WJEC

Religious Studies

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Now for 15 marks questions.
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Can you improve the weaker answers?

Describe how Jewish women might worship differently to men. (5)

In Judaism men and women have different role and therefore worship differently. Women are naturally more spiritual and don't need guidance. So Jews believe that only men need to wear the tefillin. In the Shema is says that you have to keep God close to your mind and soul. This is interpreted that male Jews wear the tefillin next to their hearts and heads to help them connect with God and become more spiritually focused.
Another reason and way Jewish men and women worship differently is their position in the synagogue. In the orthodox synagogues women sit at the top in the gallery and men sit at the bottom in the centre of the synagogue. This is done to stop men and women from getting distracted from their worship.

Explain why Moses is important in Judaism. [8]

Moses is important in Judaism because God made a covenant with him. Moses was the first in his family to believe in one God. God made a promise to him. God promised him that his followers would be God’s ‘Chosen People’. Moses is important because some Jews believe that they are his descendants and he is the founding father of their religion.

Explain views about the use of retribution as a form of punishment. [8]

Some conservative Christians would agree with retribution because the bible says "an eye for an eye" and you should be punished for your sins and God punishes people on judgement day by sending you to hell which is an eternity of suffering.
However some liberal Christians would say you shouldn’t punish people cause god would forgive you and also gods biggest rule is too "treat people how you want to be treated."

From two different religions, explain views about abortion. [8]

Christians believe abortion should take place for reasons. If the mothers life is as risk or childs. If the women is raped abortion should take place. Some Christians are against abortion.

Muslims are against abortion. They believe "thou shall not kill but only God". This means that only god if god creates you then only he kills you. Killing is forbidden in Islam. However in circumstances of mothers life is as risk or childs or anything then abortions can take place before 120 days, you have to do it before the soul goes in.

Explain Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah. [8]

Muslims believe God is omnipotent (all powerful), omnibenevolent (all loving), omnipresent (all present) and omniscient (all knowing). They believe in Tawhid which means the oneness of God. The Surah 42 says there is one God, he has no children and he is omnipotent. Also, the Shahadah says there is no God, Muhammed is his messenger.'

'Christians should always forgive'. Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view (you must refer to religion and belief in your answer). [15]

Christians believe they should always forgive as Jesus said when asked how many times we should forgive, 'not seven times, but seventy times seven times'. This tells Christians they should forgive every time. However, some find this hard; Julie Nicholson, who was a priest at the time her daughter was killed on the London Underground during the attacks and she found herself not being able to forgive the people who had murdered her daughter. As Christians believe that forgiveness is looking past someone's faults, but Julie also believed that the other person had to be there to be forgiven but the people who killed her daughter were dead as they were suicide bombers, and so due to this she stepped down from her role as a priest/vicar because she was telling people to forgive when she couldn't forgive others herself. This shows that Christians don't always forgive.
In conclusion, I believe that Christians should forgive because in the Bible, where most of their beliefs come from, there are many quotes from Jesus and God that Christians should always forgive, so if they don't, they are going against their religion.

"If God exists then people shouldn’t suffer."
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view.
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer). [15]

Christians believe that God is omnipitent, omnicient , and so why should people suffer. They believe if people suffer then God is not all of these. But suffering is part of life you need to suffer to do good. God wants people to suffer. Some Christians would argue that people shouldn’t suffer because then they don’t have a good life. They think if god is omnipitent and omnicient then people can't suffer and its not god that makes them suffer. If he does then hes not omnicient.
In Islam teaches that In islam muslims believe that god exists and people suffer because god wants them to. They believe that suffering is part of life. If you suffer you do better. They believe God does this to everyone no one can live without it, otherwise they dont do good in life.
I think that if god exists people should suffer because thats how they achieve goals in life. Also everyone should experience the same.

'You have to go to the synagogue to be a Jew' (15)

Jewish people usually go to a synagogue for services, prayers, community events and sometimes to school. They will try and walk there because on Saturdays they are not allowed to do any work and the synagogue might be quite far away and the walk would be tiring and feel like work. Jews like to go to the synagogue because it means you can be with people who believe what you believe and you can all join in the singing and prayers. Also, their holy books are kept there, so they would want to go and see those. I don’t see the point in going to a synagogue because I am not Jewish, but I expect it is important for them.
On the other hand, you could just pray at home where you have peace and quiet to concentrate and be with family. Jewish people think that family life is important especially on a Friday and Saturday when they celebrate Sabbath.