Introduction: Why Non-Religious Views Matter

In your Religious Studies B exam, it isn’t just about knowing what religious people believe. To get the top marks, you also need to understand non-religious viewpoints. The exam board wants to see that you can compare religious teachings with atheist and Humanist perspectives. This is especially important for the 12-mark (d) questions, where you must show "divergent" (different) points of view to build a strong argument.

Don’t worry if this seems like a lot to learn! Once you understand the basic "logic" behind atheist and Humanist thinking, you can apply it to almost any topic in the course, from marriage to the origins of the universe.

1. Defining the Key Terms

Before we look at how to use these views in an exam, let’s make sure we are clear on what they actually mean:

  • Atheism: This is the belief that there is no God or gods. Atheists generally look for scientific evidence and do not believe in any divine revelation or sacred texts.
  • Humanism: Humanism is a specific non-religious worldview. Humanists are usually atheists (or agnostics), but they go a step further. They believe we can live good, moral, and happy lives based on reason, empathy, and science rather than religious rules.

Quick Tip: Think of "Atheism" as what people don't believe (God) and "Humanism" as what they do believe in (human reason and kindness).

2. What does "Divergent" mean?

The syllabus uses the word divergent a lot. In your exam, this simply means "different" or "varying." You will encounter two types of divergence:

  1. Divergence within a religion: For example, how a Catholic Christian might view divorce differently from a Protestant Christian.
  2. Divergence between religious and non-religious views: For example, how a Muslim views the beginning of the world compared to how a Humanist views it.

3. Using Non-Religious Views in the "Question Ladder"

As you move up the "question ladder," your use of these views becomes more important. Here is a breakdown of how they appear in the exam:

Part (b): Explain two... (4 marks)

Sometimes, a part (b) question will specifically ask for non-religious views. For example: "Explain two non-religious views about the use of animals."
To answer this, you would give two clear reasons or views and develop them. You don't need a source of authority here, but you do need to be specific about why an atheist or Humanist holds that view (e.g., using science or human suffering as a reason).

Part (d): Evaluate... (12 marks)

This is where non-religious views are your "secret weapon." Part (d) asks you to evaluate a statement. To get into the highest mark bracket, you often need to show that you recognize non-religious arguments as a contrast to religious ones.

Example Statement: "The only way to understand how the world began is through holy books."
To evaluate this, you would use religious arguments (e.g., the Creation account in Genesis or the Qur'an) and contrast them with atheist/Humanist views (e.g., the Big Bang theory and the importance of empirical evidence).

4. Core Non-Religious Arguments by Topic

Here is a "cheat sheet" of common non-religious views you will need for different sections of the syllabus:

Marriage and the Family (Area of Study 1)
  • Atheist/Humanist view: They often support the right to divorce and the use of contraception. They believe these decisions should be based on the happiness and well-being of the people involved, rather than ancient religious laws.
  • Gender Equality: Humanists strongly support equal rights for men and women because they believe in the inherent dignity of all humans.
Matters of Life and Death (Area of Study 1)
  • The Universe: Most atheists and Humanists rely on the Big Bang theory and evolution to explain existence. They do not believe the world was "designed" by a creator.
  • Euthanasia: Many Humanists support the "right to die" (euthanasia) because they value personal autonomy (the right to choose what happens to your own body).
Philosophy of Religion (Area of Study 3)
  • The Problem of Evil: Atheists often argue that the existence of suffering proves there is no all-powerful, all-loving God. If God existed, He would stop the suffering.
  • Miracles: Humanists would argue that "miracles" are just events that science cannot explain yet, or that the people reporting them are mistaken.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Saying "Atheists don't have morals."
This is incorrect! In your exam, you should explain that Humanists have a very strong moral code; it is just based on reason and empathy rather than God’s commands.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to use the term "Humanist."
While "non-religious" or "atheist" is fine, using the word "Humanist" shows the examiner you have specialist knowledge of the curriculum.

Mistake 3: Using a Bible/Qur'an quote for a Humanist view.
Remember, part (c) of the question ladder (5 marks) requires a religious source of wisdom. However, atheists and Humanists do not have "sacred" books. If a part (b) or (d) question asks for a non-religious view, focus on logic, science, or human rights instead of scriptures.

Summary: Key Takeaways

  • Atheism is the absence of belief in God; Humanism is a positive non-religious lifestyle based on science and reason.
  • Divergent views are essential for 12-mark (d) questions to show different sides of an argument.
  • Humanists prioritize human happiness and scientific evidence over religious tradition.
  • Always check the question carefully to see if it asks for "religious" views, "non-religious" views, or "divergent" views!

For more information on how to structure your answers for specific question types, see the chapters on Part (c): Explain using a source of wisdom and Part (d): Evaluate.