Section A

Creation
1. Creationists / Christians — Genesis story
 God’s words in the Bible = must be true
 Created humans in his own image
 God planned & designed the universe
2. Big Bang
 Universe began 13.7 billion years ago
 Explosion created time, space, matter & energy
 PROOF: remnant of heat & universe still expanding
3. Evolution
 Living things evolved over many generations
 Survival of the fittest
 PROOF: birds in Galapagos
4. Atheists
 Universe self contained, don’t need outside force

Humans & the environment

1. Christians
 Stewardship: humans are responsible for the world and should take care of it
 “Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it
and guard it”
 God’s creation  belongs to God  have to return it in good state
 “The world is the Lord’s, and everything in it”
 ORGANISATION: A Rocha
2. Atheists
 Keep it in good condition for future generations  better lives
 Humans weren’t on the world since the start  not ours & shouldn’t exploit it

Animal VS Humans
1. Christians
 God put humans in charge of animals  people can use animals however they
want
 “Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every
living creature that moves on the ground”
 Stewardship: God’s creations  treat with love & respect
 Humans are superior
 Humans were made in God’s image
 God gave humans a soul, can have a personal relationship with God
 Bible values human life over animal life
 ORGANISATION: PETA
 Petitions / protest campaigns
2. Atheists
 Humans have superior intelligence
 Dominance: humans have power over animals
 Humans can rationalise & have greater capacity for emotions
 Humans have inherited knowledge  develop faster

Animal Rights: animals have the same rights as humans, not property
 Commonality: all living creatures are part of the same development process and share
similar characteristics
 Shouldn’t be used for food / medical research / entertainment / clothing
  Animals can’t make moral choices
Animal Welfare: animals can be used but avoid unnecessary suffering & cruelty
 Only considers animals around human needs
 Specieism: preference to “cute” animals

Humans Beings & Conditions

1. Christians
 God gave us a soul: spiritual / non-material part of a person, that’s immortal:
lives on after the body dies
 Used for relationship with God
 “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being”
2. Scientists
 Physicalism: person is entirely physical
 No evidence for the soul
 Changes in thoughts & feelings have physical effects on our body
 PROOF: world is made up of particles
3. Atheists
 Dualism: having 2 parts – body (physical) & mind / soul / thoughts / feelings
 Moral conscience stops us from being driven to our desires
 Consciousness doesn’t come from the brain

Cause of Wrongdoing

Selfishness: self-interest and concern with individual needs & wants which excludes
considering those of others
1. Christians:
 Parable of the Good Samaritan
 “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”
2. Atheists:
 Leads to the suffering of others
 Ignoring others’ needs, refusing to help
 Apartheid: turned a blind eye if they aren’t affected
 Natural  ensure our own survival
 Theory of evolution / survival of the fittest
Greed: excessive desire for wealth or possessions
1. Christians:
 One of the 7 deadly sins
 Worshipping money & possessions rather than God  lack faith in him
 “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”
 Jesus showed concern for the poor
2. Atheists:
 Greed  injustice
 Consumerism: cheap production  child exploitation
 Without greed  no incentive to work harder
Ignorance: not knowing / understanding the difference between right and wrong
1. Christians:
 Everyone has the capacity to tell right from wrong  not a valid excuse
 Humans have God-given conscience
 Avoid being morally ignorant, learn right from wrong
2. Atheists:
 Important to learn right from wrong
 Parents responsibility to teach
Sin: behaviour that goes against the law of God
 1. Fundamentalist Christians:
 Everything the Bible says is a sin  avoid
 Sin gives rise to injustice
 All human beings have free will  responsible for injustice
2. Liberal Christians:
 Some sins from the Old Testament are reflection of the values
3. Atheists
 Don’t believe there’s a God

War:
1. Christians:
 Evitable
 Everyone follow Jesus’ teachings (love)
 INDIVIDUAL: Desmond Tutu (stop apartheid injustice)
 ORGANISATION: EAPPI (different Christian denominations, volunteer
observer to disputed territories prevent human right abuse)
2. Atheists:
 Evitable
 Society is less likely to support injustice
 Mass media = can’t hide
 Look back at mistakes and learn
 ORGANISATION: Amnesty International (write petitions & raise
awareness)
 Inevitable
 As long as humans are present
 Existed throughout history
 World over populate = not enough resources

Nature / Nurture
1. Nature
 Certain genes show personality traits
 Fraternal twins brought up separately show similarities in behaviour
2. Nurture
 Children can be trained to do anything despite personalities & talents

Good and Evil

1. Good
 All good things come from God
 God gave humans moral laws (10 commandments) for guidance
2. Evil
 Things that keep people away from God
 Devil is a form of temptation that tempts us to disobey God

Sin and Salvation

1. Original sin
 Adam & Eve’s mistakes  everyone is born with original sin
 Need forgiveness form God
 Baptism: physically wash away our sins
2. Salvation
 Accept that you have done wrong and are a sinner
 Accept Jesus died as the Son of God to save you
 Crucifixion: give us a chance to repair our relationship with God

Free Will, Determinism and Predestination

Free Will: human will is free, so we have the ability to make unhindered choices
1. Scientists:
 Determinism: every event has a cause, which means all human actions have a
cause and we don’t have free will
 Genetic determinism: genes have an impact on our behaviour and abilities
 Research into a gene responsible for quick-temper by affecting hormone level
2. Atheists:
 Psychological determinism: our actions are determined by childhood and
environment
 Fundamental for human autonomy
3. Christians:
 Humans are free & autonomous (act independently)
 Adam & Eve CHOSE to eat the forbidden fruit  punished
 Face the consequence of choices, God will forgive if truly sorry
 Jesus’ death allows humans to act kindly & compassionately
 Predestination: the belief that God has already decided the fate of human beings
 People are inherently sinful (original sin)  need salvation from God
 God chooses the elect & reprobate / who’s going to Heaven
 People don’t have free will
 Judgement Day
 God will judge us based on our actions
 Reward and punishment
 God is omnibenevolent  why create reprobate?
 Makes judgement & moral pointless
 God is omniscient  knows what choices we make
 He’s made the choice for us already

Death and Life After Death

Human destiny: the inevitable / necessary fate which a particular person is destined to
1. Buddhists
 Cyclical view: time has no beginning and end, the human soul is just reborn again
 Birth --- Death --- Reincarnation Enlightenment
2. Atheists
 Nihilism: nothing after life
 Near death experience
 Patients under anaesthetic could give accurate descriptions of their operation
 Medium
 Ghosts
 Wishful thinking
 People can’t face the idea of death
 Take comfort knowing they can still communicate with their loved ones
3. Scientists
 Energy can’t be destroyed  transformed into another form
 No scientific evidence
 Nobody has returned from the dead
 Near-death experiences are hallucinations
 Caused by a chemical reaction due to starvation of oxygen / drugs
4. Christians
 Linear view: time has a beginning & end, humans only live once on earth
 God-given soul
 “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, then breathed
into his nostrils the breathe of life
 Jesus’ resurrection  humans can achieve salvation
  “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die”
 Bible teachings
 Heaven: live with God
 Hell: separated from God, suffering
 Purgatory: preparation for heaven: not too bad but not perfect enough

Judgement: the decision of God on the destiny of human beings

1. Christians
 Depends on your faith & work (God knows everything)
 People will be separated for reward & punishment
 “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father”
 Jesus is the saviour of humans from sin and punishment; the redeemer because
his death paid the price for human sin
 Uphold Biblical teachings, follow moral & ethical principles (stewardship)
 Spend money on poor and needy
 Treat others as God wants them to
 Developing faith – worship and respect God (pray, read the Bible)
2. Buddhists
 Judged on their good & bad karma
 Good  able to achieve nirvana / escape samsara, no need to be reborn

Section B
God VS Gods
1. Christians
 Monotheism
 10 commandments: worship one God only
 God is omnipotent, cant have 2 powerful Gods
2. Hinduism
 Polytheism
 Agree what all those Gods say
 Different teachings for each God
3. Atheists
 Don’t believe in a God
 If there was a God his presence would be obvious
 If there was a God, all suffering would end
Ultimate reality
1. Christians
 Worship God
 Spread the word of God
2. Buddhists
 Do good karma
 Achieve enlightenment
3. Atheists
 Charity  help people
 No ultimate reality
4. Scientists
 Find out as much about the universe

Nature of God
 Omnipresent: present everywhere at all times throughout the universe
 Omnipotent: all powerful
  Omniscient: knows everything, nothing can be hidden
 Omnibenevolent: in every loving relationship
 Eternal: outside time, no beginning nor end
 Creator of the world

 Father
 Brought humans into existence
 Cares and provides, loving and forgiving
 Position of authority: rules, rewards, punishment
 Son
 God incarnate  perfect
 Holy Spirit
 Guides them to make right decisions
 Gives them courage at difficult times

Meaning & purpose of life

Belief, uncertainty and unbelief

 Parents / community have brought them up this way

1. Christians
 Christian family
 Church: meet people  talk through problems
 Youth group: people of the same age, help in community
 School: Christian values
 Christian family: prayers, religious celebrations, support
 Prayer
 Response from God
 Personal way of communicating with God
 Miracles
 Breaks the law of nature
 God is omnipotent
 Numinous
 Sense of awe  presence of greater power
 World isn’t only functional, there’s beauty as well
 Reason for universe
 Conversion
 Powerful experience  convinced God is responsible
2. Scientists
 If the world wasn’t exactly like this, life forms would cease to exist
 No evidence
 Science disproves religion
3. Atheists & Agnostic
 More to life than fulfilling own life
 Looking for explanations for life after death
 Agree to religious teachings about purpose & meaning of life
 Give a structure to family
 Experienced God
 Beauty & order must have been created by somebody
 People can be moral without being religious
 Suffering, evil and chaos in the world

1. Causation argument
  Everything happened due to a cause
 Something as intricate as the universe  powerful creator
 God is powerful  God exists
 Causes can not go on forever
 Must be an uncaused cause  God
 Scientists & Big Bang
 Nothing can come from nothing
 Big Bang created space, matter, time and energy
 Only God has power  caused Big Bang
 Scientists
 Energy can’t be destroyed / created
 Must be an initial energy to start the momentum
 Atheists
 If God made the universe, who made God
 If God doesn’t need a cause, universe doesn’t either
2. Teleological argument
 Paley’s watch
 An ecosystem so intricate can’t have happened by chance  must be
designed by someone
 Idea of mechanism of a watch  world more complex  Designer could be
God
 Fred Hoyle
 C-atom is tiny, chance of discovery is miniscule  someone designed so we
found it
 Airplane can’t be created by chance e.g. forces whirl through scrapyard to
airplane

The problem of evil and suffering

Natural evil: suffering & pain caused by experiences beyond human control
Moral evil: suffering & pain caused by human sin
1. Inconsistent triad
 If God is omnibenevolent  want to end evil & suffering
 omnipotent  be able to end evil & suffering
 omniscient  know there will be evil
 BUT EVIL EXISTS
 God is not omnibenevolent / omnipotent, God doesn’t exist
2. Christians
 Result of the Fall
 Adam & Eve spoiled the world
 Way for people to grow & develop their faith
 God gave us difficulties to overcome
 Let us make free choices
 Story of Job
 Suffering is part of God’s plan  humans won’t understand
 Natural evil = creation went wrong/out of control
 God is omnipotent, should have had power to create perfect world
 Soul supposed to guide moral conscience
 Moral evil  no soul  no God
 God created humans
 Evil God?

Abortion: medical process of ending a pregnancy before it results in the birth of a baby
Ireland: abortion is illegal
HK Law:
  Permitted before 24 weeks
 2 doctors agreement:
 mother’s health (physical mental) at risk
 risk of sever disabilities for baby
1. Pro Life: foetus is a life that possesses full DNA to develop into a unique child
 Destroys human life  murder & great evil
 Sanctity of life: human life is sacred, a gift from God
 Holy Spirit lives inside the soul: killing person = kill HS
 “Don't you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives
in you and was given to you by God?”
 Human life should be respected & protected from the moment of conception
 Absolute: one rule for all solutions
 Supported by Catholics & Salvation Army
 Roman Catholics
 Life begins immediately after fertilisation
 Baby has right to life  no one can take it away
 Salvation Army
 Modern society doesn't show enough concern for the vulnerable
(unborn)
 In cases of rape
2. Pro Choice: women have the right to choose what happens to her own body
 Illegal abortions in unhealthy conditions
 Love, free will, compassion
 Only last resort
 Relative morality: different rules for different situations
 Support by Anglicans & Liberals
 Abortion is kinder on some occasions
 Jesus’ teaching of love
 Atheists
 People have the right for their body
 Might be because they can foresee bad environment for raising
children

Euthanasia: gentle death to relieve pain & suffering

1. Atheists
 Free will
 Kindness if someone was suffering
 Waste of money for hopeless cases  spend on those with a chance of recovery
 Quality of life is poor
 Loss of personal dignity
 ORGANISATION: Dignityindying
 New cures
 Elderly relatives might be pressured because they are a responsibility for the
family
2. Christians
 Sanctity of Life
 God is the one who decides your death
 “The Lord God kills and restores to life”
 Shouldn’t choose to die because of suffering
 “If we die, it is for the Lord that we die”
 Killing ourselves = killing Holy Spirit
 “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit […] You do
not belong to yourselves but to God”
3. Liberals
  Acceptable to switch off life-support machine since person is brain-dead
4. Roman Catholics
 Have the right to refuse treatment to prolong life
 Hospices & Palliative care
 Control pain  better quality of life

Section C
Homosexuality
1. Atheists
 Love is involved, no one is hurt
2. Roman Catholics & some Anglicans
 Thoughts aren’t a sin but actions are
 “No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that” OT
 “Men do shameful things with each other” NT
 Treat them with respect & compassion
 Homosexuals should control their sexual feelings by being celibate
 Sex is for procreation
3. Liberal Christians & some Anglicans
 Nature & quality of the relationship matters most
 Expresses true affection and gives pleasure to both individuals
 Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness
4. Some religious people
 Homosexual not equivalent to heterosexual
 Contrary to religious teachings
 Accept monogamous relationship; condemn promiscuity

Cohabitation: living together without being married

1. Atheists
 Sensible to find out whether relationship will work
2. Catholics
 Might have sexual relationships / temptation of sex
 Sex before marriage not allowed
 “human love does not tolerate trial marriages”
3. Liberals
 If it leads to children & marriage
 Good way to test relationship
Celibacy: remain unmarried and having no sexual relationships
1. Christians
 Sex to procreate  don’t want children
 Devote time to worship God e.g. nuns
 Self-control to overcome physical desires
 Don’t want to commit to a long-term relationship  pre-marital sex is sin
2. Atheists
 Avoid hereditary disease
 Don’t want children / control yourself (independent)
 No need to spend money on contraception
 More time to focus on yourself
 Unable to have sex

Marriage
1. Christians
 Procreation
  “Have children so that your descendants will live all over the earth”
 Christian family
 Sexual relationship
 Provides support and companionship
 Holy relationship with God
2. Atheists
 Support and companionship
 Have children

Sex outside marriage

1. Christians
 Sex is an act of love and commitment
 Only be part of a meaning, loving relationship
 Accept if marriage is likely to follow
2. Roman Catholics
 Sex only belongs within marriage
 “Human love does not tolerate ‘trial marriages’ ”
3. Evangelical Protestants
 Bible
 “Do not commit adultery” (10 commandments)
4. Liberals
 Part of a loving relationship
 No one is harmed / exploited
 Jesus’ teaching that love matters most
5. Atheists
 Trust is broken & people are hurt
 Promiscuity: sex with a number of partners with commitment
 Sex is a special act between people who care about each other

Divorce: legal process that ends a marriage

1. Atheists
 If you’ve made a mistake, better to start again
 Marriage is a serious commitment, divorce shouldn’t be 1st option
 People will be hurt
 Children separated? Not a nuclear family
2. Anglicans
 Marriage is a lifelong commitment
 Children involved
 Understand some relationships break down, divorce may be best option
 Divorce is a matter of courts, not the Church
 God will forgive
3. Roman Catholic
 Marriage is a sacrament (holy relationship & promises made with God)
 Better for couple to live apart
 Only death ends a marriage
4. Baptists
 When marriage has broken down, may do more harm than good
 Attempted all methods e.g. counselling, meditation
5. Jesus
 “No human being then must separate what God has joined together”

Remarriage: marrying another partner after a divorce

1. Roman Catholic
 Promises to God cannot be broken
  Catholics who do can’t take the Holy Communion
 Adultery, 3rd person in relationship
 Sermon on the Mount
 Annulment: marriage not legally valid, by the Church
2. Anglican
 Allowed though some vicars may refuse to perform the service
 Have determination for new marriage to be lifelong relationship?
 Divorced more than once?
3. Atheists
 Hurt people from previous marriage
 Children can’t adapt to new family e.g. reconstituted family
 Divorced husband / wife hurt

Importance of family
1. Christians
 Home is a holy place with God’s presence & loving relationships
 Bring children up in Christian faith
2. Atheists
 Care
 Support
 Teaching
 Shelter
 Identity

Types of family
1. Nuclear: parents & children living as a unit
2. Extended: extends beyond nuclear, living together
3. Reconstituted: children from previous marriages becoming one family when their
divorced parents marry each other
4. Homosexual parents / single parents
Roles in family
1. Parents
 Provide necessities
 Bring children up as Christians
 Make sure they are baptised & confirmed
2. Children
 Obey parents (10 commandments)
3. Homosexual parents / single parents

Help from Christian communities

1. Support family
4. Short-term childcare
5. Day nurseries, out-of-school care
6. Counselling for parenting skills
7. Short-term accommodation
2. Help families stay together
 Teach couples about marriage & family life
 Couples understand importance of what they are taking on
 Counselling
 Discussion groups

Contraception: a means of preventing a woman from becoming pregnant

 Artificial e.g. contraception pill, condoms
 Natural e.g. sex in less fertile times of the month
 1. Anglican
 Sexual love is essential for partners to express & strengthen their love
 Enables couples to enjoy sex
 Allows couples to take responsibility for the size of their family
2. Roman Catholics
 Artificial, interfere with natural law
 Intefere with God’s intentions for the couple
 Use natural family planning methods to limit size
 Goes against purpose of Christian marriage e.g. procreation
3. Atheists
 Making responsible choices
 Prevent overcrowding & poverty

Fertility treatment
1. Artificial Insemination by Husband: husband’s sperm to women’s uterus
 Agape
 God gave us knowledge & ability to help infertile
 Helping people who can’t conceive
 Jesus healed people
 Old Testament
 Having a baby is a gift, not a right
 Unnatural sex
2. Artificial Insemination by Donor: donor sperm to woman’s uterus
 Catholics
 Form of adultery, 3rd party into relationship
 Child not biologically from both parents
3. IVF: egg + sperm in test tube then uterus
 Catholics
 Number of eggs fertilised put back in mother
 Anglicans
 Up to 14 days
 Protestants
 Destroys spare fertilised embryos
 SANCTITY OF LIFE, life is sacred
 Life begins at contraception
4. Surrogacy: pregnant with someone else’s child
 Christians
 Child is genetically from parents
 Catholics
 Introducing 3rd party into relationship
 Playing God

Childlessness
1. Christians
 Focus on relationship with God
 Not ready to raise children
 God’s choice for couple not to have children
 Purpose is procreation
 Raise Christian children

Section D
Human Rights
Right to liberty: The right to be free, do lawful business without interference
Right to equality before the law: entitled to equal protection of the law without
discrimination
Freedom of Religion: Person’s right to follow or not follow a religion
Freedom of opinion: Person’s right to hold an opinion they choose
Freedom of speech: Freedom to speak freely without censorship

1. Christians
 All humans are related  everyone receives same Human Rights
 “Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human
beings”
 Jesus was concerned  went out of his way to help the rejected
 Good Samaritan
 Lepers, tax collectors
 Needed in order to preach their religion freely
 INDIVIDUAL: ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
 Speak out against colour discrimination
 ORGANISATION: ACAT
 Fight human rights abuse
2. Atheists
 Allow them to not follow a religion or they will be forced

Women’s role
Gender bias: Treating men / women more favourably
1. Traditional view
 Men in charge (leaders in family & society), women support men
 Jesus’ disciples were all men
 Eve was created as Adam’s companion
 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and
treat them with respect as the weaker partner”
2. Liberal view
 Men and women treated equally
 Bible was written ages ago in a male-dominated society
 Principles of equality apply to gender
 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are
all one in Christ Jesus”
 Unfair to limit people’s opportunities
3. Roman Catholics
 Equal but different
 “in perfect equality as human person; on the other, in their respective beings
as man and woman”
4. Atheists
 Physical disadvantage  sedentary jobs
 Women more intelligent
 Take care of children
 Men have been providers traditionally e.g. hunting
 Equal status, discrimination unfair

 Gained the right to vote, be educated, equal employment opportunities

 Equal Pay Act, 1970, illegal to discriminate in pay and conditions for the same job
 Sex Discrimination Act, 1975, unlawful to treat a person less favourably than a
member of the other sex in employment
 Church of England allow female vicars
 Catholic Church doesn’t allow
 Priest represents Jesus
  Bishops are descendants of Jesus’ apostles
 Pope is successor of Peter
Equality
1. Everyone is of equal value, different doesn’t mean worse
 Everyone was made in the image of God
2. Love
 Important to love & treat others well
3. Justice
 Bible shows importance of social justice regardless of race / position in society
4. Sanctity of life
 God gave humans a special status in life
 Everyone is sacred  treated accordingly
5. Not judging
 Only God has the authority to judge
 None of us are perfect

Disability: a physical / mental impairment that has substantial effect on a person’s abilities to
carry out daily activities
Disability bias: Treating the disabled less favourably than others
1. Christians
 Jesus’ healing ministry  view sick & disabled as equals in need of help than
pity
 The paralysed man
 Healed the blind, deaf, lepers
 Donate money / volunteer for charities that serve the disabled
 ORGANISATION: Livability (run care homes for rehabilitation for brain injury
sufferers)

 1970 Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act: provide for disabled
 1995 Disability Discrimination Act: in employment, education, services
 2010 Equality Act: unified all previous discrimination legislation

Multi-ethnic Society: many different races and cultures living in one society
 Experience different cultures  interesting
 More tolerant towards other cultures / ideas
 Might have things in common e.g. religion
 Over-populated  lack of jobs
 Lack of community cohesion & identity as a community
 Language barriers
 Racism: the belief that some races are superior than others
 1976 Race Relations Act: illegal to discriminate / use threatening & abusive
language in public that could cause racial hatred
 2001 Race Relations Amendment Act: person can challenge in court
 2007 Equality and Human Rights Commission: government body improve rights

Racial Harmony: People from different races living together peacefully and happily
1. Christians
 Jesus treated all people of different races equally
 Helps everyone despite their personal beliefs / identity
 Perfect example for humans
 Aligned himself with unpopular groups e.g. tax collectors
 God does not show favouritism
 God created all humans equally, same in his eyes
 Cares for all his believes despite differences
  Bible
 “From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the
whole earth”
 we all have the same origin
 Men of every nation are the same
 Church
 Shouldn’t be racist if following Jesus’ teachings (love)
 ORGANISATION: RESTORE — help refugees and asylum seekers
 Raise awareness, speak out for them
 Organise social activities
 INDIVIDUAL: Desmond Tutu
 Priests
 Encourage people to mingle, no discrimination
 Welcome families into society
 Read quotes from the Bible
 Interfaith dialogues

Multi-faith society: different religions living together in one society

1. Exclusivism (Evangelical): only Christianity has complete truth, avoiding people
following other religions
 Christians: believe that their religion is the only way to reach God
 “ ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and Earth. Go then, to all peoples
everywhere and make them my disciples’ ”
 Tell people to convert to Christianity
 Others have got the wrong approach  excluded from heaven
 Duty to tell others about Christianity
 Forcing them to change
 Offending other religions
2. Pluralism (Liberal): all religions are equal, no religion has whole truth
 Christians: all forms of religion will lead people to God
 Everyone is free to follow the religion that suits them best
 Religion is an accident of birth (Europe – Christianity)
 All religions are good, right to exist alongside each other
 “In my father’s house there are many rooms”
3. Inclusivism (Catholic): there’s truth in all religions, Christianity has complete truth,
other religions have partial truth
 Christians: all religions can help reach God but Christianity has the complete
answers
 Respect other religions
 Right things is to explain the Christian path to them
 If you practise the right things in another religion  might be saved

Interfaith relationships in practise

 Sharing places of worship
 Interfaith forums
 Promote understanding & cooperation between people of different faiths
 Multi-religion charities
 Global warming
 Both religions teach that humans should take care of earth
 Interdenominational churches
 No particular denomination
 Strives to incorporate different practises

Relationships between rich and poor

 1. Christians
 Charity
 Story of the rich young man (give all his money away)
 “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the
poor”
 A way of storing up riches in Heaven
 Compassion
 Duty to show agape
 People will be judged on how they treat others
 Parable of the Good Samaritan
 Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep”
 “Love one another as I have loved you”
 Equality
 All come from same roots  deserve same things
 Justice
 God is a lover of justice, followers are encouraged to do justice
 The unjust are condemned
 World’s resources are created for all people to share equally
ORGANISATION: ChristianAid (end poverty, strive for social justice & equality)
 Educate communities
 Climate justice, tax justice
 Provide disaster relief
2. Atheists
 Unfair for the rich to have luxuries when the poor lack essentials
 People are lucky to be rich (born into developed country)
 All wealth comes from God  show compassion to the poor
 The rich have worked hard for it & deserve to keep it
 Donating encourages some people to not work
 Nice if people choose to donate but not a duty
 Society as a whole have a duty to end poverty, not just rich

Religious Community
Religious texts & sources of authority
1. Bible
 Inspired by God = authority
 Has rules & teachings on how Christians should lead their lives
 E.g. 10 commandments (OT); sermon on the mount, parables (NT
 Source of authority for church leaders to pass on to worshippers
 Fundamentalist: contains Word of God  follow closely
 Liberal: inspired by God, written by humans  consult with modern
interpretation
 Conservatives: key teachings that can’t be changed; some fit to context
 Catholics: read during mass
 Anglican: processed through the church & read
 Sermon: reading & preaching by priest
 Instruction & education within denomination
 Daily reading
 Aid for meditation (concentrate on a particular part)
2. Church (people)
  Trained priests have studied the Bible & how Church interprets it
 Catholics: pope  infallible guidance  magisterium
 God speak through priests
3. Conscience
 Inner feeling that differentiates right from wrong
 Given by God for guidance
 “The Lord gave us mind and conscience”
 Universal agreement on good & bad
 God’s way of telling us to follow his plan
 Might direct them to do things other people don’t agree with
4. Situation ethics
 Base morals on the most loving to do
 The Golden Rule (Jesus): treat others the way you want to be treated
 Jesus “Love over law”
 You can make mistakes
 Church has more reliable teachings  ignoring Word of God

Founders & leaders

Baptism
 Jesus is like ordinary people
 Humility, baptised by cousin
 People follow his steps and get baptised
 God will forgive your sins if you believe in him
 Holy Trinity (God’s voice, dove, Jesus)
 Marks beginning of Jesus’ ministry
Temptations
 40 days & 40 nights in the wilderness
 turn stone into bread
 jump down from the temple – don’t put God to the test
 bow down and worship me – worship God only
 resisted temptation  example for humans
 Life isn’t meant to be easy
Last Supper
 Washed disciples’ feet  humility, teach them to serve others
 Instructed disciples to eat bread & wine in remembrance of him  sacrament
Death
 died for humans’ sins  saviour  humans can go to heaven
Resurrection
 God has eternal life
 More powerful than death
 Idea of life after death

Ministry of Healing: reward those who had faith & show divinity
 Paralysed man
 Show concern for the sick
 Loving in those in need
 Forgiveness of sins to those who believe in him
 Divine, can break laws of nature
  Man with evil spirit
 Jesus’ authority over evil
 If you believe and ask for help, you will receive it

Disciples
Discipleship: one who embraces & assists in spreading the Jesus’ teachings
 Wear sandals
 Stay in houses they are welcomed in
 Carry anything except a stick e.g. bread, money
 Spread the word of God
 “go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples”
 give people chance to renounce sin & be baptised
 Be prepared for hardship
 “he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”
 Priority is to help others
 Be humble & compassionate
 “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, he came to serve and
to give his life to redeem many people”
 The Widow’s Offering
INDIVIDUAL: MOTHER TERESA
 Mum’s examples of taking food, clothing, medicine to the poor
 Taught in a school for poorest families
 Set up school & home for dying people
 Set up Missionaries of Charity
 Spread the word
 Donations
 Homes for uncared e.g. lepers, sick, poor, orphans
 Jesus’ teaching of love & compassion, 2 great commandments
 Faith in god for guidance to help others
 Didn’t bring anything with her
 Don’t have to start big, be loving
10 commandments
Sermon on the mount
 Teaching on how to live moral life
 Behaviour of agape
Principle of love
 “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”
 “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”
 Agape: unconditional love
 Love over law

Worship and celebration

 Liturgical (Catholic)
 Formal, set pattern
 Services designed to stimulate sense e.g. incense
 Emphasis on ritual
 Baptism, Holy communion, Confirmation
 Sign of peace
  Non-Liturgical (Protestant)
 Emphasis on Word of God
 Quakers
 Sit in silence, God speaks to them

Places of Worship: church

 Focal point for Christian community
 Building for ceremonies / religious services e.g. marriage, baptism
 Place of calm and refuge
 Sense of awe & wonder (think about power & existence of God)

 Stained glass window

 Tell stories from the Bible for the illiterate
 Font
 Bowl of water for baptism
 Entrance  welcoming to the church
 Altar
 Focal point, congregation face altar
 Place for Holy Communion & candles
 Reminds people of Jesus’ death
 Jesus is light & guidance
 Congregation kneel  respected by worshippers, commitment
 Pulpit
o Raised stand where the priest preaches
 Lectern WITH EAGLE
 Bookstand to rest Bible
 Pews
 Long wooden benches for congregation

Higher Anglican Lower Anglican

Font at the entrance Font in the middle
Organ Piano, drum kit, keyboard, guitar
Jesus on crucifix  suffering Empty cross  Jesus conquered death
Many stained glass windows Words from Bible  no distraction

Roles of Christians
 Priest
 Visit prisons, elderly homes
 Bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to come to church
 Marriage, funeral, baptism services
 Preach, sermon
 Meet leaders or other faiths
 Laity
 Sing hymns, listen to sermon
 Go to church every Sunday
 Process Holy Communion down the aisle
 Collect donations
 Volunteer to do Bible reading
 Not needed, Word of God more important
Pilgrimage: a journey to a sacred place as an act of devotion
 See where Jesus had been (holy place)
 Experience surroundings  understand Bible teachings better
 Research prior to going
 Discuss with others  broaden knowledge of Jesus

1. Bethlehem
 Church of the nativity
 Jesus born into poverty
 Jesus was fully human
 Shepherd’s Fields
 God cares for ordinary people as well (share news with low
reputable people)
 An angel once appeared there
 Milk Grotto
 Mary spilt a drop of milk whilst nursing Jesus
2. Jerusalem
 Garden tomb
 Jesus’ burial site  holy place
 Understand how Jesus suffered to clear our sins
 Church of the Holy Sepulchre
 Site where Jesus rose from the dead
 Resurrection  divine & Son of God, power over death
 Holiest site in Christian world
 Via Dolorosa
 Jesus’ route to site of crucifixion after trial with Pilate
 Jesus suffered for us
 “walking with” him  his follower
 Garden of Gethsemane
 Where Jesus prayed before being persecuted
3. Lourdes
 The baths
 Filled with water from the spring
 Have healing properties
 Clear away sins
 Touch the Rock at the Grotto
 Solid foundation  real
 Site of Bernadette’s visions of Virgin Mary
 Blessed Sacrament Procession
 Reminds of Jesus’ sacrifice
 Bread and wine processed through
 Monstrance – giant lollipop stick
 Affirms real presence of Christ
 Need to see god’s loving nature
 God’s son is always with us
 Candlelit procession
 Jesus is the light of the world
Holy Communion
 Celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice
 Bread = broken body
 Wine = blood spilt
 Transubstantiation  Holy Spirit guidance
 Achieve salvation
 Removes sins
 Weekly celebration of Jesus
 Follow Jesus’ examples
 Jesus started this ritual
 Reminder for Christians to live like Jesus
 Renew your behaviour
 Give you new energy to follow Jesus  change behaviour
 Feel like the Holy Spirit is in you
 People can gather together
 Congregation celebrate together
 Unity of congregation

Mass
 Unite people in worship
 Readings from Bible about God’s teachings

Marriage
 Introduction
 Explain Christian beliefs of importance / seriousness of marriage
 gift from God; respect
 emphasise love, support and companionship in relationship
 Declaration
 Promises (love, comfort, protection, honour) in front of God and to
one another
 show presence of God
 idea that God is judging our behaviour
 promise God to remain loyal
 emphasise significant role of family and friends
 Vows
 marriage is lifelong or it means adultery because divorce not
acceptable
 “Till death us do part”
 Characteristics of Christian marriage
 “To love and to cherish”
 Rings
 Circular  never-ending love, faithfulness, eternity
 Physical reminder of marriage (faithfulness)
 God in the marriage to provide love and guidance
 Prayers & Bible readings
 Emphasize Christian beliefs about marriage and love
 Bible is the Word of God
Funerals
 Bible readings
  Jesus’ words
 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me
will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die”
 Death isn’t the end  eternal life with God
 “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed”
 Prayers
 Thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice  allow salvation
 Ask for comfort
 Hymns
 Remind people of their beliefs
 United & support each other
 Sermon
 Focuses on belief in life after death
 Reminder to thank God for person’s life
 Burial
 Body no longer needed, soul lives on
 Flowers = splendour, candles = Jesus is light and saviour

Christian festivals
 Christmas
 Incarnation, God becoming flesh / fully human
 Scenes of nativity put out
 Money raised for charity
 Gratitude for the life of Jesus
 Carol services to rejoice in the good news of Jesus’ birth
 Midnight mass to mark the beginning of Christmas
 Christingle service
o Orange = world
o Candle = Jesus is light
o Sweets = God’s gifts to humanity
 Exchange presents
o Emphasise Jesus’ teaching of love & kindness
 Family gathering
 Lent
 Reflection of Jesus’ 40 nights temptation
 Understand how Jesus felt
 Give up something  test of self-discipline
 Easter
 Palm Sunday
 People wave palm leaves & shout “hosanna” (save us)
 Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper
 Washes disciples’ feet  serving others
 Remind them to serve others first
 Inspire Christians to stand up for injustice (Jesus crucifixion was
unjust)
 Good Friday: death
 Example of love, God’s omnibenevolence (send Son to die)
 Willingly accepted punishment for peoples’ sins
 Proves that he is the Son of God
  Reminder of his suffering leading to salvation
 Easter Sunday: resurrection
 God has the power to raise people from the dead
 Death is not the end
 Jesus conquered death
 Divine

Sacrament= an outward sign of an inner change

Rite of passage= ceremony going from one stage to another