AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES A - THEMES 12 MARK EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ALL ANSWERS

Aqa Gcse Religious Studies A - Themes n n n n n n




12 Mark Exam Questions With All n n n n n n




Answers n




A - 'Gender discrimination is always wrong.' (12 marks) - correct answer-AGREE:
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- Humans created by God, all are equal before God
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- Prejudiced attitudes cause people to act in UNLOVING way and potentially
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discriminatory ways-
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- Discrimination causes HURT and upset and so not a loving thing to do
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- Discrimination causes INJUSTICE
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- Discrimination prevents a person fulfilling their potential and stops them becoming the
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person God wants them to be etc.
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- "There is neither Jew nor Gentile [non-Jew], neither slave nor free, nor is there male or
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female for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Christianity)
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- "Love your neighbour as yourself." (Christianity)
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- The Five Pillars apply to all equally / Hajj, everyone is equal in dress and action
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DISAGREE:
- Some religious believers see gender differences as the result of different roles rather
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than discrimination
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- Much religious teaching supports differences in ROLES and it cannot be explained
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away just because it is old and inconvenient, men and women's roles are
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complementary
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- Some may support POSITIVE DISCRIMATION in PROMOTING EQUALITY for
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example within the workplace, allowing women priests etc.
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- all religious leaders are men / Women do not pray at thefront of the mosque
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A - 'It is wrong to disapprove of homosexual relationships.' (12 marks) - correct answer-
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AGREE:
- Homosexual (same-sex) relationships exhibit the same characteristics found in other
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relationships and marriages, love, care, trust, faithfulness etc.
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- 'God is love' so surely if any couple love each other that has to come from God
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- How can something God created be wrong?
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- LAW in the UK permits same-sex marriages so religious believers should not be so
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critical etc.
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,- CATHOLIC Church teaches that they are NOT SINFUL, but should remain CHASTE
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(not have sex) to avoid sinful acts
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- LIBERAL Christians accept homosexual relationships that are LOVING and
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COMMITTED
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- the Ummah promotes EQUALITY, therefore surely it's ok?
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DISAGREE:
- they're AGAINST THE NATURAL LAW and can't "become one flesh"
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- Some religious teachings condemn same-sex relationships; religious authority cannot
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be explained away because it is seen as old and inconvenient
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- In much religious thought there is great emphasis on having children, this cannot occur
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biologically between a same-sex couple without a surrogate or donor
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- Some people believe that human sexuality is a choice made by the individual
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- Much traditional religious teaching is focused on the continuation of family and
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communities hence the focus on heterosexuality, etc.
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- the Bible says sex between two men is forbidden and Paul taught that the SEXUALLY
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IMMORAL, including "men who have sex with men" will not inherit the kingdom of God
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- Muslims believe the Qur'an and Hadith teach that homosexuality is AGAINST GOD'S
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WILL and forbidden
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- "Must you, unlike [other] people, lust after males and abandon the wives that God has
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created for you? You are exceeding all bounds." (Islam)
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A - 'For religious believers, sexual relationships should take place only within marriage.'
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(12 marks) - correct answer-AGREE:
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- Most religions traditionally teach that all sex outside of marriage as wrong
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- Sex is seen as an expression of what should be a deep, life-long commitment and loving
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union
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- Sex is seen by many religious believers as a gift of God
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- Sex is a complete self-giving of a husband and wife to each other
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- ADULTERY is a betrayal of trust and breaks the marriage contract. Adultery CAUSES
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PAIN between couples
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- Married couples may provide a more stable environment for raising children
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- Sex outside of marriage may have unwanted consequences
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- Sex outside of marriage may undermine self-respect
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- "Flee from sexual immorality ... Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the
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Holy Spirit..."
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(Christianity)
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- "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they
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become one flesh." (Christianity)
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- "Do not go anywhere near adultery; it is an outrage and an evil path." (Islam)
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DISAGREE:
- If the couple are in a long-term relationship, why should they not be able to show their
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love for each other?
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- Couple may be HOMOSEXUAL and not able to have a religious marriage ceremony
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- EXPENSE of WEDDING may mean couple cannot afford to marry
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- There is a difference between a committed faithful relationship and casual sex
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- Given FREE WILL so able to make own decisions
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- Many couples are not married and provide a stable environment for raising children
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, A - 'Divorce is never right.' (12 marks) - correct answer-AGREE:
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- religious couples have made VOWS to be faithful/to stay together no matter what the
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circumstances/e.g. "till death do us part"/ bring up children together/ it is wrong to break
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those vows
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- CHILDREN ARE BADLY AFFECTED by divorce/parents have a duty to children
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- marriage is a contract/SACRAMENT/sacred bond. Divorce goes against religious
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teaching.
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- "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against
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her..." (Christianity)
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- "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Christianity)
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- CATHOLIC Church teaches that marriage is a SACRAMENT that is PERMANENT and
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can't be dissolved between two baptised people by civil divorce
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- Qur'an guarantees rights of both men and women to divorce, but it is "HATEFUL TO
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ALLAH" - Hadith, therefore should TRY TO RECONCILE
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DISAGREE:
- some religious believers, as well as many atheists, would argue that in cases of ABUSE,
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the harm to children is greater than the harm done by separation e.g. continual
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FIGHTING disrupts the peace of family life, drug addiction, alcohol problems and
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infidelity can be detrimental to family life
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- humans make mistakes, marriages fail, and for some religious believers, it is more
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compassionate to allow divorce when people have irreconcilable differences and the
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MOST COMPASSIONATE act is the right act
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- atheists do not believe that marriage vows are made before God, so they would
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generally support a couple's right to divorce, decide for themselves about the future of
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their relationship. DIVORCE IS LEGAL so people are allowed to divorce
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- sometimes divorce is the LESSER OF TWO EVILS. think the Church should REFLECT
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GOD'S FORGIVENESS and allow couples a second chance for happiness (Christianity)
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- "If a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity (UNFAITHFULNESS) he
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involves her in adultery." -
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A - 'Men and women should not have equal rights.' (12 marks) - correct answer-AGREE:
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- women do not have equal rights in practice even if they have them in law/women's PAY
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IS BELOW that of men's pay for similar jobs/many areas of employment are still
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considered inappropriate for women/top levels of management have fewer women than
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men/government/financial services run mainly by men, etc.
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- some TRADITIONAL religious believers think women's place is in the home looking
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after children/looking after the household/ educating children in the faith/ these
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expectations may restrict choices for women who have family responsibilities/ some
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religions restrict the rights of women to initiate divorce, etc.
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- women face DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE/ unfair interviews/ sexual
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harassment by colleagues/ lack of promotion/ SEXUAL STEROTYPING etc.
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- some traditional Christians seemen as head of the family (women's role is to care for
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home and children)
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DISAGREE:
- religions teach that men and women are equal before God
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- legislation has given women equal rights/ e.g. Sex Discrimination Act 1975/ Equal Pay
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Act 1970/ Equality Act 2010/ regarding EQUAL PAY and conditions of employment for
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men and women doing the same types of work, etc.
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