Theme A Human Sexuality, Relationships, and Social Justice in Christianity

Theme A

Human sexuality:

"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." –

condemns homosexuality, Christian

“Love your neighbour as yourself” – tolerance and compassion Christian

“Be fruitful and multiply” – heterosexual procreation Jewish

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." -prohibition of same sex

acts Judaism

“I will make a fitting helper for him” - woman + male = God’s plan, Jewish

Sex before and outside marriage:

“Flee from sexual immorality” – avoid sinful behaviour Christian

“The body is a temple of the Holy spirit” – treat body with respect, sexual purity Christian

"Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." –

adultery, inner morality Christian

“You shall not commit adultery”

Contraception and family planning:

“Be fruitful and increase in number” – encourage having children, Christian

"Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure." – sex is within marriage

“Choose life so that you and your offspring may live” – supports contraception for health reason

Marriage:

“What God has joined, let no one separate” – marriage is lifelong + sacred, Christian

“A man leaves his father and mother, and clings onto his wife and they become one flesh” –

marriage = new family unit, Jewish

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church” – love wife selflessly and

sacrificially, Christian

“Two are better than one, if either one falls the other helps them up” – marriage brings support

and partnership Christian

“A man without a wife is incomplete” – importance of marriage, Jewish

“He who finds a wife finds what is good” – marriage is a blessing

Divorce and remarriage:

"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery." – divorce is sinful

"The Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce." – divorce is discouraged

“He writes her a certificate of divorce” –divorce is allowed with a “get”

"If a man divorces his wife, God sheds tears." – Christian

Families and parenting:

“Children, obey your parents as this pleases the Lord” – Children should obey their parents

“Fathers, do not embitter your children” – Parents should guide children lovingly

"Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." – parents must teach faith

"Whoever does not provide for their relatives is worse than an unbeliever." – caring for family is

a moral duty

“Honour your father and mother” – respect for parents, Jewish

“Take to heart these instructions and impress them upon your children” – Jewish, parents’ role

“Children are a heritage from the Lord” – Children are a gift, Jewish

Gender equality and roles:

“There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” – Everyone is equal before

God, Christian

“Male and female he created them” – Both genders created by God, Jewish

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." – Women are honoured, jewish

“Women should remain silent in churches” – women seen as inferior

Theme B

Origins of the universe:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” – God is the creator Christian

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” – The world belongs to God -Christian

“In six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth” – God created the universe in 6 days,

Jewish

“The world stands the Torah, worship, and acts of loving kindness.” – World exists through moral

actions

“God created male and female” – God as creator of human beings

Environment and animal rights:

“God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” –

stewardship, Christian

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals.” – compassion and fair treatment for animals,

Christian

“Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.” – animals can be used for food,

Christian

“Do not destroy its trees” – prohibition against needless destruction

“Do not cause animals to suffer” – prevent animal cruelty, animal testing

“Do not spoil my world as there will be no one else to repair”

Sanctity of life and abortion:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” – anti-abortion views, Christian

“You shall not murder” – life is sacred, taking it is wrong – Christian

“He who saves a life, it is as if he saved a whole world” – Jewish, mothers life > foetus

“So God created mankind in his own image” – all life is sacred, Jewish

Euthanasia:

“Blessed are the merciful” – encourage compassion so to put someone out of their sufferings,

Christian

“God gives and God takes away.” - Christian

“Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbour” – help those in danger, Jewish

“There is a time to be born and a time to die” – life and death are at God’s hand. Jewish

Life after death:

“The one who believes in me will live” – Faith in Jesus = eternal life

“The dead will be raised” – Dead will be resurrected with new eternal life

“Thos who sleep in the dust of earth will awake” – Resurrection of dead, Olam-ha-ba

“Spirit returns to God who gave it” – life continues with God after death

Theme E

Crime and sin:

“You shall not steal” – Moral wrongness of theft, CHRISTIAN

“Everyone must submit to the governing authorities” – crime = disobedience to God + law

“Love your neighbour as yourself” – Hurting through crime disobeys Jesus’ teachings

“Depart evil from good” – Reject wrongdoing, jews

“He who walks with integrity walks securely” – law-abiding life bring spiritual and social security

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong” – Moral integrity + resisting peer pressure =

righteousness, jews

Aims of punishment:

“life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” – for retribution

“Let justice roll on like a river” – justice is essential, for retribution

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” – against retribution

“The one who kills a man shall be put to death” – for retribution

“You must purge the evil among you” – removing wrongdoers restores justice, for retribution

“Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen” – against retribution

“If you do wrong, be afraid” – for deterrence

“All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not do wrong again” – for deterrence

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him” – reformation, compassion leads to change

“Return to the Lord your God as your sins have been your downfall” – turning back to God =

Changing your ways

Death penalty and corporal punishment:

“Do not kill” – taking a life is wrong

"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and

live." – God prefers repentance over execution

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed” – support capital

punishment

“You must purge the evil among you” – support death penalty

“We glory in our sufferings because it provides perseverance and hope”

“Do not do to others which you would not want them to do to you” – rabbi

Forgiveness and justice:

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” – mercy in justice

“Blessed are the merciful, they shall be shown mercy” – second chances for criminals,

forgiveness

“Forgive not 7 but 70x7” – forgiveness is unlimited

“Justice, justice you shall pursue”

“Do not hate your brother in your heart” – holding grudges is wrong

“The lord is compassionate and abounding in love” – God’s justice includes mercy

“He who confesses and renounces finds them mercy” – repentance leads to forgiveness

Theme f

Social justice and human rights:

“Let justice roll on like a river” – God demands justice in society, Christian

“You are all one in Christ” – Everyone is equal before God

“Justice, justice you shall pursue” – Jews actively work for justice

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” – defend the vulnerable

Wealth and poverty:

“You cannot serve both God and money” – Greed leads people away from God

“Sell everything you have and give to the poor” – true discipleship involves sacrifice for others

“The love of money is the roots of all evil” – money > God = disobedience, Christian

“Do not neglect the stranger, orphan or widow” – Support for the vulnerable is essential

“If your brother becomes poor you shall support him” – Jewish obligation to support the poor

Discrimination:

“You are all one in Christ” – All people are equal in God’s eyes

“God created mankind in His image” – every person has equal worth

“You shall love the stranger as yourself” – support for anti-racism and inclusivity

“Whoever destroys a soul it is as if he destroyed an entire world” – every individual has infinite

value

“You were all strangers in the land of Egypt” – everyone is equal

Freedom of religion:

“If it is possible, live at peace with everyone” – religious tolerance

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – treat others with the same respect you

desire

“Proclaim liberty throughout the land” – freedom is a Jewish value

Charity and helping the poor:

“Faith without action is dead” – faith must be shown through action

“When you give to the needy, do not announce with trumpets” – give humbly, not for praise

“Open your hand to the poor and needy” – be generous and ready to help

“Tzedakah is equal to all the commandments combined” – Talmud, Charity is a core Jewish

belief

Theme A: Relationships and families

1. "Sex before marriage is always wrong."

oNot assessed in a 12-mark recently

oAllows debate on Christian/Jewish/traditional vs modern views

2. "Men and women should have equal roles in family life."

oFocuses on gender equality, biblical interpretations, modern society

3. "Divorce can never be justified."

oA classic moral/religious debate (Catholic vs Protestant/Jewish)

Theme B: Religion and Life

1. "Abortion is never acceptable."

oCentral topic, still hasn’t appeared recently in 12-mark form

2. "Religious believers should do everything they can to protect the planet."

oA high-priority issue, very likely in the climate change era

3. "Humans are more important than animals."

oTests ideas of stewardship, dominion, and animal rights

Theme E: Religion, Crime and Punishment

1. "Forgiveness is the most important part of justice."

oTests understanding of punishment and Christian teaching

2. "Prison is the best form of punishment."

oExplores aims of punishment, prison effectiveness, alternatives

3. "Religious people should always forgive criminals."

oHighly debatable, allows a range of religious interpretations

Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice

1. "Wealth should be shared more equally in society."

oTests views on wealth, poverty, responsibility, charity

2. "Religious believers should always stand up against racism."

oEquality, agape, imago Dei, justice — fits key issues

3. "Helping the poor is the most important religious duty."

Core theme, still underused in 12-mark form

Theme A Human Sexuality, Relationships, and Social Justice in Christianity

Students also viewed