1
Q
What percentage of the UK was christian and what percentage had no religion in the recent censuses
A
Christian
- 59.3% (33.2 million) in 2011
- 46.2% (27.5 million) in 2021
No religion
- 25.2% in 2011
-37.2% in 2021
2
Q
What is the role of the Monarch in the UK
A
- The monarch is the Head of State of the UK and 15 other commonwealth countries
- They are the Supreme Governor of the Church of England
- The monarch is the Defender of Faith, in particular the church of England
- The Church of England remains Established in England - meaning the It has strong links with the government
3
Q
What is the Monarchs Role as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England
A
- They approve the appointment of senior clerics e.g. archbishops and bishops
- They open new sessions of the General Synod (Churches governing body)
- Keeps their coronation vow to maintain the Church
4
Q
Give quote by the Queen about the role of the Church
A
“The Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country”
5
Q
How is the Church embedded into British traditions
A
- The school terms are arranged around the Christina festivals
- The week has seven days reflecting the Genesis story
6
Q
What is the House of Lords and explain its role
A
- It is the unelected second chamber of the Houses of Parliament
- It’s role is to hold the Government accountable for its actions, its spending and making laws
- The House of Lords includes 26 Lords Spiritual who are all Bishops from the Church of England
7
Q
What are different views on the House of Lords
A
- A report compiled by the Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life suggests their should be greater religious representation in the House of Lords - less Anglican Bishops and more representatives from other religions
- The National Secular Society believe religion should not be involved in politics or government and there should be no religious representation in the House
- The CofE believe Anglican Bishops represent people of all faiths and provide religious perspectives
8
Q
Give quotes from the Nation Secular Society and the Church of England about the House of Lord
A
- National Secular Society “They want to appoint clerics from minority faiths in a country where the majority are not religious”
- Church of England “Bishops provide an important independent voice … they seek to be a voice for all people of faith, not just Christian”
9
Q
How do Christian services mark key events
A
Christian’s rites of passage include …
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Funerals
- Christian services also mark key events in British Public life such as Remembrance Services which include Christian prayers ajd hymns
- Meetings in both houses of parliament begin with Christian prayers
10
Q
How are Public Holidays based on Christian Celebration
A
- There are eight public holidays in England and Wales over the course of a year, four of which mark Christian occasions
- Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing day (Feast of St Stephen)
11
Q
What is the origin of education in England
A
- The first schools in England were founded by the Church and attached to cathedrals
- After the Church of England was formed schools became CofE as well
- Until 19th Century only a few schools led by the church
- The State became involved in education in 1830’s
12
Q
What is the education system like today in regards to religion
A
- About a third of state schools in England and Wales are faith schools
- Over 7000 faiths primary and secondary schools in England and Wales 98% of which have Christian character
- 68% of these are CofE and 30% are catholic
- One in six faith schools select some or all their pupils based on their religion
- The Religious organisation is able to appoint a large number of school governors
13
Q
Why are some people against faith schools
A
- The National Secular Society and the British Humanist Association are against faith schools
- Are against the principles that religious groups are able to use public money to found schools
- They argue to Churches want faith schools they should fund them
- They believe faith schools select pupils from wealthiest families so don’t reflect local community
14
Q
What might religious organisations argue in favour of faith schools
A
- Religious organisations contribute 10% of the costs of some faith schools - so are paying for public education
- The curriculum that faith schools follow is the same for all state schools
- Parents should be able to chose schools for their children that share their values
- It is the values and ethos of a faith school that represent the views of the religious organisation
15
Q
Define secularism
A
- The modernisation of Society that leads to a more scientific world view where people do not have to depend on unprovable concepts
- Max Webber described it as “The disenchantment of the world”
16
Q
What does the National secular society stand for
A
- Stands against the promotion of religion and privileges for religious institutions
- Not against religion itself but oppose the link between the Church of England and the State
- Secularism is about tolerance of different beliefs and the equality of all beliefs
17
Q
What is humanism
A
- Seeing and reacting to the world using science logic and reason, rejecting religious beliefs and ideas
- Began with John Locke in 1689
18
Q
How to Religious and Secular clash on education
A
- About half the British population have no religious association but a third of state funded schools are faith schools
- All state schools must teach religious education and in christian faith schools this promotes a christian world view (confessional)
- All schools must provide a daily act of worship
- The National Secular Society opposes confessional teaching and believe humanist views should also be taught
19
Q
What are the aims of religious education in Church of England schools
A
- See how Christianity is relevant today
- Understanding how religious faith can help in difficulties
- Reflecting critically on truth claims of Christian beliefs
20
Q
Give quotes about religious education in state schools
A
- “It ignores the right of children below sixth form to freedom of belief and conscience” - British Humanist Association
- “All pupils .. shall on each day take part in an act of collective worship “ Education Reform Act 1988
21
Q
How do secular and christian views differ about divorce
A
- A marriage can be legally dissolved by divorce and individuals are free to remarry
- The church of England allows divorce
- The Roman Catholic Church completely opposes divorce, but allows annulments
22
Q
How do secular and christian views differ about same sex marriage
A
- Same sex marriage is legal in the UK and is recognised through a civil ceremony
- The Church of England opposes same sex marriage and teaches marriage is only between man and woman but they recognise that same sex marriage is valid
- The Roman Catholic Church completely oppose same sex marriage and don’t recognise marriage between two people of the same sex
23
Q
How do views on civil marriage differ
A
- A civil marriage is a secular marriage service
- The Church of England recognise it
- The Roman Catholic Church accepts other people marrying this way but catholics cannot get marries this way
24
Q
What is an arranged/forced marriage marriage and what is a Christian response to it
A
- It is a marriage planned by the partners families not the partners themselves
- The Roman Catholic Church and Church of England strongly believe in consented marriage
- Strongly oppose arranged marriage- reflected in the Forced Marriage Act 2007
- Christian’s strongly oppose forced marriage - when one of the partners do not consent
25
What were historic views of arranged marriage
- Arranged marriage was encouraged by Christian culture until 1140 when the idea of consented marriage was introduced
- Roman Catholic Laws allow men to marry at 16 and women at 14 but bishops in Uk chose to align their laws with the government
26
Give a quote about forced marriage
“The Church is founded on thr principle that non consensual marriage should be dealt with on the same basis as non consensual sexual relations, an issue of fundamental human rights” Church of England
27
What are Christian teachings on Equality
- Christianity teaches all people are equal as God created the human race and loves each person
- Many Christians throughout history have fought for equality e.g. Martin Luther King and Trevor Huddleston (fought against racial inequality in South Africa)
28
How do Christian teachings clash with Equality laws
- The Roman Catholic Church teach it is against the will of God to have women in leadership roles in the church
- For this reason religious roles are exempt from the 2010 Equality Act
- The Same Sex Couples Act 2013 also makes religious organisations exempt
29
Give a quote about inequality
“He is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man”
30
Give key beliefs of a Humanist
- Humanist are atheists and do not believe in God or life after death
- Their code for living is treat people as you would want to be treated
- Humanists value people their happiness and love
- All moral decisions are made through thinking through the consequences
31
What is interfaith dialogue and intrafaith dialogue
- Interfaith dialogue is discussion between different religions
- Intrafaith dialogue is discussion within different denominations of a religion
32
What is exclusivism
- It is the belief that unless someone is Christian they will go to hell
- Salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ
- The Roman Catholic has had an exclusivist view for most of its existence
- This lead to many missionaries being sent around the world to convert everyone to christianity
33
Give a quote that supports exclusivism
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” - Jesus Christ
34
What is inclusivism
- The belief that christianity is the best way to worship God however other religions are valid and can still go to heaven
- They believe God is omnibenevolent and loves all of his creation and a loving God would create only one path to salvation
- The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats says “The righteous (will go) into eternal life” - says nothing about faith
35
What is pluralism
- Rejects the idea that Gid only revealed himself through Jesus Christ
- Believe God revealed himself through all the worlds religions
- All religions are valid ways to God
- John Hick supported this idea using “The start of the blind men and the elephant
36
Give an example of an ecumenical organisation and what do they do
- The World Council of Churches attempts to bring about unity between different denominations
- The WCC consists of almost 350 churches representing more then half a billion christian’s world wide
- It works to develop wider dialogue between denominations, building peace and educating to ensure the future of ecumenism
- The Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the WWC
- An ecumenical location would be Taizé
37
Why are not all Christians in favour of ecumenism
- Christian exclusivists find it hard to accept other denominations on equal terms.
-Some Church groups are happy to remain distant
- Some churches are concerned that ecumenism will make them less distinct from other churches
38
What are the aims of interfaith dialogue
- Enables members of different faiths to form friendships
- Increases tolerance and understanding
- Provides opportunities to learn about others beliefs
- Aims to prevent religious prejudice, conflict and extremism (in 2015 there was a 25% rise in anti Jewish incidents on social media)
39
Since when has the Roman Catholic Church promoted interfaith dialogue and how does it do this
- After the Second Vatican Council in 1965 there Roman Catholic Church promoted interfaith dialogue
- They set up the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) which aims to
- Promote mutual understanding and respect between catholics and other religions
- Encourage the study of religions
- Promote the formation if persons dedicated to dialogue
- They do this through publishing articles, organising meetings and welcoming visitors
40
How does the Church of England support interfaith dialogue
- They run a Presence and Engagement Programme which follows 4 principles of interfaith dialogue
- Dialogue begins when people meet
- Dialogue depends on mutual understanding and trust
- Dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community
- Dialogue becomes the medium of authentic witness
41
What is proselytisation
- It is the act of converting others to a religion
- Christian’s who proselytise may call themselves evangelists
- It is controversial as it creates tensions between freedom of belief and freedom of expression
42
What is atheism and agnosticism
- Atheism: belief there is no God
- Agnosticism: literally means ‘not knowing’ unsure about the existence of God
43
What are some Christian values that are shared with atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism
- Compassion
- Support for those in need
- The promotion of peace over war
- Protection of the environment
44
What are the laws around abortion in the UK
- Abortion is legal in the UK after the abortion act 1967 if …
- The pregnancy has not exceeded the 24th week
- The continuance of the pregnancy involves severe risk to the mental or physical health of the pregnant woman
- There is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from mental or physical abnormalities
45
Give stats about abortion in the Uk
- In 2021 there were 214,256 legal abortions carried out in England and Wales
- 3200 abortions were carried out due to risk of “serious handicap’
- 700 embryo jad down syndrome
- 92% carried out before the 13th week
46
What is the Roman Catholic and Church of England belief on abortion
- Roman Catholics wholly oppose abortion and consider it to be literal murder
- They belief life begins from the moment of conception and they belief in the sanctity of life
- RC teach abortion is a great moral evil
- The Church of England is against abortion and is accepted only in exceptional circumstances e.g. to save the mothers life
47
Give quotes about the sanctity of life
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you”
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”
48
What is another belief about abortion and give facts about pregnancy
- Abortion is completely the woman’s choice - pro choice
- Day 1: conception
- 6 weeks: embryo (bump starts to show)
- 8 weeks: heartbeat
- 10 weeks: brain
- 17 weeks: can hear
- 21 1/2 weeks: extreme limit of viability (can survive outside the womb)
- 38 weeks: birth
49
What is Artificial Insemination and what are different views about it
- It is collecting sperm and inserting it directly into a woman’s uterus through non sexual means
- Church of England teaches conception should occur in a loving sexual relationship but if this isn’t possible AI is acceptable
- The Roman Catholic Church believe conception should only happen through sex so AI is unacceptable
50
What is IVF and what are different views about it
- IVF: in vitro fertilisation - bringing together the egg and sperm outside the women’s body in lab conditions
- Several eggs are usually fertilised ajd them frozen - if they are not needed that can be donated, used for research and after 10 are destroyed
- The RC church opposed IVF because conception does not occur during sex and opposes research being done on embryos
- The CofE accepts IVF treatment and accepts the use of embryos for medical experiments
51
What are the different forms of euthanasia
- Euthanasia literally means good death
- Passive euthanasia: removal of feeding tube or DNR (legal in the UK)
- Active euthanasia: injection of poison
- Assisted suicide: when a patient is terminally ill and asks for someone to help them die
52
What is the current UK laws on assisted dying
- Assisted suicide is illegal under the Suicide act of 1961
- There was a proposal in September 2015 to legalise assisted dying but it was defeated 330 votes to 118
- The case of Diane Pretty and Tony Nicklinson
53
What are arguments against euthanasia
Christian views
- life is precious (sanctity of life)
- euthanasia is deliberate killing which goes against one of the ten commandments
- Christian’s have a duty to care for those who are suffering
Other reasons
- A doctors duty to preserve life - not end it
- Some patients will feel like burdens for wanting to stay alive if euthanasia is legalised
- Euthanasia could easily be abused “slippery slope
54
What are the arguments for euthanasia
- That euthanasia is performed out of love and compassion
- Prevents suffering of not only patient but family as well
- The freedom of choice
55
Give quotes about abortion
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
56
Who is Peter Singer
- He has an instrumentalist view
- Life is only worthwhile if it can be a fulfilled life
57
