Viewing archives for KS4

These materials and links were provided for RE:ONLINE with the kind assistance of the University of Lancaster ‘s Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Duration: 21:14

GCSE

AQA – Religious Studies A: Unit 2; Religious Studies B: Unit 2

Edexcel – Religious Studies Units 1-7

OCR – Religious Studies A: B604; Religious Studies B: B603

WJEC – Religious Studies A: Units 1, 3, 6-8; Religious Studies B: Unit 2

A Level

AQA – Religious Studies: AS Unit C, A2 Unit 3A

Edexcel – Religious Studies: Units 1-4

OCR – Religious Studies: Unit G572

WJEC – Religious Studies: RS 1/2 CS

This is a Faith debate featuring Abdul Majid Katme, David Albert Jones, Gerard Hughes, John Harris and Linda Woodhead. It focuses on stem cell research and abortion.

The poll carried out prior to the debate shows that an increasing majority of people in the UK are in support of abortion:

Students could be given the same questions as used in this poll and others which can be found in the pdf (see below) and asked to vote on them prior to watching the debate, revisiting them later to see if any of the views expressed had caused them to change their minds.

All the people polled were 18+ so it could be worth comparing both the initial and final views of students with the YouGov results to see if there are any indications that young people, possibly more ‘modern’ in their outlook, give very different answers to the questions.

This programme is suitable for use with A level and GCSE students studying ethics, medical ethics, religion and science and sexual ethics.

The debate is suitable for high-performing GCSE students though may need explanation.

A projected summary and conclusion of the statistics produced is:

• There are essentially two groups

–       Pro-life anti-abortionists

• Bare life

–       Pro-life pro-abortionists

• Fulfilled life
• Not a religious / secular issue, but between two competing understandings of ‘life’

The debate focuses mainly on the question of when life begins. The distinction drawn here is between a human being and a human person. It is argued that the foetus becomes a human being and is recognisable as such but does not become a human person until it is able to function as a person with related senses etc. There is some discussion of ensoulment from a Muslim viewpoint. Questions are also raised about abortion following rape, a pregnancy which can harm the mother and also a foetus which is known to have severe disabilities or other conditions which may seriously limit its quality of life.

The law on stem cell research is also discussed and to what extent it could or should be changed.

After watching the discussion, it is worth returning to the students’ views to find out if and how their personal opinions have been influenced or changed by what they have heard. For extension work students might consider how these ideas might affect different Christian denominations e.g. Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

For 6th formers it might well be possible to watch the discussion straight through, however, for younger students it might be advisable to watch each segment at a time (there are clear breaks between each part). After discussion, it would then be worth watching the two-minute summary below to clarify and crystalize the thoughts and views expressed.

Additional content is available at http://faithdebates.org.uk/debates/2013-debates/religion-and-personal-life/abortion-soul-of-the-embryo/

Westminster faith debate on religion and gender, featuring Charles Clarke, Fatima Barkatulla, Harvey Belovski, Linda Woodhead, Mary Ann Sieghart and Rod Thomas.

These materials and links were provided for RE:ONLINE with the kind assistance of the University of Lancaster ‘s Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion

This is a Faith debate featuring Charles Clarke, Fatima Barkatulla, Harvey Belovski, Linda Woodhead, Mary Ann Sieghart and Rod Thomas. It focuses on the role of women in religion and gender issues in relation to God.

Students should complete a table showing what they know about the roles of men and women past and present.

The poll carried out prior to the debate shows what are perhaps surprising views about the role of women in religion:

YouGov survey for Westminster Faith Debates, 2013

Online survey

Total sample size 4,437 adults.

Fieldwork undertaken 25th – 30th January 2013.

The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Approval of the Church of England (CofE)’s current policies towards women

16% of practising Anglicans 11% of nominal Anglicans 8% of the general population

Only 20% of Anglicans approve of how women are treated at parish level

Approval of RC Church’s current policies towards women

31% practising Catholics

22% Catholics

6% of the general population

Would religions be better if women held senior positions?

Answering “no”:

• 2% of ‘nones’
• 2% of Hindus
• 5% of Anglicans
• 10% of Catholics
• 11% of Jewish respondents
• 18% of Muslims

Students could be given the same issues as used in this poll and asked to vote on them prior to watching the debate, revisiting them later to see if any of the views expressed had caused them to change their minds.

All the people polled were 18+ so it could be worth comparing both the initial and final views of students with the YouGov results to see if there are any indications that young people, possibly more ‘modern’ in their outlook, give very different answers to the questions.

This programme is suitable for use with A level and GCSE students studying ethics, religion and society, sexual ethics and Christianity.

The debate focuses on two separate but related issues.

First:

The background for this debate was a recent vote by the General Synod (decision-making body) of the Church of England not to allow women to become bishops, which was met with dismay both within and outside the church. In the Roman Catholic Church women cannot be ordained at all, and leadership roles are reserved for men in many of the other world religions.

The majority of people in Britain think that religions would be better if more women held senior positions. If you rely more on God, religious leaders and teachings than you do on your own judgement, then you are much more likely to disapprove of women leaders in religion. Of the 5% among the population who do disapprove of women’s leadership, there are twice as many men as women.

Church leaderships and hierarchy are increasingly adrift from consensus views on gender equality among their own membership and the population at large.

Second:

Should God continue to be described as male within the Abrahamic faiths?

All the expected arguments are rehearsed on the difference between the roles of men and women in life as well as religion. However, a key stumbling block appears for the Evangelical Christian position when discussing the language to use of God. It appears here that although it might be desirable sometimes to refer to God as female or as genderless this cannot be done because (a) people cannot think of a genderless God and (b) because Christianity is a revealed religion and so the gender used of God in the Bible cannot be varied.

Students can now add more information to their tables and discuss them with others, adding more information as appropriate.

For 6th formers it might well be possible to watch the discussion straight through, however, for younger students it might be advisable to watch each segment at a time (there are clear breaks between each part). After discussion, it would then be worth watching the two-minute summary below to clarify and crystallize the thoughts and views expressed.

Additional content is available at http://faithdebates.org.uk/debates/2013-debates/religion-and-personal-life/religious-inequality-between-sexes/