4) Rights, Equality and Social Justice

Question 1

4.1 Notable examples of Human rights

Answer 1

Universal Declaration of Human Rights created in 1948 (result of WW2)
-the right to liberty
-the right to equality before the law
-the right to freedom of religion
-the right to freedom of opinion
-the right to freedom of speech

Question 2

4.1 Why are some rights limited?

Answer 2

Limited - restricted in specific situations set out in the Human Rights Act
-the protection of other people’s rights
-national security
-public safety
-the prevention of crime
-the protection of health

-right to free speech may have to be restricted to protect someone else’s right to privacy
-right to personal freedom restricted if you’re arrested

Question 3

4.1 3 Christian responses to human rights

Answer 3

The ethic of reciprocity
-you expect it to be done back to you - ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
The sanctity of life - all life is precious and important to God
John Hick - says this world is a vale of soul making, where God is helping us to grow towards him without coercion - supports the freedom of religion

Question 4

4.1 Reasons why some religious people may not support human rights

Answer 4

-Freedom of religion - religious exclusivism
-Freedom of speech - blasphemy against God
-Right to marry - same-sex marriage

Question 5

4.1 Ways women’s rights have changed

Answer 5

-the right to abortion - The 1967 Abortion Act
-the right to equal pay
-1975 the Sex Discrimination Act UK - illegal to discriminate against men and women in work, education, and training

Question 6

4.2 2 Role of women in the Bible - Old Testement

Answer 6

-Miriam, Moses’ sister - played a significant part in saving Moses when he was a baby. Kept the Israelite’s faith in God in Exodus from Egypt
-Queen Ester married the mad King of Persia in avoiding the massacre of Jews

Question 7

4.2 4 Roles of women in the Bible - New Testement

Answer 7

-Mary and Martha are one of Jesus’ followers. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, a traditional posture of a disciple with their rabbi. Jesus commended her for learning.
-The Virgin Mary - gave birth to Jesus
-Women at the cruxifiction - when many of Jesus’ disciples deserted Jesus at the time of his arrest, women were there, following Jesus to care for his needs
-first witnesses to the resurrection/ tomb of Jesus were women (Mary Magdalene and Mary)

Question 8

4.2 Evidence of women being equal in Christianity

Answer 8

In the first days of Christianity, many women had a role in founding and supporting churches - Letters of Paul revealed that women were leaders of house churches, where they held offices and played significant roles in public worship
-Can be regarded as more spiritual, as they were at the cruxifiction and resurrection first
-Mary Magdelene anointing Jesus by pouring oil on his head to show her great love to Jesus

Question 9

4.2 3 Evidences of women not being equal in Christianity

Answer 9

-most of women’s roles in the Bible are in support/ next to men - shows they aren’t equal
Paul’s New Testement Letters
-‘Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman’
-‘Let the woman keep silent in the churches’
RCC doesn’t allow women as priests

Question 10

4.2 Ordination

Answer 10

Term used to refer to someone being set apart to be a priest. Only men can be priests

Question 11

4.2 3 Arguments for male only ordination

Answer 11

-Jesus’ 12 disciples were all men - therefore the church should be lead by men
-Men and women can be equal in dignity but have different roles - women do not need to be priests because there are other roles to be fulfilled
-Women don’t need to be priests as their roles in church is to convince men that the encounter with the living God through faith and charity is the most important - have a more intimate/ spousal relationship with God/ Jesus because they are women - women don’t need priesthood

Question 12

4.2 2 Arguments for female ordination

Answer 12

-Both men and women are made imago dei - therefore they are equal before God
-‘Neither Jew or Gentile, male nor female, you are all one in Christ’ (Galatians) - if they are all one in Christ then all should be eligible for ordination
-Women can access all jobs and positions in society, why should it be any different with the Church

Question 13

4.3 Racism

Answer 13

Treating someone differently or unfairly simply because they belong to a different ethnic community

Question 14

4.3 Evidence of Christianity being a racist religion

Answer 14

Genesis 9 - Noah cursed Canaan (a black person) to eternal servitude for seeing him naked, ‘Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants he shall be to his breathren’
-racists support this as it shows black people are sinners, even from the days of the Old Testement
-Apartheid - a racist government group in South Africa in the later half of the 20th century and used this as a religious reason for the discrimination against black people

Question 15

4.4 Pros of a Multi-faith society

Answer 15

-Increased tolerance/decrease prejudice
-Provides choice: Freedom of religion
-Diversity is exciting: different and festivals and customs
-People can learn from each other: discussion of beliefs

Question 16

4.4 Cons of a Multi-faith society

Answer 16

-Difficult to meet the needs of all believers (practical problems): public holidays, different foods (kosher/ halal)
-Incompatible customs: e.g. Islam technically allows a man to take up to four wives. However, bigamy is illegal in Britain.
-Loss of identity
-‘Worshiping false gods’: Christian Exclusivists might try to convert others
-Marriage/family life: interreligious couple - type of wedding service, raising children

Question 17

4.4 Evidence of Christians promoting racial harmony

Answer 17

-The parable of the good Samaritan
-Martin Luther King Jr.

Question 18

4.4 The parable of the good Samaritan - against racism

Answer 18

A priest, Levite and Samaritan passed by a half-dead man on the side of the road and only the Samaritan helped him. He cleaned his wounds and brought him to an inn to rest
-Jews and Samaritans hated each other, but the Samaritan can still help - every human being is our neighbour, regardless of race

Question 19

4.4 Galatian quote against racism

Answer 19

‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatian 3:28)

Question 20

4.4 Martin Luther King Jr. - against racism

Answer 20

One of the most well known Christian leaders who fought against racial prejudice and discrimination. Baptist Minister.
-Led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, started by Rosa Parks

Question 21

4.5 Exclusivism

Answer 21

One religion has the correct understanding of God, truth and salvation and other beliefs are wrong.
-Bible quotes/ 10 commandments
-Missionary work

Question 22

4.5 Exclusivism bible quotes

Answer 22

‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6)
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16)
Ten commandments, ‘You shall have no other gods before me’

Question 23

4.5 Missionary work

Answer 23

Being sent on a religious mission, often abroad, in an attempt to convert people
-they are called by God
-to save people from Hell
-Help the needy - charity work
-For Mormons - A prominent practice among young and retired members of the LDS (Latter-Day Saints) Church is to serve a full-time proselytizing mission.

Question 24

4.5 Proselytization

Answer 24

To induce someone to convert to one’s faith

Question 25

4.5 Responses to proselytization

Answer 25

-Mormons - allowed
-Christians - spread the word of God
-Pope Francis - you are not a disciple of Jesus if you try to convert non-believers. It is shameful, forced conversion - the Crusades

Question 26

4.5 Evangelism

Answer 26

Preaching the gospel to share the message and teachings of Jesus Christ
-Without him, we would not have a saviour, and would have to endure the consequences of sin—death

Question 27

4.5 The Great Commission

Answer 27

The instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world.
‘Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising in the name of God (Matthew 28)

Question 28

4.5 Challenge to exclusivism

Answer 28

The Bible has been translated and written by different people hundreds of years ago.
-Christians believe in a translated word of God - might not be the truth

Question 29

4.5 Inclusivism

Answer 29

Beliefs that although only one belief system is true, aspects of its truth can be found in other religions
-The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
-Ecumenism
-Taize community
-The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, contains references to more than fifty people and events also found in the Bible

Question 30

4.5 Inclusivism - The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Answer 30

People are judged and go to heaven or hell on the basis of how they behave rather than what they believe
-help the needy - hungry, thirsty, sick, prisoners

Question 31

4.5 Ecumenism and ecumenical movement

Answer 31

Movement towards worldwide Christian unity among different denominations due to the universality of the Christian faith.
-‘In my Father’s house there are many rooms.’ (John 14:2)

Question 32

4.5 Taize community, France

Answer 32

Ecumenical monastic order with a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation
-composed of 100 brothers (monks), from Catholic and Protestant traditions, from over 30 countries in the world

Question 33

4.5 Challenge to inclusivism

Answer 33

Encourages comparison, no longer positive

Question 34

4.5 Pluralism

Answer 34

All religions are equally true and equally effective in understanding ultimate reality
-God is transcendent, infinitely far from us and unknowable - we will not know the real truth

-a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests.

Question 35

4.5 Challenge to Pluralism

Answer 35

Self contradiction - a truth about reality which the theory of itself says we can’t have

Question 36

4.5 Christian teachings on rich and poor

Answer 36

-‘for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil’ (Timothy)
Old Testement prophet Amos preached God’s message to the people of Israel
-talked about social justice
-those with wealth or influence were corrupt and unfair and were taking advantage of the more vulnerable people in society
-the rich man and Lazarus
-the Parable of the dishonest manager

Question 37

4.5 Rich and poor - The Rich Man and Lazarus

Answer 37

A poor man (Lazarus) was outside a rich man’s gate. When they both died, the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went to heaven. The rich man asked if he could warn his brothers but was refused.
-Abrahim said, ‘if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’

Question 38

4.5 Rich and poor - The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

Answer 38

A rich man’s manager was about to be fired as he was squandering his property. The manager decided to reduce people’s debts in order to make friends with people. The owner commended him for being shrewd.
-The owner thinks moral rules don’t apply when dealing with money
Jesus said:
-‘If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches?’
-‘You cannot serve God and wealth’

Question 39

4.5 Cons of charity

Answer 39

-provides short term aid, not long term
-makes people dependent on charity which makes them very vulnerable if charity stops
-Some charities are small and deal with very specific areas - inefficient
-Individuals may choose to give to causes that are meaningful for them - not the thing that brings about the most good (might even be selfish)

Question 40

4.5 Christian action against poverty

Answer 40

Believe it is their religious duty to help the poor. Follow the example of Jesus, who reached out to the poor in the society
-Christian aid
-Salvation army

Question 41

4.5 Christian aid

Answer 41

Charity founded by British and Irish churches to help refugees following WW2 in 1945. Aims to:
-expose poverty throughout the world
-help in practical ways to end poverty
-seek to follow the teaching of Jesus
-campaign slogan ‘We believe in life before death’

Question 42

4.5 Salvation army

Answer 42

Christian church and charity. Work with disadvantaged people in our communities - homeless people, unemployed, addicts
-has more oppurtunities for volunteers
-serving meals
-supporting those who are struggling financially
-activity, classes in community centers