1. GCSE Religious Studies
MODEL ANSWERS 2011
Unit Religion, Rights
and Responsibilities

2. Section 1: Rights and Responsibilities
a) What is meant by social change? (2)
b) Should everybody’s human rights be protected? (4)
Give two reasons for your point of view.
*c) Explain why some Christians believe they should follow
their conscience when making moral decisions (8)
d) “No Christian should agree with cloning.”
In your answer you should refer to Christianity.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you (3)

3. 1) (a) What is social change? (2)
The way in which society has changed or is changing. 3

4. (b) Should everybody’s human rights be protected? (4)
Give two reasons for your point of view.
Agreeing with the statement.
All in God’s image
Jesus protected human rights
United Nations declaration 4

5. (b) Should everybody’s human rights be protected? (4)
REASON
EXPLAIN
(b) Should everybody’s human rights be protected? (4)
Give two reasons for your point of view.
I believe that everybody’s human rights should be protected because as a Christian, I believe ‘we’re all made in God’s image’ and therefore we should protect everyone’s human rights and be treated equally. Also I believe that everyone’s human rights should be protected because Jesus protected peoples’ human rights, for example when he stood up for Mary Magdalene whose human rights were being abused and I think we should all follow his teachings and protect human rights. Finally, I believe everyone’s human rights should be protected because everyone should be entitled to the same rights and freedoms no matter who they are or where they live. The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights states that all humans should be treated equally. 5

6. *c) Explain why some Christians believe they should follow
their conscience when making moral decisions (8)
Conscience is “Word of God”
Advice of St Thomas Aquinas
More personal to them and God.
“Let him without sin cast the first stone” – Jesus expects use of conscience 6

7. REASON
EXPLAIN
*c) Explain why some Christians believe they should follow their conscience when making moral decisions (8)
Some Christians believe they should follow their conscience when making moral decisions because they believe that your conscience is the word of God which can help you to make moral decisions. Also, some Christians believe they should follow their conscience when making moral decisions because Thomas Aquinas, a Christian leader told us that we should follow our conscience to do the right thing. Thirdly, some Christians believe that they should follow their conscience when making moral decisions because it is more personal to them than just following what it says in the Bible. In addition Christians believe it is right to follow your conscience when making moral decisions because Jesus often implied that people should use their conscience and made them think about what they should do. For example, when he saved the prostitute by saying ‘let him who is without sin cast the first stone’. He let people use their conscience to do the right thing. 7

8. (d) “No Christian should agree with cloning.” (6)
God gave scientific knowledge to use
Cure disease – like Jesus
Life better for next generation
Interfering with God’s creation
Long term consequences unknown
Should not try to make perfect world – only God is perfect 8

9. REASON EXPLAIN (d) “No Christian should agree with cloning.”
(i) I disagree with the statement that ‘no Christian should agree with cloning’ because I believe that God gave us the scientific knowledge to create cloning therefore we should put it to good use. Also I disagree because cloning can help lead to a cure for diseases and also Jesus was a healer, cloning is acceptable. Finally, I disagree with this statement because cloning can lead to helping life in the long term and making it better for the next generation which is what God wants Christians to do.
(ii) However, other Christians will agree with this statement because they believe that cloning is playing God and that humans should not interfere with His creation. Also, Christians agree with this statement because we do not know the long term consequences of cloning and therefore we should not risk it. For example, “Dolly” the sheep died prematurely and had health problems. Finally, Christians believe that they should not agree with cloning because we should not try to make the world perfect because only God is perfect. 9

10. GCSE Religious Studies
MODEL ANSWERS 2011
Unit 8.2
Religion, Environment
and Medical Issues

11. Section Two: Environment and Medical Issues
3a) Give two examples of organs that can be donated (2)
b) Do you think more should be done to find the answers to
pollution?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
*c) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why
Some of its followers agree with infertility treatment and some do not (8)
d) “Religious people should do more than anyone else to
protect the environment.”
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3) 11

12. 3a) Give two examples of organs that can be donated. (2)
Two organs that can be donated are the heart and kidneys. 12

13. b) Do you think more should be done to find the answers to pollution?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
Agreeing with the statement.
Spoiling the environment
Preserve for future generations 13

14. b) Do you think more should be done to find the answers to pollution?
REASON
EXPLAIN
b) Do you think more should be done to find the answers to
pollution?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
I think that more should be done to find the answers to pollution because pollution is spoiling the environment in which humans and animals live. It is killing trees, animals, plants and many other living things. It is not fair that humans, just one species, are spoiling the earth for all of earth’s inhabitants. Another reason that more should be done is because we need to preserve the planet for future generations. We need to stop polluting the earth and try to correct the pollution that has already occurred otherwise the planet will be seriously damaged for future generations. 14

15. *c) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why
Some of its followers agree with infertility treatment and some do not (8)
Islam – family life important
Islam - Foetus not a life until 14 days, so can destroy extras
Islam – no donors.
Islam – Allah’s will to be infertile 15

16. *c) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why
REASON
EXPLAIN
*c) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why
Some of its followers agree with infertility treatment and some do not (8)
In Islam, some Muslims agree with infertility treatment and some do not. Some Muslims believe that infertility treatments are right because family life is a very important part of every Muslim’s life and if technology can be used to bring about a family, then it should be used. They believe that every Muslim deserves a family life and that they should be able to use infertility treatments. Also, some Muslims believe that using In vitro fertilisation is right because even though some embryos are not used and then disposed of, it is all right because they believe that the embryos are not foetuses until after fourteen days. However, although some Muslims permit infertility treatments, they do not allow the use of donors. This is because it would deny the child the right to know its biological parents. It would also be like adopting a child which Islam does not allow. On the other hand, some Muslims totally disagree with infertility treatment because they believe that if Allah made you infertile, then that is the way you were meant to be and you should not try to change that. You should just accept it and not use infertility treatments to allow you to have children. 16

17. d) “Religious people should do more than anyone else to
protect the environment.”
Islam – disrespecting Allah
Environmental groups
Judgement Day.
Not just for religious people to do
Non-religious people want to live in a nice world
Everyone equal with equal responsibility to care 17

18. d) “Religious people should do more than anyone else to
REASON
EXPLAIN
d) “Religious people should do more than anyone else to
protect the environment.” (6)
(i) I do agree with the statement. One reason I agree is because Allah created the world so if Muslims do not look after it, it is like disrespecting Allah. Muslims would agree with this because Allah is omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent. Another reason I agree with the statement is because of conservation groups. Groups like “A Rocha” and “Wisdom of Nature”, take pride in looking after the environment. This means that more religious people would want to do the same. Christians and Muslims would care because God/Allah will judge them on Judgement Day based on their actions.
(ii) However, some people might disagree because it is not morally right for only some people to look after the environment while others ignore it. This means that everyone should do their part. Non-religious people would care about this because they would still want the world to be a nice place to live in. Another reason that some people might disagree is because everyone is equal therefore it is everyone’s duty to look after the planet. Religious people would agree with this because in the Bible/Qur’an, God/Allah said that everyone is equal. 18

19. GCSE Religious Studies
MODEL ANSWERS 2011
Unit 8.3
Religion – Peace &
Conflict
USA
Russia UK
China
France
India
Pakistan
Israel ?

20. Section Three: Peace and Conflict
5a) What does the word respect mean? (2)
b) Do you think bullies should always be excluded from school?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
*c) Explain why wars happen, using examples from at least
one current conflict (8)
d) “The United Nations has done more to encourage world
peace than religion has.”
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3) 20

21. 5) (a) What does the word respect mean? (2)
The word respect means taking into consideration someone’s feelings and treating them equally and fairly as you would like yourself to be treated. 21

22. (b) Do you think bullies should always be excluded from school?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
Agreeing with the statement.
Isolation for verbal abuse (Reform)
Exclusion for serious harm (Deterrence) 22

23. b) Do you think bullies should always be excluded from school?
REASON
EXPLAIN
b) Do you think bullies should always be excluded from school?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
I partially agree that bullies should be excluded from school depending on the severity of the situation. If it is just ‘name calling’ and verbal abuse which can be very harmful to a person’s well-being, then isolation would be good so that the bully could have time to reflect on his/her actions and change. But if the bullying reaches a serious level, then exclusion must happen for the safety and well-being of the victim. These punishments can often reform a person or put them off doing things like this (deterrence). 23

24. Religion and ethnicity - Kosovo Power and control - Germany
*c) Explain why wars happen, using examples from at least
one current conflict (8)
Religion and ethnicity - Kosovo
Power and control - Germany
Stop a dictator – Saddam Hussein
Take natural resources 24

25. REASON
EXPLAIN
*c) Explain why wars happen, using examples from at least
one current conflict (8)
Wars happen for many different reasons. One of which is religion and ethnicity. Wars since the beginning of time have been over religion and ethnicity. For example, the “Kosovo Conflict”, the genocide in places such as the Congo and Algeria. Wars also start because of power and land. Countries invade other countries to take control of them and therefore gain more power. An example of this was the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Germany in the Second World War and China invading Tibet. Wars can be caused to stop a dictator or tyrant from terrorising his own people. For example the Second Gulf War (Saddam Hussein) or the conflict in Libya (Colonel Gaddafi). Finally, wars can be caused by the lack of enough natural resources and many future wars will be to do with this as resources become more scarce and in demand. 25

26. Many wars have religious causes Islam defends faith
d) “The United Nations has done more to encourage world
peace than religion has.”
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3)
Many wars have religious causes
Islam defends faith
Christianity – loving thing to do to save people – “Just War”
Religion calls for peace
“Love your enemy” - Jesus
Golden Rule 26

27. REASON
EXPLAIN
(d) “The United Nations has done more to encourage world
peace than religion has.” (6)
(i) I do agree that the United Nations has done more to promote world peace than religion has because a lot of wars are fought for religious reasons. For example, many Muslims would feel that Allah would want them to defend Islam against its enemies. In Christianity, it may be regarded as the most loving thing to do. In both these religions, there is history of violence or declaration of war in the name of their God. Unfortunately, some of them take literally to this today. In the Bible it is written “The man who sheds the blood of another man, by man his blood shall be shed.”
(ii) Some people may disagree with me because they feel that the amount of peace-keeping teaching in their religion would cancel this out. For example, Jesus always taught people to “love your enemy” and to keep the ‘Golden Rule’. They may also disagree because if they feel a war is ‘just’ then it should be fought. 27

28. GCSE Religious Studies
MODEL ANSWERS
2011
Unit 8.4
Religion – Crime &
Punishment

29. Section Four: Crime and Punishment
7 a) What is meant by addiction? (2)
b) Do you think punishment changes people’s behaviour?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
*c) Explain why some non-religious people agree with capital
punishment and some do not (8)
d) “Christians should never drink alcohol.”
In your answer you should refer to Christianity.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3) 29

30. a) What is meant by addiction? (2)
Addiction is the recurring compulsion to engage in an activity regardless of its bad effects or consequences. 30

31. b) Do you think punishment changes people’s behaviour?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
Agreeing with the statement.
Harsh punishment - deterrence
Education - reforms
Community service - reparation 31

32. b) Do you think punishment changes people’s behaviour?
REASON
EXPLAIN
b) Do you think punishment changes people’s behaviour?
Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
I believe that punishment does change people’s behaviour. I think that harsh punishment such as the death penalty changes people’s behaviour because it puts people off committing crimes and makes them think twice before committing an offence. Also, I think punishment can change people’s behaviour by reforming them. This is when a punishment changes the criminal’s behaviour through education and training and this results in less crime being committed. Also, I think that punishments such as public services and making people work for society can change people’s behaviour because it allows them to give back to society and helps them to think about what they have done and change for the better. 32

33. *c) Explain why some non-religious people agree with capital
punishment and some do not (8)
Deterrent
Takes dangerous people out of society
Non-religious people believe “life for a life”
Violence makes you as bad
Life in prison better deterrent 33

34. *c) Explain why some non-religious people agree with capital
REASON
EXPLAIN
*c) Explain why some non-religious people agree with capital
punishment and some do not (8)
Some non-religious people agree with capital punishment because they believe it is a good deterrent and puts other criminals off committing crime. Secondly some non-religious people will agree with capital punishment because it takes a dangerous person out of society and also stops criminals from re-offending. In addition non-religious people agree with the death penalty because they believe a life for a life is fair and also they believe that it creates a sense of closure for the victim’s family. However, other non-religious people disagree with the death penalty because they believe that fighting violence with violence is not right and only results you being as bad as they are. Also, non-religious people will disagree with the death penalty because they believe that life in prison is a better deterrent because more people attempt suicide in prison. In addition, non-religious people disagree with the death penalty because a United Nations survey in 1966 found no evidence that the death penalty was a deterrent. Finally, non-religious people disagree with the death penalty because it is barbaric and results in a brutal society. 34

35. d) “Christians should never drink alcohol.”
In your answer you should refer to Christianity.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3)
Jesus drank wine
Miracle at Cana – water into wine to celebrate
Wine used in Communion during Mass
St Paul said, “Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” – don’t abuse it
Methodist conference – Christians should do everything responsibly. 35

36. d) “Christians should never drink alcohol.” (6)
REASON
EXPLAIN
d) “Christians should never drink alcohol.” (6)
(i) I disagree with this statement and believe that Christians should drink alcohol because Jesus drank alcohol because he was a Jew and welcomed every Sabbath with wine. Secondly, I believe that Christians should drink alcohol because Jesus agrees with alcohol because at the Wedding Feast at Cana, he turned water into wine which shows he permits us to drink alcohol. Finally I disagree because at the Last Supper, Jesus drank wine and told his disciples to remember him by drinking wine, ‘take this and drink it’. This shows Christians that Jesus allows them to drink wine which is also why Catholics and Anglicans use wine at Holy Communion.
(ii) However, other Christians will agree that ‘Christians should never drink alcohol’ because St. Paul said ‘our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit’ therefore we should not damage them. Also, Christians believe they should not drink alcohol because at the Methodist Conference they said, ‘A Christian’s faith teaches him to do everything responsibly.’ 36