Gender And Sexuality Prejudice And Discrimination

Question 1

Equality

Answer 1

. Having equal rights, status and opportunities.
• Christianity teaches all people are equal because they have all been made in God’s image.
• For Buddhists, treating people equally expresses loving-kindness.
Despite this, there are examples of prejudice and discrimination against women and homosexuals in religion today.

Question 2

Prejudice

Answer 2

. Holding biased (usually negative) opinions about an individual or a group of people.
. Opinions are usually based on ignorance and stereotypical ideas about race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.
. Actions or behaviour arising from holding prejudiced views are called discrimination.

Question 3

Libby Lane

Answer 3

In 2014 she became the first female bishop in the Church of England.

Question 4

Christian views on gender

Answer 4

. In early Christianity, women were not allowed to be leaders of the church.
. ‘Women should remain silent in the churches […] for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church’ - 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 [NIV].
. Catholic and Orthodox churches still do not allow women to be priests. They argue that men and women are equal but have different roles.
. Other Christian denominations are happy to ordain women. They argue the church should adapt to reflect the importance of equality in todays society.

Question 5

Buddhist views

Answer 5

. The Buddha ordained nuns, although at first was reluctant to do so.
. Today, some Buddhist traditions ordain men and women equally (e.g. the Triratna Buddhist Order).
. In 2015, the Dalai Lama (the most senior Tibetan Buddhist leader) said he thought there was no reason why a future Dalai Lama could not be a woman.
. Some traditional Buddhists schools do not allow women to fully ordained.
. In Theravada Buddhism, nuns are not given the same respect and recognition as monks.

Question 6

Discrimination

Answer 6

. Treating someone differently because of their colour, age or sex
. Often this treatment is bad
. Action against someone

Question 7

Should women be priests?

Answer 7

. Big debate in C of E in early 9015
. Main argument was tradition - Jesus did not allow his disciples to be women
. In 1975 it became illegal to discriminate against women in recruitment, promotion and training at work

Question 8

Christian views on sexuality

Answer 8

. Some Christians think heterosexual relationships that lead to procreation are what God intended (see Genesis 1:28 and 2:24).
. They believe homosexual relationships are sinful.
. Others think homosexual relationships are morally acceptable, and it is not loving to condemn people for their sexual orientation.

Question 9

Buddhist views on sexuality

Answer 9

. Buddhist scriptures say very little about homosexuality, and no Buddhist teaching says homosexual relationships are wrong.
. Many Buddhists think the moral precepts apply to any couple, regardless of their sexual orientation.