of Roman Catholic priests with their special dress [‘habit’]).
(6)
In religious context, it implies more than just unique differences, but the
identification of characteristic(s) of that religion – the only one of its kind.
(4)
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4
1.2.5
1.2.6
1.2.7
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June examination memorandum
G12 ~ Religion Studies
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.3.5
Shoghi Effendi. Shoghi Effendi was appointed as head of the Bahá’í Faith,
successor to Abdu'l-Baha.
(2)
Cremation. The other three relate to the ATG. The ATG do not practice
cremation.
(2)
Nirvana. In Buddhism, Nirvana is the highest goal of Buddhist practice –
redemption from suffering and the cycle of reincarnation; the others are gods
of the Hindu triad/Hindi gods.
(2)
William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a poet and playwright, while the
others were founders of religious movements.
(2)
New York. New York is an ordinary city in America, while the others are holy
cities in different religions.
(2)
[50]
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
SECTION B
QUESTION 2
(Bloom’s level 1 – 3)
2.1
2.1.1
Any five facts at each:
Judaism is a Monotheistic faith (worship God, the Creator);  Jews feel their
worship is unique;  Feel part of the oldest religion;  Celebrate the Sabbath (the
seventh day of the week);  Follow the Old Testament (Talmudic) teachings; 
Believe the Old Testament is unique in its origin. 
(5)
2.1.2
Christianity is a belief system that Jesus Christ is God's Son;  Teachings of
Jesus in the New Testament form the largest part of God's Word (the Bible); 
Man is saved only by Jesus Christ;  Only the faithful believers go to heaven; 
You must/can accept God only through Jesus. 
(5)
2.1.3
Islam means total submission;  Allah himself gave the name Islam;  The Quran
speaks to all people and not just to the group;  Allah speaks only by the prophet
Mohammed;  There is no necessity for a mediator or intermediary. 
(5)
2.1.4
Buddhism believes that Buddha is not a prophet;  They do not practise “belief by
hearing”;  They not follow religion by reading books;  Man should believe any
account and research and analyse it;  the material to be believed must be
meaningful/have reason. 
(5)
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June examination memorandum
G12 ~ Religion Studies
2.1.5
African religions believe in The Great One (Supreme One [Sotho: “Modimo”; Zulu:
“Nkulunkulu”] gave them all the laws to follow;  To marry, raise children and set a
good example;  Life after death;  With ancestors; contact the ancestors via
dreams/visions;  No special day of worship;  No written scriptures (tradition); 
Right/wrong depends on how it affects other people;  No reward/punishment
after death;  Public confession of wrongs bring healing;  The community, not
the individual, share joys and sorrows;  The rich must help the poor;  Family
pedigree is deemed very important;  The elders (“ringheads”) are very important
– they can help to cure illness;  Kings, chieftains (traditional leaders) (and
Sangomas) are very important. 
(5)
2.2.1
Roman Catholic Church claims to be the original Christian Church founded by
Jesus Christ,  built on the authority of Peter.  The word ‘Catholic’ means
“general” and the RCC is probably the largest component of Christianity on earth.
 They teach that God consists of three distinct but equal persons, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.  All Catholic clergy (pope, cardinals, bishops, priests etc.) must
remain celibate (that is they may never marry or have any sexual relations with
anyone). This also applies to women clergy: as nuns, they dedicate their lives to
the service of Christ – they supposedly contract the church in marriage. 
(8)
2.2.2
Eastern Orthodox Church claims that it is a continuation of the original church
founded by Jesus Christ. The reasons for the split between the Eastern and
Western churches were political and doctrinal.  The Western Church taught
that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, but the Eastern
(Orthodox) Church disagreed.  Eastern Orthodox Churches are different from
Catholicism in that there is not a single leader (pope). In the Eastern Orthodox
Church, the authority is in the hands of a group of bishops. Clergy do not remain
celibate/may marry. 
(8)
2.2.3
Protestants do not believe that salvation must be earned.  It is a gift from God.
The Reform Movement was initiated in 1517 by a German monk, Martin Luther. 
He rebelled against the Roman Church because of unbiblical habits and excesses
by the church clergy (especially regarding the allegorical abuse of Scripture that
was intent on putting the church in an unassailable position of power and
advantage).  In the broader scope the Reform is viewed by Church historians as
an hermeneutic reform: that the Bible's content would once again be
conveyed/preached according to recognised exegetical principles  (exegesis: the
declaration of the contents of a text or portion) and a general move away from
allegory (ascribing all kinds of random and so-called ‘spiritual’ meaning to the
Bible’s words).  This movement soon spread to England, Scotland, the
Netherlands, Scandinavia and parts of Switzerland and Germany.  The churches
are overseen by bishops and elected elders (pastors and elders).  Overall
management is by major assemblies such as a Classis (regional synod) or
General Council, chaired by a bishop /moderator.  However, in other Protestant
churches each church is independent and not accountable to any authority higher
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G12 ~ Religion Studies
than the local congregation, for example the Baptist and Congregational churches.
Examples are the Reformed Church and the United Presbyterian Church of South
Africa. 
(9)
[50]
QUESTION 3
(Bloom’s level 1 – 3)
3.1.1
Atheism is a secular worldview that denies the existence of a Supreme Being. ()
Atheists do not believe that divine beings or a divine power exists. () There are
different forms of atheism: neutral (soft) and positive (strong). () Soft atheism is
the denial of existence of God/gods, () but does not actively reject the idea of
God/gods. () Positive atheism believes there is evidence to support that there is
no God/gods. () It is a philosophy to be understood in various ways. () This
idea (of a god) just does not fit in with their “calm reasonable" and realistic view of
life. () Atheism denies therefore the ‘assumptions’ of theism because they view it
as mere assumptions or conclusions that are not proven. () Their ‘evidence’
against theism is considered to be overwhelming. () The atheist therefore takes a
clear stance: he describes himself as agnostic (someone who believes that God
cannot be known [from Greek a-gnostikos – do not know of...]). Where it is more
acceptable to some people and carefully avoided, it would effectively be the same
as to say that an atheist has not decided what to believe. () So it is
understandable why people prefer to call themselves agnostics. They are honestly
in doubt and ‘feel’ that the idea of God may be either true or untrue; though,
almost without exception, the attitude of the agnostic is similar to that of the
atheist. () The assumption of theism is unacceptable to him and his faithlessness
to God as agnostic is as strong as the negation of the atheist. () Atheism is for
the adherents thereof a conclusion that was reached via rationalistic acceptable
methods and which are not dogmatically confirmed as such, but explained in each
particular feature in the light of (human) reason. () Atheists do not (in an arrogant
sense) imply that they know everything. As regards the concept of "knowledge"
they understand that the most sensible and clear standpoints that one can take is
on the grounds that all the evidence is at hand. ()
(15)
3.1.2
Secular humanism is a vital force in the contemporary world. () It is against all
religions that seek supernatural confirmation of their values. Democratic secular
humanism is one good example. It has since become a strong force in the culture
of the world. () Secular humanism's ideals can be traced back to the
philosophers, scientists and poets of classical Greece and Rome. () It emerged
strongly in modern times with the growth of freedom and democracy. New cults
such as belief in astrology, reincarnation and the power of physics have grown due
to the influence of secular humanism. () Secular humanism is not a dogma or
religion and there are many and various disagreements among secular humanists
on many issues. () The following are secular humanist principles: 1. Free inquiry
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G12 ~ Religion Studies
() 2. Separation of church and state () 3. The ideal of freedom () 4. Ethics
based on critical intelligence () 5. Moral education/training () 6. Religious
scepticism () 7. Reason/reasonability/fairness () 8. Science and technology ()
9. Evolution () 10. Education/training ()
(15)
3.1.3
Agnosticism is a faith position that it is impossible to know whether there is a
"God" or not. () It does doubt the existence of God, but does not take the same
stance as hard atheism. () Effectively, this is a situation or a state of doubt, of
non-commitment to a "something". () Agnostics do not deny the existence of God
or heaven, but maintain that a person cannot for sure know whether a god exists.
() The uncertainty is shown by Thomas Hurley's statement () in the word
agnostic: He coined the term with the negative a- prefix that in Greek denotes a
negation and gnostikos: ‘knowing man'. ()() Literally then, an agnostic is a ‘notknowing-man’ – someone who does not know whether God exists. ()() In time it
acquired the negative meaning that one cannot know that God exists. ()
(10)
3.2
A myth: is a kind of sacred story. ()() Myths are mainly about the beginning or
end time or key events that occur in time. ()() The term myth refers to a
traditional story that explains why something is as it is, () e.g. a sacred story that
explains why the world is as it is, and the nature of the human experience. ()()
There are different kinds of religious myths, e.g. creation myths, () end time
myths () and foundational myths. ()
(10)
[50]
QUESTION 4
(Bloom’s level 4 – 6)
4.1
YES or NO
I do not agree:
The Darfur conflict in Southern Sudan started more than 100 years ago. The main
divisions were ethnic/tribal and cultural. Religion is not a radical source of division.
Most people of Darfur are Sunni Muslims, as is the government of Khartoum. In
1983, there was civil war when the Muslim government tried to impose Islamic law
in the south. In 2005, South Africa brokered a peace deal between the North and
South. However, conflict continued. A UN-backed referendum in 2011 decided on
partition of the South. The harmonious relationship between Khartoum and Juba
was short-lived. The conflict continues, with the main issue being the Heglig oil
fields.
(Any other reasonable scenario should be credited.)
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G12 ~ Religion Studies
I agree:
In the South of Sudan, there is a considerable Christian presence, as well as ATR
adherents, while the North is completely Muslim. There is gross neglect of the
mainly non-Muslim South by the Khartoum government. This is evidenced by a
complete lack of infrastructure. The economy of the South has been destroyed
because of neglect by Khartoum. This results in widespread poverty in the South.
Attacks by militia (‘janjaweed’) on non-Arab villages in the South are common. The
Khartoum government has done nothing to stop these raids. While there is tribal
conflict, it is also along religious lines, as entire tribes follow one single religion.
The 1983 imposition of Sharia law was an attempt by the North to dominate the
South.
(Any other reasonable scenario should be credited.)
(14)
4.2
In 1997 the National Religious Leaders’ Forum was founded. It comprised the
leaders of the various religions present in South Africa. Its aim was to work
towards creating a society that was moral and compassionate. The constitution of
the country guarantees that all religions are treated equally. School subjects such
as Life Orientation and Religion Studies teach about religions to foster
understanding, respect, and tolerance.
(8)
4.3
Familiarise learners with the policies governing religion in education. An example
is the SA Schools’ Act, which says that attending religious functions in school must
be voluntary. Have assembly talks to inform learners about holy days of each
religion. No propaganda should be permitted in school. Benefits of religious
diversity and tolerance will be promoted via posters, plays, and stories.
(8) 
4.4
Religious freedom:
Religious freedom means that every person should be free to follow and practise
his/ her beliefs. There should be no fear of persecution. Religious freedom is set
out in a country’s constitution/legislation. This is determined by the government of
the day. Freedom of religion allows for freedom of expression and practice of any
religion.
Religious tolerance:
Religious tolerance means to understand and respect religious beliefs and
practices different from one’s own. This applies even if one does not agree with
another. Religious tolerance mainly depends on interaction between religious
groups and individuals in a community. Religious and political leaders play a
significant role in fostering a culture of religious tolerance. It is based on respect,
tolerance, and understanding of religions other than one's own. Religious freedom
is a precondition for religious tolerance.
(4)
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G12 ~ Religion Studies
4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
Buddhism
They promote shared humanness. There is a shared aspiration of gaining
happiness and avoiding suffering.
(4)
Christianity
Love your neighbour as you love yourself: This teaching encourages treating
everyone equally. Thou shalt not kill: This refers to the sanctity of human life. (4)
Islam
There is no compulsion to convert to Islam. That is, proclaiming one's faith should
be voluntary and sincere. This allows for freedom of religion. The institution of
zakaat (charity) ensures that basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing are
satisfied.
(4)
African Traditional religion
The principle of Ubuntu encourages helping one's community. The practice of
Ilima is one in which the community provides help to its members who are
needy.
(4)
(Any other relevant fact must be credited. Teachings may be expressed in the
learner's own words.)
[50]
QUESTION 5
(Bloom’s level 4 – 6)
5.1
Yes/No.
Note: This is an open ended question, and credit must be given to relevant
examples given by learners.
(2)
5.2
YES
In South Africa (or other countries), there is equal coverage given to each religion;
e.g. TV programmes such as Issues of faith. If religious coverage is not fair,
complaints are registered with the BCCSA or the Human Rights Commission.
These are made by individuals or religious bodies such as the Jewish Board of
Deputies, Hindu Maha Sabha, etc. Representatives of various faiths are
themselves interviewed. This allows for different viewpoints to be represented.
OR
NO
Research shows this is not the case, as in the extract above. The Roman Church
gets mainly negative coverage regarding alleged child abuse by its priests. The
media never engages in the promotion of religion or general religious issues. Only
sensationalist reporting is done. In world media, religion is often depicted as being
the cause of wars, suffering and abuse (e.g. abuse of women).
(10)
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G12 ~ Religion Studies
5.3

5.4
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan put Islam in the limelight. In the West little was/is
known about it. There is increased competition among media houses. Wars and
conflict often divide people along religious lines. The coverage is only on issues
that sell newspapers, such as scandals, conflict with secular law, etc. Religion is
seen as big business in many cases. Examples of this are the Hajj, the ZCC
Easter gathering, etc.
(10)
The civil conflict in Nigeria is often depicted as religious conflict between the
Muslim North and Christian South. There is an effort by Muslims to enforce
Shariah law, even on non-Muslims. Muslims fear that they will be ruled by a
Christian government. Nigerian Christians fear that Nigeria would become an
Islamic state. There is concern as to who will exert political control over the oil
resources. The oil interests also encourage foreign powers to take sides in the
conflict. Some Muslim sects have lost faith in the government, and have taken the
law into their own hands, e.g. Boko Haram. Boko Haram provides basic services
to its supporters, in the absence of government services. [Mail and Guardian, 2
April 2012, p.24) (10)
5.5
E.g. homosexuality and the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church
is strongly against homosexuality. The church refers to the Biblical story of Sodom
and Gomorra. Numerous protests condemning the church's stand got much media
coverage. The church's view does not get the same coverage in the media as antireligious sentiments.
(10)
5.6
E.g. polygamy in ATR or Islam. Women in polygamous marriages are shown as
being abused by their husbands. Women involved in extra-marital relationships
are depicted as more acceptable. This is evident in the many extra-marital
relationships shown on TV. Religious texts are often misquoted by the media to
justify the ill-treatment of women.
(8)
[50]
TOTAL SECTION B: 100
GRAND TOTAL 150
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