INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

  1. The question paper consists of SECTION A and SECTION B.
  2. SECTION A: COMPULSORY
    SECTION B: Answer any TWO questions in this section.
  3. Read ALL the questions carefully.
  4. Start EACH question on a NEW page.
  5. The length of your answers must be in accordance with the marks allocated to each question.
  6. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in the question paper.
  7. Write neatly and legibly.

QUESTIONS

SECTION A
QUESTION 1

1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (1.1.1–1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.11 D.
1.1.1 Ecumenism is …

  1. when you are not allowed to take part in religious rituals.
  2. making right the crimes committed.
  3. promoting unity among churches.
  4.  keeping strictly to the traditions and practices of a religion. (1)

1.1.2 Veneration is …

  1. the belief that the universe was created by a Supreme Being.
  2. the conviction that something is true.
  3. to make something happen, usually by force.
  4. the act of showing deep respect, for example to ancestors, in the African Traditional Religion. (1)

1.1.3 Bodhisattva is …

  1.  a particular branch of a religion with its own tradition.
  2. someone who helps others attain Nirvana.
  3. anti-religion and developed in the direction of a socialist view.
  4. an economic, political and social system based on private ownership. (1)

1.1.4 A covenant is …

  1. a process of development or growth to a higher stage.
  2. to give responsibility to someone else.
  3. a deep and solemn agreement.
  4. a set of beliefs and principles. (1)

1.1.5 A state of altered and peaceful consciousness of mind:

  1. Lineage
  2. Prophecy
  3. Compassion
  4. Trance (1)

1.1.6 An approach that does NOT reject God’s existence, but simply ignores it:

  1. Elitism
  2. Communism
  3. Non-theism
  4. Theism (1)

1.1.7 The word hermeneutics originates from …

  1. Latin.
  2. Arabic.
  3. Greek.
  4. German. (1)

1.1.8 The rebirth of the souls or spirit in a new body is called …

  1. reincarnation.
  2. evolution.
  3. karma.
  4. regression. (1)

1.1.9 A person with liberal values is one who ...

  1. understands something exactly as it is written.
  2. accepts opinions different from one’s own.
  3. holds on to traditional values.
  4. shows deep religious commitment. (1)

1.1.10 The sacred scripture of Taoism is the …

  1. Tao-te Ching.
  2. Qur’an.
  3. Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
  4. Vedas. (1)

1.2 Choose an item from COLUMN B that matches the item in COLUMN A. Write only the letter (A–G) next to the question number (1.2.1–1.2.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.2.6 H.

COLUMN A  COLUMN B 
1.2.1 Accepts all religious beliefs as true
1.2.2 Bahá’i faith
1.2.3 Sikhism and the Zion Christian Church
1.2.4 Everything consists of two forces
1.2.5 Sacred religious occasion
A Normative sources
B Taoism
C Inclusivism
D Syncretism
E Ritual
F Pluralism
G Haifa

(5 x 1) (5)
1.3 Select the word in each group below that DOES NOT belong:
1.3.1 Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, The Bahá’i faith (1)
1.3.2 Saivism, Shaktism, Sufism, Vaishnaism, Smartas (1)
1.3.3 Nevi’im, Ketuvim, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Talmud, Torah (1)
1.3.4 Tripitaka, Bible, Qur’an, Mitzvot, Vedas (1)
1.3.5 Roman Catholic, Judaism, Protestant, Orthodox (1)
1.4 In the context of religion, explain EACH of the following concepts:
1.4.1 Divinity (2)
1.4.2 Comparability (2)
1.4.3 Uniqueness (2)
1.4.4 Allegory (2)
1.4.5 Fundamentalism (2)
1.5 Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. Choose the answer and write ONLY ‘true’ or ‘false’ next to the question number (1.5.1–1.5.5) in the ANSWER BOOK. Give a reason if the answer is FALSE.
1.5.1 The Buddha was a divine being. (2)
1.5.2 Reformed Jews believe that the Torah is God’s word. (2)
1.5.3 The Crusades were a series of Jewish wars against Christian territories. (2)
1.5.4 The oral teachings of the Vedas were compiled into a standardised text by Krishna Dwipayana. (2)
1.5.5 Ilima is the South African national religious structure of African Traditional Religion. (2)
1.6 Answer the following questions:
1.6.1 Why are Christianity, Judaism and Islam called monotheistic religions? (1)
1.6.2 Briefly explain the functions of uniqueness. (4)
1.6.3 Explain the role of ancestors in the African Traditional Religion. (4)
1.6.4 Write ONE normative source of the Hindu faith. (1)
TOTAL SECTION A: 50

SECTION B
Answer any TWO questions in this section.
QUESTION 2
2.1 Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.

Although religions share many similarities, each of them has something that makes it unique from the other. Religions are often grouped according to geographical origins, such as:

  • Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Middle Eastern religions)
  • Buddhism and Hinduism (Eastern religions)
  • Any African Traditional Religion – AmaZulu/IsiXhosa/Tsonga/Lobedu/SeSotho and Aka, Yoruba

[Source: Anonomyous] 

With reference to any ONE grouping above, answer the questions that follow:
2.1.1 Give a clear explanation of the UNIQUENESS of any ONE religion from any grouping stated above. (10)
2.1.2 Discuss the similarities that exist within the Eastern religions. (10)
2.2 Religions have different teachings on values. Discuss the following values regarding the given religion:
2.2.1 The Right to Life – Christianity (6)
2.2.2 Respect – Bahá’i faith (6)
2.2.3 Love – African Traditional Religion (6)
2.3 Briefly discuss the following concepts in the context of religion:
2.3.1 The Golden Rule in Christianity (4)
2.3.2 Clan-based religion in African Traditional Religion (4)
2.3.3 The Arabic word ‘jihad’ in Islam (4) [50]

QUESTION 3

‘WATCH YOUR TONGUE,’ SAYS PROSECUTOR IN VICKI MOMBERG’S CASE

This is the stern warning from prosecutor Yusuf Baba, the man who represented the state in the case against convicted racist estate agent, Vicki Momberg.
On Wednesday, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court sentenced Momberg to an effective two years’ imprisonment for a series of racial slurs.
‘People need to watch their tongues before they talk. There are consequences for your actions’, Baba said following the sentencing.
He said while the media reported racial-related incidents, prosecutors saw many more cases than those that made the headlines.

[Extract taken from Timeslive.co.za, 28 March 2018] 

3.1 Explain what is meant by human rights. (4)
3.2 In the light of the above extract, what do you think the consequences could be for violating another person’s human rights? (4)
3.3 Human rights have always been an important part of religion. In terms of any TWO religions, discuss THREE teachings that promote human rights. (6 x 2) (12)
3.4 Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

Myths, beliefs, doctrine, dogma and ideology are all aspects of religious teachings that mean slightly different things. They all refer to the intellectual, rational or philosophical part of religion and to the coding of religious meaning and truths.

[Source: Shuters Religion Studies Grade 12, Hofmeyr et al, page 8] 

Myths and beliefs are important aspects of religious teachings. Discuss the following concepts as they apply to religious teachings and give ONE example of each:
3.4.1 Myth (6)
3.4.2 Doctrine (6)
3.5 In the context of religion, answer the questions that follow.
3.5.1 Briefly define the concept dogma as it is used in the context of religion. (4)
3.5.2 Give a short explanation of the relationship between ‘teaching’ and ‘belief’ in the context of religion. (6)
3.5.3 Explain the role which parables play in religious teachings. (8) [50]

QUESTION 4
4.1 Read the following extract and then answer the questions that follow.

The first World Parliament of Religions was held in Chicago in 1893. Representatives came from all over the world, from both Eastern and Western religions. The most enduring legacy of the 1893 parliament was the speeches given by Swami Vivekananda. These speeches marked an important introduction of Hinduism to the Western world.

[Adapted from Religion Studies Grade 12, Steyn et al, 2007:29] 

4.1.1 Do you think the decisions taken in the World Parliament of Religions were effective to make our world a better place? Give
reasons for your answer. (12)
4.1.2 In the light of the extract, discuss the role/contribution of any ONE religious leader/organisation who promoted inter-religious dialogue. (12)

Since the adoption of the democratic constitution in 1994, there have been many attempts at the level of religious leadership to develop amicable relationships among different religions.

[Source: Top Class Religion Studies, p43] 

4.1.3 Do you agree that closer ties between religious groups are a necessity to secure a more just and peaceful world? Motivate your answer. (10)
4.2 Different organisations have been established to promote interreligious relationships. Describe the organisation that has been established to promote better relations between Muslims and Christians. (12)
4.3 What is the main difference between interdenominational and interreligious? (4) [50]

QUESTION 5

‘FAKE PASTORS MUST GO FIND OTHER JOBS’ – MKHWANAZI-XALUVA

Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva is the chairwoman of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CLR).
‘The law must be used to assist fake pastors and false prophets to follow different careers and get jobs outside the churches,’ said CLR commission chair, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, on Wednesday.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva was speaking as she accepted a memorandum from the #FakePastorsMustFall movement at the commission’s head office in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
The march organisers said that they took serious issue with these pastors who claim to be healers who can perform miracles.
‘We have pastors that stop people from going to hospitals and give them water which they say is anointed. People are dying. We have victims of HIV that are not able to take their ARV’s because these pastors are lying to them that they can heal HIV,’ said one of the organisers, Martins Antonio.
Mkhawanazi-Xaluva also said that some of the fake pastors have gone beyond the doctrine and are in a business that cannot be recognised as any religion. She also called for people to take a stance against such pastors … ‘We keep on saying there’s freedom of religion, but every right in the Constitution has limitations.”

[Extract taken from the Sowetanlive.co.za from 14 March 2018] 

5.1 Explain why the media coverage of religious issues has increased. (8)
5.2 The article refers to the abuse of people’s belief systems. How can belief systems be abused? (10)
5.3 What do you think should be the role of religious organisations to address activities as displayed in the extract above? (10)
5.4 Describe the relationship between the media and religion in South Africa. (10)
5.5 Do you think that religion should be regulated? Substantiate your answer. (12) [50]

TOTAL SECTION B: 100
GRAND TOTAL: 150

Last modified on Friday, 10 December 2021 08:01