Rights, Equality and Social Justice Flashcards
1
Q
What are some examples of human rights?
A
- Article 1 - ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’
- Article 3 - ‘Everyone has the right to life’
- Article 18 - ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion’
2
Q
What are some Christian teachings which would support the idea of human rights?
A
- ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ - (Galatians 3:28)
- Agape love as taught by Jesus
- ‘Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless’
- Parable of the Good Samaritan (we should help people regardless of who they are)
- Parable of the Sheep and Goats - We should support human rights as it is the right thing to do to go to heaven
3
Q
Why might people disagree with human rights?
A
- Many people feel those who are punished should not have human rights and therefore capital punishment is justified
- In Hindu society there are the untouchables who were treated poorly and had no way to improve their status - this was justified by the believe in karma
- It is very difficult logistically to get everybody to abide by the human rights protocols
- People with exclusivist sentiments including many Christians may find it difficult to accept article 18
4
Q
What are examples of different religious and non-religious people who work towards human rights?
A
- Martin Luther King - Campaigned for racial equality, was a Christian
- Mother Theresa - A Catholic nun who ensured people in Calcutta had access to food and water
- Eleanor Roosevelt - Worked towards women’s rights
5
Q
What were some key laws passed to do with women’s rights?
A
- 1928 - Women get the right to vote equally to men
- 1970 - Equal pay act
- 2010 - Equality act
6
Q
What are some Christian teachings in favour of women being the inferior sex?
A
- ‘It is not good for a man to be alone, I will make a helper for him’
- In Genesis 2, Eve was made out of Adam’s rib showing women are inferior
- Adam’s punishment was to work the land whereas Eve’s punishment was to be subservient and have pains in childbirth
- ‘Wives, submit yourselves to your husband as you do to the Lord’
- ‘It is disgraceful for a women to speak in a church’
7
Q
What are some Christian teaching in favour of women being equal to men?
A
- Jesus had many friends and some disciples who were women, and preached equality for women such as in the story of Mary and Martha where Jesus told Martha it was more important to listen to him than do housework
- ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 3:28)
- Imago Dei
- The Bible was written at a time when equality was much worse, so a more liberal reader can read between the lines and instead focus on the broader messages of equality
Article 1 of the human right declaration obviously supports this too
8
Q
What are some Christian and non-religious arguments in favour of disability rights?
A
- 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, 2010 Equality Act and Human rights article 1
- ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road’
- The many examples of Jesus’s ministry of healing such as Jesus healing the man with the shrivelled hand and Jesus saying to ‘go and do likewise’
- All other Christian teachings about equality and kindness
9
Q
What are some Christian arguments against disability rights?
A
- ‘For the generations to come none of your descendents who has a defect may come close to the food of God’ - Suggests it is sinful
- You can interpret Jesus saying ‘your sins are forgiven’ in the Healing of the Paralyzed man to suggest his disability was caused by sin
10
Q
What is the legal history of race in the UK?
A
- 1976 - Commision for racial equality formed
- 2000 - Race relations act
- 2010 - Equality act
11
Q
What are some Christian teachings which promote racial harmony?
A
- Christian teachings on love (Agape + Leviticus 19:18)
- Imago dei in Genesis 1 and Galatians 3:28
- In John 4 Jesus treated a Samaritan woman as his equal
- Over 70% of the members of the Christian Church now are not white
- Martin Luther King for example was a Christian and advocated for racial rights
12
Q
What are some reasons for Christians to not promote a racially harminous society?
A
- In the Old Testament Moses agreed with God that the Hebrews were the ‘chosen people’
- In the US white Christians are more likely to be racist than non-white Christians, and the symbol of Jesus being white may have accentuated inequality
13
Q
What are the four reactions to/beliefs about multi-faith societies?
A
- Exclusivism - Christianity is the only true religion and only Christians can go to heaven
- Inclusivism - Christianity is the only true religion but it is possible for non-Christians to achieve salvation and go to heaven
- Pluralism - The belief that all religions possess equal verity
- Proselytisation - The act of trying to convert others to your religion
14
Q
What are some reasons for Christians to support multifaith societies?
A
- Beliefs in pluralism and inclusivism
- Teachings on equality and kindness (although ones which make reference to God/Christ may not apply)
- The Parable of the Sheep and Goats says that people are judged on how they treat others, not on what they believe
- Jesus says ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’
The Human Rights Article 18 states that freedom of religion is a human right
15
Q
What are some reasons for Christians not to support multifaith societies?
A
- Belief in exclusivism and duty to proselytise
- ‘Go forth and make disciples of all the nations’ - Genesis 1
- Jesus says ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’
- Jesus also said ‘No one comes to the father except through me’
