RELIGION STUDIES
GRADE 12
PAPER 1 
NSC PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
SEPTEMBER 2017

MEMORANDUM 

SECTION A (COMPULSORY) 
QUESTION 1 
1.1
1.1.1 Ideology refers to a substitute for the term religion. It is a system  of beliefs supporting a social or political system and secular  system or that which is not an authority. (2) 
1.1.2 Teaching means to give information or to impart the knowledge in  order to enforce belief. It also means to give systematic  information about a subject. (2) 
1.1.3 Parable refers to a story that is told to illustrate a religious  principle or answer a religious question. It is usually very short  and contains a definite moral. (2) 
1.1.4 Myth means fable. It also means reference to religious stories in  which deep truths about life are revealed. (2) 
1.1.5 Belief means a firm opinion. It also means faith or religion. (2) 
NOTE: Each fact carries 2 marks. Any correct fact/points  must be credited. 

1.2
1.2.1 Halaal (2)
1.2.2 Calabash (2)
1.2.3 Torah (2)
1.2.4 Karma (2)
1.2.5 Hebrew (2) 

1.3
1.3.1 Dictionary (2)
1.3.2 Pretoria (2)
1.3.3 Nelson Mandela (2)
1.3.4 Rome (2)
1.3.5 Moses (2)

1.4
1.4.1 FALSE (2)
1.4.2 FALSE (2)
1.4.3 FALSE (2)
1.4.4 FALSE (2)
1.4.5 TRUE (2) 

1.5
1.5.1 D / Kitab-iAqdas (2)
1.5.2 E / China (2)
1.5.3 B / Divine law of Islam (2)
1.5.4 A / Constitution (2)
1.5.5 C / African Traditional Religion (2)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2 
2.1
2.1.1 Identity 

• Identity means individuality.
• It means the religion has a certain individuality or a certain 
• ersonality that distinguishes it from other religion. 
•  It means the affirmation of the dignity and value of a religion. 
• It means an exclusive religious identity in which one identifies  strongly with the beliefs and doctrines of the religion and sees these  as defining one’s life. (4) 

2.1.2 Unity 

• Unity refers to those factors that lead to the sharing of a common  identity.
• It refers to harmony and concord that exist between religions.
• It may also refer to the acknowledgement of common ground  among different faith groups. (4)

2.1.3 Uniqueness 

• It is those features that make the religion different from other  religions. 
• It is those features that make it identifiable as a different religion. 
• There is uniqueness in beliefs, practices and normative texts. (4)

2.1.4 Comparability 

• This means that two or more things are able to be compared.
• This does not mean that they are similar. 
• Things can be compared and it is found that they are different. 
• The other meaning may be that things can be compared because  they are fit to be compared. (4) 

2.1.5 Similarity 

• It refers to “being alike”. 
• It is important to specify similarities.
  (Any correct points carries 2 marks (2 x 2 = 4)) (4)

2.2 Role of ancestors in African Traditional Religion. 

• They are the messengers of the Creator.
• They are seen by followers as the supervisors of the physical world.
• They look after the welfare of the living. 
• They reveal themselves through dreams and sometimes through visions  to communicate with the living. 
• To communicate with God, the living uses the ancestors – they are their intermediaries. (5 x 2) (10) 

2.3 Internal differences that exist within one religion (Islam as an example) 
2.3.1 Religious teachings 
Shi'a 

• They believe that the caliphate (successor) should be from the  descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
• They claim that these caliphs are divinely-appointed imams with  supernatural knowledge and authority who must lead the faithful. 
• They follow some Hadith (e.g. recordings of Ali and Fatima) of  Prophet Muhammad and reject others.
• They commemorate the death of Hussain, whom they believe  was martyred at Karbala. 
• They share a collective guilt for not coming to his aid when he  was killed. 
• The Shi'a have two schools of law. 
• The Shi’a follow the teachings of a modern day imam. 

Sunni 

• Sunni's believe that the faithful, rather than the descendants,  should elect their leaders, (e.g. Abu Bakr).
• Sunni refers to 'following' the Sunnah (example) of the Prophet  Muhammad. 
• All the companions of the Prophet are given equal respect in  Islamic jurisprudence. (Islamic law)
• The Sunni have four schools of law.
• The Sunni follow the teachings of the 7th and 8th century  scholars. (10)

2.3.2 Religious practices in Islam 
Sunni  

• Religious practices are strictly in accordance with the Sunnah  of the Prophet, as laid down in the Hadith. 
• An 'imam' is simply the leader of the congregational prayer. 
• 'Imam' does not denote formal training in Sunni Islam. 
• There are four recognised scholars with regard to legal matters  in Islam. 
•  They pray five times daily.
• The concept of Muttah (temporary marriage) is not recognised,  as they contend it was discontinued by the Prophet. 
• In the event of a dispute, the issue is decided by means of a  consensus.  

Shi'a  

• Those Hadith from Ali and Fatima, daughter of prophet, are  given more prominence. 
• The shrine of Hussain in Karbala is an important pilgrimage for  Shi'as.
• Muttah is allowed. 
• Shi’a Muslims are allowed to combine some of their five daily  prayers into three.
• They can pray three times a day.
• They practise self-mutilation (striking themselves).
• There are two advisory schools of law, Akbari and Usuli.
• In the event of a dispute, the issue is decided upon by a central  authority (ayatollah). (10)

[50]

QUESTION 3 
3.1 Features that are fulfilled by the uniqueness of a religion. 

• It strengthens the believer’s faith.
• It identifies the religion from amongst other religions. 
• It guides the believer’s way of life.
• It helps the believer to unite in the spiritual life as a communion with  other believers. 
• It assist believers to explain why they chose a particular religion.
• It helps members to identify who belongs to the faith and who does  not. (10) 

3.2 Uniqueness of any ONE religion. 
African Traditional Religion as an example. 

• They believe in the existence of a Supreme Being.
• They communicate with their God through the ancestors.
• Their communication with the ancestors is through the ritual of animal  sacrifice.
• Harmony between the living and the ancestors is of great importance.
• Ancestors can bring illness, misfortune, and also blessings.
• During the ritual of sacrifice the living call the ancestors to be present.
• Community solidarity is a pronounced feature in ATR. 
• The community orientation of African society is clearly reflected in its  rituals.
• Rituals are rich in symbols, e.g. the goat-hide bracelet (Isipandla)
• They do not have a special day of worship.
• There is no founder.
• There is no written text.
• There are no sacred buildings, but there are sacred places.
• There is a great variance of belief among African Traditional  Religions.
  (Any relevant response will be credited.) (10)

3.3 Five beliefs shared by Abrahamic religions 

• Believe in one God.
• Believe in the existence and the role of the Devil or Satan.
• Believe in the existence and the role of angels. 
• Believe in life after death.
• Believe in the authority of the sacred texts as the Word of God.
• They believe in Judgement Day. (10)

3.4 The Role of parables in religious teachings 

• They provide us with a rich source of religious teaching (wisdom). 
• They contain religious beliefs, ideas, morals, and warnings.
• They speak about God, the world, human relationships and the nature  of things. 
• It conveys moral or philosophical truths.
• It is a simple story that conveys a deep, spiritual truth. (10)
  NOTE: Other relevant points must be credited. 

3.5 Concept of doctrine 

• Doctrine is a belief held by a religious group. 
• It is a synonym for teaching. 
• It is sometimes used to refer to the entire set of beliefs in a religion.
• Doctrine is a statement of essential beliefs. 
• It functions to safeguard what is essential to the religion.
• They are the essential pillars of the religion.
• Teaching and doctrine are closely connected to the notion of religious teachings.
  (Any relevant response will be credited.) (10)

[50]

QUESTION 4 
4.1 Yes/No. 
NOTE: This is an open-ended question, and credit must be given to  relevant examples given by learners. (2) 
4.2 YES. 

• In South Africa, (or other countries) there is equal coverage given to  each religion e.g. TV programme, “Issues of faith”.
• If religious coverage is not fair, complaints can be made to the  BCCSA or the Human Rights Commission. 
  These are made by individuals or religious bodies such as the  Jewish Board of Deputies, Hindu Maha Sabha, etc. 
• Representatives of various faiths are interviewed.
• This allows for different viewpoints to be represented.  

NO. 

• Research shows this is not the case, as in the extract above.
• The Catholic Church gets mainly negative coverage regarding  alleged child abuse by its priests. 
• The media never engages in the promotion of religion or general  religious issues. 
• Only sensationalist reporting is done.
• In world media, religion is often depicted as being the cause of wars,  suffering and abuse (e.g. abuse of women). (10) 

4.3

• The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have thrust Islam into the limelight.
• In the West little was/is known about it in the past,
• There is increased competition among media houses.
• Wars and conflict often divide people along religious lines. 
• The coverage is only on issues that sell newspapers, such as  scandals, conflict with secular law, etc. 
• Religion is seen as big business, in many cases.
• Examples of this are the Hajj, the ZCC Easter gathering, etc.
  (Any relevant responses must be credited.) (10)

4.4

• The civil conflict in Nigeria is often shown as conflict between the  Muslim North and Christian South. 
• There is an effort by Muslims to enforce Shariah law, even on non Muslims. 
• Muslims fear that they will be ruled by a Christian government.
• Christians fear that Nigeria would become an Islamic state.
• There is concern as to who will exert political control over the oil  resources.
• The oil interests also encourage foreign powers to take sides in the  conflict. 
• Some Muslim sects have lost faith in the government and have  taken the law into their own hands, e.g. Boko Haram.
• Boko Haram provides basic services to its supporters, in the  absence of government services. [Mail and Guardian, 2 April 2012,  p.24) (10) 

4.5 E.g. Homosexuality and the Catholic church 

• The Catholic Church is strongly against homosexuality. 
• The Catholic Church refers to the Biblical story of Sodom and  Gomorra. 
• Numerous protests condemning the church's stand get a lot of media coverage. 
• The church’s view do not get the same coverage in the media as anti-religious sentiments.
• They ignore the unconditional love of God.
  (Any relevant fact will be credited.) (10)

4.6 E.g. Polygamy in ATR or Islam  

• Women in polygamous marriages are shown as being abused by  their husbands 
• Women involved in extra-marital relationships are presented as  more acceptable. 
• This is evident in the many extra-marital relationships shown on TV.
• Religious texts are often misquoted by the media to justify the ill treatment of women.
  (Any relevant response will be credited.) (8)

[50]

QUESTION 5 
5.1
5.1.1 Conflict in Darfur 

• The Darfur conflict in Southern Sudan started more than 100  years ago. 
• The main divisions were ethnic/tribal and cultural. 
•  Religion is not a radical source of division. 
• Most people of Darfur are Sunni Muslims, as is the  government of Khartoum. 
• There are some Christians and ATR adherents in the south. 
• Drought has increased competition for limited resources and  brought nomads and farmers into conflict. 
• In 1983 there was a civil war when the Muslim government  tried to impose Islamic law in the South. 
  (Credit any relevant example.) (10)

5.1.2 Current situation of the conflict in Darfur 

• In 2005 South Africa brokered a peace deal between the North  and the South.
• However, conflict continued.
• In 2006, the President resisted United Nations involvement to  resolve the dispute. 
• A UN backed referendum in 2011 decided on partition of the  South.
• The situation is accepted and it is peaceful and calm.
  (Any relevant response will be credited.) (10) 

5.1.3 Role of religion in the conflict 

• Religion is not a radical source of division.
• Most people on both sides of the conflict are Sunni Muslim.
• Religion played an indirect role in the 1983 civil war.
• Religion have played a major role in trying to help.
• Two religious organisations involved were the Catholic 
  Agency for Oversees Development and Islamic Relief  Agency.
• This help include building of clinics and schools and repairing  infrastructure. (10)

5.1.4 Relationship between religious tolerance and religious  freedom 

• The two terms are closely related.
• Religious freedom is determined by the government of the  day.
• Religious tolerance is mainly depended on attitudes of  religious groups or individuals with a given community.
• It is the acceptance and respect of the religious beliefs and  practices of other people without any preconditions.
• Religious freedom prepares a good ground for religious  tolerance. 
  NOTE: other relevant points must be credited. (4) 

5.2 5.2.1 For each of the following religions, briefly discuss the  teachings that promote human rights. 
Buddhism 

• They promote shared humanness. 
• There is a shared aspiration of gaining happiness and  avoiding suffering. (4)

5.2.2 Christianity 

• ʽLove thy neighbour as you love yourself’: This teaching  encourage treating everyone equally.
• Thou shall not kill’: This refers to the sanctity of human life. (4)

5.2.3 Islam 

• There is no compulsion to convert to Islam − that is,  proclaiming one’s faith should be voluntary and sincere. This  allows for freedom of religion.
• The institution of zakaat (charity) ensures that basic needs of  food, shelter and clothing are satisfied. (4)

5.2.4 African Traditional Religion  

• The principle of ubuntu encourages helping one’s community. 
• The practice of Ilima is one in which the community provides  help to those of its members who are indigent.
  (Any other relevant fact must be credited. Teachings may be  expressed in the learner's own words.) (4) 

TOTAL MARKS SECTION B: 100 
GRAND TOTAL: 150