A questions – 2 marks
•You have to give the meaning of the word
•You only have to write one sentence giving the definition so don’t be tempted to continue writing.
•Occasionally you may also be asked to give an example to show you understand what a key word means
B questions – 6 marks
•1- Outlining
•Some b questions as you to outline
•The examiner is expecting you to write with good structure and give three points
•Don’t just list reasons
•Discuss each point given
•Before you answer, decide what three points you will discuss and arrange them in the order that allows one to lead to another
•2-Describing
•Other b questions ask you to describe something
•The examiner is looking for a direct and organised description
•Use three to four points in your description
•Use key words whenever possible
•2 marks for an isolated example of relevant knowledge
•4 marks for basic relevant knowledge with a limited structure
•6 marks for an organised answer using relevant knowledge, and use of key words
C questions – 8 marks
•These often begin with: Explain how or explain why
•The examiner is trying to discover two things:
•Do you understand what a believer does or thinks?
•Do you understand why they do or think that?
•It is a what and why question
•You are looking at a belief that makes people behave in a certain way
•The more detail you can give in this answer the better
•Some c questions ask you to write about the different attitudes within a religion
•These are good because they fall neatly in three parts
•1- What are the different attitudes believers have about this subject? This is a brief sentence or two
•2- Why does each group think that? This is the main point of your answer and you will explain in detail what each group thinks and the religious reasons why they think that.
•3- Conclude with a short sentence explaining why there is variation within the religion. This often hinges on different interpretations of the holy book.
•2 marks for a simple, appropriate and relevant idea
•4 marks for a basic explanation showing understanding of a relevant idea
•6 marks for a developed explanation showing understanding of the main ideas using some key words
•8 marks for a good explanation showing an understanding that makes sense of the main ideas and uses key words appropriately
D questions - 4 marks
•You will be asked to express your opinion
•You are free to agree or disagree
•This is the ONLY time you are asked what you think about an issue
•You must show the opposite side of the argument
•Say what you think and why; the other point of view; and the Christian/Sikh teaching on the issue. Three paragraphs!
•1 mark- point of view with one reason
•2 marks- basic for and against
•3 marks- personal opinion using a moral/religious argument; another point of view, Christian / Sikh teaching
•4 marks- Good personal opinion using a religious/moral argument, evaluate the other point of view, Christian/Sikh teaching and a conclusion
Examples of Questions
•B questions:
•Outline the Christian or Sikh attitudes to other religions.
•Describe the Christian or Sikh attitudes towards divorce.
•Outline an argument for the existence of God based on the appearance of design in the world.
•Outline the reasons a person might give for being agnostic.
•Outline the British law on abortion.
•Outline the teachings of Christianity / Sikhism regarding the roles of men and women.
•Outline the Christian / Sikh teachings on equality.
•Describe the main features of the Christian / Sikh marriage ceremony.
•Outline Christian / Sikh teachings about family life.
•Outline the Christian / Sikh teachings on euthanasia.
•Outline Christian / Sikh teachings on life after death.
•Outline the main features of a Christian / Sikh upbringing.
•Describe one miracle.
•State, with examples, what is mean by moral / natural evil.
•Outline Christian / Sikh teachings which help to promote racial harmony.
•Outline the Christian / Sikh attitudes to sex before marriage.
•Describe how the church / gurdwara helps families raise their children.
•Outline the different Christian / Sikh attitudes to contraception.
•Outline the causation argument.
Possible C questions
•Explain why there are different Christian / Sikh attitudes to life after death.
•Explain how they Christian / Sikh community supports family life.
•Explain why there are different attitudes to re-marriage in Christianity.
•Explain why Christians / Sikhs hold different attitudes to abortion.
•Explain why there are different attitudes towards homosexuality in Christianity.
•Explain why the existence of evil and suffering causes problems for Christians.
•Explain why there are different views among Christians about the role of women in church.
•Explain how ONE modern Christian person or organisation has promoted racial harmony.
•Explain why family life is important for Christians / Sikhs.
•Explain how a Christian / Sikh wedding ceremony may help a marriage to succeed.
•Explain why there are different attitudes about what happens after death in Christianity / Sikhism.
•Explain why there are different attitudes towards euthanasia in Christianity / Sikhism.
•Explain why religious experiences might lead to or support a belief in God.
•Explain why the existence of evil and suffering in the world leads some people to become atheists.
D Questions
‘God and evil cannot both exist’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. In your answer you should refer to one religion.
‘If marriage vows are going to be serious, then people should not be able to break them whenever they feel like it.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answers showing another point of view.
‘Near death experiences prove there is life after death.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing another point of view. Refer to at least one religion.
‘ Religion is the main stay of Christian family.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view.
•‘You can’t expect people to live together peacefully in a multi-faith society’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. In your answer you should refer to a religion.
•‘A multi-ethnic society is the best way forward for everyone’ Do you agree? Give reasons for you opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. In your answer you should refer to a religion.
•‘Divorce is bad for everybody’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. In your answer you should refer to a religion.
•‘Living together is less of a gamble than marriage.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view, in your answer, refer to a religion.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Friday, 2 May 2008
Social Harmony
Growth of equal rights for women in the UK
•Women have always had rights to own property.
•In the past when women married, their husbands had the right to use their property
•Women would stay at home and look after the children
•Women began to fight
•1882 Married Women’s Property Act allows married women to keep their property separate
•1892 Local Government Act – women can stand as councillors
•1918 Representation of the People Act – women over 31 can vote
•1928 Electoral Reform Act – women can vote and stand as MPs
•Not until 1970s more equal rights – like same pay 1975 Sex Discrimination Act – illegal to discriminate based on sex.
Christian attitudes to the roles of men and women
•There are different attitudes to the roles of men and women in Christianity
•Traditional/Conservative Protestant:
•Men and women have separate roles
•Women bring up children in a Christian home
•Women should not speak in church and must submit to their husbands
•Men provide for family and lead family in religion
•Men must love wives
•Only men can be Church leaders and teachers
•This is based on: St. Paul says women should not speak or teach in church; Genesis 2 Adam is created first; disciples of Jesus are men
•Modern/Liberal Christian view:
•Accept that men and women are equal and they have women ministers and priests.
•Men and women have equal roles
•This is based on:
•Teaching in Genesis that men and women were created at the same time and equally
•St. Paul taught that in Christ there is neither male nor female
•In the Gospel Jesus treated women as his equals – he treated a Samaritan woman as his equal; women stayed with him at the cross; he appeared to women after the resurrection
Sikhism and the roles of men and women
•The religious attitude: men and women are equal.
•Gurdwara committees have women
•There are some religious leaders in Sikhism
•This is because; Guru Nanak taught that male and female are two halves of a whole
•Another Guru appointed women preachers
•The wife of Guru Gobind Singh mixed the amrit and was admitted in the khalsa
•The Guru Granth Sahib teaches that God is neither male nor female.
HOWEVER!
•The cultural attitude is different
•Some believe that men are the protectors of women and should have the roles of breadwinner and leader of the house
•Women should look after the home and children, not be religious leaders
•This is because: most Sikhs come from the Punjab where women are not given equal rights
•Punjabi society sees girls as the property of fathers then husbands; it is difficult to change cultural attitudes
The UK as a multi-ethnic society
•UK has always been mixed – Celts, Anglos, Romans, Normans, Saxons, etc are all ancestors of the British
•UK has always believed in human freedom and offered safety for people who were escaping persecution
•In the 19th century Britain began to build and empire around the world and let people come to Britain from the Empire
•As a result, small black communities grew in Bristol, Liverpool, and Cardiff
•1950s immigration from Indian, West Africa and West Indies to help a labour shortage
•Immigration continued
Problems of prejudice, discrimination and racism
•In a multi-ethnic society there can be prejudice where somebody believes other are better.
•Prejudiced people might discriminate and not give jobs or accommodation to people based on race or religion.
•This might make people angry and turn to crime
•UK promotes racial harmony by law, education and practice.
•The race relations act makes it illegal to discriminate
Benefits of living in a multi-ethnic society
•Likely to be less chance of war because people from different ethnic groups and nationalities get to know each other
•Stimulates industry and change because new people will bring in new ideas and new ways of doing things
•Can make life more interesting – different food, music, fashion, entertainment
•Helps us to see we are all part of the human race
Christianity and racial harmony
•Christian Church has members from every country in the world
•Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus taught that Christians should love their neighbours no matter who.
•Jesus treated a woman as an equal; healed a servant; had a black African help him to carry his cross
•St. St. Paul taught that everyone is equal in Christ and God created all nations
•There are Christian leaders of all races
Sikhism and racial harmony
•Most Sikhs are ethnic Punjabis but they do not regards any race as superior to another
•It is opposed to racism
•The Gurus opposed the caste system and treated people as equals
•Guru Nanak said anyone from any background could be a Sikh
•There is only one God that created humanity
UK as a multi-faith society
•Mono-faith = one religion; multi-faith = more than one
•UK multi-faith since the Reformation when we had Christians and Protestants
•Laws had to encourage religious toleration
•Members of any religion are free to worship and have equal political rights
•It is in the 20th Century that non-Christian religions came to Britain
Religious freedom and pluralism
•Benefits of living in a multi-faith society:
•Learn about other religions
•Makes you think about how you practise your religion
•More understanding about different religions
•A multi-faith society needs to accept all religious have the right to co-exist – religious pluralism
•Can’t have one true religion
•Must have freedom to practise religion
Issues in a multi-faith society
•Conversion: Some religions like Christianity and Islam see it as a right and duty to convert everyone to their religion.
•They believe their religion is true and others are mistaken
•Some say that if you try to convert you are discriminating because of religion
•It can lead to arguments and even violence
•Bringing up children:
•A multi-faith society required children to have religious freedom
•Children should learn about different religions
•Some parents do not want their children to learn about different faiths
•Mixed marriages
•In a multi-faith society people may meet and fall in love with someone of a different religion
•Parents may not approve
•What religion will the children be?
•How will they be burried?
•Betraying roots?
Christian attitudes towards other religions
•All Christians believe everyone has the right to follow or not follow any religion they choose.
•Many Christians feel that they have a right to try and convert as Christianity is the only true religion.
•This is because Jesus said ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’
•If you love your neighbour you should try to convert them
•Many Christians believe that other religions have some truth but only Christianity has the whole truth. All religions should be respected but they should still try to convert
•Some Christians believe that all religions are equal and are just different ways fo finding God. We should work together
•They believe this because they say the Bible is not the word of God, all religions live good lives, Jesus said ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms’
Sikhism and other religions
•All Sikhs believe in religious freedom
•Most Sikhs believe that only Sikhism has the whole truth but all religions are ways to find God.
•This is because there are writings from other religions in the Guru Granth Sahib
•Some Sikhs believe that Sikhism is the true religion and is the only way to achieve mukti.
•Women have always had rights to own property.
•In the past when women married, their husbands had the right to use their property
•Women would stay at home and look after the children
•Women began to fight
•1882 Married Women’s Property Act allows married women to keep their property separate
•1892 Local Government Act – women can stand as councillors
•1918 Representation of the People Act – women over 31 can vote
•1928 Electoral Reform Act – women can vote and stand as MPs
•Not until 1970s more equal rights – like same pay 1975 Sex Discrimination Act – illegal to discriminate based on sex.
Christian attitudes to the roles of men and women
•There are different attitudes to the roles of men and women in Christianity
•Traditional/Conservative Protestant:
•Men and women have separate roles
•Women bring up children in a Christian home
•Women should not speak in church and must submit to their husbands
•Men provide for family and lead family in religion
•Men must love wives
•Only men can be Church leaders and teachers
•This is based on: St. Paul says women should not speak or teach in church; Genesis 2 Adam is created first; disciples of Jesus are men
•Modern/Liberal Christian view:
•Accept that men and women are equal and they have women ministers and priests.
•Men and women have equal roles
•This is based on:
•Teaching in Genesis that men and women were created at the same time and equally
•St. Paul taught that in Christ there is neither male nor female
•In the Gospel Jesus treated women as his equals – he treated a Samaritan woman as his equal; women stayed with him at the cross; he appeared to women after the resurrection
Sikhism and the roles of men and women
•The religious attitude: men and women are equal.
•Gurdwara committees have women
•There are some religious leaders in Sikhism
•This is because; Guru Nanak taught that male and female are two halves of a whole
•Another Guru appointed women preachers
•The wife of Guru Gobind Singh mixed the amrit and was admitted in the khalsa
•The Guru Granth Sahib teaches that God is neither male nor female.
HOWEVER!
•The cultural attitude is different
•Some believe that men are the protectors of women and should have the roles of breadwinner and leader of the house
•Women should look after the home and children, not be religious leaders
•This is because: most Sikhs come from the Punjab where women are not given equal rights
•Punjabi society sees girls as the property of fathers then husbands; it is difficult to change cultural attitudes
The UK as a multi-ethnic society
•UK has always been mixed – Celts, Anglos, Romans, Normans, Saxons, etc are all ancestors of the British
•UK has always believed in human freedom and offered safety for people who were escaping persecution
•In the 19th century Britain began to build and empire around the world and let people come to Britain from the Empire
•As a result, small black communities grew in Bristol, Liverpool, and Cardiff
•1950s immigration from Indian, West Africa and West Indies to help a labour shortage
•Immigration continued
Problems of prejudice, discrimination and racism
•In a multi-ethnic society there can be prejudice where somebody believes other are better.
•Prejudiced people might discriminate and not give jobs or accommodation to people based on race or religion.
•This might make people angry and turn to crime
•UK promotes racial harmony by law, education and practice.
•The race relations act makes it illegal to discriminate
Benefits of living in a multi-ethnic society
•Likely to be less chance of war because people from different ethnic groups and nationalities get to know each other
•Stimulates industry and change because new people will bring in new ideas and new ways of doing things
•Can make life more interesting – different food, music, fashion, entertainment
•Helps us to see we are all part of the human race
Christianity and racial harmony
•Christian Church has members from every country in the world
•Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus taught that Christians should love their neighbours no matter who.
•Jesus treated a woman as an equal; healed a servant; had a black African help him to carry his cross
•St. St. Paul taught that everyone is equal in Christ and God created all nations
•There are Christian leaders of all races
Sikhism and racial harmony
•Most Sikhs are ethnic Punjabis but they do not regards any race as superior to another
•It is opposed to racism
•The Gurus opposed the caste system and treated people as equals
•Guru Nanak said anyone from any background could be a Sikh
•There is only one God that created humanity
UK as a multi-faith society
•Mono-faith = one religion; multi-faith = more than one
•UK multi-faith since the Reformation when we had Christians and Protestants
•Laws had to encourage religious toleration
•Members of any religion are free to worship and have equal political rights
•It is in the 20th Century that non-Christian religions came to Britain
Religious freedom and pluralism
•Benefits of living in a multi-faith society:
•Learn about other religions
•Makes you think about how you practise your religion
•More understanding about different religions
•A multi-faith society needs to accept all religious have the right to co-exist – religious pluralism
•Can’t have one true religion
•Must have freedom to practise religion
Issues in a multi-faith society
•Conversion: Some religions like Christianity and Islam see it as a right and duty to convert everyone to their religion.
•They believe their religion is true and others are mistaken
•Some say that if you try to convert you are discriminating because of religion
•It can lead to arguments and even violence
•Bringing up children:
•A multi-faith society required children to have religious freedom
•Children should learn about different religions
•Some parents do not want their children to learn about different faiths
•Mixed marriages
•In a multi-faith society people may meet and fall in love with someone of a different religion
•Parents may not approve
•What religion will the children be?
•How will they be burried?
•Betraying roots?
Christian attitudes towards other religions
•All Christians believe everyone has the right to follow or not follow any religion they choose.
•Many Christians feel that they have a right to try and convert as Christianity is the only true religion.
•This is because Jesus said ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’
•If you love your neighbour you should try to convert them
•Many Christians believe that other religions have some truth but only Christianity has the whole truth. All religions should be respected but they should still try to convert
•Some Christians believe that all religions are equal and are just different ways fo finding God. We should work together
•They believe this because they say the Bible is not the word of God, all religions live good lives, Jesus said ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms’
Sikhism and other religions
•All Sikhs believe in religious freedom
•Most Sikhs believe that only Sikhism has the whole truth but all religions are ways to find God.
•This is because there are writings from other religions in the Guru Granth Sahib
•Some Sikhs believe that Sikhism is the true religion and is the only way to achieve mukti.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Marriage and Family
Cohabitation and Marriage
•Up until the 1960s it was expected that young people would not have sex before marriage.
•Most would be married by 25
•Only one or two sexual partners in a lifetime
•Most houses had a mother, father and children
Attitudes have changed
•Most have sex before marriage
•Average between 6-13 sexual partners
•Acceptable to cohabit
•Av age for marriage 29-31
•Only a minority of marriages take place in a church
•This has led to more sexually transmitted infections
Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage
•Christians believe pre-marital sex is wrong because:
•Sex was given to humans by God for procreation (making babies)
•The Bible says fornication (pre-marital sex) is sinful
•All Christians also believe extra-marital sex is wrong as it breaks wedding vows, is against the Ten Commandments and is condemned by Jesus
Sikhism and sex outside the marriage
•Sikhs believe sex should be totally restricted to marriage
•Pre-marital sex, cohabitation and adultery are all forbidden
•The Gurus restricted sex to marriage
•Rahit Maryada says no sex before marriage
•Family is the centre of Sikhism
•Adultery breaks the marriage union
The purpose of marriage in Christianity
•God created man and woman for each other
•Four purposes to marriage
•1: To have a life long relationship of love and faithfulness
•2: To support and comfort each other
•3: For procreation of children
•4: To bring up a Christian family
Christian marriage service
•Priest welcomes
•Emphasis on the purpose of marriage – God is part of marriage and it is for life
•Readings from the Bible
•Exchange of vows
•Exchange of rings
•Prayers asking God’s blessing
Purpose of marriage in Sikhism
•Union of man with a woman – both of them with God
•To bring children in to the world
•To have Sikh children and a Sikh family
•Uniting two families
Features of a Sikh marriage service
•Bride & groom stand in front of the Guru Granth Sahib
•Prayers are read about the duties
•They are asked to fulfil responsibilities
•Groom’s scarf is placed in the bride’s right hand
•The Lavan (wedding hymn) is sung
•Gifts are exchanged and there is a langar.
Changing attitudes to divorce in the UK
•Before 1969, difficult to get a divorce
•Now it is accepted as normal
•This is because:
•Legal and financial barriers removed
•Expectations of marriage have changed – women now equal
•Women are no longer dependent on men for money
•People live longer and are married longer so more likely to divorce.
Christian attitudes to divorce
•Two opinions
•1: Catholic Church does not allow divorce. Will allow an annulment – Jesus taught divorce is wrong; couple have made a covenant with God and it should not be broken.
•2: Most non-Catholic churches say it is wrong but if it is the lesser of two evils it is ok. Jesus allowed divorce in another part of the Bible for adultery. Christians allow forgiveness; better to divorce than live in hatred.
Sikh attitudes to divorce
•Most Sikhs are against divorce – two bodies united can’t be split; Gurus did not divorce; Rahit Maryada disproves of divorce; family pressure
•Some believe it should be allowed if the marriage clearly failed – living in hatred brings bad karma; if the couple can’t have children; common in Britain so British Sikhs starting to adopt.
Changing nature of family life
•Changes of attitudes to sex changed nature of family life
•Up until 1960s most lived in a nuclear family
•Still most popular
•Extended family more popular
•Single parent families
•Cohabiting parents
•Re-constituted families
Christian teaching on family life
•Marriage = children
•Children should be brought up in a secure Christian environment and love God and Jesus
•Children should respect parents – instructed by the Fourth Commandment and by St. Paul
•Treat children well
•Provide children with necessities
•Raise as Christians
•Children eventually care for parents
Why is Christian family life important?
•Family created by God as the basic unit of society
•Children learn the difference between right and wrong
•The family is where children are introduced to the faith through baptism
Sikh teaching on family life
•Parents provide necessities
•Children should obey and respect parents
•Children should eventually look after parents
•Parents should teach Sikh beliefs and how to be a good Sikh
•Children should be sent to the Gurdwara to learn to read the Guru Granth Sahib
•Parents should set a good example
Why family life is important
•Family created by God as the basic unit of society
•God is present in the home and the Guru Granth Sahib refers to God as our father and mother
•Family is where children learn the difference between right and wrong
•Family is where children are introduced to the faith – naming ceremony, praying, gurdwara, festivals, etc
How the Churches help with the upbringing of children
•Provide Christian education in Church schools
•Classes given to prepare for communion and confirmation – teach right from wrong
•Sunday schools
•Youth clubs – keeps kids off the streets
•Cubs and Brownies – community service and charity
•Priests/ministers give advice to families
•Provide charities to help family life
Sikhism and the upbringing of children
•Gurdwaras run classes to teach young Sikhs
•Kids participate in festivals and worship
•Special classes for children wishing to join the khalsa
•Gurdwaras provide social activities – for a Sikh social life and to keep away from bad influences
•Sikh day schools
•Gurdwaras have family advice and special funds
•Up until the 1960s it was expected that young people would not have sex before marriage.
•Most would be married by 25
•Only one or two sexual partners in a lifetime
•Most houses had a mother, father and children
Attitudes have changed
•Most have sex before marriage
•Average between 6-13 sexual partners
•Acceptable to cohabit
•Av age for marriage 29-31
•Only a minority of marriages take place in a church
•This has led to more sexually transmitted infections
Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage
•Christians believe pre-marital sex is wrong because:
•Sex was given to humans by God for procreation (making babies)
•The Bible says fornication (pre-marital sex) is sinful
•All Christians also believe extra-marital sex is wrong as it breaks wedding vows, is against the Ten Commandments and is condemned by Jesus
Sikhism and sex outside the marriage
•Sikhs believe sex should be totally restricted to marriage
•Pre-marital sex, cohabitation and adultery are all forbidden
•The Gurus restricted sex to marriage
•Rahit Maryada says no sex before marriage
•Family is the centre of Sikhism
•Adultery breaks the marriage union
The purpose of marriage in Christianity
•God created man and woman for each other
•Four purposes to marriage
•1: To have a life long relationship of love and faithfulness
•2: To support and comfort each other
•3: For procreation of children
•4: To bring up a Christian family
Christian marriage service
•Priest welcomes
•Emphasis on the purpose of marriage – God is part of marriage and it is for life
•Readings from the Bible
•Exchange of vows
•Exchange of rings
•Prayers asking God’s blessing
Purpose of marriage in Sikhism
•Union of man with a woman – both of them with God
•To bring children in to the world
•To have Sikh children and a Sikh family
•Uniting two families
Features of a Sikh marriage service
•Bride & groom stand in front of the Guru Granth Sahib
•Prayers are read about the duties
•They are asked to fulfil responsibilities
•Groom’s scarf is placed in the bride’s right hand
•The Lavan (wedding hymn) is sung
•Gifts are exchanged and there is a langar.
Changing attitudes to divorce in the UK
•Before 1969, difficult to get a divorce
•Now it is accepted as normal
•This is because:
•Legal and financial barriers removed
•Expectations of marriage have changed – women now equal
•Women are no longer dependent on men for money
•People live longer and are married longer so more likely to divorce.
Christian attitudes to divorce
•Two opinions
•1: Catholic Church does not allow divorce. Will allow an annulment – Jesus taught divorce is wrong; couple have made a covenant with God and it should not be broken.
•2: Most non-Catholic churches say it is wrong but if it is the lesser of two evils it is ok. Jesus allowed divorce in another part of the Bible for adultery. Christians allow forgiveness; better to divorce than live in hatred.
Sikh attitudes to divorce
•Most Sikhs are against divorce – two bodies united can’t be split; Gurus did not divorce; Rahit Maryada disproves of divorce; family pressure
•Some believe it should be allowed if the marriage clearly failed – living in hatred brings bad karma; if the couple can’t have children; common in Britain so British Sikhs starting to adopt.
Changing nature of family life
•Changes of attitudes to sex changed nature of family life
•Up until 1960s most lived in a nuclear family
•Still most popular
•Extended family more popular
•Single parent families
•Cohabiting parents
•Re-constituted families
Christian teaching on family life
•Marriage = children
•Children should be brought up in a secure Christian environment and love God and Jesus
•Children should respect parents – instructed by the Fourth Commandment and by St. Paul
•Treat children well
•Provide children with necessities
•Raise as Christians
•Children eventually care for parents
Why is Christian family life important?
•Family created by God as the basic unit of society
•Children learn the difference between right and wrong
•The family is where children are introduced to the faith through baptism
Sikh teaching on family life
•Parents provide necessities
•Children should obey and respect parents
•Children should eventually look after parents
•Parents should teach Sikh beliefs and how to be a good Sikh
•Children should be sent to the Gurdwara to learn to read the Guru Granth Sahib
•Parents should set a good example
Why family life is important
•Family created by God as the basic unit of society
•God is present in the home and the Guru Granth Sahib refers to God as our father and mother
•Family is where children learn the difference between right and wrong
•Family is where children are introduced to the faith – naming ceremony, praying, gurdwara, festivals, etc
How the Churches help with the upbringing of children
•Provide Christian education in Church schools
•Classes given to prepare for communion and confirmation – teach right from wrong
•Sunday schools
•Youth clubs – keeps kids off the streets
•Cubs and Brownies – community service and charity
•Priests/ministers give advice to families
•Provide charities to help family life
Sikhism and the upbringing of children
•Gurdwaras run classes to teach young Sikhs
•Kids participate in festivals and worship
•Special classes for children wishing to join the khalsa
•Gurdwaras provide social activities – for a Sikh social life and to keep away from bad influences
•Sikh day schools
•Gurdwaras have family advice and special funds
Friday, 25 April 2008
Matters of Life and Death
Christian attitudes to life after death
•Two different attitudes:
•Resurrection
–Some Christians believe that when people die the soul remains in the grave until the end of the world. Jesus will return to declare the end of the world. The dead will be raised and given resurrection bodies.
- Why? – Jesus rose and his resurrection body was different; taught by St. Paul; Jesus taught that he would come again at the end of the world and God would judge all; the creeds say Christians should believe in the resurrection of the body.
•Immortality of the soul
•When the body dies the soul leaves the body to be with God
•How you live in the afterlife is determined by how you lived on earth
•Good will go to heaven
•Some believe non-Christians and the bad will go to hell
•Others believe all good to heaven and all bad to hell.
•Why: Jesus became a spirit after his ascension; Jesus told the thief crucified with him that he would do straight to paradise; evidence of the paranormal
Why are there different Christian attitudes to life after death
•Christians use the Bible as the basis for their beliefs, but the Bible is not clear. Different passages say different things.
•Christians now put more emphasis on the love of God which would lead them to believe a loving God would not punish the good.
•Living in multi-faith societies shows that there are good in all religions so it is hard to believe the good will go to hell.
•An increase in the paranormal has made immortality of the soul more believable.
Why Christians believe in life after death?
•All Christians believe in life after death because:
•1. Jesus rose from the dead. All four Gospels record the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
•2. The major creeds of the Church teach that Jesus rose from the dead and there will be life after death.
•3. All Christians churches teach it
•4. It gives lives meaning and purpose
•5. Evidence of the paranormal
Sikhism and life after death
•Each person is a part of God
•Souls are reborn until they attain mukti, which is release from the cycle of life and death. They are then with God.
•The way to mukti is from being human-centred (manmukh) to God-centred (gurmukh).
•To be God-centred, is to live life like the Ten Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib.
Different Sikh interpretations
•Some do not believe in reincarnation – they think that all good Sikhs will go to heaven
•Some believe only Sikhs can be gurmukh (God-centred) so only Sikhs can go to heaven
•Some believe that good followers of any religion can go to heaven.
Why do Sikhs believe in life after death?
•It is taught in the Guru Granth Sahib – which is regarded as a living guru. It has the teachings of God and of the Ten Gurus
•The Ten Human Gurus all believes in life after death
•It gives meaning and purpose to life
•There are accounts of evidence of reincarnation
Non religious reasons for believing in life after death
•1. Near death experiences during heart attacks, operations, etc
•2. Evidence for a spirit world – ghosts, oujia boards, mediums
•3. Evidence of reincarnation such as people remembering previous lives.
Abortion
•1967 Law:
•Two doctors agree
•Mother’s life at risk
•Risk to physical or mental health of the mother
•Risk to mental or physical health of existing children
•Risk the baby might be born seriously handicapped
•Not after 24 weeks
Arguments about abortion
•Life begins at the moment of conception
•Unborn child has rights
•Doctors and nurses should not be forced to carry out abortions
•Baby is not a separate life while inside the mother
•Woman has the right to do what she wants with her own body
•Abortion is just a medical procedure
Christian attitudes to abortion
•Two different attitudes
•Evangelical Protestants
•Abortion is wrong
•Life is holy and belongs to God
•Life begins at conception
•Ten Commandments say it is wrong to take life
•Every person has a right to life
•Catholic Church teaches abortion is wrong no matter of the circumstances.
Church of England
•Abortion is wrong but it must be permitted in certain circumstance – rape, mother’s life at risk, handicapped so no quality of life, some would allow because of poverty
•Jesus taught to love and abortion might be the most loving thing to do
•Life does not begin at conception
•Sanctity of life – just war, just abortion
Sikhism and abortion
•Different attitudes in Sikhism
•Most believe it is wrong
•Human life is sacred and should not be taken
•Only God can take life
•Others believe it is ok if the health of the baby or mother is at risk
•Removing suffering
Euthanasia
•Easy and gentle death
•Non religious arguments about euthanasia:
•Some might try to euthanise rich relatives
•Cure might be found
•Doctors should save not end lives
•People are not in right mind
•Sciences keeps people alive too long
•Life support machines cost money and emotion
•Coma for years
•It is a basic human right
Key concepts
•Doctrine of double effect: intend to do one thing but it has a second effect
•Striving to keep alive: doctors should do everything to keep people alive
•Quality of life: Why live if they can only move eyes
•Human dignity: what if you can’t control functions of the body
•Right to die: Control your own life
Christian attitude
•All believe it is wrong
•But switching off life support ok for some
•Sanctity of life
•Form of murder
•Bible bans suicide
•Life belongs to God
Sikh attitude
•Most against
•Violence harms karma and prevents mukti
•Life is a gift from God
•Some accept:
•Turning off life support
•Keeping someone alive when God wants their life is wrong
•Aim of life is to release the soul
•Two different attitudes:
•Resurrection
–Some Christians believe that when people die the soul remains in the grave until the end of the world. Jesus will return to declare the end of the world. The dead will be raised and given resurrection bodies.
- Why? – Jesus rose and his resurrection body was different; taught by St. Paul; Jesus taught that he would come again at the end of the world and God would judge all; the creeds say Christians should believe in the resurrection of the body.
•Immortality of the soul
•When the body dies the soul leaves the body to be with God
•How you live in the afterlife is determined by how you lived on earth
•Good will go to heaven
•Some believe non-Christians and the bad will go to hell
•Others believe all good to heaven and all bad to hell.
•Why: Jesus became a spirit after his ascension; Jesus told the thief crucified with him that he would do straight to paradise; evidence of the paranormal
Why are there different Christian attitudes to life after death
•Christians use the Bible as the basis for their beliefs, but the Bible is not clear. Different passages say different things.
•Christians now put more emphasis on the love of God which would lead them to believe a loving God would not punish the good.
•Living in multi-faith societies shows that there are good in all religions so it is hard to believe the good will go to hell.
•An increase in the paranormal has made immortality of the soul more believable.
Why Christians believe in life after death?
•All Christians believe in life after death because:
•1. Jesus rose from the dead. All four Gospels record the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
•2. The major creeds of the Church teach that Jesus rose from the dead and there will be life after death.
•3. All Christians churches teach it
•4. It gives lives meaning and purpose
•5. Evidence of the paranormal
Sikhism and life after death
•Each person is a part of God
•Souls are reborn until they attain mukti, which is release from the cycle of life and death. They are then with God.
•The way to mukti is from being human-centred (manmukh) to God-centred (gurmukh).
•To be God-centred, is to live life like the Ten Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib.
Different Sikh interpretations
•Some do not believe in reincarnation – they think that all good Sikhs will go to heaven
•Some believe only Sikhs can be gurmukh (God-centred) so only Sikhs can go to heaven
•Some believe that good followers of any religion can go to heaven.
Why do Sikhs believe in life after death?
•It is taught in the Guru Granth Sahib – which is regarded as a living guru. It has the teachings of God and of the Ten Gurus
•The Ten Human Gurus all believes in life after death
•It gives meaning and purpose to life
•There are accounts of evidence of reincarnation
Non religious reasons for believing in life after death
•1. Near death experiences during heart attacks, operations, etc
•2. Evidence for a spirit world – ghosts, oujia boards, mediums
•3. Evidence of reincarnation such as people remembering previous lives.
Abortion
•1967 Law:
•Two doctors agree
•Mother’s life at risk
•Risk to physical or mental health of the mother
•Risk to mental or physical health of existing children
•Risk the baby might be born seriously handicapped
•Not after 24 weeks
Arguments about abortion
•Life begins at the moment of conception
•Unborn child has rights
•Doctors and nurses should not be forced to carry out abortions
•Baby is not a separate life while inside the mother
•Woman has the right to do what she wants with her own body
•Abortion is just a medical procedure
Christian attitudes to abortion
•Two different attitudes
•Evangelical Protestants
•Abortion is wrong
•Life is holy and belongs to God
•Life begins at conception
•Ten Commandments say it is wrong to take life
•Every person has a right to life
•Catholic Church teaches abortion is wrong no matter of the circumstances.
Church of England
•Abortion is wrong but it must be permitted in certain circumstance – rape, mother’s life at risk, handicapped so no quality of life, some would allow because of poverty
•Jesus taught to love and abortion might be the most loving thing to do
•Life does not begin at conception
•Sanctity of life – just war, just abortion
Sikhism and abortion
•Different attitudes in Sikhism
•Most believe it is wrong
•Human life is sacred and should not be taken
•Only God can take life
•Others believe it is ok if the health of the baby or mother is at risk
•Removing suffering
Euthanasia
•Easy and gentle death
•Non religious arguments about euthanasia:
•Some might try to euthanise rich relatives
•Cure might be found
•Doctors should save not end lives
•People are not in right mind
•Sciences keeps people alive too long
•Life support machines cost money and emotion
•Coma for years
•It is a basic human right
Key concepts
•Doctrine of double effect: intend to do one thing but it has a second effect
•Striving to keep alive: doctors should do everything to keep people alive
•Quality of life: Why live if they can only move eyes
•Human dignity: what if you can’t control functions of the body
•Right to die: Control your own life
Christian attitude
•All believe it is wrong
•But switching off life support ok for some
•Sanctity of life
•Form of murder
•Bible bans suicide
•Life belongs to God
Sikh attitude
•Most against
•Violence harms karma and prevents mukti
•Life is a gift from God
•Some accept:
•Turning off life support
•Keeping someone alive when God wants their life is wrong
•Aim of life is to release the soul
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Believing in God
Religious Upbringing
•Having a religious upbringing leads to belief in God because children are taught that God exists and they spend most of their time with people who believe that God exists.
•Bedtime prayers, go to church, Sunday school, Church school, baptism, confirmation.
•Naming ceremony, Gurdwara, 5Ks
Religious Experience
•1. Numinous: feeling the presence of God in a religious building, in nature, etc. Being aware that there is something greater than them. Ex: Looking at the stars and feeling the power and presence of God.
•2. Conversion: An experience of God that changes the life and so they commit themselves to God.
•3. Miracles: religious experience that shows God acting on earth – breaks laws of science. Only God could have done it. Ex: Jesus brought a young girl back to life
•4. Prayer: Make contact with God.
The search for meaning and purpose
•Answers the questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? What is the purpose of life on earth?
•See God as the reason for us being here
•There is life after death when we are judged
How religion leads to belief in God
•Seeing evidence in the world
•So many believe
•All religions have special buildings, prayers, rules, etc – how can they all be wrong?
•If religion is true then God must exist.
•Similarities of religions can’t be wrong
Type of people
•Believers/Theists – believe in God
•Atheists – non believers
•Agnostics – unsure if God exists
The Big Bang
•Science explains the world’s creation through the Big Bang – that the matter of the universe became compressed and caused a huge explosion and everything has evolved from this.
•This can lead to agnosticism and atheism because science can explain the cause of the earth without God.
Non religious explanations of miracles
•No eyewitnesses of God
•Why should evidence recounted in Holy Books be believed?
•There can be errors/misdiagnosis
•Evidence written by believers – biased
•Why choose to do miracles for some and leave others starving?
Evil and Suffering
•Moral evil – caused by humans misusing their free will. War, rape, murder, etc
•Abuse of land and environment by humans can cause floods, famine, etc
•Natural evil – Suffering not caused by humans – earthquakes, drought, tornadoes, cancers, etc
•Some believe a benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient God would not design a world with evil in it.
•Some say if God is not o,o,b then he does not exist.
Christian response to evil & suffering
•1-Fight against evil and suffering
•Follow Jesus’ example by helping those who suffer
•Pray - intercession – praying to end suffering
•Charities
•2- Evil and suffering caused by free will so fault of humans, not God
•3- Those who suffer rewarded by eternal paradise
•4- Humans cannot understand why God allows suffering and how the divine mind works
•Having a religious upbringing leads to belief in God because children are taught that God exists and they spend most of their time with people who believe that God exists.
•Bedtime prayers, go to church, Sunday school, Church school, baptism, confirmation.
•Naming ceremony, Gurdwara, 5Ks
Religious Experience
•1. Numinous: feeling the presence of God in a religious building, in nature, etc. Being aware that there is something greater than them. Ex: Looking at the stars and feeling the power and presence of God.
•2. Conversion: An experience of God that changes the life and so they commit themselves to God.
•3. Miracles: religious experience that shows God acting on earth – breaks laws of science. Only God could have done it. Ex: Jesus brought a young girl back to life
•4. Prayer: Make contact with God.
The search for meaning and purpose
•Answers the questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? What is the purpose of life on earth?
•See God as the reason for us being here
•There is life after death when we are judged
How religion leads to belief in God
•Seeing evidence in the world
•So many believe
•All religions have special buildings, prayers, rules, etc – how can they all be wrong?
•If religion is true then God must exist.
•Similarities of religions can’t be wrong
Type of people
•Believers/Theists – believe in God
•Atheists – non believers
•Agnostics – unsure if God exists
The Big Bang
•Science explains the world’s creation through the Big Bang – that the matter of the universe became compressed and caused a huge explosion and everything has evolved from this.
•This can lead to agnosticism and atheism because science can explain the cause of the earth without God.
Non religious explanations of miracles
•No eyewitnesses of God
•Why should evidence recounted in Holy Books be believed?
•There can be errors/misdiagnosis
•Evidence written by believers – biased
•Why choose to do miracles for some and leave others starving?
Evil and Suffering
•Moral evil – caused by humans misusing their free will. War, rape, murder, etc
•Abuse of land and environment by humans can cause floods, famine, etc
•Natural evil – Suffering not caused by humans – earthquakes, drought, tornadoes, cancers, etc
•Some believe a benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient God would not design a world with evil in it.
•Some say if God is not o,o,b then he does not exist.
Christian response to evil & suffering
•1-Fight against evil and suffering
•Follow Jesus’ example by helping those who suffer
•Pray - intercession – praying to end suffering
•Charities
•2- Evil and suffering caused by free will so fault of humans, not God
•3- Those who suffer rewarded by eternal paradise
•4- Humans cannot understand why God allows suffering and how the divine mind works
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Exam Date
The date of the exam is the afternoon of May 14.
Hints:
The exam is worth 80 marks; while the coursework is worth 23 marks.
During the exam, spend one minute per mark, giving yourself time to read over at the end.
Leave questions you don't know blank and ALWAYS go back and try to answer it at the end, you never know if you might earn yourself a mark here and there.
Revise by doing past questions, rereading and copying out your notes, playing memory games with the keywords, and be sure to take a break every ten minutes.
Miss Ritchie, Miss Gasson, and Miss Liddle are available every day after school to go over things you may not understand, to help you with last minute coursework and to go over questions you have been working on.
Hints:
The exam is worth 80 marks; while the coursework is worth 23 marks.
During the exam, spend one minute per mark, giving yourself time to read over at the end.
Leave questions you don't know blank and ALWAYS go back and try to answer it at the end, you never know if you might earn yourself a mark here and there.
Revise by doing past questions, rereading and copying out your notes, playing memory games with the keywords, and be sure to take a break every ten minutes.
Miss Ritchie, Miss Gasson, and Miss Liddle are available every day after school to go over things you may not understand, to help you with last minute coursework and to go over questions you have been working on.
Helpful Websites
Be sure to only focus on the Christianity - we do Sikhism and this school does Judaism
http://www.fitzwimarc.org.uk/GCSE/gjfiles/belief/godmenu.htm
Get tips on what last year's students did on the exam and access past papers on the edexcel wesbite:
http://www.edexcel.org.uk/VirtualContent/50134/5561_GCSE_RS_rep_20070816_a.pdf
http://www.fitzwimarc.org.uk/GCSE/gjfiles/belief/godmenu.htm
Get tips on what last year's students did on the exam and access past papers on the edexcel wesbite:
http://www.edexcel.org.uk/VirtualContent/50134/5561_GCSE_RS_rep_20070816_a.pdf
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