Write about controversial issues by attributing views to their holders, supporting claims with evidence and distinguishing analysis from personal approval or disapproval. In IB World Religions SL, you can evaluate arguments and consequences without judging a religion or its adherents as superior, inferior or illegitimate.
Separate Description From Judgement
Academic objectivity means representing beliefs and practices accurately without assuming that religious truth claims are true or false. A value judgement expresses approval or condemnation as though it were an established fact, for example, calling a practice “backward”.
Follow three steps: identify the specific community, explain its reasoning, then analyse the issue using relevant evidence. Distinguish what a sacred text says from how particular communities interpret it.
Use Insider and Outsider Perspectives
An insider perspective explains how adherents understand their own religion. An outsider perspective studies religion from an external standpoint, such as sociology or secular law. Neither perspective automatically represents every believer or provides an unbiased account.
| Avoid | Write Instead |
|---|---|
| “Religions discriminate against women.” | “The Roman Catholic Church reserves priestly ordination to men; supporters appeal to tradition, while critics argue that this restricts gender equality.” |
| “Caste is backward.” | “Caste discrimination is prohibited under Indian law, while Hindu interpretations of caste and responses to discrimination vary.” |
| “These are not true believers.” | “Some members dispute whether this interpretation accords with their tradition’s teachings.” |
Explain how these positions affect believers’ behaviour, opportunities or sense of belonging. Where relevant, compare religious reasoning with secular perspectives, without treating either as a single, uniform position.
Evaluate Evidence, Not Religious Worth
The misconception is that neutrality means avoiding controversy or giving every claim equal credibility. Instead, assess source reliability, acknowledge internal diversity and identify documented consequences.
For an IB response using Discuss or Evaluate, develop a balanced argument and an evidence-supported conclusion. Contextualize examples by denomination, culture and geography rather than making sweeping claims about an entire religion.