How do religious and non-religious people relate in a diverse society?
Dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs, including attitudes to other religions and none, freedom of religious expression, interfaith dialogue, and religious and non-religious approaches to moral questions.
A focused answer on dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs for OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625), covering attitudes to other religions and none, freedom of religious expression, interfaith dialogue, and how religious and non-religious people approach moral questions, from Christian, Muslim and humanist perspectives.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to explain dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs: attitudes to people of other religions and none, freedom of religious expression, interfaith dialogue, the relationship between science and religion, and how religious and non-religious people (such as humanists) approach moral and philosophical questions. This is the dialogue theme, which ties the whole paper together. The topic feeds evaluation questions on whether the two sides can agree, so you need the content, the comparison, and the sources.
Attitudes to people of other religions and none
Freedom of religious expression
This freedom matters in a multi-faith society: it lets people of all faiths and none live together, and protects minorities. Both religious believers and secular thinkers generally defend it.
Interfaith dialogue and science and religion
Interfaith dialogue is conversation and co-operation between different religions. Its aims are to promote understanding, reduce conflict and prejudice, correct misunderstandings, and work together on shared concerns such as poverty, peace and the environment. Examples include interfaith councils and joint charitable projects. Dialogue does not require giving up one's own beliefs; it seeks respect and common ground.
On science and religion, dialogue also matters. Some see conflict (science versus faith on origins), but many hold they are compatible: science explains how the universe works, religion explains why it exists and what it means. Many believers accept the Big Bang and evolution while holding that God is the ultimate creator. This relationship is part of the wider conversation between religious and non-religious worldviews.
Religious and non-religious approaches to moral questions
Despite different foundations, they frequently agree on core values, honesty, kindness, helping the poor, opposing cruelty, and they co-operate on many issues. They may disagree on questions like abortion, euthanasia or sexuality, where appeals to scripture and to personal autonomy and wellbeing can pull in different directions. This is exactly the tension the evaluation question on agreement explores.
Try this
Q1. What is humanism? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. A non-religious worldview that bases morality and meaning on reason, evidence, empathy and human wellbeing, without belief in God or an afterlife.
Q2. Explain the aims of interfaith dialogue. [Short explanation]
- Cue. To promote understanding and respect between religions, reduce conflict and prejudice, correct misunderstandings, and co-operate on shared concerns such as poverty, peace and the environment, building social cohesion.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR J625 20192 marksGive two reasons why interfaith dialogue is important.Show worked answer →
This is the 2-mark AO1 question, 1 mark per point. Give two distinct reasons, for example to promote understanding and respect between religions, and to reduce conflict and prejudice. Other acceptable answers include working together on shared concerns (poverty, peace, the environment) and building social cohesion in a diverse society. Markers want two separate reasons, so do not repeat the same idea.
OCR J625 20216 marksExplain how religious and non-religious people approach moral decisions. Refer to sources of wisdom and authority in your answer.Show worked answer →
This is the 6-mark extended AO1 question. Explain that religious believers use sources of wisdom and authority: sacred texts (the Bible, the Qur'an), religious leaders and tradition, conscience and prayer, to decide what is right. Non-religious people (such as humanists) use reason, evidence, empathy and the consequences for human wellbeing, with no appeal to God. Develop where they agree (often on values like honesty and kindness) and differ (the source of authority). Anchor in sources: for example "love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31) for believers, and the humanist focus on human happiness and the "golden rule". The top band rewards developed points with a source.
OCR J625 202315 marks"Religious and non-religious people can never agree on moral issues." Discuss this statement. In your answer you should: refer to religious teachings and sources of wisdom and authority; give reasoned arguments to support this statement; give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view; reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is the 15-mark AO2 evaluation question. Argue both sides. Arguments for the statement: religious and non-religious people use different sources of authority (sacred texts and God versus reason and human wellbeing), so they may clash on issues like abortion, euthanasia or sexuality, where appeals to scripture and to autonomy conflict. Arguments against: in practice they often agree on core values (honesty, compassion, helping the poor, the golden rule) and work together (interfaith and humanist groups on poverty and peace); disagreement on some issues does not mean they can never agree. Use specialist terms (humanism, secular, conscience, interfaith). A justified conclusion weighs genuine differences against the large common ground.
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