Ethics - Religion & Equality

Ethics - Religion & Equality

1. Christian teaching on equality: All people are the same becauee God created evrryone and everyone is made in his image of God so this means that inside everyone there's part of God which should be respected. St Paul taught that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that everyone should be kind to each other - 'love thy neighbour as thyself'. Jesus dies on the cross for everyone. The disciples were told to go out and baptise everyone in the world. St Paul said that evryone was the same in the eyes of Gpd 'you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there is neither male nore female, for you are all one in Chrit Jesus'. 'God has no favourites'. God 'hath made of one blood all antions of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth'. Yet the Dutch Reform Church believed that it was God's will that white people should eb superior to black people (but they have sunce apolgized for its teachings).

2. What is racism? The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Racism is prejudice (where people make up their mind about someone before they know them) and discrimination (unfair treatment of somone). e.g. Some people aren't allowed to have a job or rent a flat because of the colour of their skin.

   • Why are people racist? Because of the way they're brought up, wrong ideas given about people on tv or in films, some newspaper give the wrong impressions.
     • How Christians react to racism: Martin Luther King - He fought against rcaism because of Christian teachings on equality. He used non- violent methods ('turn the other cheek', 'meet hate with love'; his emthods included: 'sit-ins', speeches, marches, the bus boycott. Other Christians who have done the same as MLK are Trevor Huddleston, Archbishop Tutu. Mother Teresa also looked after everyone no matter what religion the perosn was.
       • Other religions: Some Christians believe that only christianity has the truth about God and so everyone should become Christians to get to heaven otherwise they may go to hell. Jesus taught: 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'. Others believ that religions should work together & it doesn't matter what religion you are or how you worship because God has created everyone. Evangelical means persuading people to become Christians. An evangelst is a witness a Christ's love and wishes to fulfil Jesus' commandment to 'go and baptise everyone'. Missionaries in the past used to go with the intention of converting people but now they try and 'convert' through the examle of their lives. Ecumenical is breaking down the barriers between different Christian denominations and different religions. Ecumenical services can be held when all religions worship together. Taize is an ecumencial centre.

3. Sexism: Some Christians believe women aren' as important as men because: Adam was made 1st. Eve was made as a helper to Adam and was made differently from Adam. Eve was the 1st to sin. St Paul taught 'byt women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety'. Other Christians believe men and women are equal in the eyes of God because: St Paul taught: 'you ave all clothed yoursleves in Christ, and there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus'. Genesis 1 shows that God created male and female in his 'image'. In the bible Jesus teahces women and he appears 1st to women after his ressurection.

   • Women Priests: Catholics don't allow women priests because Jesus was a man and priests are God's representatives on earth. Also Jesus only had men disciples. Yet Catholics worship Mary as a very important person. The salvationan army allows both men & women to be leaders. The story of Martha & Mary shows that Jesus was willing to teach women. Jesus appeared to Mry Magdalene 1st when he rose from the dead.

4. Christian beliefs about sin: Christians believe that sin entered the wolrd because Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit from the tree of knowldge. Christians belive taht sin has been overcome because Jesus died on the cross so that God will forgive mankind their sins. Christians believe that on judgement day Jesus will return and judge men on their sins and good deeds to see who goes to heaven or wh goes to hell.

   • Forgiveness: Parables which show that God forgives - The parable of the lost son and the parable of the lost sheep show that God forgives anyone who repnts. The Lord's Prayer shows that Christians must forgive others for their wrong doings before they can be forgiven themselves - 'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others'. A parable which shows that if you don't forgive others then God will ntot forgive you is the Parbale of the unforgiving servant. Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 * 7 times. Jesus forgave his enemies wo crucified him.
     • Recociliation: Bringing together and forgetting differences.
       • Confession: Catholics believe in confessing their sins to a priest in the confession box. The Priest listens and gives a penance so that the person can show God that they truly repent. Other Christians will confess their sins altogether in a church service - 'father forgive us for what we have done in thought, word and deed'. Others do it privately through prayer.