Part (d) [7 marks] requires you to give your own opinions. Write in paragraphs. Give examples, and refer to current affairs and the Bible. Try to give a contrast ("On the other hand..."). The following structure seems to work well:Paragraph One: Brief introductionParagraph Two: First example, explained and tied back to the questionParagraph Three: Second example, explained and tied back to the questionParagraph Four: Optional linking sentenceParagraph Five: Some kind of contrast, showing that you can see another side to the issue: "On the other hand..."Paragraph Six: Conclusion, tying your arguments together
For example:"It is impossible to be a modern day Good Samaritan."Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.In general, I disagree with this statement. I think that it is possible to be a modern day Good Samaritan.
For example, charities like the Red Cross (and Red Crescent) help the needy no matter what their beliefs or background. They go into areas of great poverty, or war zones to offer assistance to anyone who requires it. People in the UK may give money to support this charity because they feel that this is a morally good thing to do. Those working for the charity, and those donating money, could all be seen as modern day Good Samaritans.
Also, Mother Teresa worked in the slums in Calcutta. Her mission was to help those who couldn't help themselves, including lepers and outcasts from society. She followed her Christian conscience and helped people no matter who they were. She could also be classed as a modern day Good Samaritan.
In following Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:31, people should treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. This means that all good Christians should strive to be "Good Samaritans" and help others.
On the other hand, people in the twenty first century are increasingly self-centred and greedy. They like to accumulate money and keep it for themselves. They can also be suspicious of others, especially those from different backgrounds to their own. This makes them less likely to get involved in tricky situations - and so perhaps there are fewer "Good Samaritans" than there used to be.
In conclusion I think that it is certainly possible to be a modern day Good Samaritan, and there are many around, but perhaps it is harder now than it was 2,000 years ago.
Whichever question you pick, please copy and paste it into the top of the writing box before you start your answer.
Old Testament
The Creation Accounts* "Christians should try to make the earth more like the Garden of Eden." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "The creation story about God making the world in six days has great relevance today." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
The Nature of Man and the Fall* "Humans are not naturally evil, they are simply good at learning how to be evil." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "Humans have an instinct to do what is wrong." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Cain and Abel* Are we responsible for those around us? Give reasons to support your answer.* Is sacrifice still necessary in the modern world? Give reasons to support your answer.
The Near Sacrifice of Isaac* Abraham was prepared to give up his most precious possission, in obedience to God. In what situations might we give up what is most precious to us? Give reasons to support your answer.* Abraham showed total obedience to God. Is it always a good thing to be obedient today? Give reasons to support your answer.
The Ten Commandments* Which do you think is the most important commandment? Give reasons to support your answer.* How important is it to have rules? Give reasons to support your answer.
David and Jonathan* "Jonathan was loyal to David, and not to his father. So, too, our loyalties should lie with our friends and not with our families." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* Should the command to "honour your father and mother" always be obeyed? Give reasons to support your answer.
David and Bathsheba* David said that the rich man in Nathan's parable ought to die. Is this the right response to those who have murdered? Give reasons to support your answer.* While David slept with Bathsheba, his army was fighting a war. Can war ever be right today? Give reasons to support your answer.
Solomon's Wisdom* "Today, there is a temptation for political leaders to make popular decisions, not wise ones." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "Often, younger people are wiser than older people." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Elijah Stories* Elijah prayed to God. Today, is there any point in praying? Give reasons to support your answer.* "Elijah wasn't at all tolerant of the prophets of Baal. Following his example, we also shouldn't always be tolerant of those who hold other faiths." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
New Testament
The Temptations of Jesus* "Only bad people get tempted." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "It is never right to boast about your abilities." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Jesus and the Outcasts* "Because Jesus welcomed everyone, we in turn have a duty to look after asylum seekers." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "Based on Jesus' tolerance of all types of people, Christians today should tolerate every form of behaviour." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
On Being a Follower of Jesus* "It is now much harder to follow Jesus than it used to be." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "It is not possible to serve two masters, God and money." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Miracles of Healing* "Society no longer accepts that faith healings can take place, because of its knowledge of modern medicines." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "Miracles like those Jesus performed will never occur again." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Parables* "We would all behave like the elder son if we were in a similar situation to the one he found himself in, in the parable of the Lost Son." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "The parable of the Good Samaritan is obviously the most important of Jesus' parables." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Who was Jesus?* "It is only really possible to experience God in peace and quietness." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "True followers of Jesus do not need evidence or signs to prove their faith." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Jesus' Teaching* "To follow Jesus' moral teaching is even more of a challenge now than it was two thousand years ago." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "It is important to leave everything to God's will." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
The Sentence, Crucifixion and Burial* "The most impressive form of Christian love means a willingness to die for others." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* Write about someone in recent history who suffered for their beliefs. What do you think their suffering achieved?
The Resurrection* "The Resurrection is the only really important thing about Christianity." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* "In the twenty first century, we don't believe in miracles. Therefore, one can be a Christian today without believing in the Resurrection." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
The Early Christians* "There can no longer be people who have the same great faith and determination that Peter showed." Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.* The early Christians lived together in a community. Could such "community living" be of any use to Christians in the twenty first century? Give reasons to support your answer.
Exam Practice
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