AQA Religious Studies: Thematic Studies: Human Rights and Social Justice

Human Rights

The basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings should be entitled.

Social Justice

Ensuring society treats people fairly whether they are poor or wealthy.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Adopted in 1948 by the United Nations setting out the rights to which every person is entitled.

Examples of human rights

Fair trial, education, marriage, life, liberty, security and privacy.

Children's rights

Protection from cruelty but responsibility not to bully or harm others.

Freedom of speech

Freedom to speak your mind but responsibility not to say something that causes offence.

Amos 5:24

Christian view on social justice
"Let justice roll like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream."

Mark 12:31

Christian view on social justice
"Love your neighbour as yourself."

Buddha's teaching on social justice

"While suffering is inevitable, people should try to relieve the suffering of others."

Engaged Buddhism

A movement in Buddhism that uses Buddha's teaching to tackle social issues including injustice.

Equality

Having equal rights, status and opportuntiees.

Christian teaching on equality

All people are equal because they have been made in God's image.

Buddhist teaching on equality

Treating people equally expresses loving-kindness (metta)

Prejudice

Holding biased (usually negative) opinions about an individual or group based on ignorance and stereotypical ideas about race, religion, gender, sexuality or disability.

Discrimination

Actions or behaviour arising from holding prejudiced views.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Christian view on women in church:
"Women should remain silent in the churches for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

Gender discrimination in the church

In early Christianity, women were not allowed to be leaders. The Catholic and Orthodox church do not allow women to be priests but other denominations ordain women.

Buddhist view on gender discrimination

Buddha ordained nuns after initial reluctance. Triatana Buddhists ordain men and women equally. In 2015 the Dalai Lama said he thought there was no reason why a Dalai Lama couldn't be a woman. Some traditional Buddhists don't allow women to be ordained.

Christian view on sexual discrimination

Some Christians think heterosexual relationships that lead to procreation are what God intended (Genesis 1:28 and 2:24). They believe homosexual relationships are sinful.

Buddhist view on sexual discrimination

Buddhist scriptures say little about homosexuality- no Buddhist teaching says it is wrong.

Freedom of religion

The right to practise whatever religion one chooses.

Freedom of religious expression

The right to worship, preach and practise one's faith in whatever way one chooses.

Quote from UDHR

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; This right includes freedom to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practise, worship and observance."

Romans 12:18

Christian view on religious freedom:
"If it is possible, live at peace with everyone."

Ephesians 4:2

Christian view on religious freedom:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

The Dalai Lama view on religious freedom

"I always say that every person on this earth has the freedom to practise or not practise religion. It is all right to do either."

Prejudice and Discrimination

Based on disability/race, illegal in the UK but occurs regularly.

Positive Discrimination

Treating people more favourable because they have been discriminated against in the past or have disabilities.

Disability

A person with physical or mental impairments

Disabilities

There are over 500 million people in the world with disabilities.

Mark 12:31

Christian view of disability:
"Love thy neighbour as thyself"

Buddhist view of disability

There are no explicit Buddhist teaching on disability but the general Buddhist attitudes of karuna (compassion) applies to all those who are suffering in any way including disabled people.

Racism

To consider people of different races as inferior and treat these people badly as a result, often triggered by skin colour.

Galatians 3:28

Christian view on racism:
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither Slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Buddhist view on racism

The principle of loving-kindness means racism is not acceptable for most Buddhists.

Religious teaching about wealth

Both Christianity and Buddhism do not teach it is wrong to be wealthy but do teach that focusing on wealth can lead to greed and selfishness, and the neglect of spiritual practise. both teach that wealth should be used to help those in need.

Poverty

Being without money, food or basic necessities.

Causes of poverty

Debt, unemployment and natural disasters.

Exploitation of the poor

Exploitation is the misuse of power or money to get other people to do things for little or unfair reward.

How the poor are exploited worldwide

There are many ways the poor can be exploited against including being paid unfairly, being charged excessive interest on loans and being involved in people-trafficking.

Fair pay

A key way to stop exploitation of the poor is by giving people the either the minimum wage or higher. In the UK, the National Minimum Wage sets the lowest amount an employer can pay a worker per hour.

Excessive interest on loans

Poor people sometimes have little choice but to borrow money from loan companies that charge very high rates of interest. If they can't repay the loans fast enough, the huge interest rates mean they can quickly end up in debt as they end up owing more money than they borrowed.

People trafficking

Illegal movement of people, typically for the purpose of forced labour or commercial sexual exploitation.

Giving money to the poor

There are two main ways of helping the poor - By giving short-term aid (immediate help that focuses on short-term survival) or long-term aid (help over a longer period of time that has a more lasting effect).

Pros and Cons of Short-term aid

Pros- Important for survival in the short term, displays compassion and kindness.
Cons- Does not tackle the underlying causes of poverty, can make people reliant on whoever is giving out the aid.

Pros and Cons of Long-term aid

Pros- Helps people to become more self-reliant, helps solve the root causes of poverty.
Cons- May take time to have an effect, does not help with short-term survival.