issues of human rights Flashcards
1
Q
what is the universal declaration of human rights (1948)
A
came after the second world war, after the holocaust
a list of the most crucial rights all humans are entitled to:
- respecting dignity of humans (e.g. free from harm, to life, basic needs like housing and medicine, owning property)
- preventing abuse of state power (fair trial, freedom of thought,opinion and religion, innocent until proven guilty, free from torture, reasonable rest)
2
Q
which human rights conflict
A
freedom to privacy -> criminals, other’s safety?
freedom of expression -> discrimination?
religious beliefs -> extremism?
no torture -> prevention of a potential attack?
3
Q
why do christians believe in agape
A
- “no greater love has a man than when he lays down his life for another”
- “love thy neighbour”
- “faith, hope and love abide but the greatest of those is love”
-“blessed are those who hunger and thirst for rigfhteousness” - “let justice roll on like a river”
- “speak up for those who have no voice”
- jesus (reached out to all, including outcasts, cured lepers, healed on the sabbath, “for god so loved the world”)
4
Q
Christian examples of agape in action
A
- charities - tearfund, christian aid, CAFOD- alleviate poverty, set up long term aid and give aid after disasters
- support fair trade
- Martin Luther King (led peaceful marches, made speeches, boycotted racist businesses, achieved the vote for black people, stopped segregation, black people allowed into universities, won nobel peace prize), received death threats and was ultimately assassinated
- Oscar Romero (priest who criticised El Salvador government and held banned meetings discussing extreme poverty) gunned down during a mass in church
- salvation army helps domestic abuse victims, soup kitchens and rehab
5
Q
buddhist examples of agape in action
A
- charities- the karuna trust- help those in impoverished india to have an education and encourage leadership skills
- support fair trade
- Thich Quang Duc (1963) (vietnamese buddhist monk who set himself alight at a busy intersection in Saigon, sat in the lotus position and burned to death in a matter of minutes whilst meditating, protested against injustice of the people of south vietnam)
- BR Ambedkar (brought down caste systems by becoming a minister, ripped up hindu scripture, published Mook Nayak, led peaceful protests)
6
Q
why do people show agape
A
- should be prepared to challenge laws to help others despite the danger e.g. healing on the sabbath, hunger and thirst for righteousness
- treat others, love thy neighbour
- “blessed are the peacemakers) - MLK
- 3rd NT is that suffering can end
- following right action and speech
- pratitya set up conditions to end suffering
- 1st precept, show kindness to all living beings
- ahimsa
- metta and karuna
- good karma
- 4th precept, honest speech
7
Q
conflicts with religious expression, censorship and extremism
A
- Nadia Eweida- BA air hostess, wasnt allowed to wear a cross as an essential religious symbol, took to court of human rights and she won
- sept 2013- british judge ruled a muslim defendant would be allowed to wear a niqab in trial, but not when giving evidence. many concessions made e.g. no sketch without veil, evidence behind a screen so only jurors could see
- 2015 Charlie Hebdo- terrorist attack killing 12 after a published sketch of Muhammed, which is forbidden in islam with a sign saying “100 lashes if you dont die laughing”
- Robert Lewis Dear- shot and killed 3 at planned parenthood clinic
- westboro baptist church- god hates everyone and will only save a small number- picketing at funerals and other non baptist events- banned from entering UK, condemned by major christian churches
8
Q
teachings FOR expression, censorship and extremism
A
- “no one can get to the father except through me”
- “go and spread the gospel to all of creation”
- jesus expressed forcefully “you snakes! you brood of vipers!”, turned the tables when he saw the exploitation of the poor in the temple
- healed on the sabbath
- “cry aloud and tell my people their transgressions”
- right speech (when motivated by metta)
- denying freedom of expression breaks non harm to all living beings
9
Q
teachings AGAINST extremism
A
- dignity of life “man is made in gods image”
- “love thy neighbour” “treat others”
- avoid false speech
- right mindfulness
- right livelihood
- suffering is caused by attachment (to your beliefs) (2NT) , leads to bad karma
10
Q
action to counter prejudice
A
- equality act 2010, right to not be discriminated against
- reading holy scripture
- listening to talks about religions
- building religious tolerance
- learning about religion in school
- going to a place of worship and being curious
- hearing experiences from peers
- consuming media about certain religions
11
Q
christian promotion of racial harmony
A
- parable of good samaritan (samaritans seen as inferior, yet proved to be morally superior when helping an injured man)
- jesus accepted all races- simon of cyrene helped to carry cross, healed a roman centurion’s servant
- god made all men in his image
- sanctity of all human life
- “do unto others as you would have done unto you”
- “there is neither jew nor gentile, we are all one in faith in Jesus Christ”
- all christian churches have condemned racism, have members of all races and methodists say racism directly contrasts love
- “i have a dream where little black boys and girls will play with little white boys and girls”
- “people need to learn to live together or perish like fools”
- show highest regard for the law by breaking unjust ones
- “hate the sin love the sinner”
12
Q
buddhist teachings on racism
A
- all races should be shown metta and karuna
- “i teach suffering and the end of suffering AND THAT IS ALL”- regardless of race
- all people have buddha-nature
- ignorance, hatred 2 of 3 poisons
- go against right speech action, mindfulness, livelihood
- metta bhavana meditation will help to develop love regardless of race and acceptance
13
Q
christiantiy- acquiring and use of wealth
A
- rich man and lazarus- rich man doesnt help feed lazarus and goes to hell, lazarus goes to heaven- use wealth to help those in need
- “go and sell all you have and give to the poor”
- “it is more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven than it is a camel to enter the eye of the needle”
- “love thy neighbour”, “treat others”
- parable of sheep and goats “i was hungry and you fed me”
- poor widow in the temple, donated to temple, jesus praised her
- “speak up for those who have no voice”
- “the love of money is the root of all evil”
- “faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action is dead”
- dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with actoins and in truth”
14
Q
buddhist teachings on wealth
A
- buddha could not be enlightened in his life of luxury, followed magga
- suffering is caused by tanha- attachment to money
- dana is an important practice, give to the shirne and monks, good karma, helps to break from samsara
- generosity is one of 6 paramitas for buddha nature
- 2nd precept give generously, dont take what is not freely given
- right action and liveliood
15
Q
work of tearfund
A
- emergency relief natural disasters, water, food, first aid
- lobby to bring down unjust policies
- vision for a global church- spread the gospel
- long term aid- buiilding new communities, bridges
- encourage fundraising through donations
values (follow example of jesus, good stewards, show compassion and love, show partnership, to accept equality)
