Sixth formers preparing presentations for this term's work could find the following links helpful. Remember that religion is quite a controversial subject, so some links might be biased, and I am not responsible for the contents of any links, since I've not had time to check them out.
Wiki Definition of a Sect
Religious Tolerance
Religions and Cults ... one point of view and long list!
Yahoo list of links to different religious groups
Wiki Definition of a Cult
And in general, looking up something specific on Google always helps!
I look forward to seeing your presentations. And to discovering what activities you have planned for us!
Monday, 8 January 2007
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Virtue Ethics Essays
Here is a concept map for Virtue Ethics. You can make your own one while reading through your notes. I will make photocopies of this one for you on which you can add extra notes.
Natural Law Essays
Here is a concept map looking at St Thomas Aquinas' Natural Law theory. AS students will need to know about this for their Foundation paper next week ...
Cry, The Beloved Country
I came across this passage in the book, "Cry, The Beloved Country" by Alan Paton. It was written in 1948, and is set in South Africa. It is an excellent book, which I recommend. However, the passage I am about to quote reminded me of one of the GCSE questions, "Outline the problem of evil and suffering in Christianity" - or, more particularly, explain a Christian response to this problem.
"I have never thought a Christian should be free of suffering, umfundisi. For our Lord suffered. And I come to believe that He suffered, not to save us from suffering, but to teach us how to bear suffering. For He knew that there is no life without suffering."
"I have never thought a Christian should be free of suffering, umfundisi. For our Lord suffered. And I come to believe that He suffered, not to save us from suffering, but to teach us how to bear suffering. For He knew that there is no life without suffering."
Wednesday, 3 January 2007
St Vincent de Paul Society
So far, most Year 11s have written about CAFOD in their mock exam, rather than the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP). Since the question was asking about Catholic organisations that help relieve poverty in the UK, you should have written about SVP.
Click on this link to find out more about this organisation:
http://www.svp.org.uk/
Click on this link to find out more about this organisation:
http://www.svp.org.uk/
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
GCSE: Believing in God
Here are the questions you were asked in your mock exam:
1. a) What is conversion? (2)
b) Outline an argument got God's existence based on causation. (6)
c) Explain how the presence of religion in the world can lead to, or support, belief in God. (8)
d) "A religious upbringing brainwashes people into believing in God."
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. In your answer, you should refer to Catholic Christianity. (4)
2. a) What does omnipotent mean? (2)
b) What is the problem of evil and suffering for people who believe in God? (6)
c) Explain, with examples, how having a religious experience can lead to, or support, belief in God. (8)
d) "Considering the evidence, everyone should be agnostic."
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)
Which set of questions did you choose? How did you go about choosing which questions to answer? Remember, you can only answer one set, you can't mix and match.
Personally, I would have gone for question 2, since I would find gaining 6 marks on the argument for God's existence based on causation harder than if the question was asking about the Argument from Design. Quite a number of you did describe the Design Argument in your answer, thus losing marks. I would also have found it a bit harder to gain 8 marks explaining how the presence of religion in the world can lead to, or support, belief in God, where it is necessary to look at some of the similarities found in different religious beliefs around the world, rather than the more straightforward religious experience question, where I could have written one paragraph each on the influence of the numinous, miracles, answered prayer and conversion experiences. Of course, I would then have had to have known that an agnostic is someone who is unsure whether or not God exists, rather than someone who does not believe in God (an atheist).
Right, now look at those questions again, and see what you think! Would you still choose the same set of questions?
1. a) What is conversion? (2)
b) Outline an argument got God's existence based on causation. (6)
c) Explain how the presence of religion in the world can lead to, or support, belief in God. (8)
d) "A religious upbringing brainwashes people into believing in God."
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. In your answer, you should refer to Catholic Christianity. (4)
2. a) What does omnipotent mean? (2)
b) What is the problem of evil and suffering for people who believe in God? (6)
c) Explain, with examples, how having a religious experience can lead to, or support, belief in God. (8)
d) "Considering the evidence, everyone should be agnostic."
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)
Which set of questions did you choose? How did you go about choosing which questions to answer? Remember, you can only answer one set, you can't mix and match.
Personally, I would have gone for question 2, since I would find gaining 6 marks on the argument for God's existence based on causation harder than if the question was asking about the Argument from Design. Quite a number of you did describe the Design Argument in your answer, thus losing marks. I would also have found it a bit harder to gain 8 marks explaining how the presence of religion in the world can lead to, or support, belief in God, where it is necessary to look at some of the similarities found in different religious beliefs around the world, rather than the more straightforward religious experience question, where I could have written one paragraph each on the influence of the numinous, miracles, answered prayer and conversion experiences. Of course, I would then have had to have known that an agnostic is someone who is unsure whether or not God exists, rather than someone who does not believe in God (an atheist).
Right, now look at those questions again, and see what you think! Would you still choose the same set of questions?
Happy New Year!
I hope you all have all had a very happy new year, and that you all work hard and are well rewarded for that work in 2007!
Special thoughts go to those in Years 12 and 13 who are studying for their exams which are in just 12 days time. I hope your revision is going well, and that you've got your heads around Meta-Ethics, Natural Law and Relative Morality. We'll cover Virtue Ethics next week. Very quickly.
I've also been thinking of my Year 11s, since I've been marking your exam scripts. I'm sure you're looking forward to getting them back, and learning how to improve.
Happy New Year!
Special thoughts go to those in Years 12 and 13 who are studying for their exams which are in just 12 days time. I hope your revision is going well, and that you've got your heads around Meta-Ethics, Natural Law and Relative Morality. We'll cover Virtue Ethics next week. Very quickly.
I've also been thinking of my Year 11s, since I've been marking your exam scripts. I'm sure you're looking forward to getting them back, and learning how to improve.
Happy New Year!
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