Religion, Human Rights And Social Justice Mock Revision Flashcards
Reasons why freedom of religion is an important human right
Included in the UNDHR / religion a fundamental part of a person’s life / allows people to practise their faith / cannot be forced to believe in something / cannot be ordered by law to believe something / provides protection to religious minorities / allows people to follow the faith of their choosing / allows people to express themselves / aims to prevent persecution / promotes social inclusion / promotes tolerance, etc.
Contrasting religious beliefs about being wealthy: Buddhism
- Right thought / right action/ right intention / right livelihood encouraged in the use of wealth; for example, to see poverty and not use wealth to help would be a wrong action. ‘Riches ruin the foolish… through craving for riches, the foolish one ruins himself.’ (Dhammapada).
- Monks and nuns are not allowed to have wealth.
Contrasting religious beliefs about being wealthy: Christianity
- ‘No one can serve two masters…you cannot serve both God and money’ (Matthew 6:24) ‘For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.’ (1 Timothy 6:10)
- ‘Be on your guard against all types of greed’ Luke 12:15).
- Recognition that wealth is a gift from God.
- ‘Wealth and honour come from you…we have given you only what comes from your hand’ (1 Chronicles 29:12&14).
- Wealth should be used appropriately for example in support of one’s family or to help others.
- Some Christians pay a tithe to support the church ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the tree belongs to the Lord.’ (Leviticus 27:30).
- St Paul taught that Christians should also pay their taxes to enable the government to do their job ‘This is why you pay taxes for the authorities are God’s servants.’ (Romans 13:6) ‘Pay to Caesar what is Caesar’s, pay to God what is God’s.’
Religious beliefs that show why people-trafficking is wrong
People-trafficking breaches Human Rights / frequently results in its victims becoming little more than modern-day slaves/forced into ‘sweatshop’ labour/prostitution/drug mules / is a form of abuse / violence is involved / treats people as objects / families in their homelands are threatened / is a form of ransoming / many people who are trafficked suffer wrongful deaths / many can never pay back the fee, etc.
Religious beliefs that show why people-trafficking is wrong: Buddhism
Right Action / Right Intention / Right Livelihood / Karuna (compassion) / Metta (loving kindness) / involvement in people trafficking would result in bad karma etc.
Religious beliefs that show why people-trafficking is wrong: Christianity
- All humans should be given equal respect / all are made in the image of God / sanctity of life / ‘So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7:12).
- ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
- ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18) / ‘But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.’ (Amos 5:24).
- Parable of the Good Samaritan / Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
Should positive discrimination should be used to help end racial discrimination?
Arguments in support
- All religions believe in the importance and dignity of human beings, positive discrimination promotes this.
- All religions promote the ideas of justice, equality and compassion, this is supported by positive discrimination of groups previously discriminated against.
- Positive discrimination allows people who have previously been discriminated against due to race to have a fair chance in gaining jobs, housing, equal wages etc.
- Positive discrimination recognises there has been injustice in the past and society accepts that it was wrong.
- Human rights say that all humans are born free and equal in dignity, positive discrimination reinforces this.
Should positive discrimination should be used to help end racial discrimination?
Arguments in support of other views
- All discrimination is wrong.
- Positive discrimination could mean that well qualified people are not employed because they do not fit criteria.
- Positive discrimination favours certain groups and so is unjust.
- Positive discrimination may lead to resentment and prejudice.
- Where does positive discrimination stop? Who decides when the imbalance in representation of a particular group is balanced?
Should positive discrimination should be used to help end racial discrimination?
Buddhism
Buddhism teaches that discrimination leads to suffering / it is wrong so should be avoided / teaches that human beings are fundamentally the same and equal in their potential to become Buddha / “We all want to avoid suffering and achieve happiness” (Dalai Lama) / suffering is caused by selfish actions / selfishness is the cause of unhappiness / through respect for others and their rights a healthy, free and prosperous society can be built / only by respecting others can an individual have respect for themselves / law of karma discourages law-breaking and actions that will cause suffering / right action / right intention.
Should positive discrimination should be used to help end racial discrimination?
Christianity
Christianity teaches that all are made in the image of God / therefore equal before God / ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’ sets the standard for how a person should be treated / ‘So there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28) affirms the equality of all humans / therefore affirms the right to be treated with respect / teaching on sanctity of life.
