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Question 18 — Religion and Women (20 marks) (a) Outline the role of ONE significant woman from either the founding period OR the intervening period of ONE religious tradition - HSC - SSCE Studies of Religion - Question 18 - 2001 - Paper 1
Question 18
Question 18 — Religion and Women (20 marks) (a) Outline the role of ONE significant woman from either the founding period OR the intervening period of ONE religious... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Question 18 — Religion and Women (20 marks) (a) Outline the role of ONE significant woman from either the founding period OR the intervening period of ONE religious tradition - HSC - SSCE Studies of Religion - Question 18 - 2001 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline the role of ONE significant woman from either the founding period OR the intervening period of ONE religious tradition.
Answer
One significant woman from the founding period of Christianity is Mary Magdalene. She plays a crucial role in the New Testament, particularly in the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. As one of the first witnesses to the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ, her testimony is fundamental to the Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of women in early Christian communities. Mary’s presence at key moments highlights her as a pivotal figure in the establishment of the early Church.
Step 2
Explain how ONE contemporary woman has affected the everyday lives of believers in her religious tradition in relation to ONE of the following: Social welfare.
Answer
A contemporary woman who has significantly impacted social welfare within her religious tradition is Sister Helen Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun. She has dedicated her life to advocating against the death penalty and has worked tirelessly to promote social justice. Through her efforts, she has influenced both public opinion and church teachings, encouraging believers to reflect on the ethical implications of capital punishment and advocating for a more compassionate approach to justice.
Step 3
Evaluate the ideas of ONE significant woman from EACH of TWO religious traditions from the same period about ONE of the following: Gender roles.
Answer
In Christianity, a significant woman who challenged traditional gender roles is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a key figure in the women's suffrage movement. Her work emphasized the need for women to have a voice in religious and social spheres, pushing against patriarchal structures in churches and advocating for women's rights in both secular and religious contexts.
In Buddhism, the significant figure is the nun Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the Buddha's aunt and the first woman to become a bhikkhuni (female monk). She played a vital role in promoting the inclusion of women in the monastic community, advocating for gender equality in spiritual practice and thus shaping a more inclusive understanding of gender roles within Buddhism.