Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Unit 8 - Religion, Rights and Responsibility

Key Words Bible: The Holy Book of Christianity made up of the 66 books of the Old and the New Testament (also known as ‘Scripture’). Church: The community of Christian believers (small ‘c’ refers to the building). Conscience: An inner feeling of what is right or wrong. Situation Ethics: The idea that Christians should base moral decisions on what is the most loving thing to do. Electoral Processes: The ways in which voting is organised. Democratic Processes: The ways in which local citizens can take part in government. Political Party: A group which tries to be elected into power based on its policies. Pressure Group: Groups formed to influence government policies on particular issues. Social Change: The way in which society has changed and is changing. Human Rights: The rights and freedoms to which everyone is entitled. Decalogue: The Ten Commandments. Golden Rule: Jesus’ teaching to treat others as we would like to be treated.

Sources of Authority When making moral decisions, the Christian wants to know what their God would want them to do. To find this out they turn to trusted sources that they believe have some authority [credibility] to help guide their decisions. These will include...

66 books (73 for Catholics). 66 books (73 for Catholics). Written over a period of 1000 years. Written over a period of 1000 years. 40 different authors. 40 different authors. OT compiled around 300 BCE. OT compiled around 300 BCE. NT compiled and combined around 375 CE. NT compiled and combined around 375 CE. 66 books (73 for Catholics). 66 books (73 for Catholics). Written over a period of 1000 years. Written over a period of 1000 years. 40 different authors. 40 different authors. OT compiled around 300 BCE. OT compiled around 300 BCE. NT compiled and combined around 375 CE. NT compiled and combined around 375 CE. Sources of Authority: The Bible Did You Know...? ‘God-breathed’ in this passage has the same idea in both Greek and Hebrew as when God breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2 at creation. In other words, what is in the bible gets its life from God. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching and training in righteousness.” “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 The Decalogue The Prophets Jesus’ Teaching - Sermon on Mount - Parables - Kingdom of God Apostles’ Teaching -St Peter, St Paul St John, St James St John, St James These are in the Bible & Xians use them to guide decisions.

The Word of God? Most Christians refer to the Bible as the ‘Word of God’, however, not all agree what this means: The Words of God : Some Xians, mainly fundamentalists, believe the Bible contains the actual words of God. These people are called literalists as they believe every word is literally as God wanted it to be. As such, the bible has total authority in all situations Words inspired by God : Other Xians feel the Bible was written by humans but inspired by God. Although it has God’s authority, it needs interpreting in light of its day when considering an application for today. Words about God : Some Xians see the bible as written by people who genuinely loved God, but the words do not have God’s direct authority. They may use conscience, reason and logic to interpret its meaning for them.

Jesus Apostles 312 Constantine Eastern Orthodox Free/House Church Salvation Army Methodist Baptist Lutheran Quakers Church of England Roman Catholic 1517 Reformation 1378 Great Schism At first the Christian Church had identical beliefs. In 1517 a priest called Martin Luther objected to how the Catholic Church ran the religion. In 312 the Emperor Constantine became a Christian and so Rome helped the spread of Christianity years later a split happened between East and West. He listed 95 objections he had. Since then different groups (denominations) felt the need to worship god in different ways. These are just some of the denominations

Please see “Right & Responsibility” PowerPoint 2 for continued information…