Contemporary Issues (5 And 10 Markers)

Question 1

“The UK govt does enough to help those who suffer from poverty”

Do you agree? Give reasons (5)

Answer 1

Any 3 from:

Yes
- free school meals
- free health care
- free education
- benefits

No
- poor standards in housing / poor regulation
- taxing poor more by proportion
- discrepancy in salaries - e.g. executives giving themselves bonuses - more regulation neccessary

Question 2

“Christians should make a greater effort to buy fair trade products”

Do you agree? Give reasons. (5)

Answer 2

Any 3 from

Yes
- Western society is privileged and became so at the expense of underdeveloped nations - we need to support those who have been historically exploited
- Amos taught about social justice

No
- people in poverty cannot afford goods with premium costs
- retailers need to do more to promote fair trade - not the consumer

Question 3

Describe the work of 1 Christian organisation fighting absolute poverty. (5)

(trocáire)

Answer 3

5 from

• trocáire was established by Catholic Bishops in Ireland - 70s
• works in over 20 countries globally
• helps humanitarian responses e.g. natural disasters
• provides short term aid and long term support for countries affected by natural disasters/conflict
• Fight poverty and Injustice
• lobby govt to become more fair and end corruption

Question 4

Explain what the Bible teaches on responsibility to people in need. (5)

Answer 4

Any 3 from:

• ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ - treat everyone equally and without prejudice - Universalism
• Amos worked against corruption - for social justice
• Parable of sheep and the goats - Jesus encouraged people to reach out to those in need
• Jesus healed the sick - outcasts - e.g. Bartimaeus and the man with Leprosy

Question 5

“There is little that churches can do to fight poverty.”

Do you agree? Give reasons. (5)

Answer 5

Any 3 from:

Yes
- its a govt issue - church have limited power today
- churches have financial limitations compared to international organisations
- lack of trained workers
- issues are too vast for the church to solve

No
- they have a following and can set up fundraisers
- churches support Christian organisations like Trocáire and focus on fundraising e.g. at Christmas
- e.g. Mother Theresa

Question 6

Explain why some people are prejudiced towards others. (5)

Answer 6

• upbringing - racist/sexist/sectarian views etc.
• ignorance - lack of knowledge or understanding of cultures
• negative experience - brewing fear - e.g. if someone was attacked/robbed
• blaming / scapegoating minorities like in Nazi Germany

Question 7

Describe what the Bible teaches about prejudice and discrimination (5)

Answer 7

• Genesis - ‘Made in the image of God’ - treat people with respect because we are all God’s children
• NT - Good Samaritan - the Samaritan helped where the teachers of the Law abstained - he treated the injured Jew with respect and dignity
• Jesus engaged with a Samaritan woman when Jews and Samaritans were supposed to be separate

Question 8

Describe the work of 1 Christian organisation fighting relative poverty. (5)

(SVP)

Answer 8

• collect furniture, clothes etc.
• food collections
• help people get public housing - but don’t give people money
• teach people domestic skills
• lobby the government