Year 11 - Religious education
Case study: personal conviction vs the law
Issues of Human Rights
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will examine ideas of human rights and reponsibilities. They will examine ideas of religious expression, the status of women and issues related to wealth and charity. Pupils will gain an understanding of different Christian and non-religious responses to these issues.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how a Christian's personal conviction may lead them to break the law, using Dietrich Bonhoeffer as an example.
Key Notes
- Personal conviction is a deeply held belief that leads someone to act according to their principles
- Christians are generally taught to obey the law
- Conscience is central to personal conviction, with different denominations emphasising its role in moral decision-making
- Personal conviction may override the law when the law is unjust, as Jesus' teachings prioritise justice and mercy
- Bonhoeffer's resistance to the Nazis illustrates how Christian faith can lead to opposing immoral laws
Vocabulary To Learn
- Conscience: The faculty said to enable us to make moral decisions, and to judge our own and others' actions
- Conviction: A deeply held moral or religious belief that guides a person's actions, even when it conflicts with the law or social expectations
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A German Lutheran pastor and theologian who opposed the Nazi regime
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Christians should always obey the law
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Personal conviction is a deeply held belief that leads someone to act according to their principles. Christians are generally taught to obey the law.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Conscience'
The faculty said to enable us to make moral decisions, and to judge our own and others' actions.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Christians should always obey the law. Correction: While Christians are generally taught to respect the law, many also believe they must put God's will first. Some believe that when laws are unjust or cause harm, faith may require civil disobedience.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Buddhism, human rights and social justice Study Guide
- Buddhist attitudes to issues of wealth and poverty Study Guide
- Case study: Christian Aid Study Guide
- Censorship and freedom of religious expression Study Guide
- Christian attitudes to racial prejudice Study Guide
- Christian attitudes to wealth Study Guide
- Christianity, human rights and social justice Study Guide
- Christianity, prejudice and discrimination Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Religious education guide library.