RE - Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice

What is justice and social justice?

Fairness, social justice is about fair treatment

What are human rights?

Rights given to all humans just for being human

What is the difference between prejudice, discrimination and racism?

Prejudice - Holding thoughts on a group without knowing much about them

Discrimination - Treating someone unfairly for being in a group

Racism - The belief in some races being superior and inferior

How do Christians view discrimination?

They condemn it, as Jesus taught against it

What is sexism?

Mistreatment of someone of a certain gender/sex

What does the Bible teach about men and women?

They are equal in some cases, particularly the Gospels, while much of the Old Testament presents women as subordinate

What is the humanist view on gender equality?

Supportive of gender equality, as many secular countries have higher gender equality, and legislation has made some progress in women’s rights

How are women viewed in Islam?

They are seen as equal with men but not the same and are generally more expected for homemaking as opposed to men doing financial work. They are not expected to attend mosques due to often demanding lives, but many Muslims think that imams (religious leaders) are off limits to men

What are different types of veils in Islam?

Hijab (covers the hair, also refers to modest clothes generally), Khimar (covers the hair, neck and shoulders), Chador (cloak around the body, common in Iran), Niqab (face veil that leaves only the eyes uncovered), Burka (covers the whole body, most common in Afghanistan)

Who can take the role of an imam?

Typically male only, but some places have female imams such as in some Indian mosques

What are two contrasting Biblical views of wealth?

The prosperity gospel of Deuteronomy - God grants the right to prosper

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” In the Gospels by Jesus

How does Islam view wealth and obtaining it?

Wealth is a blessing but it must be obtained correctly, such as no gambling or illegal activity. They should not invest in companies that promote Haram things. Some Muslims have had donations to mosques refused if they won them through National Lottery. Charging interest on loans is forbidden, so banks often reinvest invested money and share that out.

What is Zakah, Sadaqah and Khums?

Zakah - 2.5% of wealth given

Sadaqah - Voluntary wealth given

Khums - 20% of wealth given in Shi’a Islam (divided amongst religion and the poor)

Roughly how much is a monthly budget for two members of a British family?

£2500

What is extreme poverty and what percentage of the world experiences it?

Living on less than £1 a day, 20%

Summarise Shasha Liza’s story

She was a Haitian girl whose education was severely disrupted by the 2010 earthquake, suffering in a camp with extreme poverty

What is exploitation and human trafficking?

The misuse of people for profit. Human trafficking is secretly moving someone elsewhere illegally, typically involving bad jobs such as sexual work

Tell the rough story of the young boy trafficked to a cannabis factory

• Vietnamese and poor, he went to live with his aunt who introduced him to a trafficker

• He went to England and worked with cannabis in bad conditions

• He was arrested after a raid by police

Summarise the story of a Romanian immigrant who was trafficked

• Heard he would make much more in England

• Paid poorly after a week

• Tried to leave after a month but had signed for six months, threatened with his mother being hurt and a big fine if he left

Summarise the story of Indian immigrant Divia

• Living in the UK for seven years

• Forced to work for a Kuwaiti couple with her little English

• Forced to sleep in bad conditions and abused

• Snuck out, turned away by the police due to lack of understanding. She went on and off jobs being very careful

Summarise Barbara's story

• Grew up losing her parents and facing abuse, offered employment in England

• On the way from Lagos-London, stopped at a village where a priest assaulted her by cutting her skin, part of her hair, forced her to eat raw meat and alcohol

• The person who offered her employment took her to London where she was abused but she escaped to Glasgow eventually

What are some facts about the international state of LGBT people, rights and opinion?

LGBT+ people experience a lot of discrimination and it is illegal to be gay in many countries. This was the case until 1967 in the UK

How do most Muslims view homosexuality?

As sinful and against God’s will but also that sexuality generally is a human choice (even if considered morally wrong)

How do Christians view homosexuality?

They are divided as heterosexual relationships are seen as God’s plan and some Biblical passages are interpreted as forbidding homosexuality

How do the Church of England, Catholic Church and some other Christians view gay people?

England - Welcomes homosexual Christians but doesn’t allow them to marry

Catholicism - Homosexuality itself is not a sin, acting on it is

Other Christians - Good homosexual relationships are as worthy as heterosexual ones