Religious Studies B604 (Ethics/Peace and Justice)

EQUALITY:

DEFINITION?
CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: Treating everyone equally/the same with no prejudice.

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Many Christians are for equality, as God made use all equally so we are the same. They believe we should try not to discriminate and follow examples such as Jesus and Good Samaritan (Jesus mixed with a variety of people and Good Samaritan helped the enemy when he was suffering)

QUOTES: "There is no Greek or Jew...Christ is all and is in all", "Love thy neighbour", "Do not show favouritism", "Don't deprive the alien or fatherless of justice"

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT:

DEFINITION?

CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: The killing of severe criminals

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Most Christians oppose it and feel rehabilitating is a better alternative. They believe in forgiveness and second chances, it's irreversible if an innocent person is accidently killed, the process is inhumane and expensive. All life is sacred and only God can decide when we live and die.

OTHER VIEWS (FOR): Others may be supportive of capital punishment saying that it removes the worst criminals from society, deters others from doing it, prevents repeat offenders and is cheaper than keeping in prison, "eye for an eye" - revenge

QUOTES: "thou shall not kill", "love thy neighbour", "forgive not seven times but seventy seven times" (all against)

FORGIVENESS:

DEFINITION?

CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: Pardoning/stop blaming someone for something they may have done wrong

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Many Christians believe in forgiveness as...
Jesus said if we don't forgive people then God won't forgive us for our sins
St. Paul said we should try and live in peace with everyone
Churches teach forgiveness when working through problems, EXCEPT when the sin means that the person has had to change religious or moral beliefs

QUOTES: "Forgive not seven times but seventy seven times", "love thy neighbour"

SOCIAL INJUSTICE:

DEFINITION?

CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: caused by discrimination e.g. bullying, racism, sexism, terrorism, homophobia and poverty.

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: All Christians are against it. They believe we should treat everyone fairly. The Liberation theology says that all Christians should get involved in politics to try and free people from social injustice. Example is Oscar Romero who became the leader of the movement when his friend experienced injustice.

QUOTES: "we're all made in God's image", "love thy neighbour", "all life is sacred", "I'll not turn back my wrath as they trample on the poor"

TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS:

DEFINITION?

CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: How criminals are treated in prison and punished

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Nowadays, Criminals are rehabilitated and taught skills to help them in the fuuture. Christians believe in this type of punishment as it is humane; prisons should have decent facilities and the aim to reform a criminal to make them into a better person - Elizabeth Fry campaigned for this.

QUOTES: "Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you have a plank in your own", "he who is without sin may throw the first stone"

VIOLENCE AND PACIFISM:

DEFINITION?

CHRISTIAN VIEWS?

QUOTES?

DEFINITION: making peace/refusing to fight in wars and be involved in any violence

CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Jesus was a pacifist so many Christians support this view. War and fighting are wrong in most cases and any war that takes place must have a just cause/reason, with a high probability of success and proper authority. Quakers are totally against all wars.

QUOTES: "blessed are peacemakers for they will be called the children of God"