Ethics Revision Notes - 2017 GCSE - all topics i studied

RS Ethics 

Topic 3- Religion and Equality

CHRISTIAN VIEWS ON DISCRIMINATION

• Christians say that the bible teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of god. 
• All christians believe that racial discrimination is wrong. 
• Some Christians (but not all) believe that men and women should have different roles and that only men should become priests. 
• Some christians (again, not all) believe that christianity is the only religion, and many are committed to evangelism, whilst some support the ecumenical movement. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

• that god loves everyone unconditionally e.g. the lost son story in lukes gospel.
• god created everyone in his image (imago dei - genesis 1:27) 
• god does not show favourites, we are all the same - James 2 
• parable of the sheep and the goats - matthew 25 
• treat others as you wish to be treated - matthew - golden rule 

DEFINITIONS

• equality: means having equal opportunities regardless of race, gender or religious beliefs (not that everyone is the same, we are all unique but deserve the same opportunities.) 
• prejudice: a preconceived opinion, not based on actual reason. 
• discrimination: actions taken based on prejudice. 

WHAT ARE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO EQUALITY?

christian attitudes are based on beliefs and what the bible says: 

• all human beings are valuable 
• we are all unique and made individually by god
• all made in the image of god (imago dei) 
• god does not have favourites 
• christians should care for all people 
• christians should treat others with respect
• christians support the values laid down in the declaration of human rights. 

• WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT EQUALITY? 
• parable of the good samaritan - Luke 10

CHRISTIAN ATITUDES TOWARDS RACISM 

• racism is prejudiced or discrimination against someone due to the colour of the skin, which christians would be against. 
• however, in the past christianity has been accused of being racist. 
• however, nowadays christians would say that god loves all people, and so they must challenge racism. 
• examples of individuals who have spoken out about racism in the christian community: 
  • Martin Luther King 
  • Desmond Tutu

3 INSTANCES WHERE JESUS SHOWED NO DISCRIMINATION OR PREJUDICE

• jesus healed a roman even though the romans were hated 
• he showed respect to women who were at the time seen as less important that men. 
• he made a samaritan the hero of a story even though the people of samaria were not respected by the jews. 
• (the parable of the good samaritan, the healing of the roman centurions servant) 

WOMEN IN JESUS' TIME

• 2nd class citizens
• husbands owned them 
• jewish men thanked god they were not born as women
• separate areas to worship in the synagogue 
• rabbis would not teach women 

however:

JESUS' BELIEFS ABOUT WOMEN 

• jesus believed they were equal to men 
• women were the ones to discover jesus had risen 
• mary magdalene was the first to see the risen jesus
• jesus healed women 
• jesus let women listen to his teachings

it was after the second world war that attitudes to women in the workplace started to change. 

BIBLE TEACHINGS…