CHURCH MUST GUIDE SOUTH AFRICA – CYRIL RAMAPHOSA City Press, Monday 4 March 2013 ANC Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on Christians to be South Africa's moral conscience when it came to crimes such as rape, City Press reported on Sunday - NSC Religion Studies - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1

According to the Deputy President, the cause of sin and crime is a lack of morality.

Yes, I agree with Cyril Ramaphosa that Christians should be 'South Africa's moral conscience'. Christianity is the dominant religion in the country, and if Christians adhere to their religious teachings, there would be no crime. Christianity teaches that we should treat one another kindly, and concepts such as rape and corruption are serious sins. Moreover, Christians should act as role models for others in society. However, it is also essential to recognize that many other religions exist in the country, and significant moral guidance should come from all sectors of society.

Reader 1 suggests that the ANC lacks moral leadership and implies that one should not depend on religious leaders for guidance in morality. They emphasize that the people should not look to the ANC for moral direction.

Reader 2 comments that the ANC lacks a moral compass, indicating that they believe the party is morally bankrupt. They further generalize this sentiment by claiming that not just the ANC, but also religious groups like Muslims and Jews, lack moral guidance along with the general populace.

Social networks make media coverage of religion more immediate and democratic, allowing diverse opinions to be aired quickly. They enable readers to question content openly and provide platforms for various viewpoints. This shifts accountability to the media, as users can express and challenge narratives actively. However, misuse of these platforms can lead to religious conflicts, highlighting the complex relationship between social media and religion.

A sin refers to actions viewed as wrong within a religious context, such as adultery, which may be considered immoral by a religion but not necessarily illegal by law. A crime, conversely, refers to an act that breaks legal statutes, such as theft or murder. For instance, in some countries, same-sex marriages might be viewed as a sin in certain religions but are legal and not considered crimes. In contrast, behaviors like theft are both sins and crimes, as they break both moral codes and the law.