1. Section 4 - Community cohesion
1.4 Religion and Community Cohesion
25 June, 2018
C/W
Section 4 - Community cohesion
LO: To revise all the key components of the community cohesion unit.

2. Unit 4 – Religion and Community Cohesion
Changing roles of men and women;
Christian attitudes towards equal rights for women;
Muslim attitudes towards equal rights for women;
Multi-ethnic Britain;
Government action for community cohesion;
Why Christians promote racial harmony?;
Why Muslims promote racial harmony?;
Multi-faith Britain;
Issues raised for religion and families by multi-faith society;
Religions promoting social cohesion and
The media and social cohesion (Bend it like Beckham).

3. Task: Match the key word to the correct definition
Task: Match the key word to the correct definition. (These are worth 2 marks to you in each part a question.)
A) A common vision and shared sense of belonging for all groups in society.
1) Religious Pluralism
B) Many different religions living together in one society.
2) Multi-race society
C) Accepting all religions as having an equal right to co-exist.
3) Discrimination
D) Many different races and cultures living together in one society.
4) Racism
Answers: 1C, 2D, 3E, 4F, 5A, 6B
E) Treating people less favourably because of their ethnicity or gender.
5) Community Cohesion
F) The belief that some races are superior to others.
6) Multi-faith society

4. Why is community cohesion necessary?
The UK is now multi-race and multi-faith so all groups need to work together to keep harmony in society. As well as this attitudes towards gender has also changed.
Multi-Race
Multi-Faith
Attitudes towards women
Why is the UK multi-ethnic - problems and benefits?
Why Christians promote racial harmony?
Why Muslims promote racial harmony?
Why is the UK multi-faith - benefits and challenges?
Issues raised by multi-faith society.
Why and how have attitudes towards gender changed?
Christian attitudes towards equal rights for women in religion.
Muslim attitudes for equal rights for women.

5. Changing attitudes to gender roles in the UK Possible exam questions:
Do you think attitudes towards gender roles have changed? [4]
Explain how gender roles have changed in the UK [8]
HOW roles have changed
WHY roles have changed
Women can vote and become MP’s
Changes in the law
Women can do any job they want.
Changes in the law and the effect of wars.
Women are better educated.
Effective contraception and equal rights laws
Men are more involved in childcare and home-life.
Changes in attitudes.

6. Christian attitudes to the roles of men and women in religion
Possible question:
Explain why some Christians allow men and women to have an equal role in religion. [8]
Reasons to ACCEPT women as Church leaders
Jesus talked to men and women.
Women were leaders in the early church.
Jesus said we should show love to everyone.
The Bible says ‘God created men and women in his own image.’
Possible question:
Explain Christian attitudes towards the role of men and women in religion. [8]
Reasons NOT to accept women as Church leaders
The Bible says women should obey their husbands.
The Bible says women should be silent in Church.
All of Jesus’ disciples were men.
Jesus left the Church in the care of St Peter and he was a man.

7. Muslim attitudes to equal rights for women Possible questions: Choose a religion other than Christianity and explain why they allow equal roles for men and women in religion. [8]
Traditional roles:
Equal, but different roles
Women – bring up children as good Muslims, run Muslim home
Men – provide for family, lead in religion, ensure children brought up good Muslims
BECAUSE
Qur’an teaches
God gave men stronger physique to provide.
Women created to have children.
Modern roles:
Men and women equal roles in religion and education.
Women should have career – but role as mother takes priority.
Very few accept women imams
BECAUSE
Qur’an teaches men and women equal in religion and education
Muhammad encouraged both men and women to worship at the mosque

8. Multi ETHNIC society
Key word: Many different RACES/CULTURES living together in one society
Problems in a multi-ethnic society:
Ignorance – being uneducated or uninformed about others.
Racism – the belief that some ethnic groups are superior to others.
Discrimination – treating someone differently because of previously held prejudices.
Persecution – as a result of racism, many people from ethnic minorities have had their humans rights abused because of their nationality or colour of their skin.
Benefits of a multi-ethnic society:
Encourages racial harmony – helps people of different races and cultures understand each other.
Gives wider variety of music, food, clothes and culture.
Brings new people with fresh ideas.
Less violence.

9. Explain why Christians will promote racial harmony. [8]
Racial harmony – Different races and colours living together happily.
Teaching of Jesus - Parable of the Good Samaritan – The man helped the Samaritan even though they were of different races.
Example of Jesus – he treated a Samaritan woman as his equal and a black African help carry his cross
Bible teaches that everyone is equal
All Christian churches have issued statements against racism

10. Choose a religion other than Christianity and explain why they promote racial harmony. [8]
Qur’an teaches all races are equal in the eyes of God
Muhammad said every Muslim is a brother to every other Muslim so should be no racism among Muslims
Muhammad led by example – had a black African as first prayer caller.
All Muslims are part of the ummah and come from every race in the world, who are united by their faith, regardless of race or colour.

11. Multi FAITH society BENEFITS Understanding and tolerance
Key word: Many different RELIGIONS living together in one society
BENEFITS
Understanding and tolerance
Practice own religion more seriously
Better understanding of different beliefs.
Bring religious ideas out for people to think about
PROBLEMS for RELIGION
Conversion
Mixed faith marriages - Bringing up children
Beliefs of some may be ignored.
Examples of religious persecution – e.g Protestants and Catholics in Ireland.

12. Issues raised for religion by a multi-faith
Conversion
There can be issues where one group of religious believers try to convert another to their faith, which could cause conflict.
Interfaith marriage
When two members of different religions get married. This could cause conflict between families with different beliefs and values.
Raising children.
Raising children within interfaith marriages – both parents may want their children raised within their own faith. A mixture of beliefs could lead to confusion.

13. “D) Christians should always promote racial harmony”
Which is the better answer? Why?
i) Yes, I think that Christians should always promote racial harmony because they should treat everyone equally.
Statement
i) Yes, I think that Christians should always promote racial harmony because Jesus said that you should love your neighbour.
The second answer is better because it includes a reason, although this answer would only score 1 out of 3 – encourage students to complete the answer.
Reason

14. Statement or reason? Statement Reason
b) Do you think multi-faith societies cause problems for religious families?
1. I think that a multi-faith society is a problem because there are lots of different religions in a multi-faith society.
2. I think that a multi-faith society could cause problems because it may cause conflict if people try to convert other people to their religion, if they don’t want to be converted.
Statement
In reason 2, the reason is ‘there may be conflict if people try to convert other people’, the development is ‘if they don’t want to be converted’.
Reason

15. Statement or reason? Reason Statement
b) Do you think the media is biased against religion?
1. Yes, I think that the media is biased against religion because often when reporting news stories involving religion they do not give the religious opinion the same airtime as the non-religious opinion.
2. Yes, I do think that the media is biased against religion because religion isn’t talked about in the media.
Reason
In reason 1, the reason is ‘ religious opinion is not given as much airtime as non-religious opinion’. This is not developed.
Statement

16. Statement or reason? Reason Statement
b) Do you think religions can work together to help community cohesion?
1. Yes, I think that religions can and should work together to promote community cohesion because they all have similar beliefs about all people being made by God, and so should be welcoming to all.
2. Yes, I think religions can work together to help community cohesion because they all have similar beliefs.
Reason
In one the reason is ‘being made by God’ the development is ‘so should be welcoming to all’.
Statement