• The ego can imprison a person.
• A person can become enlightened and experience Nirvana by becoming free from the ego.
• Enlightenment is achieved through individual effort, not through the intervention or intercession of other people or gods.

• An allegory is a story that carries a deeper meaning or lesson.
• It can illustrate a religious principle or answer a religious question.
• It can reveal a hidden meaning and is more direct than a parable.

• Similarity refers to features that religions have in common.
• It describes a resemblance between things, such as having the same kind, nature, amount or shape.

• The Buddha was a human being, not a god.
• Buddhism teaches that humans are trapped in a cycle of rebirth and suffer because they cling to the illusion of a permanent self or soul.
• Enlightenment is reached through a lifetime of wisdom and practice, rather than through an inherited belief or faith.

• Tao means 'the path of the universe' and is regarded as the source or beginning of everything.
• In Taoism, both the 'nothing' and the 'happening' that takes place in the Tao are considered divine.
• The processes of the world are made up of two opposing forces, Yin and Yang.
• The aim is to live effortlessly in harmony with the Tao. This way of living is known as Wuwei.

• The Bahá'i faith teaches that there is one all-powerful God, although different religions worship God in different ways.
• Human beings have a soul with the special ability to recognise God and build a relationship with God as Creator.
• All people are equal, and unity among people can help solve political and economic problems.

African Traditional Religion discourages individualism because it is regarded as inhuman. Instead, the community is central to people's lives. A communal way of life allows people to share their joys and blessings, as well as their sorrows and burdens. This idea is expressed in the saying, 'I am because we are, and since we are, therefore I am' (Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu). Harmony within oneself and within the clan or wider society is important. The community also helps determine what is right or wrong by considering how an action affects other people.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Human rights are basic rights that every person has simply because they are human. They belong to everyone, regardless of race, gender or religion.

Human rights also mean that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.

RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility means recognising that people have duties towards one another, especially the duty to respect each other's rights.

Human rights and responsibility must go together. There can be no meaningful enjoyment of rights if people do not accept responsibility for respecting the rights of others.

• During the Second World War, many people inflicted harm on others because of their nationality, race, religion or gender.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established to guarantee certain basic rights and help prevent similar violations from happening in the future.

YES – THE DECLARATION IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY

There are strong reasons to argue that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is taken seriously. Human rights are rooted in the teachings of many religions, which emphasise the dignity and worth of every human being. This religious foundation encourages people and communities to respect human rights rather than treat them as unimportant.

The Declaration has also had a practical influence around the world. It paved the way for the adoption of more than 70 human-rights treaties, showing that its principles have been used as a foundation for international agreements.

In addition, the Declaration is applied on an ongoing basis at global and regional levels in most countries. It has become a common standard of achievement for all people and nations. This shows that its principles continue to guide how countries and organisations understand human rights.

NO – THE DECLARATION IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH

On the other hand, there are convincing reasons to argue that the Declaration is not taken seriously enough. One major weakness is that it has no clear mechanism to ensure that countries actually implement its principles. A country may agree with the Declaration but still fail to protect people in practice.

The Declaration sets out important ideals and goals, but these ideals do not always come with a concrete framework that guarantees they will be achieved. As a result, the existence of the document does not automatically prevent human-rights abuses.

Human rights are also not included in the constitutions of some countries. This can leave people without strong constitutional protection. Furthermore, serious violations continue during conflicts, including the examples identified in the study material involving the United States and Iran, and Russia and Ukraine. Such violations may go unpunished.

Finally, membership of the United Nations is voluntary. This limits the ability of the organisation to ensure that every country follows the Declaration. A country that does not cooperate may be difficult to hold accountable.

A WELL-SUPPORTED CONCLUSION

A balanced conclusion is that the Declaration is taken seriously as an international standard and has influenced many treaties and human-rights systems, but it is not always respected or enforced in practice. The strongest answer is the one that clearly chooses a position, supports it with relevant reasons, and explains how those reasons support the position. You may also argue both sides if you explain each side logically.

• South Africa is a secular state. This means that the state does not impose one religion on everyone; people are free to choose their religion, beliefs and opinions.
• People from all religions have unimpeded access to their places of worship. This allows religious communities to gather and practise their faith without unnecessary interference.
• The state condemns religious intolerance and the incitement of violence. The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission (CRL) is an example of an institution concerned with protecting these rights.
• During natural disasters, religious organisations join hands to help people who have been affected. Their cooperation shows that different religious communities can work together while keeping their own beliefs.
• Even minority religions are represented in interfaith organisations in South Africa. This gives smaller religious communities an opportunity to participate in discussions and cooperation between faith groups.
• Religious leaders from different faiths sometimes pray together at national events, for example during the opening of Parliament. This public cooperation demonstrates recognition of different religions.
• Citizens may choose to belong to more than one religion, change their religious affiliation, or have no religious affiliation at all. This demonstrates the freedom to make personal choices about belief.

• Religious teachings and rituals may be exploited. People may misuse religious beliefs or ceremonies to manipulate, deceive or take advantage of others.
• Religious freedom can lead to the growth of new religious movements and may also allow cults to develop. Some groups may use religion in harmful or controlling ways.
• A religion may lose some of its identity when there is too much diversity within it. If members adopt very different beliefs and practices, the shared teachings and traditions that distinguish the religion may become less clear.
• There may be a lack of loyalty within a religious community because members are free to move from one religion to another. Frequent changes in affiliation can weaken commitment and unity within a particular community.
• Religious freedom may cause divisions within families when family members practise different religions. Differences in beliefs, worship and religious expectations can lead to disagreements and tension at home.

HINDUISM

Hinduism teaches 'Satyameva Jayate', which means 'Truth Alone Triumphs'. This teaching reflects the belief that truth is universal and can be found through diverse paths. It therefore supports the idea that people should be free to follow different paths of faith, worship and religious rituals.

Hinduism does not impose one specific doctrine or set of practices as the only acceptable way for every person. It also does not claim that its own practices are the only way to achieve liberation. By recognising that people may follow different paths, this teaching supports freedom of religion.

AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION (ATR)

African Traditional Religion teaches the philosophy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu encourages people to help and care for one another regardless of their religious affiliation or beliefs.

The communal way of life is central to ATR. People share one another's joys, blessings, sorrows and burdens. This means that the community supports people in both their achievements and misfortunes, without making that support depend on everyone belonging to the same religion. In this way, Ubuntu promotes respect, tolerance and freedom of religion.

BUDDHISM

Buddhism teaches people to do no harm to living creatures, including human beings. This principle encourages respect for others and discourages forcing beliefs on them.

The teaching allows religions to use reason and logical argument to persuade people rather than coercion. People are free to analyse reality and the human condition for themselves.

Tolerance and acceptance of people as they are are fundamental to Buddhism. These teachings support the freedom of every person to practise the religion of their choice.

• Morality was traditionally rooted in religion. Religious teachings often provided guidance about right and wrong, so when people move away from these teachings, they may lose an important source of moral direction.
• Religion may be becoming weaker as the world becomes increasingly secular. As religious influence declines, some people may be less guided by religious values in their everyday decisions.
• The growth of secular attitudes may contribute to an erosion of morality in society. When shared moral standards become less influential, people may disagree about what behaviour is acceptable and may be less likely to follow common values.
• There may be less accountability for religious leaders. When leaders are not questioned or held responsible for their conduct, wrongdoing may continue without proper consequences.
• Some religious leaders abuse their power by subjecting their followers to immoral acts. This misuse of trust and authority can harm individuals and weaken the moral influence that religious institutions are expected to provide.
• The spirit of freedom may be interpreted as meaning that 'anything goes'. If personal freedom is understood as having no limits or responsibilities, people may ignore the effect of their actions on others, while the influence of religion becomes weaker.
• A lack of religious education may lead to family discord. Without shared religious or moral guidance, family members may struggle to agree on values and behaviour, which can create tension and conflict within the family.
• Social media can have a negative influence by encouraging immoral behaviour. When people are repeatedly exposed to harmful content or behaviour presented as acceptable, they may begin to imitate it or become less sensitive to its consequences.

• Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel.
• During the attack, Hamas took hostages.

• They were fighting for liberation from Israeli authority.
• They wanted to regain or obtain their land.
• They wanted an exchange of prisoners.

• “It is the most significant escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict in several decades.”
• Another sentence that shows the conflict predates 2023 is: “Gaza: Palestinian strip of land which was occupied by Israel in 1967.”

ISRAEL

Israel benefited because Hamas released hostages who had been captured during the attack. This meant that Israeli families could have their loved ones returned.

The pause in fighting also gave the Israeli Defence Force time to regroup and organise itself. This provided an opportunity to prepare and reorganise its forces.

PALESTINE

Palestinians benefited because Israel released Palestinian prisoners from its jails, including fighters. This meant that people held in Israeli prisons were able to return.

Displaced residents were allowed to return to northern Gaza. This gave families who had been forced from their homes an opportunity to go back to their communities.

Humanitarian assistance was also allowed into Gaza. The extract specifically states that 600 aid trucks were permitted to enter each day, providing essential support to people affected by the fighting.

• Muslims in other countries sympathised with Palestinians because they regarded them as fellow Muslims and supported their struggle.
• Countries and groups in the region, including Lebanon, Yemen and Iran-backed groups, attacked Israel or those they regarded as Israel's allies. The conflict therefore became connected to wider regional tensions.
• Israel received support from its allies, including military assistance and arms. This involvement increased the number of countries connected to the conflict.
• The United States was a leading ally of Israel. As a result, Iran-backed groups attacked United States military positions in Iraq and Syria, widening the conflict beyond Israel and Gaza.

Religion plays a role in the conflict, but the marking-guide position is that it plays a minor role because the conflict is mainly political. The dispute involves authority, territory, control of land and the political claims of the parties. These issues cannot be explained by religion alone.

Religion is nevertheless used to support or justify some claims. For example, the source material refers to Jewish claims to Palestinian land on religious grounds. The marking guideline also states that this claim is rejected under international law. This illustrates how religious arguments can become part of a wider political and territorial dispute.

The marking guideline further refers to the occupation and settlement of Gaza and the displacement of original Palestinian inhabitants. This aspect concerns land, control and the rights of people living in the territory. Overall, religion is one dimension of the conflict, but political and territorial issues are central to understanding it.

NO – I DO NOT AGREE

I do not agree that Israel's explanation is sufficient to justify the high number of civilian deaths. Even during war, civilians must be protected. The marking guideline refers to the Geneva agreement and argues that Israel had a responsibility to protect civilians rather than expose them to further danger.

The extract reports that hospitals were not functioning and that large numbers of civilians had died. The marking guideline also points to attacks on essential civilian facilities, including hospitals and schools. These places provide vital services and shelter, so attacks on them place already vulnerable people at serious risk.

Civilians were not provided with adequate shelters or places of refuge. This meant that families had little protection when fighting took place around them. The marking guideline also states that humanitarian organisations were not allowed by Israeli forces to assist people injured in the war. Preventing assistance makes it harder to save lives and treat casualties.

The marking guideline additionally argues that Israel was supposed to release all political prisoners. Taken together, these points support the view that the explanation about Hamas operating among civilians does not remove Israel's responsibility to protect the civilian population.

YES – I AGREE

A person who agrees with Israel's explanation could argue that Hamas initiated the attack on 7 October 2023 by attacking Israeli civilians and taking hostages. This attack created the conditions for the military response and contributed to the escalation of the war.

The marking guideline states that Hamas used civilians as human shields. If fighters operate among civilians, it becomes more difficult for an opposing force to attack military targets without putting nearby civilians at risk.

The guideline also states that Hamas used hospitals and schools as military bases. If civilian facilities are used for military purposes, they may become part of the fighting, increasing the danger to the people who depend on them. This is the argument used to support Israel's explanation.

A further argument is that Hamas should have released all the hostages to avoid the continuation of the war. Their continued captivity was presented as a reason for the conflict to continue. However, even when presenting this YES argument, it is important to recognise that the presence of fighters among civilians does not remove the need to protect civilians.

CHRISTIANITY

Christianity teaches, “Love thy neighbour as you love yourself.” This means that people should treat others with the same care, dignity and concern that they would want for themselves. When people apply this teaching, they are less likely to harm or mistreat others, which can prevent conflict.

Another Christian teaching is, “Do unto others as you like to be done unto you.” This encourages people to think about how their actions affect others. If people act with mutual respect and fairness, disagreements are less likely to develop into hostility or violence.

Christianity also teaches, “Thou shalt not kill.” This teaching reflects the sanctity and sacredness of human life. It discourages taking life and supports the protection of others, making it a clear teaching against violent conflict.

BUDDHISM

Buddhism promotes shared humanness and selflessness. This encourages people to look beyond their own needs and consider the well-being of others. Selflessness can reduce conflict because people become less focused on selfish interests and more concerned about the suffering of others.

Buddhism strongly encourages non-violence, known as ahimsa. This teaching discourages harming living beings and supports peaceful ways of dealing with disagreements.

Buddhism recognises that all living things share the aspiration to gain happiness and avoid suffering. Understanding this shared wish encourages compassion and respect, because people realise that others experience pain and seek well-being just as they do.

Buddhism has therefore not waged war to spread its teachings, because using violence to force religious beliefs on others would contradict non-violence and respect for basic human rights.

• Promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. Religious organisations can bring leaders and members of different faiths together to discuss their beliefs, listen to one another and address misunderstandings before they become conflict.
• Emphasise shared values between religions, such as compassion, love, generosity and justice. Focusing on these common values can help communities recognise what they share instead of concentrating only on their differences.
• Develop educational programmes and workshops that teach tolerance and respect for diversity. These activities can help members understand different religions and challenge prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination.
• Start or take part in peace-building initiatives, including conflict-resolution and mediation training. These skills can help communities settle disagreements through discussion rather than hostility or violence.
• Promote non-violent communication and encourage members to become peacemakers. Religious leaders can model respectful language and teach followers to respond calmly when disagreements arise.
• Work with civil-society organisations involved in peace-building and conflict resolution. By sharing resources, knowledge and expertise, religious organisations can strengthen efforts to prevent and resolve conflict.
• Use social media to promote peace. Religious organisations can share messages that encourage tolerance, understanding and cooperation, while challenging content that promotes hatred or religious hostility.

• A cleric is a clergyman or priest: a person who holds an official religious position and performs religious duties.

• He is being pressured to resign from his position as Archbishop.
• He is being pressured to take action against the perpetrator, John Smyth, in response to the abuse and the church's handling of the case.

• A cover-up means concealing evidence of wrongdoing or hiding information that could embarrass or expose people responsible.
• It also means trying to hide illegal activity so that the people involved are not held accountable.

• He should be expelled from the church so that he no longer holds a position or status within the religious community.
• Justice should take its course. The allegations and wrongdoing should be dealt with through the proper legal process, and he should be held accountable.
• He must not be allowed to work with minors again, because children must be protected from further abuse.

• People may leave the Church of England because its most senior cleric was involved in a cover-up or failed to pursue the abuse case. This can damage confidence in the institution.
• Congregants may feel betrayed by the church. They may believe that the institution protected its reputation or leaders instead of protecting vulnerable people.
• The church may be labelled a cult rather than a church because it failed to act against child abuse. Such a perception can seriously damage its reputation and the trust people place in religious organisations.

NEGATIVE AND PERIPHERAL ISSUES ABOUT RELIGION

The media often gives attention to negative or peripheral issues about religion rather than the ordinary positive work of religious communities. These stories attract attention because bad news sells. This is known as sensationalism: dramatic, shocking or disturbing events are more likely to attract an audience than routine religious activities.

Media organisations operate as businesses and need to make a profit. Stories involving controversy, conflict or wrongdoing are therefore more likely to attract readers and viewers, helping media houses compete for attention.

SCANDALS AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

Scandals involving religious leaders or organisations also receive substantial media coverage. Allegations of abuse, corruption, dishonesty or the misuse of religious authority are considered newsworthy because they shock the public and raise questions about the conduct of religious institutions.

Issues that appear to be religious may also be political. When religion becomes connected to political power, public disputes or political interests, the media may report on the controversy because it has wider social and political importance.

• Religious organisations should engage mainstream media in dialogue about religious issues. Open communication gives them an opportunity to explain their beliefs, practices and responses to concerns instead of allowing misunderstandings to grow.
• They should remind the media that biased reporting can lead to conflict. Inaccurate or one-sided coverage may create suspicion and hostility between religious communities, so organisations should raise concerns when reporting is unfair.
• They should emphasise the importance of objectivity and impartiality. Religious organisations can ask journalists to present information accurately, consider different perspectives and avoid favouring one side without justification.
• They can boycott media houses when reporting is persistently unfair or biased. A boycott can be used to express disapproval and put pressure on a media organisation to reconsider its approach.
• Religious organisations should educate their members on how to handle the media. Members need to understand how to communicate clearly, respond responsibly to questions and avoid statements that could worsen a situation.
• Religious organisations should avoid negative conduct that is likely to attract justified negative publicity. They should act ethically and address wrongdoing within their own communities rather than expecting the media to ignore it.
• They should establish their own media department to communicate their work and teachings. This allows them to share accurate information, explain their activities and respond directly when negative stories arise.

YES – THE MEDIA DOES GIVE FAIR COVERAGE

There are reasons to argue that South African media coverage is fair. Freedom of the press allows a variety of viewpoints to be expressed, and this diversity can also be seen in reporting about religion. Different perspectives can therefore be heard rather than allowing only one religious viewpoint to dominate.

Some television channels have dedicated religious slots that report on religions. These programmes provide space for religious issues to be discussed and allow viewers to learn about religious beliefs and practices.

Religions are covered across different media platforms. This gives a range of religious communities opportunities to have their beliefs, events and activities represented.

Religious organisations also have their own independent media, which they use to communicate and spread their teachings. This means that religious groups are not entirely dependent on mainstream media to present their perspectives.

The law allows objections to be raised when media coverage is unfair. This provides a way for people or organisations to challenge reporting that they believe is unjust or inaccurate.

NO – THE MEDIA DOES NOT ALWAYS GIVE FAIR COVERAGE

There are also strong reasons to argue that coverage is not always fair. Pressure groups in civil society and government may influence media content so that articles support their own interests. This can affect which religious issues are reported and how they are presented.

Journalists may allow their personal prejudices to influence their reporting. When a journalist's assumptions or biases shape a story, the coverage may become one-sided and fail to represent a religious community fairly.

The media is a business and often looks for stories that will attract an audience. Ordinary religious activities may not be considered newsworthy. For example, a report that a midnight mass took place as planned is unlikely to attract the same attention as a dramatic or controversial event.

As a result, the media often focuses on controversial religious issues. Scandals, conflict and negative events may receive more attention than positive religious work, creating an unbalanced picture of religion and religious communities.

CONCLUSION

A strong answer should make your own position clear and support it with reasons. You may argue that coverage is generally fair because different viewpoints and religious programmes are available, or that it is often unfair because of bias, commercial interests and the preference for controversy. You may also reach a balanced conclusion: religious issues do receive coverage, but the attention given to negative and controversial stories can make that coverage uneven.