THEME F- religion, human rights and social justice

Question 1

Explain 2 religious beliefs about the treatment of women in society (5)

Answer 1

• Christianity: “there is neither male nor female, you all are one in Jesus Christ” (Galatians)
• Hinduism- “her father protects her in childhood, her husband protects her in youth and her sons protect her in old age: a women is never for for independence” (Manusmriti)

Question 2

‘There will always be conflict in a multi-faith society’ Evaluate (12)

Answer 2

FOR
-Christianity- exclusivist- “no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (Jesus) (John)
-Holy Wars- Pope urban crusades- “destroy everything that belongs to them, put to death men women children and infants” (1 Samuel)
AGAINST
-christianity- inclusivist- “Once you’ve found God it’s up to you to decide how to worship him” (Mother Teresa)
-Christians believe in pluralism and justice- “learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” (Isaiah)
-Hinduism- “religions are different roads converging to the same point- what does it matter which road we take as long as we reach the same goal? in reality there are as many religions as there are individuals” (Gandhi)
-“all quarrels and disputes concerning religion simply show that spirituality is not present” (Swami Vivekananda)

Question 3

Explain two religious beliefs about human rights (5)

Answer 3

• Hinduism- caste system- “the murder of a Shudra by a Brahmin is equal only to the killing of a cat or a frog” (Manusmriti)
• Christianity- slavery- “when a slave owner hits a male or female slave with a rod there is no punishment, for the slave is the owner’s property” (Exodus)

Question 4

Explain two religious beliefs about social justice (5)

Answer 4

• Christianity- “all his ways are just” (Deut)- “let justice flow on like a river, and righteousness a never failing stream” (Amos)
• Hinduism- Sanatana Dharma- “i look upon all creatures equally” (Bhagavad Gita)

Question 5

Explain two religious beliefs about racial discrimination (5)

Answer 5

• Hinduism- “the bodied soul takes on new forms when it discards the worm out ones that die” (Bhagavad Gita)
• Christianity- “do not just according to appearance, but just by the righteous judgement” (John)

Question 6

Describe two religious beliefs about positive discrimination (5)

Answer 6

• Christianity- “God does show no favouritism” (Matthew)- “if you show favouritism you commit a sin against God and are convicted by law” (John)
• Hinduism- Ambedkar social reformer for Dalits- “there is none high or low amongst you, strive all together to gain prosperity” (Rig Veda)

Question 7

Give two religious attitudes towards the right to wealth (5)

Answer 7

• Hinduism- artha- “since i am rich of noble line who else can be compared to mine?” (Bhagavad Gita)
• Christianity- “of you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poorC and you’ll have treasure in heaven” (Matthew)

Question 8

Give 2 religious beliefs about the treatment of homosexuals (5)

Answer 8

• Christianity- “men committed indecent acts with other men and in turn received due punishment for their perversion” (Titus)- Sodom and Gomorrah
• Hinduism- “Bodies soul takes on new forms when it discards the worm out ones that die” (Bhagavad Gita)- soul is ‘clothed’ in a body

Question 9

Give 2 religious beliefs about human trafficking (5)

Answer 9

• christianity- slavery- “tell salve to be submissive to their masters, they are not to talk back” (Titus)
• Christianity- “there is no authority except that which had been implemented by God” (Romans)- follow law

Question 10

‘Everyone should give to charity’ Evaluate (12)

Answer 10

FOR
-Christianity- “if you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven” (Matthew)
-Hinduism- “if one keeps all that he accumulates to himself and doesn’t give it to others, that hoarded wealth will eventually be the cause of ruin” (Artharva Veda)
AGAINST
-Hinduism- “since i am rich of noble line who else can be compared to mine?” (Bhagavad Gita)- artha
-if everyone follows their varnashramadharma then there’s balance in life- no need to give away not part of dharma