Demonstrate retrieval and deep understanding of Christian and Muslim teachings across Themes A & B. Answer knowledge questions, interpret scenarios, write extended responses.
Below are key facts and concepts from Lessons 1-5. Try to recall before revealing the answer.
Christian: Covenant with God; permanent; procreative and unitive.
Islamic: Contract (Nikkah); witnessed; regulated; more permissive on dissolution.
Christian: Sex within marriage only; Catholic tradition forbids contraception; Protestants accept it.
Islamic: Sex within marriage; mutual pleasure recognised; contraception generally permitted with consent.
Traditional: Condemned in both religions based on scripture.
Progressive: Both traditions have reinterpreters who emphasise love, consent, and inclusion.
Complementarianism: Equal value but different roles (traditional in both traditions).
Egalitarianism: Full equality and shared leadership (progressive position in both).
Ordination: Catholic/Orthodox: No female priests. Many Protestants: Ordain women fully.
Christian: Genesis accounts (literal or metaphorical); Imago Dei; humans created in God's image.
Islamic: Surah 21:30, 15:28-29; humans as Khalifah (vicegerent); Allah creates directly.
Science: Theistic evolution widely accepted; Big Bang compatible with creation theology.
Catholic: Life begins at conception; abortion always wrong.
Progressive Protestant: Personhood develops; early abortion may be permissible.
Islamic: Before 120 days (ensoulment): more permissible. After: forbidden except to save mother's life.
Both traditions: Active euthanasia forbidden. Palliative care permitted. Withdrawal of futile treatment increasingly accepted.
Christian: Heaven, Hell, Judgment; Resurrection of body; (Catholic: Purgatory).
Islamic: Jannah, Jahannam, Barzakh, Yawm al-Qiyamah (Day of Judgment).
Answer each question in 1-2 sentences, using specific references to scripture or Islamic sources.
Answer: Nikkah is a contractual marriage creating a legal bond for companionship, procreation, and spiritual partnership. Surah 30:21 describes it as creating "tranquility" between spouses.
Answer: Christian covenant emphasises an eternal, spiritual bond with God as witness and sacred permanence. Islamic Nikkah is a legal contract with specified conditions, potentially terminable by Talaq (divorce).
Answer: Progressive Christians argue Genesis is theological (teaching God's creative power and human Imago Dei), not scientific; the "days" may represent ages; evolution could be God's mechanism.
Answer: Ensoulment is when Allah breathes the soul (Ruh) into the body at 120 days. This divides the pregnancy into stages: before ensoulment, abortion is more permissible; after, it is forbidden except for mother's life.
Answer: Catholicism forbids artificial contraception; every act must be open to procreation. Protestants generally accept contraception as responsible family planning and stewardship of resources.
Answer the following scenario-based questions in 2-3 paragraphs. Consider both Christian and Islamic perspectives and acknowledge diversity within traditions.
Answer: Catholic: Life at conception; direct abortion forbidden (but indirect abortion—treating mother's condition without intending fetal death—may be permitted). Protestant: Many would permit abortion to save mother's life; pregnancy is still early (before viability). Islamic: Before 120 days, preservation of mother's life and health is paramount; abortion would be permitted. All traditions prioritise mother's life, but disagree on personhood from conception.
Answer: Christian: Palliative care is mandatory; withdrawal of futile life support is increasingly accepted (allowing natural death rather than prolonging suffering). Islamic: Prohibited from intentionally killing; however, withdrawing artificial support when there is no hope of recovery is increasingly accepted in Islamic bioethics. Both traditions distinguish between allowing death and causing death.
Choose one question and write 3-4 paragraphs. Use specific scriptural references, acknowledge multiple viewpoints within traditions, and explain your reasoning clearly.
Answer: This is for you to write. Consider: Galatians 3:28 vs. 1 Timothy 2:12 in Christianity; Surah 4:34 vs. Surah 4:19 and Shura in Islam; complementarian vs. egalitarian debate; women's ordination; feminist theology; real-world practice vs. theological ideals. Reference specific scriptural passages and acknowledge that some Christians and Muslims have successfully integrated equality with traditional faith.
Answer: This is for you to write. Consider: the principle of sanctity of life as foundational; how different traditions prioritise it differently; double effect doctrine; ensoulment; stages of development; withdrawal vs. active killing; the role of autonomy and compassion; how science changes the ethical landscape.
Choose one question below and write a full response (400-500 words). This is your opportunity to demonstrate deep understanding, nuance, and the ability to engage with real-world ethical complexity.
Structure: Introduction (thesis), at least 2-3 body paragraphs with evidence, conclusion.
Evidence: Use scripture, Hadith, theological teachings, and real-world examples.
Nuance: Acknowledge diversity within traditions and legitimate disagreement.
Clarity: Explain concepts clearly; define terms (e.g., ensoulment, theistic evolution); don't assume the reader knows specialist vocabulary.
Rate yourself on the following (1=not confident, 5=very confident):
1. Human Dignity and Sanctity: Both Christianity and Islam affirm that human life, sexuality, and relationships are sacred and reflect divine purpose.
2. Creation and Purpose: Humans are created in God's image (Christian Imago Dei) or as vicegerents (Islamic Khalifah); we have a divine calling to love, procreate, and maintain justice.
3. Diversity Within Traditions: Neither Christianity nor Islam is monolithic. Complementarians and egalitarians, traditionalists and progressives, conservatives and liberals grapple with these topics differently.
4. Scriptural Interpretation: How we read Genesis, the letters of Paul, and Qur'anic Surahs shapes our ethics. Context, history, and theological tradition all influence interpretation.
5. Science and Faith: Modern science (evolutionary biology, neuroscience, medicine) challenges and reshapes religious teaching without necessarily contradicting core theological principles.
Paper 2 tests knowledge of two religions in depth. For Unit 27, be prepared to:
Year 11 continues with further themes in Religion and Society, Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion. Consolidate your understanding of Christianity and Islam before moving forward.