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Unlock This CourseA multi-faith society is one where people of many different religions, and people with no religion, live side by side. The UK is one. Next door to each other you might find Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists and humanists. People are free to practise their religion, to change it, or to have none. The lesson Human Rights and When They Can Be Limited explained why freedom of religion and belief matters, so here we only recall it: it is the freedom that makes a multi-faith society possible.
Key terms:
Learning: meeting people of other faiths helps us understand different beliefs and customs. Fewer fears: knowing your neighbours makes stereotypes harder to believe. Shared work: people can team up on problems such as poverty. Choice and freedom: everyone can think about big questions and choose for themselves.
Misunderstanding: people may fear what they do not know. Prejudice: some people face hostility because of their faith. Clashes of belief: some religious and non-religious views disagree strongly, for example on how to live or what to teach children. Living apart: groups may rarely meet, so tension can grow.
Religious and non-religious people both have duties towards those of other faiths or none. Most agree on these:
Treat people of other beliefs as equals and respect their right to worship, or not, as they choose.
Try to understand what others believe and why, before judging.
Never force or bully anyone into, or out of, a belief. Everyone may change their mind.
Many religions teach that believers should treat others as they would wish to be treated, and so should show kindness to people of other faiths. Believers may differ on how far to go, such as whether to join in shared worship. Non-religious people, including humanists, have the same duties: tolerance, fairness and respect for everyone's freedom.
Search online for the name of your town and 'interfaith forum' or 'council of faiths', or ask your local council or a place of worship. In the exam, a real local example you know well gains credit over a vague one.
Within one religion, believers can hold different attitudes to people of other faiths. There are four key ideas.
Trying to convert others. Some believers think they should share their faith, because they believe it is true and want others to benefit. Others think it disrespects people's freedom and prefer to set an example.
Only one religion is true or leads to salvation. People hold this because they believe their holy book or teacher is the final truth, and two opposite claims cannot both be right.
One religion has the fullest truth, but others share in it. People hold this because they find goodness in other faiths, yet still believe their own offers most.
Many religions are equally valid paths. People hold this because they see the same values, such as love and kindness, in many faiths, or think no one can prove one is best.
Exclusivists tend to support proselytisation more strongly. Pluralists tend to support dialogue instead, but this is not a fixed rule.
An interfaith marriage is between people of different religions. Some religious communities accept it. Others discourage it, or have rules about it, because they worry about keeping faith and traditions alive. Questions include where the wedding takes place, and how to bring up children: in one faith, both, or let them choose when older. Couples and their families may disagree, and each case differs.
Humanists do not believe in a god or gods, and base their values on reason, evidence and human experience. They support freedom of religion and belief for everyone, including the freedom to have none. They believe the state should not favour any religion, so all beliefs are treated equally. Humanists often take part in interfaith dialogue and local forums alongside religious groups, and share many aims with religious people, such as fairness and respect.
(a) Identify three ways in which people of different faiths can work together in their community. [3 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(b) Outline two responsibilities of people living in a multi-faith society. [4 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(c) Explain why there are different attitudes to other religions within religious communities. [6 marks] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
(d) 'All religions are equally true.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
(a) 1. Running a food bank together (1). 2. Taking part in a local interfaith forum (1). 3. Visiting one another's places of worship (1).
(b) One responsibility is to show respect for other beliefs (1), which means treating people of other faiths or none as equals (1). Another is to respect freedom of belief (1), so that nobody is forced to follow or give up a religion (1).
(c) Believers within a religion hold different views on other faiths, for several reasons. Exclusivists believe that only their religion is true or leads to salvation, because they see their holy book as final truth, so they may want to convert others (proselytisation). Inclusivists believe their religion has the fullest truth, but see goodness in other faiths, so they respect them while holding to their own. Pluralists believe many religions are equally valid paths, because they see the same values of love and kindness in all of them, so they prefer dialogue to conversion. Some believers also fear that mixing faiths weakens their own, while others think cooperation is part of loving their neighbour. (6)
(d) Plan. For: pluralists see the same values in all faiths and say no one can prove one is best; many religions help people live good lives. Against: faiths make claims that contradict each other (for example one God or many, one life or rebirth), so they cannot all be true; exclusivists say only their own teaching is true; humanists do not accept that any religion's claims are true, though they defend everyone's freedom to hold them. Add teachings from your own religion, saying whether it is exclusivist, inclusivist or pluralist, and how members differ. Conclusion: pick a side with a deciding reason, such as 'equally valuable paths' being different from 'equally true'.
In a 12-mark answer, cover the key words in the statement: here, 'all' and 'equally'. Say whether you are judging truth or value, and add your own religion's view.