Secular Worldview
Secular Worldview
Secular Worldview
SECULAR
WORLDVIEWS
GRADE 12
Table of Contents
Number Sub-topic Page
1 Introduction 3
2
2 How to use this Study Guide? 4
3
3 Topic: Secular Worldviews 5
4
3.1 Background to Secular World Views 5
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3.2 Key Concepts 6
5
3.3 Secularism 7-8
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3.4 Religious response 9
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3.5 Secular and non-secular state 10-11
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3.6 Secularism and society 12-13
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3.7 How does secularism impact the moral values in society 14-16
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3.8 Impact of secular worldview on religion 17
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3.9 The variety of world views found in secularism 18-19
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3.10 Agnosticism 20
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3.11 Atheism 21
20
3.12 Materialism 22
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3.13 Similarities and differences 23-24
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3.14 Assessment activities and study tips 25-29
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4. Study and exam tips 30-31
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5. References 32
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1. Introduction
The declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation in 2020,
led to the disruption of effective teaching and learning in all schools across South Africa.
Many learners, across all grades, spent less time in class due to the phased-in reopening of
schools, as well as rotational attendance and alternative timetables that were implemented
across provinces, to comply with social distancing rules. This led to severe teaching and learning
time losses. Consequently, the majority of schools were not able to complete all the relevant
content prescribed in Grade 10-12 in accordance with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy
Statement.
In order to mitigate and intervene against the negative impact of COVID-19, as part of the
Recovery Learning Plan for Grades 10-12, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) worked in
collaboration with Subject Specialists from various Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) to
develop this Self-Study Guide for learners in Grade 12.
The content in this study guide is critical towards laying a strong foundation to improve your
performance in this subject.
This study-guide is meant as a self-study guide for learners and therefore should be used as a
revision resource to consolidate learning at the end of a particular topic taught in class.
Learners are encouraged to complete the exercises and activities to test their understanding
and to expose themselves to high quality assessment.
This study guide can also be used by study groups and peer learning groups, to prepare for the
final NSC examination in this subject.
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2. How to use this Self Study Guide?
This study guide covers 9 of the topics that pose the most challenges in the examinations. Please
also note the remaining topics that are set out in the CAPS. This Self-Study Guide includes the
following topics:
• History and present dynamics of inter-religious relationships in South African, African and
international communities
• Religion in areas of recent conflict in South Africa, Africa, and the world
• Analysis of secular worldviews with reference to the definition of religion and universal
dimensions of religion: atheism, agnosticism, humanism, and materialism
• Religion and the natural sciences
• Religious freedom, human rights, and responsibilities
• Normative Sources
• Internal Differentiation
• Central Teachings
• Social Issues
This is a Self-Study Guide that is designed to explain the concepts and content that is examinable
in Religion Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2. It also provides explanations of the common
action/command verbs used in the Question Papers and how to use these to analyse and understand
what you are required to do to respond to a question. It also provides quick tips on how to approach
specific content in an exam situation in order to save time.
The booklets have been designed to provide simplified notes and a variety of questions sourced
from various past question papers. Instead of providing responses for all questions, the Self Study
Guides assist with the analysis and interpretation of questions. This is to ensure that learners focus
on studying the content instead of the questions. Learners are also reminded that the same content
may be tested in different ways. Therefore, it is important to understand the command verbs and to
have both conceptual and content knowledge.
A second package of the Self Study Guide labelled the Revision Package focuses on subject specific
key concepts as examined over a period of 6 years and sourced from past Question Papers. There
are 12 sets of questions/activities and Marking Guidelines provided to guide you and assist with
revision and exam preparation. You are expected to answer these questions without looking at the
responses. You may do a self-assessment after you have completed answering the questions.
Additional to this Self Study Guide learners are expected to:
(a) Know current affairs or topical issues in the media that are relevant to Religion Studies
(b) Use of past NSC papers – (Thutong and past papers on your internet search engine)
(c) Use the 2021 Examination Guidelines (Thutong – Religion Studies Exam Guideline)
(d) Use various textbooks, newspapers and other sources such as internet
Lastly, Religion Studies is designed to test critical thinking, application of knowledge and provision
of advice or solutions from a religious perspective. Therefore, a good grounding in the prescribed
knowledge, skills and values in Religion Studies is essential.
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3.TOPIC: SECULAR WORLD VIEWS
In this section we will be looking at the analysis of secular worldviews in Grade 12. We need to
ask: how and why the world views came into existence:
• The movement toward secularism has been in progress during the entire course of modern
history and has often been viewed as being anti-religious.
• Society’s laws were shaped around religious beliefs for centuries. While the concept of
secularism has deep historical roots, the term secularism itself dates only to the 19th century,
when it was coined by British reformer George Jacob Holyoake.
• Most people, in ancient times, believed that a society would only be peaceful if everyone believed
in the same religion. Most countries in the world were ruled by emperors, kings, queens and
other nobilities.
• Secularism emerged in the West, especially as a consequence of the Reformation.
• In the 16th century, Martin Luther set in motion certain changes that led to the splintering of
Christianity (the reformation causing a split between Catholic and Protestant in Christianity).
• Overthrowing the political domination of the Catholic Church opened the possibility that state and
church could operate in separate realms.
• This in turn led to decades of religious wars in Europe. Various Christian groups fought for
dominance. At that time the Church was very influential, both politically and socially.
• Most countries were not democratic, and these rulers used the Church to establish their power.
In return, religious leaders also influenced rulers to promote their interpretation of beliefs.
Catholics and Protestants imposed on each other, one or other form of their Christianity.
• People started to seek for a state where there would be religious tolerance. The intellectuals
came to a conclusion that religion was divisive rather than uniting.
• A government which was based purely on reasoning and on an understanding of human nature
was then the solution.
• The Prince of Orange (Netherlands) was one of the first persons to advocate a split between
church and state. He believed that social and political peace can only be achieved if the
foundation of the state was free of religion. Thus, government and morality were divorced from
religion.
Before we can start with an analysis of the different worldviews we first need to understand what
secularism is. We will discuss the origin and development of secularism. This will be followed by a
discussion of the different varieties of secularism namely, humanism, materialism, agnosticism and
atheism. Furthermore, we will look at the relationship and responses between these worldviews and
religion.
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3.2 KEY CONCEPTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
CONCEPT MEANING
Secularism The principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. It
could also be the morals and principles of an individual which may not
necessarily be religious.
World View An ideology, a philosophy or a belief system about how the world
should function.
Atheism The belief that there is no God, Supreme Being or divine entity.
Agnosticism This means that the existence or non-existence of God cannot be
proven.
Humanism Human matters take priority and are more important than supernatural
or divine matters.
Materialism Only physical elements are real and there is no spiritual or
supernatural world.
Religion The belief in and worship of a Supreme Being or controlling power,
especially a personal God or gods.
Conventional religion Religious beliefs based on tradition.
Reformation The action or process of reforming an institution or practice.
A 16th-century movement for the reform of abuses in the Roman
Church ending in the establishment of the Reformed and Protestant
Churches.
Intellect The faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially
with regard to abstract matters.
Intellectual A person who engages in critical thinking, research, and reflection
about the reality of society, and who proposes solutions for the
normative problems of society.
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3.3 SECULARISM
Secularism:
• supports ethics based on reasoning about human nature, without referring to God or gods.
• calls for equality so that believers and non-believers are all treated equally with regards to
freedom of thought, speech and beliefs.
• advocates freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.
• understands the universe without appealing to religious explanations, such as Creationism
myths.
• excludes conventional religion as a foundation for life and law.
• is the separation of religious institutions from state institutions? Religion may participate but
not dominate.
• is the freedom to practice one’s faith/belief without harming others. Also to change it or to not
have a certain faith/belief.
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The emergence of secularism 1517
Luther's 95 theses
1579
The Netherlands
enshrined freedom of
conscience
100
Republic of San Marino
Statutes of 1600
1648
The Treaty of
Westphalia
1651
Hobbes publishes
Leviathan
1787
The Constitution of the
United states
1948
The United Nations
• In 1517 Luther’s thesis, condemning the excesses and corruption of the Roman Catholic
Church was nailed to the Church door. Due to this shift in powers, various wars escalated.
• By 1646, the Treaty of Westphalia ended thirty years of war. This was significant for the
development of new political systems and secularization to take effect.
• Hobbes published his Leviathan in 1651 which argued that the absolute power of the
sovereign was ultimately justified by the consent of the governed. This meant that to obey
the sovereign in all matters would guarantee peace and security.
• The United States of America placed in its constitution in 1787 the doctrine of separating
religion from the state. Religion was regarded suppressive and the increasing educated
class started to disregard religious authorities.
• In the Netherlands in the early 1600s, people expressed freedom of religion and secular
law became the dominant law by the 1700s.
• The republic of San Marino is believed to have the oldest surviving Constitution in the world
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3.4 Religious response to secularism
Christianity
• Christianity quickly adapted and thoughtful, intellectual Christians doesn’t see conflict
between Christian teaching and a secular state. They justify this stance with the saying of
Jesus, that one should “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.”
Islam
• Islam has a comprehensive system of regulations that govern every facet of life. Those who
practice traditional Islam will adhere to Islamic laws (sharia) in matters of commerce, etiquette
and even marriage law. These laws are not enforced by the state, and therefore observing
them is purely a matter of faith.
• There are Muslims who choose to follow secular law, even where it contradicts Islamic law.
This is more common in the West.
• On the other hand, Islamists cast secularism as a completely foreign doctrine imposed on
the Islamic world by colonial powers.
• They hold up traditional Islamic society as an ideal model reflecting religious principles
guiding the community in all areas of life, including politics.
• It is important to note that Islamic law has not changed at all, and Muslims have never
questioned it.
Hinduism
• Secular thinking has always been part and parcel of the Hindu spiritual order. It is therefore
this influence that shaped Mahatma Gandhi’s views.
• Although a political persona, Gandhi, while sticking to the Hindu religion, was a firm believer
in the oneness of all religions.
• Ghandi said, “For me the different religions are beautiful flowers from the same garden or
they are branches of the same majestic tree.”
Buddhism
• Secularism caused the formation of distinct streams, which we may call ‘Classical Buddhism’
and ‘Secular Buddhism.’ Within classical Buddhism they adhere to the heritage of Asian
Buddhism. The latter is a re-visioning of the ancient teachings intended to fit the secular
culture of the West.
Secular states contributed to a diplomatic period by the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia. This
settled most of the European religious conflicts in 1648. The Treaty was important for Western
political and religious history; because it was the first time that the nation state was recognised,
independent of religion.
This led to less violent conflicts in, or between secular states. Because people in secular states are
free to follow any religion of their choice. Soon after this change in Europe happened, intellectuals
started to advocate that social peace and harmonious governance are only possible if the lead is not
taken from religious principles.
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Do we still find Non-Secular States?
• There are 96 secular countries around the world. Europe has the most secular countries at
33, followed by Africa with 27.
• Some countries claim to be secular but have non-secular tendencies such as references to
religion in national anthems or flags.
• Secular states can be any form of government, from democracy to absolute monarchies.
• In studies of religion, modern democracies are generally recognized as secular due to
freedom of religion principles and the lack of expertise of religious leaders in political
assumptions.
• It is believed that most societies become increasingly secular due to development and
progress, not through a dedicated movement for secularism
• The United States is often considered to be "constitutionally secular."
• The U.S. Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise of most religions."
• The extent of separation between the U.S. government and religion continues to be
debated.
• While the U.S. is a self-described secular state, there are still references to religion in the
pledge of allegiance.
• France, Mexico, South Korea, and Turkey are all considered constitutionally secular,
although their secularism varies.
• For example, secularism in India includes state involvement in religions, while secularism in
France does not.
Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/secular-countries
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3.6 SECULARISM AND SOCIETY
Secular State – e.g. South Africa
In our beautiful rainbow nation of South Africa, we have The Constitution of which is not based on
any religious teachings. The Constitution of South Africa promotes equal recognition of all religions
and also promotes religious freedom. Secularism helped South Africans to design a constitution
that promotes religious tolerance. Freedom of religions, beliefs and opinion are enshrined in our
Constitution and morals and ethical values are based on reasoning and not on religious teachings.
There is no state religion.
• South Africa is a secular state with a diverse religious population. Its constitution guarantees
freedom of religion. Many religions are represented in the ethnic and regional diversity of the
population.
• Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, the Bill of Rights, contains a number of
provisions dealing with religious freedom.
• Section 9, the equality clause, prohibits unfair discrimination on various grounds including
religion and requires national legislation to be enacted to prevent or prohibit unfair
discrimination.
• Section 15 states that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought,
belief and opinion. This section also allows religious observances in state and state-aided
institutions, provided they follow public authority rules, they are conducted on an equitable
basis and attendance is free and voluntary; and provides for the recognition of religious legal
systems and marriages that are not inconsistent with the Constitution.
• Section 31 protects the right of persons belonging to a religious community to practise their
religion together with other members of that community, and to form, join and maintain
voluntary religious associations.
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3.6.1 Non-Secular State – e.g. Saudi Arabia
In a nutshell:
Equality: One religion does not dominate Country whereby any religion, controls any
another religion aspect of the state’s behaviour.
Citizens are free to belong to any religion of Many countries impose that specific religion on
their choice. its citizens
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3.7 How does secularism impact the moral values in society?
3.7.1 Morality
• In order to answer this question, we need to first understand the meaning of moral values.
• Morals, also known as moral values, are the system of beliefs that emerge out of core
values.
• Values are the foundation of an individual person’s ability to judge between right and wrong.
Values include a deep-rooted system of beliefs that guide a person’s decisions.
• They form a personal, individual foundation that influences a particular person’s behaviour.
• Moral values therefore are specific and context-driven rules that govern a person's desire to
be good.
• They can be shared by a larger population, but a person's moral code may differ from others'
depending on their personal values.
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3.7.2 The different influences of religion and secular worldviews on morality:
RELIGION ON MORALITY
Ø In religious society there is an emphasis on personal moral development.
Ø All religious lectures emphasize that better personal behaviour is required.
Ø All religions teach that one is rewarded for good deeds and evil has negative consequences.
Ø When religious people say 'morals', they mean living according to teachings of their sacred
books.
Ø Continual repetition and internalization of laws and rules from childhood helps to improve
morality.
Ø Religions have a vast amount of literature about the path a person may take for moral
reformation.
Ø All religions teach that having sex before marriage is sin/taboo. That positively influences moral
behaviour of the community.
Ø What we call 'morals' today were originally the teachings of religious leaders.
WORLDVIEWS ON MORALITY
Ø Humans can make choices based on reason.
Ø Reality gives us a standard by which we can distinguish good and bad; therefore, morality is a
real phenomenon.
Ø It is not hard to imagine a society that has no religion but has a morality as well as a legal system.
Ø There are also people who have high moral values but have no religious belief.
Ø In contrast, there are religious leaders who are immoral.
Ø 'Utilitarian outlook' is a popular ethical position wherein the morally right action is defined as that
action which affects the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the people.
Ø According to secular worldviews the knowledge of right and wrong is innate in people.
Ø People cannot get along if they permit perjury, theft, murder, rape etc.
Ø Secular moral realists claim that they do good for the sake of doing good and happiness. There
is no need for a god.
Ø Morality is about making choices based on independent judgment and any belief system that
undermines that core responsibility is immoral.
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3.7.3 The possible impact of secularism on society can be summarised as follows:
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3.8 IMPACT OF SECULAR WORLDVIEWS ON RELIGION
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3.9 THE VARIETY OF WORLDVIEWS FOUND IN SECULARISM
Secularism can manifest in different forms. We will discuss four of them for the purposes of Religion
Studies in Grade 12, namely secular humanism, agnosticism, atheism, and materialism:
SECULAR HUMANISM
• Secular humanism is a non-religious worldview rooted in science, naturalistic philosophy,
and humanist ethics.
• Rather than faith, doctrine or mysticism, secular humanists use reason, compassion, and
common sense to find solutions to human problems.
• Humanists promote universal values such as integrity, benevolence, fairness and
responsibility.
• They believe that with reason, an open marketplace of ideas, goodwill, and tolerance,
progress can be made towards building a better world for all as well as future
generations.
Secular Humanism refers to the doctrine that human matters takes priority and are more important
than supernatural or divine matters. Secular humanism is just one form of humanism.
The term generally applied to the overreaching social and intellectual philosophies of the
Renaissance era, in which the beauty of the individual was elevated to pre-eminence. During the
Middle Ages, between about the 3rd and 13th centuries, life and culture were primarily focused
on the Church and religion. However, people became less interested in thinking about God, the
afterlife, and the saints and more interested in thinking about themselves, their natural world, and
the here and now. Enlightenment philosophers like Hobbes and Hume’s influences help the
spread of humanism through Europe and America. During the age of enlightenment, science,
reason, and intellectualism advanced. God was no longer the starting point to understand the
world, but the mind.
It was first used as a concept in the 1950s. The term 'humanism' was originally a religious term.
In the Renaissance a humanist was anyone who studied classical literature and education. In the
19th century the meaning of 'humanism' shifted to mean 'atheism' to most English speakers.
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Secular humanism originated because particular philosophers needed to put forth their own
theory which would replace religion. This was followed by the formation of the Council for Secular
Humanism in 1980. The council issued a declaration reflecting its members' beliefs, called 'a
Secular Humanist Declaration'.
The 25th anniversary of the Council for Secular Humanism was celebrated in 2005. It was during
the celebration that the World Congress that the secular humanists called for a new
Enlightenment. The new Enlightenment was meant to spread to the Middle East and other parts
of the world.
The core elements of humanistic thought are education, reason, individualism, and a strong belief
in the universal human nature.
• Humanists believe education plays a fundamental role in forming human nature.
This movement initially encouraged people to use their intellect to understand scripture.
Later, it became secular and non-religious.
• Humanism are opposed to religious education in schools, mostly because they are opposed
to indoctrination.
• Humanism is strongly based on reason. They believe reasoning and the scientific method
are the means of finding truth.
• The greatest argument of humanist philosophy is human autonomy. This means that people
must become their own person. Their beliefs and actions must be the result of their own
reasoning.
• Beliefs must be tested. All dogmas, ideologies and traditions should be tested individually.
Nothing should be accepted merely on the basis of faith.
• There should be a continuous search for the objective truth.
• More concern is placed on ‘life now’ rather than focus on the ‘afterlife’.
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3.10 AGNOSTICISM
People who subscribe to this view are called Agnostics. They believe that it is impossible to prove
the existence or the non-existence of God.
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3.11 ATHEISM
In its broader sense atheism is a rejection of any belief in the existence of deities. An Atheist holds
the position that there is no God, Supreme Being or divine entity. There are two types we will discuss
later. Within atheism we find two degrees of atheism, namely Soft Atheism and Strong Atheism.
We will discuss these more under the core elements.
Many people are atheists because they think there is no evidence for God's existence - or at least
no reliable evidence. They argue that a person should only believe in things for which they have
good evidence.
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3.12 MATERIALISM
The belief that only the physical elements are real and that there is no spiritual or supernatural world
is called materialism. Also called physicalism. Materialism holds the view that all facts are causally
dependent upon physical processes, or even reducible to them.
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3.13 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
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3.13.2 Humanism and Materialism
SIMILARITIES
v Both rejects spiritual dependency
v Both are strongly based on reason.
v They believe reasoning and the scientific method are the means of finding truth
v Karl Marx had an influence in both thoughts.
v Both argues that nothing should merely be accepted based on faith.
DIFFERENCES
v Secular humanism attaches prime importance to humans.
v Materialism is a worldview that believes that matter is the only reality.
v There are many different forms of humanism, all having in common a belief that attaches prime
importance to human intellect/reasoning.
v Materialism is a concept used to describe human history in terms of dialectical materialism and
historical materialism.
v Secular humanism developed in the direction of a liberal view of human rights.
v Secular humanism is not particularly anti-religion.
v Materialism is incompatible with religious worldviews, which are rooted in belief in either a deity
or some kind of spiritual reality.
v Since the knowledge of humans is not complete, it is not useful to try to prove or disprove the
existence of God.
The purpose of this section is not to provide you, the learner, with questions and marking guidelines.
Rather it is to show the questions that could possibly be asked. We will then look at the skills required
to answer these questions in an exam paper.
According to the examination guidelines and the CAPS documents, one must be able to analyse the
secular world views (atheism, agnosticism, humanism and materialism). Also important is the origin,
purpose and influencing factors regarding these world views.
The activities below serve to provide examples of how the content on Science and Religion could be
examined. The questions below were taken from past year papers. Instead of providing answers to
the questions, you will be guided on:
2 Explain the term secular humanism with reference to the statement above. (Feb 2017) /
Discuss the concept of secularism as a worldview. (May 2020)
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3 Name and discuss the teachings of any ONE secular worldview. (May 2018; Nov 2018; Nov
2021)
4 Write FOUR facts on any TWO of the secular world views listed below: (May 2020)
o Atheism
o Agnosticism
o Secular humanism
o Materialism
5 Name ONE secular world view and discuss its origin. (Nov 2020) / Discuss the origin of
secularism. (May 2018) / Discuss the historical origin of Western secular humanism. (Feb 2017)
How to answer this question:
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6 Compare the teachings of any ONE secular worldview with the teachings of any ONE religion
you have studied. (Nov 2019)
7 Describe any ONE secular world view and state whether you agree or disagree with its
teachings. Give reasons for your answer. (Feb 2017)
8 How has secularism contributed to the establishment of religious tolerance in the world? (May
2018)
9 How has the establishment of secular states led to the prevention of religious wars? (May
2020)
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10 What influence did secularism have on the current South African Constitution? (Nov 2018)
11 Do you think secularism has a negative impact on the moral values of society? Give reasons for
your answer. (Nov 2018)
12 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of secularism on society. (Nov 2021) / Critically
evaluate the impact of secularism on the religious community. (Nov 2020)
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14 What is the impact of secularism on society?
17 How has secularism contributed to the establishment of religious tolerance in the world?
How to answer this question:
• The response that you provide should address the positive impacts of secularism on
religion.
• See the explanation on page 15 of this bundle.
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4. REFERENCES
Steyn, H.C; Kruger, J.S & Clasquin, M. 2007: Religion Studies Grade 12 Learner’s Book
Hofmeyr, J;Mndende, N; Maclagan,B; Ryan, M & Thraves, P. 2019: Shutters Top Class Grade 12
Learner’s Book
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ISBN : 978-1-4315-3548-4
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