Religion and equality Flashcards
What two words are frequently used when discussing equality?
- prejudice
- discrimination
What is the definition of prejudice?
A preconceived idea or feeling that a person holds which affects another
What is the definition of discrimination?
Action based upon prejudice
When did the General Assembly of the United Nations formally adopt the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights?
December 10th 1948
What happened on December 10th 1948?
The General Assembly of the United Nations formally adopted the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
Briefly, what do the first 2 articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights state?
That everyone in the world should have exactly the same rights and freedoms
What does the first article of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights state?
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
What does the second article of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights state?
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.
What verse in the Bible tells Christians that they should treat others the way they would wish to be treated?
Luke 10:27b, “Love your neighbour as yourself”
Why do Christians believe that all humans matter to God (regardless of race, gender, ability, wealth or skills) and should be listened to and treated without favouritism?
Because they are taught that all humans are made in the image of God, and as a result of God’s attitude to humans, they should treat others with the same respect
Give an Old Testament passage that teaches about equality.
Leviticus 9:33-34, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Give a New Testament passage that teaches about equality.
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
What does Leviticus 9:33-34 refer to?
(“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”)
The time that the Israelites were slaves in Egypt
How do some people interpret Galatians 3:28?
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Often taken to mean that all Christians are equal
- Some scholars believe that it simply says that all Christians are equal, excluding all other people
What Biblical teaching is there about favouritism?
- James 2:1 (“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favouritism.”)
- Acts 10:34-35 (“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right’.”)
Christians believe that they should follow the example of Jesus, therefore all people should be treated in the same way. What sort of examples did Jesus set that showed equal treatment to those he encountered?
- Jesus healed the son of a Roman Centurion, even though Romans were hated
- He showed respect for women, who were generally seen as less important than men
- He made a Samaritan the hero of one of his most famous parables, even though the people of Samaria were not respected by the Jews