Where Christians get their answers

Before any issue, know the sources of authority a Christian might use:

• The Bible — but Christians differ over how literally to apply ancient texts.
• Church teaching — e.g. the Catholic Magisterium; Protestant churches vary widely.
• Conscience and reason — many Christians hold that a well-formed conscience must be followed.
• Situation and love — some argue the loving outcome should decide each case.

The move that gains marks: explain why two Christians reach different conclusions — usually because they weight these sources differently.

Sanctity of life

Relationships, marriage and family

CCEA sets Christian views on sexual relationships, celibacy, same-sex relationships, marriage and divorce, types of family, and alternatives to marriage such as cohabitation and civil partnerships.

• Traditional teaching points to Genesis 2:24 (the two become one flesh) and Mark 10:9 ('what God has joined together, let no one separate').
• The Catholic Church treats marriage as a sacrament and does not recognise divorce and remarriage in the usual sense.
• Many Protestant churches permit remarriage, appealing to forgiveness and to Matthew 19:7–9.
• On same-sex relationships Christians disagree sharply: some churches bless same-sex marriages; others teach that marriage is between a man and a woman. Both positions are held by sincere Christians, and you should be able to state each fairly.

The terms CCEA names — be able to define each:

• Celibacy — choosing not to marry or have sexual relations, in order to give oneself wholly to God and to service. It is required of Catholic priests, monks and nuns, and is valued as a positive calling, not merely a rule; Protestant churches generally do not require it of ministers.
• Cohabitation — living together without marrying. Traditional teaching regards sex as belonging within marriage; other Christians argue that a faithful, committed relationship is what matters most.
• Civil partnership — a legally recognised union, giving legal rights without a religious marriage ceremony. Churches differ on whether to recognise or bless one.
• Types of family — nuclear, extended, single-parent, blended/step, same-sex and childless families. Christians debate how far the family form matters, or whether love, stability and care matter more.

Types of euthanasia

Sanctity of life, abortion and euthanasia

The key principle is the sanctity of life — that human life is holy because humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; see also Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5).

• Abortion: pro-life arguments stress the status of the embryo and alternatives such as adoption; pro-choice arguments stress the woman's rights and circumstances. Christian views range from absolute opposition to acceptance in limited situations.
• Euthanasia: know the distinctions — active (an act that ends life) vs passive (withdrawing treatment), and voluntary (at the person's request) vs involuntary.
• The hospice movement offers a third way: neither prolonging dying nor ending life, but relieving pain and giving dignity.

Which category?

Tap a card, then tap the group it belongs to.

Capital punishment and the aims of punishment

CCEA names five aims of punishment — learn all five:

• Deterrence — putting others off.
• Protection — keeping society safe.
• Reform — changing the offender.
• Vindication — upholding the law.
• Retribution — the offender gets what they deserve.

On capital punishment, some Christians cite Genesis 9:6 and 'an eye for an eye' (Exodus 21:24); others cite Jesus' rejection of retaliation (Matthew 5:38–42) and the possibility of reform. Restorative justice seeks to repair harm and reconcile offender and victim.

Aims of punishment

Bioethics: IVF, embryos and surrogacy

CCEA asks about infertility and the means to overcome it.

• IVF helps many couples — but usually creates spare embryos, raising the question of the status of the embryo.
• Embryo experimentation and surrogacy raise further questions about the commodification of life.
• In the UK the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulates this area.

Christian views differ: the Catholic Church opposes IVF as normally practised, on the grounds of embryo destruction; many other Christians see IVF as a good use of God-given medical skill, provided embryos are treated with respect.

Poverty

Prejudice, discrimination and poverty

Prejudice is a judgement formed before the evidence — an attitude. Discrimination is acting on it — treating someone worse because of who they are. CCEA names four types: race, religion, gender and disability. Its causes include upbringing and family attitudes, ignorance and lack of contact, stereotyping in the media, scapegoating in hard times, and simple fear of difference.

The Bible's teaching against prejudice is set by CCEA: all people are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), 'there is neither Jew nor Greek… you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28), and the golden rule (Matthew 7:12).

• Know the difference between absolute poverty (lacking the basic necessities of life) and relative poverty (being much poorer than others around you).
• Jesus' judgement parable — the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31–46) — makes care for the hungry, the stranger and the prisoner the test.
• Study one organisation in depth: Christian Aid, Trócaire, the Society of St Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army. Learn what it actually does.
• Fair trade and campaigning are ways individuals and communities respond.

Key terms

Tap a term on the left, then its meaning on the right.

Just War, weapons and pacifism

The causes of war CCEA expects you to know: competition for land and resources; religion and ideology (often as a banner for other motives); nationalism and ethnic hatred; historic grievance and revenge; the defence of an ally or of an attacked people; and the ambitions of leaders.

The Just War tradition sets conditions under which Christians have argued war may be permitted — for example a just cause, a legitimate authority, a right intention, war as a last resort, a reasonable chance of success, and proportionate means that protect civilians.

• Weapons of mass destruction and nuclear deterrence are hard cases: can it be right to threaten what it would be wrong to do?
• The human and economic cost of war: refugees, child soldiers, innocent civilians.
• Pacifism: some Christians, notably Quakers, refuse all violence, citing 'blessed are the peacemakers' (Matthew 5:9) and 'all who take the sword will perish by the sword' (Matthew 26:52).

Just War

Building an answer that scores

CCEA's evaluation questions want a genuine argument, not a list. Use this shape:

• Define the term precisely (e.g. voluntary euthanasia, relative poverty, retribution).
• Give one view with its reason and, where possible, a named source.
• Give a different view — ideally a different Christian view, and a non-religious one.
• Weigh them: which reason is stronger, and why?
• Judge: state your conclusion and justify it.

Never write 'Christians believe…' without qualification on any topic in this unit. On almost all of them, Christians believe several things.

Writing about disagreement

Handling sensitive material well

These are real issues for real people, and examiners notice how you handle them.

• Represent every position at its strongest, not as a caricature.
• Use precise, respectful language about disability, race, sexuality and religion.
• Distinguish what a tradition teaches from what an individual believer thinks — many Christians dissent from their church's official line.
• You are allowed to disagree with a religious teaching. You are not allowed to misrepresent it.

The big ideas to know

You have covered the five topics of CCEA Unit 6. Press Finish to see your score.