National Year 11 Religious Studies

Chapters: 8

1. Theme A: Relationships and families

Sex, marriage and divorce · Families and gender equality

Relationships and Families: Types, Marriage and Equality – Families take many forms: nuclear, extended, single-parent, blended and same-sex parent. Their purpose is to care, raise children, pass on values and give safety. Committed relationships include marriage, civil partnership and cohabitation; marriage needs free consent and a legal minimum age, and forced or child marriage is illegal in many countries. Religions hold different views on sex before marriage, contraception, same-sex marriage, divorce and remarriage. Gender equality means men and women share roles and respect, and gender prejudice and discrimination are unfair. A relationship with control, fear or violence is unsafe and help is available.

Origins and value of the universe · Origins and value of human life

Bioethics: Deciding What Is Right in Biology and Medicine – Bioethics asks whether we should do what biology and medicine now let us do. It uses four principles: autonomy (respect choice), beneficence (do good), non-maleficence (do no harm) and justice (fairness). Human dignity means a person is never only a means to an end, so informed consent is needed. Therapeutic cloning may be allowed under strict rules; reproductive human cloning is banned in most countries. Start-of-life and end-of-life questions are weighed as benefits against risks and values.

Philosophical arguments for and against God · The nature of the divine and revelation

Coming soon

Religion, violence, terrorism and war · Religion and belief in 21st-century conflict

Peace and Conflict: Why Wars Happen and How Peace Is Built – Peace is more than the absence of fighting: it needs justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. Wars start because of greed, self-defence, retaliation and sometimes religion or identity. Just war theory lists conditions a war must meet (just cause, legitimate authority, last resort, right intention, chance of success, proportionality and protecting civilians). A holy war is fought for a faith, which most believers today reject. Pacifists refuse all violence; protest can be peaceful or violent; terrorism targets civilians to spread fear. Weapons of mass destruction cannot spare civilians, so many oppose them. Peacemakers and faith groups work to end conflict and help its victims.

Religion, crime and causes of crime · Religion and punishment

Crime and Punishment: Why Crime Happens and How Society Responds – A crime is an action against the law. Intentions can be good or evil, and they affect how we judge. Causes of crime include poverty, upbringing, addiction, mental illness, greed, hate and opposition to an unjust law; hate crimes target people for their identity and murder is the gravest crime. Punishment aims at retribution, deterrence, reformation, protection and reparation. Punishments include prison, community service and corporal punishment, and most faiths want offenders treated with dignity. Forgiveness lets go of revenge but does not remove justice. The death penalty is debated: supporters cite retribution and deterrence; opponents cite the sanctity of life, the chance of error and the hope of reform.

Human rights · Wealth and poverty

Human Rights: Meaning, History, Types and Protection – Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that belong to every person because they are human. They are universal, inalienable, indivisible and rooted in dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) set a common standard, later made binding through treaties. Rights are protected by constitutions, courts, commissions, the UN and civil society, and they can be limited only by fair laws that protect others.
Wealth, Poverty and Social Justice: Fair Shares for Everyone – Wealth is money and valuable things. Most faiths say wealth is a trust from God or the community: it can be earned honestly and used for family and good causes, but greed and selfishness are wrong. Poverty has personal and wider causes: unemployment, low pay, illness, debt, poor education, disasters, war, unfair trade and discrimination. The poor can be exploited by unfair wages, high-interest loans, child labour and trafficking. Faiths make giving a duty (zakat, dana, tithe, seva); emergency aid meets urgent needs while long-term aid builds self-reliance. Social justice means fair chances, rights and basic needs for all.

Early and later ministry of Jesus

Coming soon

Kingdom of God, marginalised people and discipleship

Coming soon