Transcript Freedom of Throught, Religion and Belief

Two Chairs Exchange
For AQA GCSE RS
Lesson 3:
Freedom of Thought, Religion and Belief
Starter I: Two Chairs Exchange
As a class, mind-map the core ideas of the
Two Chairs exchange
Freedom of Thought,
Religion and Belief
Today we’ll ask:
• Does Christianity/ Islam recognize the
human rights of individuals to belief and
practice their religion freely?
• Is Christianity/Islam exclusivist/ inclusivist/
pluralistic?
Starter II: Class discussion
Empathy with others:
“What might it be like living as a (minority)
faith community in a country with a (majority)
faith different to your own?”
Research I
There are many, many examples of intolerance and
persecution shown to both Muslim and Christian minorities
by majority religions.
Srebrenica genocide
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bosnian-war-photo-report-radovankaradzic-guilty-srebrenica-genocide-crimes-againsthumanity-1551483
Christians in Pakistan BBC Video link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32212962
Research II
Look at these Christian sources (see sheet also). What
views are put forward about “other” faiths?
• Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.
• Acts 10:34 – find, read and consider!
• Luke 10 – Good Samaritan. Find, read and consider!
• Genesis 1 – all people made in God’s image. Find,
read and consider.
Research III
Look at these Muslim sources (see sheet also). What views are put forward about “other”
faiths?
•
Sur’ah 42:15: So to that [religion of Allah ] invite, [O Muhammad], and remain on a right
course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed
in what Allah has revealed of the Qur'an, and I have been commanded to do justice among
you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is
no [need for] argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is the
[final] destination."
•
Sur’ah 2:256: There must be "no compulsion in religion."
•
“Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of
Paradise.” (Saheeh Muslim)
•
“Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or
burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free
will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu
Dawud)
•
Muhammad saw Jews and Christians as People of the Book who had received revelation
for God, albeit that they had corrupted this revelation. However, he advocated peaceful coexistence with the other Abrahamic faiths, arguing for tolerance and mutual acceptance.
… and yet …..
• “I am the way the truth and the life. No one
can come to the father except through me”
John 14: 6
• “Believers, do not take Jews and
Christians for allies” Qur’an 5:51
How do these excerpts from scripture
complicate matters? Do we also find
exclusivist claims here?
Two Chairs…
Including reference to key scripture, write a dialogue
using the core principles of the Two Chairs Exchange
between a Muslim and a Christian, in which each
explores the other’s right to believe and practise their
religion. You might use statements like this:
• “My faith recognizes/ fails to recognize your
right to follow a different faith, in that it ….”
• “Your faith recognizes/ fails to recognize my
right to follow my own faith, in that it …”
Closing class discussion
How might a Christian learn from the teachings
of Muhammad?
How might a Muslim learn from the teachings of
St Paul?
(each without compromising their own religious
beliefs)
Essay title
Assessment:
‘Religion makes people intolerant of those who do not share their faith.’ Evaluate
this statement
In your answer you:
• should give reasoned arguments in support of this statement
• should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
• should refer to differing religious arguments
• may refer to non-religious arguments
• should reach a justified conclusion.
Without referring to the Two Chairs idea directly, try to bring out differences and
similarities between Christianity and Islam. Try to compare and contrast what you
have found out about how the two faiths show tolerance to other religions. Try to
avoid black and white thinking (avoid one faith = tolerant, the other faith =
intolerant).
12 marks