Religious attitudes to rich and poor in British society

Question 1

Why people are rich in the UK (5)

Answer 1

1. Inheritance
2. Good education
3. Worked hard and made good investments
4. Lucky
5. Marry rich people

Question 2

Why people are poor in the UK (5)

Answer 2

1. Addictions (gambling/drugs)
2. Foolishness (making silly choices)
3. Lack of education
4. Lack of good connections and role models
5. Bad luck

Question 3

The different ways in which personal wealth can be created (3)

Answer 3

1. Investing in assets – things that make money (e.g. a house in the current housing market)
2. Avoiding liabilities – things that lose money (e.g. paying for a car if it is not necessary)
3. Being unscrupulous (dishonest) e.g. selling things which aren’t worth the price; preying on people’s weaknesses

Question 4

Religious attitudes to money (4)

Answer 4

1. ‘You cannot serve God and Mammon (wealth)’ - Gospel of Matthew
2. People have been given talents which should not be wasted (so can use them to earn money).
3. If you have two coats, give one away – Jesus
4. The Buddha left a wealthy life for a poorer one because wealth leads to craving and selfishness, which cannot lead to true happiness.

Question 5

Religious attitudes to responsibility for the poor (3)

Answer 5

1. ‘the poor will always be with us’ – Jesus (Mark)
2. ‘Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me’ Jesus (Matthew)
3. ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’ Jesus (John)

Question 6

Religious attitudes to the personal use of wealth (4)

Answer 6

1. Religions who believe in a God teach that wealth is a gift and God expects people to use it to help others, as well as themselves (everyone has a duty not to be greedy and selfish but to help others less fortunate than themselves)
2. People may help their local community, giving time and money to support projects and charities (many children are taught to save money to give to charity to help less fortunate
3. Many religions teach that responsible use of money helps a person’s spiritual growth e.g. earning good karma or a way of entering heaven
4. (Islam) Zakah ensures Muslims give 2.5% income to the poor each year

Question 7

How (religious) people help the poor in the UK (4)

Answer 7

1. EDUCATION and TRAINING (courses in numeracy and literacy/courses in vocational skills e.g. bricklaying/part time college courses whilst working/maintenance allowances for 16-19 year old college students
2. COUNSELLING (young people = Connexions/adults = Citizens Advice service)
3. GOVERNMENT HELP (minimum wage/unemployment, child and invalidity benefits/state pensions/tax credits etc.
4. Charities - for the homeless; addicts; food banks

Question 8

How the state tries to help poor in the UK (3)

Answer 8

1. Local authorities have responsibility to care for the poor by providing: housing; social workers; advice and support workers.
2. A certain amount of taxation money goes on providing benefits to those who can’t work, or who have lost their jobs, or those with children.
3. Services like the NHS/police/fire are (were) free at the point of need.

Question 9

Whose actual responsibility it is to help the poor in the UK (3)

Answer 9

1. Some people believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to look after everyone else.
2. Some people believe that it is each individual’s responsibility to look after themselves – they believe that if someone is poor then it is because they deserve to be poor.
3. Some people believe that they should give to charity but that it is not the job of the government to support poor people

Question 10

Whether it is right to gamble (4)

Answer 10

1. ‘wine and gambling… are filthy tricks of Satan’ (Islam
2. ‘The profit from gambling is less than the sin gained. It is haram’ (Islam)
3. Wealth should be earned honestly (Right livelihood – Buddhism)
4. Gambling is not explicitly banned in Christianity or Judaism but it should be done in moderation.

Question 11

Whether it is right to gamble on the lottery (5)

Answer 11

1. Yes -28% of the lottery goes to good causes
2. Yes – it is fun
3. No – it is a waste of money, the chances of winning are very, very small
4. No – some of the organisations that get money are only for the rich (e.g. the Royal Opera House) and it is seen as a tax on the poor
5. Gambling is haram in Islam

Question 12

How the lottery has created wealth in the UK (3)

Answer 12

1. Lottery funding has helped many ‘good causes’ – Arts; heritage; sport and charities.
2. It has made many people millionaires
3. However, studies have shown that people who are poor before winning the lottery, often end up being just as poor within a short time after winning the money because they don’t know how to spend it wisely.