How to Revise Sex, marriage and divorce — AQA GCSE Religious Studies
Examination of the theological, ethical, and social constructs surrounding human relationships within religious frameworks. This study interrogates the transition from marriage as a divinely ordained sacrament to a civil contract, evaluating the tension between traditional scriptural mandates and contemporary secular shifts. It encompasses deontological approaches, such as Natural Law, and teleological perspectives, including Situation Ethics, to assess the morality of sexual acts, the permanence of marital bonds, and the permissibility of dissolution through divorce or annulment.
Examiner Tips for Sex, marriage and divorce
- Ensure you can clearly define the Three Marks of Existence and provide examples for each
- Use precise terminology when discussing the Five Aggregates
- Be prepared to compare and contrast Theravada and Mahayana views on the human personality and the ideal of the enlightened person
- Link the concept of Dhamma to the broader Buddhist path to Enlightenment
Common Mistakes in Sex, marriage and divorce
- Confusing the Theravada concept of the Five Aggregates with Mahayana concepts like sunyata
- Failing to distinguish between the Arhat and Bodhisattva ideals
- Misinterpreting the Three Marks of Existence as separate concepts rather than interconnected aspects of reality
- Overlooking the specific differences between Theravada and Mahayana perspectives on human personality and destiny
Key Marking Points
- Definition and understanding of the concept of Dhamma (Dharma)
- Explanation of dependent arising (paticcasamupada)
- Identification and explanation of the Three Marks of Existence: anicca, anatta, and dukkha
- Comparison of the human personality in Theravada (Five Aggregates) and Mahayana (sunyata, Buddha-nature) traditions
- Distinction between human destiny ideals: Arhat vs Bodhisattva
- Understanding of Buddhahood and the Pure Land