MEMORANDUM

QUESTION 1
1.1
1.1.1 The nature of humanity, with reference to community and individual

• Christians believe that humans were created in the image of God.
• After creating Adam and Eve, God instructed them to look after the Garden of Eden and whole of creation.
• As co-creator with God, humans are God’s representatives on earth.
• God has appointed them to look after His property, the world.
• Christians believe that human beings were created to be immortal.
• However Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandments.
• The penalty for this sin was death for the human race.
• Even after this condemnation, God still tried to liberate humanity from evil and death.
• After death, Christians envisage a new community that will be marked by love. (10)

1.1.2 Nature of life after death

• Christians believe that human beings were created to be immortal.
• Adam and Eve disobeyed Gods commandments.
• The penalty for this sin was death for the human race.
• After this condemnation, God still tried to liberate humanity from evil and death.
• After death, Christians envisage a new community that will be marked by love, sharing and caring.(10)

1.1.3 Nature of divinity

• God is the creator of the universe.
• God is omnipotent which means that He is powerful.
• God is a spirit being.
• God is caring and loving.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.) (10)

1.2 Internal difference in any ONE religion
1.2.1 Difference in teachings
Teachings in Islam

• Islam is divided into two major groups, namely the Sunni and Shi’a.

Sunni Muslim

• Sunni refers to following the Sunnah (example) of the Prophet Muhammad.
• The Hadith narrated by the companions of the Prophet have equal status to those narrated by his family members.
• The sect believes that all the teachings contained in the Books of Hadith are equally important.
• Sunnis follow the teachings of scholars from the 7th and 8th centuries.
• Sunni do not accept that a caliph can come exclusively from the Prophet’s family.

Shi’a Muslim

• Shia means partisan or separate party.
• The hadith narrated by the companions of the Prophet have less significance than that narrated by his family members.
• The Shi’a follow the teachings and opinions only of a living scholar.(10)

1.2.2 Difference in governance
Sunni

• There is no clergy in Sunni Islam.
• Any Moslem can serve on community boards.
• Governance is community-based.
• Scholars of Islam and community members serve on governing boards of mosques and madrassah and schools.

Shi’a

• Shi’a Muslim revere the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad and that they have the right to lead Muslims.
• They reserve the title ‘Imran’ for certain past leaders who are believed to have been chosen by God.
• The final word in any uncertainty about any religious or political issues lies with the representatives of the Imam.
• Governance is in the hands of mullahs (priests) who rule by religious decree.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.) (10)

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QUESTION 2
2.1 (For the purpose of this marking guideline Christianity is discussed as an example.)
2.1.1 Causes

• Breaking up of families
• High volume of illegal firearms circulating in society
• Erosion of the moral fibre
• Patriarchy / male dominance
• Poverty
• Adultery
• Alcohol and / or drug abuse
  (Any relevant answer should be credited.)(6)

2.1.2 Effects

• Family breakdown
• Justification of violent crimes
• Physical injury and death
• Unstable marriages
• Trauma among the victims
• Increased in child-headed families
• Abuse childhood perpetuating GBV
• Emotional damage in victims and survivors
• Neglected children
• Mental illness like depression
• Femicide
  (NOTE: Other responses must be credited.)(10)

2.1.3 Religious teachings

• Violence is prohibited, especially against the weak and vulnerable.
• Good family values are emphasised.
• Fathers are encouraged to love their wives.
• Boys and girls are treated equally.
• Love and peace form part of central teachings.
• Adultery is prohibited.
  (NOTE: Other responses must be credited.)(10)

2.2
2.2.1 The World Council of Churches

• Most religious leaders on both sides of the dispute facilitate peace at local levels.
• Even today, people of different religions live peacefully even in one family and across levels. Part of the conflict.
• Religious organisations are still carrying out humanitarian activities to all people affected by the war, irrespective of religion.
• The religious bodies failed to bring political stability at a national level because they have no political power.
• Religious extremism combined with tribal tensions in South Sudan are still part of the conflict.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(8)

2.1.2 Interfaith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA)

• Tried to bring together religious communities, civil society, the private sector and government to resolve the conflict.
• The IFAPA was able to work with humanitarian organisations to provide health services, shelters and other basic needs.
• Send interfaith delegations to conflict risk areas.
• Organising exchange visits between landmine victims and survivors from Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.
• The conflict is more political than religious and needs government intervention.
• Even the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission has not been able to stop abuse in the country. The country is still dominated by a culture of impunity that allows atrocities to prevail.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(6)

2.3 Hermeneutical principles

• Grammar and historical context: This means one must use the rules of grammar and the historical facts to interpret the literal meaning of a text.
• Plan, purpose and context: A piece of writing should be viewed as a whole. What is the writing plan or structure? What was the author's purpose in writing the text? What is the context of the passage being looked at?
• Meaning of words: The meaning of words change over time and in different places. Find out the original meaning as they were used in the normative source.
• Figurative meaning: Figurative and non-literal meaning must be taken into account.
• Other sacred texts: Sacred texts may be used to interpret other sacred texts.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited. Four marks are allocated for mentioning only principles without giving explanation.)(10)

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QUESTION 3
3.1
3.1.1 Materialism

• This worldview originated in various areas within Europe and Asia.
• It originated during the Axial era from 800–200 BCE.
• Materialism expresses itself in ancient Indian philosophy, in Buddhism and Confucianism.
• In the West materialism was first developed by Greek philosophers – the Atomists, and was revived in the 18th century.
• An elaboration of the concepts of materialism was made by Karl Marx during the 19th century.
• Marx included human history and economic activity into materialism.
• It was at this time that the Protestant movement was gaining ground in Europe.
• This emboldened secularists, including materialists, to develop worldviews other than religion.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(10)

Secular humanism

• It was first used as a concept in the 1950s.
• Secular humanism is a branch of humanism.
• The term ‘humanism’ was originally a religious term.
• In the Renaissance era a humanist was anyone who studied classical literature and education.
• This movement initially encouraged people to use their intellect to understand scripture.
• Later it became secular, non religious and atheistic.
• It teaches that supernatural beings are not a necessity for teaching right from wrong.
• Humans can work this out for themselves, using their reasoning skills.
• It rejects religious beliefs and the existence of the supernatural.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(10)

3.1.2 Secularism as a worldview

• Secularism is a belief that government and morality should not be based on religion.
• It does not reject religion, but does not give religion the final say on morality or government.
• Instead, secularism sees human intellect as a solution to all challenges.
• Secularism advocates ethics based on reasoning about human nature, without refering to God or gods.
• Secularism advocates freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
• Secularism understands the universe without appealing to religious explanations, such as Creationism and myths.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(10)

3.2
3.2.1 Oral tradition

• Original inspiration is usually first spread through oral tradition in many religions.
• Oral tradition has been used to transfer religious messages before the religious writings.
• Before the invention of writing, religious traditions were transmitted by word of mouth.
• It is true that these traditions developed, changed and are adapted over time.
• All religion followed oral tradition over many centuries and some still have elements of oral traditions.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(10)

3.2.2 Inspiration

• Inspiration is an important normative source in many religions.
• It is the true origin of all religions.
• Inspiration refers to the power or force of an extraordinary being, 'taking over' a chosen being.
• The founding figures of many religions were inspired by a higher power or wisdom.
• Such people felt that they received 'revelation' from an extraordinary being.
• Examples are Moses, Jesus Christ, Abraham, Prophet Muhammad, Buddha and Baha'u'llah.
• In ATR, mediums or diviners receive inspiration while they are in a trance.
• This inspiration is on-going, while that of the Abrahamic faiths did not go beyond their founders.
• Inspiration is a powerful motivation for the followers of a religion.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(10)

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QUESTION 4
4.1
4.1.1 Darwin’s Theory

• The scientific answer to the question comes from Darwin’s Theory of evolution.
• It state that all forms of life are connected from Darwin’s common origin.
• Organisms change gradually to adapt to changing environments.
• Those that suit the environment best, become dominant.
• This is called “natural selection”.
• The process started many millions of years ago, and is still continuing.
• Human beings also emerged over a long process, spanning millions of years, until ‘modern’ humans finally emerged about 100 000 years ago.
• The theory of evolution asserts that humans evolved from a common primate ancestor that is apes.
  (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(14)

4.1.2 

1. Christianity
   • The Creator is male.
   • At first, only the creator existed.
   • The Creator made the universe from nothing.
   • The process of creation took six days.
   • Humans were made on the sixth day.
   • There is one perfect God.
   • He created the heaven and earth, and all that in it.
   • The first two humans were Adam and Eve. God made from clay.
   • God breathed His spirit into Adam, and he came to life.
   • These humans lived in the perfect Garden of Eden.(12)
2. Hinduism
   • Hinduism has no problem with evolution. They have more advanced theories which incorporates spiritual evolution.
   • The evolution theory did not create conflict with Hindu thought and beliefs. It contributed to the understanding of evolution towards Moksha.
   • Therefore, in these religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), there is no change in attitude.
   • In African Traditional Religion, there has been no objection to the evolution theory, as the universe is seen as interconnected parts.
   • However, the status of man is clearly seen as above all other creation.
     (Any other relevant responses must be credited.)(12)

4.1.3 Big Bang Theory

• The Scientific explanation Creation is called the Big Bang Theory.
• According to the Big Bang Theory, it is not known what existed before the Big Bang.
• The Big Bang Theory states that there was enormous explosion and within a second the universe appeared and filled out to an enormous size.
• The Big Bang Theory states that the process of creation occurred within a second.
• According to the scientific account the Big Bang took place 13,7 billion years ago.
• Small temperature differences led to varying densities of matter throughout the universe.
• Those densities formed into clusters of matter and energy.
• The clusters continued to condense in a lump way and eventually formed the vast collection of stars called galaxies.
• Some galaxies condensed into a combination of stars called solar system.
• Scientists believes that the universe is expanding at this moment.
• The scientific account does not mention any Creator.(12)

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TOTAL: 150