Using examples, explain the meaning of the terms animism, polytheism and monotheism.

(5 marks) - 150 words

Animism is the doctrine that all natural things have souls. For example, many prehistoric huntergatherer communities believed that all natural objects from animals to hailstorms, to rivers and mountains had a soul. This soul was believed to control the activities of both animate and inanimate objects. These spirits or souls were revered because of their control over the natural world. Polytheism is the belief and worship of multiple divinities. For example, the texts of classical antiquity such as the Iliad and the Odyssey is a record of the power struggles which took place, the hierarchical nature of the Greek cosmic world, and the personalities and idiosyncrasies of the Greek gods. Unlike the God of the Judaic-Christian tradition, the polytheistic gods of the Norse, Egyptian, Graeco-Roman and Chinese cultures were rarely all powerful and all knowing. Rather they had their own particular skills and talents, and their own genealogy and personalities. Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one god, and one god only. Hence, Islam, Judaism and Christianity can be described as monotheistic religions. This singular god is usually depicted as being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. This high god is usually credited with creating the world, and for giving humankind a moral code to follow.

Using examples, discuss how the religious dimension in human history has contributed to social transformation. (5 marks) - 150 words

History is evidence of the fact that religion can be used as a vehicle for social transformation. In the past, religious groups have been active on issues such as ecological sustainability, indigenous rights, gender equality and economic inequality. The religious dimension of human history has had a long history of counter-cultural criticism of the inequalities created by the status quo. For example, traditionally religious groups have advocated the reform of the economic structures of society, in order to decrease the rates of poverty in society. It should be remembered however, that whilst religion is a vehicle of social transformation, religion is also often used as to reaffirm and legitimize the very structures that it also criticises. Thus, the paradox is, that the transformative role of religion in society is to some extents, tempered by the fact that it also reinforces the traditional institutions of society such as slavery and racial inequality.

Identify and account for the location of major Jewish communities in the world today. (5 marks) 150 words

The 3 major global regions where significant numbers of Jews are located are: the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. The US and Israel are the two largest centres of Jews in the world. Many Jews are also located in Europe , in the countries of France , Britain and Germany. Many Jews are located in Europe as a result of the early Jewish history of persecutions by groups such as the Romans, the Babylonians, and the Assyrians who sent the Jews into exile. The 10 largest national populations of Jews in the world are: (in ascending numerical order): USA, Israel, France, Argentina, Palestine, Canada, Brazil, Britain, Russia and Germany. There are a significant number of Jews in the US because during the 20th century the US permitted a large number of Jews to migrate there, and granted them American citizenship. The reason behind the large number of Jews in Israel is that Judaism started in the ancient land of Israel, which was known in the past, as the Promised Land of Canaan. Following the genocide of Jews by Hitler's Nazi Party in World War II the United Nations assisted to set up a Jewish homeland in this ancient land of Canaan in 1948. The establishment of a Jewish home state greatly assisted to increase the global population of Jews.