Theme 4: Human rights Flashcards
What is prejudice?
Prejudging and forming an opinion on something or someone without any reason or knowledge.
What is discrimination?
Acting on your prejudices and not treating people equally.
What are human rights?
Things people should expect and are entitled to simply for being human. There are 30 articles such as the ‘right to life’ and the ‘right for equal rights’
What is social justice?
Societal fairness. When everyone has equal provisions and opportunities.
What is personal conviction?
Something a person believes or strongly feels.
What is extremism?
believing and supporting ideas which are very far away from what most people consider right or reasonable.
What is censorship?
suppressing and limiting access to material considered obscene, offensive or a threat to security.
why do Christians believe in equality and human rights? (3)
- Jesus says those who visit prisoners, clothe the naked, give food to the hungry and give drink to the thirsty will go to heaven.
- Jesus talks about himself as the ‘hungry’ and the ‘stranger’ suggesting he is present in everyone and all people should be valued.
- In the story of the good Samaritan it is the hated Samaritan that helps. This stands a a warning against prejudging others.
What does the bible say about equality? (3)
- Jesus said ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another as i have loved you.’
- The Bible says ‘In Christ there is no male or female, no Jew or gentile, slave or free; all are one.’ This suggests there should be no racial, social or gender divisions.
- The Bible says ‘He made from one nation of people to live on all the face of the Earth.’ This suggests that all came from the same original race and were made to live in different places, therefore prejudice based on race or nationality is wrong.
How did Christianity help fight racism?
1950’s/60’s a baptist minister called MLK protested against racism. He:
- Led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott
- Was arrested for holding peaceful sit ins.
- Helped organise a march of 200,000 people to Washingto DC in 196.
- Led the march in Selma to secure the vote for black people.
- Made the famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.
How has Islam helped fight racism?
Malcolm X was a Muslim who fought racism. He:
- Changed his surname to X as a protest against slavery.
- Went on the Hajj and proceeded to leave the Nation of Islam who taught that all whites were evil.
- Preached that racism was wrong.
- Went to Selma in 1965 to show the president that he should listen to MLK
The Hajj had taught him that Muslims are one community of races (Ummah) and he showed equality by wearing Ihram. He learnt about Muhammad’s teaching that ‘All are equal as the teeth of a comb.’
Is the Church of England racist?
The CofE has been accused of racism as:
15% of the british poulation is BAME (Black, Asian, Ethnic minority) whereas only 4.4% of the churches 113 bishops were BAME.
In February 2020 the Archbishop of Canterbury admitted the church was institutionally racist and apologised.
How did Roman Catholic women break the law for their beliefs?
In 1996 a group of Roman Catholic women broke into a British aerospace factory in Lancashire where they used hammers to smash the electronic system of a £12 million Hawk jet. They were arrested after causing £1.7 million in damage and dancing in front of security cameras.
They did this because the plane was being flown to Indonesia where it would be used to commit genocide in East Timor. 200,000 people had already died and the women clamed that by damaging the jet they were saving innocent lives. They believed they were following the Christian belief of the sanctity of life and one of the 10 commandments ‘Thou shalt not kill.’
They were acquitted.
How did evangelical Christians break the law for their beliefs?
In Berkshire in 2010 an evangelical B&B owner named Suzanne Wilkinson wouldn’t allow a gay couple to share a room with a double bed. This was because she believed there should be no sex outside of marriage and that gay sex is wrong. This is because the Bible says ‘No man shall lay with another man; God hates that.’ and suggests that marriage is between a man and a woman ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and the two will become one.’ She broke British laws stating you cannot discriminate goods or services based on race, gender or sexuality. The gay couple successfully sued her. #slay.
What does Christian aid do?
- Their motto is ‘We believe in life before death’ which shows that they believe nobody should be so poor as to not have a quality of life.
- Christian aid works closely with local organisations and locals, they provide money and advice.
- in Bangladesh Christian aid has worked with a charity that provides ducks to farmers whose fields are flooded due to climate change.
- In Burkina Faso Christian aid has helped locals build dams and irrigation systems.
- In Brazil Christian aid helps local groups stop deforestation.
- Christian aid doesn’t only work with Christians but with people of all religions. They say ‘All shall be included in the feast of life’
- Work with schools and young people to help them understand the causes of climate change and poverty. They say poverty is often caused by systems set up by rich countries like ours and that we should help change these systems.
