HSC Studies of Religion Question Thread

[ssarahj]

I can't believe I didn't know that Islam meant submission haha! I'm doing A'isha Bakar, sexual ethics and Hajj. In terms of linking to submission to Allah, would I talk about how sexual ethics are derived from the Qur'an and the Hadith, and hence when practicing these ethics, adherents are submitting to Allah and his teachings? Whereas for A'isha would I talk about how her translation of part of the Hadith meant Allah's teachings were preserved, allowing adherents to live their life by morals and ethics as outlined in the Hadith? I'm not particularly sure how else I would link it to A'isha, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thankyou so much for the quick response!!

YES, YES and YES: all those links/ideas sound awesome!
Also don't forget that A'isha pretty much dedicated her life to serving others (AKA serving Allah) and that she had a deep understanding of the Quran (Allah's word) from her witnessing heaps of Muhammad's revelations (and even being the catalyst for some of them)!
If you get a chance to actually write this killer essay, you should definitely post it up on the SOR marking thread to get some feedback  Keep up the good work!

[Bparker]

YES, YES and YES: all those links/ideas sound awesome!
Also don't forget that A'isha pretty much dedicated her life to serving others (AKA serving Allah) and that she had a deep understanding of the Quran (Allah's word) from her witnessing heaps of Muhammad's revelations (and even being the catalyst for some of them)!
If you get a chance to actually write this killer essay, you should definitely post it up on the SOR marking thread to get some feedback  Keep up the good work!

I didn't even think about that link haha! Thanks for the awesome feedback during my last minute frenzy to compile all my religion notes ssarahj, you're a legend! Definitely will do

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi there!
I'm leaning towards doing my religion essay on Islam, however, if the question was based on all three aspects of the religion, would the main belief of Islam be submission to Allah? Then I would try to thread this belief through all the different aspects right?
I've been trying to take notes from Jamon's SOR essay guide, but am actually unclear on what the core belief of Islam would be - probably a good idea to know haha!
Thanks

Hey BParker! To add to Sarah's awesome responses, the core beliefs of Islam:

Tawhid: Belief in the Oneness of Allah
Malaika: Belief in Angels
Kutubullah: Belief in the Books of Allah (Qu'ran)
Rusul: Belief in the Prophets of Allah (Muhammad (pbuh)
Qadr: Beliefs in Free Will/Predestination
Akhira: Belief in the Day of Judgement

All of these should be reasonably easy to link to your 3 aspects of Islam! I did almost exactly your options too, just Friday Prayer instead of Hajj, I'll see if I can dig up my study notes to post on the site! can't believe they aren't already there tbh, my core notes are there

[sudodds]

Last minute question haha but does anyone have any idea on how you would structure a Christian environmental ethics essay, one that asked for its impact upon the lives of adherents? I'm at a loss, at the moment this is the best I have:

Paragraph 1 – Biblical Teachings
Paragraph 2 – Contemporary Issues and why Christian environmental ethics are relevant
Paragraph 3 – Contemporary issues and how Christians are solving it

But i really don't think this is a very good structure, as the last two paragraphs would be very similar :/ Anyone got any better ideas?

Thanks!

[jamonwindeyer]

Last minute question haha but does anyone have any idea on how you would structure a Christian environmental ethics essay, one that asked for its impact upon the lives of adherents? I'm at a loss, at the moment this is the best I have:

Paragraph 1 – Biblical Teachings
Paragraph 2 – Contemporary Issues and why Christian environmental ethics are relevant
Paragraph 3 – Contemporary issues and how Christians are solving it

But i really don't think this is a very good structure, as the last two paragraphs would be very similar :/ Anyone got any better ideas?

Thanks!

Hey! I think your structure works well, though perhaps a little bit forced if you follow me, doesn't quite flow. You could try a separate paragraph on 3 contemporary issues and integrate the impact on adherents throughout? So like, one on Issue A, one on Issue B, etc etc. I did this for my CSSA Trials (Islam - Sexual Ethics) and 100%'ed the exam, it's my preferred way (providing what I chat about next doesn't suit) to structure an SOR response

Another option though: It's very different, so maybe not the best thing to tackle last minute. But, you can structure it around the key beliefs of Christianity? That link has an article I wrote on doing belief-focused responses, they can be really powerful, might be worth a read for you 

[sudodds]

Hey! I think your structure works well, though perhaps a little bit forced if you follow me, doesn't quite flow. You could try a separate paragraph on 3 contemporary issues and integrate the impact on adherents throughout? So like, one on Issue A, one on Issue B, etc etc. I did this for my CSSA Trials (Islam - Sexual Ethics) and 100%'ed the exam, it's my preferred way (providing what I chat about next doesn't suit) to structure an SOR response

Another option though: It's very different, so maybe not the best thing to tackle last minute. But, you can structure it around the key beliefs of Christianity? That link has an article I wrote on doing belief-focused responses, they can be really powerful, might be worth a read for you 

Ahhhh okay awesome They seem like much better structures, I'll give them a go, though I am praying that this as a question doesn't crop up, would much rather a Paul of Tarsus essay, or one that I can incorporate all three.

[jamonwindeyer]

Ahhhh okay awesome They seem like much better structures, I'll give them a go, though I am praying that this as a question doesn't crop up, would much rather a Paul of Tarsus essay, or one that I can incorporate all three.

All three was my fav, although I did like my ethics responses, the practice responses were my least favourite tbh

All in all, even if you aren't super happy with the structure right now, just be clear with your points, argue your ideas well, and you'll still perform really well!! The structure can be perfected later, if the ideas are strong that is the important thing

GOOD LUCK!

[studybuddy7777]

Hey just a quick question on Christianity Bioethics

When does life begin? I know for Catholic it's at conception (and the idea of potential life), Orthodox is conception and Anglican is 10-14 days, but I'm not quite sure about the Uniting Church, I think it's at conception but someone else thinks it's 2 weeks.

You are definitely right about the first two, but if you don't know any facts for uniting, then why not just do 3 denominations? This is generally accepted in SOR. However, there are many times for debate:

Life begins:
at conception
after 10-14 days
after 40 days (aristotle)
At Quickening, 14-16 weeks when the baby starts to move
when the foetus has brain function
At birth
At its first breath ("and the lord god formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became living soul")

It is open to interpretation, which is why is such a bioethical issue.
Hope this helps!

[Bparker]

Hey BParker! To add to Sarah's awesome responses, the core beliefs of Islam:

Tawhid: Belief in the Oneness of Allah
Malaika: Belief in Angels
Kutubullah: Belief in the Books of Allah (Qu'ran)
Rusul: Belief in the Prophets of Allah (Muhammad (pbuh)
Qadr: Beliefs in Free Will/Predestination
Akhira: Belief in the Day of Judgement

All of these should be reasonably easy to link to your 3 aspects of Islam! I did almost exactly your options too, just Friday Prayer instead of Hajj, I'll see if I can dig up my study notes to post on the site! can't believe they aren't already there tbh, my core notes are there

Thankyou so much Jamon, this reply + sarah's replies + you're SOR guide saved my butt in my exam today - especially the essay, I felt like I was flying through it thanks to you two!

[jamonwindeyer]

Thankyou so much Jamon, this reply + sarah's replies + you're SOR guide saved my butt in my exam today - especially the essay, I felt like I was flying through it thanks to you two!

Awesome to hear!! Great work BParker, sounds like you smashed it

[ssarahj]

Thankyou so much Jamon, this reply + sarah's replies + you're SOR guide saved my butt in my exam today - especially the essay, I felt like I was flying through it thanks to you two!

wooo go you!! so happy to help, good luck with the rest of your exams!

[Lauradf36]

Ok urgent SOR 2 question: How to study for religion and peace? My trial exam is tomorrow. I have notes but I don't how to make an essay on it, or what kind of essays to prepare - can they pick from any of the dot points??

[Essej]

Ok urgent SOR 2 question: How to study for religion and peace? My trial exam is tomorrow. I have notes but I don't how to make an essay on it, or what kind of essays to prepare - can they pick from any of the dot points??

Hi Laurad!

Since CSSA SOR2 has passed i'll see if i can help you out!

For religion and peace you want 2 solid essays first of all - 1 on world peace and one on inner peace. I'm not sure what 2 religions you focused on, but for myself and most schools i know we did christianity and islam.

If you haven't done an essay on inner/world peace by now, my best advice is to get down the principal teachings of each religion regarding peace and how each offers the individual a way to achieve inner peace.
For Example:
In Christianity Christ acts as a guide for inner peace through his model as a perfect Christian in the New Testament.
Scripture: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
In Islam Allah is the only source of peace and thus through submission and adherence to the 5 pillars of Islam individuals can achieve inner peace

Of course, to achieve a band 5/6 you will definitely need scripture references to support your arguments, maybe 1 per paragraph? I'm sure you've got some from classwork

For world peace, you really need examples of movements/events organisations that contribute to world peace, maybe try and slot in some scripture from the inner peace section aswell?
Examples of World Peace:
Christianity
Pacem in Terris
Pax Christi
Islam
Muslim Peace Fellowship
Muslim Aid Australia

If you're struggling on content, I would recommend this resource:
http://portal.waverley.nsw.edu.au/library/sor/11_religion_peace/index.html

Otherwise, happy studies

[Lauradf36]

Hi Laurad!

Since CSSA SOR2 has passed i'll see if i can help you out!

For religion and peace you want 2 solid essays first of all - 1 on world peace and one on inner peace. I'm not sure what 2 religions you focused on, but for myself and most schools i know we did christianity and islam.

If you haven't done an essay on inner/world peace by now, my best advice is to get down the principal teachings of each religion regarding peace and how each offers the individual a way to achieve inner peace.
For Example:
In Christianity Christ acts as a guide for inner peace through his model as a perfect Christian in the New Testament.
Scripture: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
In Islam Allah is the only source of peace and thus through submission and adherence to the 5 pillars of Islam individuals can achieve inner peace

Of course, to achieve a band 5/6 you will definitely need scripture references to support your arguments, maybe 1 per paragraph? I'm sure you've got some from classwork

For world peace, you really need examples of movements/events organisations that contribute to world peace, maybe try and slot in some scripture from the inner peace section aswell?
Examples of World Peace:
Christianity
Pacem in Terris
Pax Christi
Islam
Muslim Peace Fellowship
Muslim Aid Australia

If you're struggling on content, I would recommend this resource:
http://portal.waverley.nsw.edu.au/library/sor/11_religion_peace/index.html

Otherwise, happy studies

Thank you. Mildly freaking out but I just found that site too, and it's fantastic! Our teacher did not tell us how to study for this AT ALL 

[ssarahj]

Ok urgent SOR 2 question: How to study for religion and peace? My trial exam is tomorrow. I have notes but I don't how to make an essay on it, or what kind of essays to prepare - can they pick from any of the dot points??

Just to add to Essej's AWESOME answer:

- Definitely make sure you have a sacred text quote for each peace teaching you discuss!
- Examples for inner peace are also really important to have for a Band 6 response
e.g. The practising of Holy Communion or the Eucharist in many Christian churches allows for an individual to be symbolically united with God and invite the presence of Jesus into their lives, contributing to their sense of inner peace.

There's only a small scope of questions that they can ask you for this topic, i.e. inner peace, world peace, teachings of peace so as long as you have a solid understanding of those three aspects and a handful of quotes you should be fine for tomorrow!
If you would like to have a practise essay marked after your trials make sure you post it up to the marking forum!!  GOOD LUCK!