Contemporary Issues In Christianity

Question 1

Define social justice / equality

Answer 1

The right (of all people) to be treated fairly;

Question 2

Declaration of Human Rights

Answer 2

A treaty signed in 1948 that declares people should be treated fairly. Article one states we are born equal and article two emphasises this fact shouldn’t be altered because of a person’s race, colour, religion, political opinions, gender or social origin etc.

Question 3

Social injustice

Answer 3

People are not treated fairly or equally because of a distinguishing feature about them such as race

Question 4

Fair Trade

Answer 4

‘trade’ between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers (and workers).

Question 5

Poverty

Answer 5

the lack of sufficient resources with which to keep body and soul together. This may lead to social exclusion.

Question 6

What is economic inequality?

Answer 6

the divide between the rich and the poor. Some live in luxury whilst other people have a terrible standard of living. This could affect their opportunities in education, medical care or a lack of essentials such as food and water. An example of an organisation that tries to make a difference with this issue is the Salvation army.

Question 7

Social injustice with disabled people

Answer 7

some face discrimination despite having much to offer society. For example in employment opportunities or in sport.

Question 8

Social injustice for women

Answer 8

Some women do not have equal rights to men. For example in education, work, religion and sport. For example - In regards to work some women do not get equal pay to men.

Question 9

Social injustice with age

Answer 9

Ageism - discrimination against older people. Examples are regarding their viewpoints, discrimination in work, may be seen as a burden on their families. Age Concern are an example of an organisation that tries to make a difference in this issue.

Question 10

Social injustice in religion

Answer 10

unfair treatment to a person because of their religion. One example is during the holocaust Hitler tried to exterminate all Jewish people

Question 11

Social injustice in the financial sense

Answer 11

Financial inequality – unfair treatment of people because they are poor/live in poverty. Limited access to education, housing, jobs and opportunity.

Question 12

Bible teaching regarding social injustice (5)

Answer 12

• All people are created ‘equal’ (Genesis 1)
• The reason for injustice is because of the problem of ‘sin’ (Genesis 3)
• The Old Testament prophets spoke out against social injustice e.g. Amos said to the people who mistreated the poor that God would not forgive their evil deeds. Isaiah preached that injustice should be removed.
• Jesus is an example of someone who tackled injustice, he associated with the outcasts (women, children, lepers, disabled) of his day and told his followers “love your neighbour as you love yourself”.
• Christians should care about those who face injustice. The Apostle Paul taught for example that you should care for the needy (Galatians 2:10)

Question 13

Christian beliefs regarding money

Answer 13

• It is difficult to be a Christian and be rich - Jesus taught that “It is much harder to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” Christians therefore, should be aware of the danger of a love of money.
• The Apostle Paul also taught that money can lead to various temptations. “The love of money is a source of all evil” 1 Tim 6:9-10.
• Jesus taught that his true followers would be concerned about giving to those who are less fortunate ‘I was hungry and you fed me’ Matthew 25
• The first Church in Acts are an example of a Church that gave many of their possessions away and shared their belongings - Acts 2
• Christians can support Charities which try to stand up to economic injustice e.g. Tearfund, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Save the Children.

Question 14

Why are people in poverty? (5)

Answer 14

• they may be born poor,
• suffer illness which prevents them from working
• lose money through gambling or other addictions like drugs
• live in a war-torn country and lose their home
• may be uneducated and therefore unable to get a job to enable them to break the poverty cycle.

Question 15

Name three products which are currently being fairly traded

Answer 15

coffee, cotton, and cocoa

Question 16

What is the Liberation Theology?

Answer 16

For example, the Liberation Theology movement in the 1960s witnessed a group of Christians (beginning in South America), who believed they had to stand up to the injustices and oppression of the poor and those suffering exploitation by the rich. A group of priests gave up their middle class homes to go and live in poverty stricken areas. This is based on the teaching of Jesus from the New testament – Luke chapter 4.

Question 17

Describe the work of one organisation fighting poverty and injustice (5)

Answer 17

• Christian Aid Ireland is an international aid and development agency of the Protestant Churches of Great Britain and Ireland.
• They work across 37 countries to support all poor and marginalised people and to lift themselves out of poverty.
• Christian Aid’s work began in 1945, when they were founded by British and Irish churches to help refugees following WW2. For more than 70 years, they have provided humanitarian relief and long-term development support for poor communities worldwide.
• Christian Aid Ireland work with various secular and religious people and organisations to promote sustainable development by tackling both the causes and the symptoms of poverty so that everyone can achieve equality, dignity and freedom.
• In their work overseas, Christian Aid partner with local, faith-based and secular organisations to carry out their programmes

Question 18

Name some unfairly traded products

Answer 18

clothing (Primark) Nike products (footballs), milk, bananas.

Question 19

Name three reasons why you should buy Fairtrade products

Answer 19

• fair pay for labour
• honouring the work/occupation of another
• respecting another person and their role in the global manufacture of food and goods

Question 20

Name five points on racism

Answer 20

• Racism is when a person receives prejudice and discrimination because of their ethnicity
• One example is racism in America which Martin Luther King (Jnr) peacefully protested against. His dream was to live in a world where people would not be judged by the colour of their skin.
• Racism is also a major issue in Northern Ireland because of demographic (population) change. People from other countries and cultures have moved here for things like jobs, however aren’t trusted well because they are viewed as ‘different’ and people make assumptions that they are ‘stealing our jobs’ or that ‘Muslims are terrorists’.
• Frank Kakopa from Zimbabwe brought his family to Northern Ireland on holiday but was taken to Maghaberry prison and denied his rights. This happened simply because of his race.
• The Chinese community have also reported both physical and verbal attacks

Question 21

Christianity’s response to racism (5)

Answer 21

• Many Bible verses can show that racism is wrong. For example The Apostle Paul taught that all people are equal in God’s sight. “You are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)
  • The Roman Catholic Church, for example, teaches that the Church is against any discrimination of people.
  • The Presbyterian Church emphasises that we should enjoy friendships with people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds.
  • the Church can help in standing up to racism by:
  1. have welcoming signs in various languages,
  2 for newcomers to participate in the service,
  5. have prayers read in other languages
  • Christians can be encouraged to engage in social activities with members of the Church that may be viewed as ‘outsiders’.

Question 22

Some people argue that injustice and discrimination also occur because of religion. Why? (5)

Answer 22

• Many Christians believe that their faith is the only way to God and their faith is exclusive which some believe to be discriminatory.
  • School Assemblies in Northern Ireland focus on the Christian religion by law. Some people believe that people of other faiths may be isolated.
  • The RE Curriculum may be offensive to some people in Northern Ireland because the main faith taught may be Christianity despite world religions being studied.
  • Some Muslims may have to conform to school uniform rules which don’t take account of their faith, such as the burka
  • At times, religious symbols have been banned as well e,g Roman Catholic school girl was told she was not allowed to wear a Cross for safety reasons.

Question 23

Differences between absolute and relative poverty (5)

Answer 23

• Absolute poverty is severe deprivation of basic human needs such as water and food
• It is seen in third world countries where people tend to be struggling to stay alive due to malnourishment/starvation and lack of access to sufficient resources to keep their bodies functioning e.g food and health care
• Relative poverty is the lack of minimum amount of income needed in order to maintain the average standard of livings
• Relative poverty is more commonly seen in developed countries and results in a significant struggle to lead a normal life and to participate in social and cultural activities.
• Relative poverty is not as life-threatening as absolute poverty, however still harmful as it limits the opportunities people have to achieve their full potential, brings high costs to society and causes opportunity for discrimination

Question 24

What is the distinction between local, national and global poverty?

Answer 24

global concerns a world level, national is within a nation of people (country) and local is on your doorstep/in your community

Question 25

What are human rights?

Answer 25

The rights and freedoms that all individuals are entitled to, regardless of their nationalist and citizenship

Question 26

What is the European Convention on Human rights ?

Answer 26

Drafted by the nations of the Council of Europe in the aftermath of WW2 and enshrines “Convention Rights” like the right of life and freedom from torture.

Question 27

Types of social injustice

Answer 27

• Economic inequality - the divide between the rich and the poor. This could affect their opportunities in education, medical care or a lack of essentials such as food and water
  • Disabled people - some face discrimination despite having much to offer society. For example in employment opportunities or in sport.
  • Gender inequality - Some women do not have equal rights to men. For example in education, work, religion and sport.
  • Ageism - discrimination against older people. Examples are regarding their viewpoints, discrimination in work, may be seen as a burden on their families
  • Religious inequality - unfair treatment to a person because of their religion. One example is during the holocaust Hitler tried to exterminate all Jewish people.