1992 Section b

Personal and social problems

1. (a) What can you learn about friendship from the example of David and Jonathan?
(b) Give two examples of friendship from the New Testament. What principles
concerning Christian friendship do you see in these examples?
(c) Which two principles do you think would be most helpful to you in developing
friendships? Explain your choice.

MARKING SCHEME

(a) David and Jonathan’s example of friendship:

- To love our friends as if love ourselves (1 Sam 18:1)
- Mutual loyalty (1 Sam18:3)
- Generosity/ unselfishness (18:4)
- Protecting/ helping a friend (19:3)
- Defending a friend’s reputation/ actions even though it would be dangerous
(19:1-5)
- Trusting a friend’s loyalty even though the friend may mixing with one
enemies (20:1-4)
- Renewing the pledge of loyalty when circumstances have put pressure on the
friendship (1 Sam 20:17)
- Asking/ trusting/ turning to a friend for help (1 Sam 20:1-8)
- Giving help to a friend at personal cost (20:33-42)
- Feeling hurt when one’s friend is in serious trouble (20:33-34)
- Keeping one promise, even after the friend’s death (2 Sam 9:1, 6-7)
- Honoring the memory of a friend (2 Sam 9:1, 6-7)

(b) Two Examples from N.T.:

E.g. Jesus and the disciples. Jesus was patient with them and willing to die for
them. Principle: We should be willing to suffer for the sake of our friends

E.g. Paul and Barnabas worked together but they disagree over John Mark and so
they separated. But later Paul accepted Mark.Principle: Friends may diagree but it
does not mean the end of the friendship

(c) Two principles most helpful in developing friendships

E.g.: Being willing to admit when I am wrong because very often I am proud and
 stubborn and it makes my friends angry

Up to 2 marks for explanation of choice

Note: Principle without explanation: 0 marks

2. What do you think should be a Christian’s standpoint on private developers’ plans

to convert part of the country parks into a golf course? Explain your answer,
mentioning
(a) The environment
(b) Recreation and leisure, and
(c) The government’s responsibility to the people

MARKING SCHEME
(a) The environment
- A biblical principle is that God made human being responsible for the
environment so we should do nothing to harm it
- A golf course will require a special kind of grass, so chemicals may be used
which would affect the surrounding environment
- The golf course would affect the natural environment of animals and plants
life
- A biblical principle (in Lev, 25:1-7) is that the cultivated land should be
allowed a rest in every 7th years
- It is unlikely that land given over to a golf course will be allowed this natural
renewal process
- Or any valid point
2 marks for biblical principle
Up to 2 marks for each point based on the principle
Note: at least one biblical principle must be mentioned

(b) Recreation and leisure

- A biblical principle is that recreation and leisure are important for human
beings, e.g. Jesus took his disciples away to rest in a quiet place
- The country parks provide a quiet place for all classes of rest and have
recreation
- A biblical principle is that the creation reminds us of God ‘s power and
greatness
- Leisure should be spend in country parks to develop an appreciation of nature
 and God’s handiwork
- A biblical principle is that we are stewards of our physical body so we should
spend time to keep fit
- Country parks offer opportunities for walking and climbing
- Golf is a form of exercise/ leisure generally only available to the better off, but
country parks are for all.
- Or any other valid point
2 marks for biblical principle, up to 2 marks each point base on the principle
Note: at least one biblical principle must be mentioned for full marks to be awarded

(c) The government response

- Biblical principle: it is the government’s responsibility to care the welfare of
the people
- If the government moves away from the ideal of caring for the majority, the
Christian should feel responsible to point out the error
- A biblical principle for rulers is that they should not favor the rich
- A golf course would be providing a rich minority at the expense of the
majority of the people
- A biblical principle is that the government should be concerned about social
justice
- All leisure facilities should be fairly available to all sections of society
- The government’s responsibility is to balance the physical/ spiritual/ social
needs of the people and the Christian should speak out if the balance is wrong
- Or any other valid answer
2 marks for biblical principle, up to 2 marks for each point based on the
principle

Note: At least one biblical principle must be mentioned for full marks to be awarded

Note: The question asks for a Christian standpoint therefore a standpoint must be
clearly stated for max. marks to be awarded. Otherwise max. marks is 18.

3. Pornography in the form of films, videotapes, publications and even software for
computer game is common in HK.
(a) What may be the harmful effects of these things for young people?
(b) In what way do the values implied by pornography with regard to
(i) dignity of women, and
(ii)sex,
 differ from the teaching of Bible?

MARKING SCHEME
(a) Possible harmful effects of pornography on young people, they may:
- Develop a distorted view of sex
- Arouse sexual impulses that they are not yet mature enough to deal with
- Develop a distorted view of the relationship between the men and the women
- Be obsessed by sexual fantasies
- Be tempted to commit indecent assault/ rape
- Find it difficult to treat a member of the opposite sex as a friend
- Think that every physical impulse must be gratified
- Think that all sex is dirty/ shameful and so have a wrong view of marriage
- Or any other reasonable answer

(b) (i) Values implied by pornography on the dignity of women

- A woman is merely an object for man’s pleasure
- Because women are physically weaker should be dominated sexually
- It may be thought that most women will offer sex for money
- A woman is not a equal standing mentally and spiritually with men
- Or other reasonable answer
The bible states that:
- mean and women alike are created in God’s image
- when God’s son came into the world he was born of a woman
- Jesus treated the spiritual needs of woman as seriously as he treated men’s
- Paul spoke of Euodias and Syntyche as women who had labored with him in
the Gospel
- Jesus love others as we love ourselves; this implied respect for all
Note: both side should be mentioned for full marks

(ii) The different values of pornography and the Bible on sex:

- Pornography suggests that sex is a matter of personal choice but the Bible say
that sex is to be used unselfishly within marriage
- Pornography suggests sex is merely for one’s own pleasure but the Bible says
it is strengthen the bond between husband and wife
- Pornography suggests that sex can be had without responsibility but Bible says
that the husband/ wife should love their partner as their bodies
- Pornography suggests that sex can be had without responsibility but the Bible
says that sex is for procreation and the establishment of families
 - Pornography suggests that people should treat sex as just another form of
pleasure but the Bible says that sex outside marriage is a sin
- Pornography suggests that we can use our bodies as we please but the Bible
says that our bodies were created by God and should be kept pure
- Or other valid answer

4. Recently many laborers coming to work in HK from China have been badly
treated or even cheated by their employers
(a) What should a Christian employer’s attitude be to laborers from laborers from
China?
(b) (i) Suggest why some local people discriminate against these laborers
(ii) Explain why Christians should not agree with the attitude of the people
mentioned above

MARKING SCHEME
(a) The attitude should be:
- Fair, because he/ she knows that God commands the employers should not
take advantage of their workers
- Understanding that they should be paid fairly and promptly because they are
depending on it to help their families in China
- Kind, not using threats because God is the master of employers and employees
alike
- Fair, because they know God punishes those who make money at the expense
of poor workers
- Kind/ helpful/ tolerant, because they are our neighbors and Christian should
love their neighbors as themselves
- Or other valid point

(b) (i) Because:

- They speak different dialects
- They think they behave badly
- They think many are money-minded but not hard-working
- They think the laborers want to use HK as a stepping stone to some other
place
- They think they are proud but lazy
- They may commit crime to get what they want
- They may take job opportunities away from local workers
- Or other reasonable answers
(ii) Because:
- God created all people equally in his image, so we should not discriminate for
any reason (Gen 5:1-2)
- We should not consider ourselves superior to the other people (Rom 12:3)
- God does not show favoritism, neither should we
- Jesus mixed with people