The nature of the UK as a multi-faith society

Question 1

Give 4 benefits of living in a multi-faith society.

Answer 1

1) People learn about other religions
2) People contemplate the seriousness of their own religion based on others
3) People become more understanding of other religions
4) Religious freedom will exist in a multi-faith society and this may reduce religious conflicts

Question 2

What is the Catholic attitude to other religions?

Answer 2

INCLUSIVISM: people can come to God through other religions but only Christianity has the real truth.

Question 3

What is the Evangelical attitude to other religions?

Answer 3

EXCLUSIVISM: Christianity is the only way to come to God and so they should try to convert everyone to Christianity.

Question 4

What is the Liberal attitude to other religions?

Answer 4

PLURALISM: all religions are equal and are just different ways of finding God

Question 5

Give two reasons for the catholic attitude towards other religions.

Answer 5

Any two of the below:

• teaching of church in catechism
• Jesus is the son of God who shows what God is like
• The Bible teaches that Christianity has the full truth and salvation comes through belief in Jesus

Question 6

Give two reasons for the evangelical attitude towards other religions.

Answer 6

Any two of the below:

• Jesus said he was the only way to God
• Jesus said Christians have to convert their neighbours
• They believe converting their non-christian neighbour is the best way to love them as it is the only way of getting them to heaven

Question 7

Give two reasons for the liberal attitude towards other religions.

Answer 7

Any two of the below:

• They see other religious people living good holy lives
• They believe there is room for others in heaven
• They don’t regard the bible as the word of God

Question 8

What three main issues are raised from having a multi-faith society with religious pluralism?

Answer 8

Conversion, Bringing up children and inter-faith marriages

Question 9

What problems does conversion cause? (3 points)

Answer 9

1) Trying to convert others can cause conflict and violence when people are told their religion is wrong
2) It’s impossible to say which religion is right unless you’ve studied them all
3) Can be seen as discrimination

Question 10

What problems does a multi-faith society cause for bringing up children? (3 points)

Answer 10

1) Most religions encourage parents to ensure that their children are brought up in that religion
2) Social pressures compel parents to exert pressure on their children to remain in the faith
3) Children educated in state schools are tempted away from religious lifestyles into the lifestyle of other non-religious teenagers

Question 11

What problems do inter-faith marriages cause? (3 points)

Answer 11

1) Often both partners must be members of the same religion to have a religious ceremony
2) Relatives of the couple often feel that they have been betrayed
3) There is a question of which religion the children will be brought up in.