Religion and Community Cohesion
community
cohesion
discrimination
ethnic minority
a common vision
and shared sense
of belonging for
all groups in
society
treating people
less favourably
because of their
ethnicity / gender
/ colour /
sexuality / age /
class.
a member of an
ethnic group
(race) which is
much smaller
than the majority
group
Community Cohesion
How Government promotes community
cohesion
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Financially supports groups that are
working towards community cohesion.
Making community cohesion part of the
curriculum.
1976 Race relations act – makes it unlawful
to discriminate against everyone because of
race, colour, nationality, ethnicity etc.
2001 Crime and disorder act- higher
penalties where there is evidence of racial
or religious motivation or hostility.
interfaith
marriages
marriage where
the husband and
wife are from
different religions
multi-ethnic
society
multi-faith society
prejudice
racial harmony
racism
religious freedom
religious pluralism
sexism
many different
religions living
together in one
society
believing some
people are
inferior or
superior without
even knowing
them
different
races/colours
living together
happily
the belief that
some races are
superior to others
the right to
practise your
religion and
change your
religion
accepting all
religions as having
an equal right to
coexist
discriminating
against people
because of their
gender (being
male or female)
many different
races and cultures
living together in
one society
Religion / Faith
Race / Ethnicity
The UK a multi-faith society
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All religions have equal rights in the UK.
Increases tolerance and acceptance among
individuals.
It encourages people to think deeply about their
own religious beliefs because they can learn about
other faiths.
Some people think multi-faith societies cause
problems because it is impossible to treat all
religions equally.
Some multi-faith communities can be divided
because people only mix with people from their
religion.
Roles of men and women in the UK
The UK a multi-ethnic society
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Thousands of years ago, people from across the world had
travelled to what is now called Britain.
The British Empire controlled many places such as India, African
countries and the West Indies.
It develops an understanding of different people.
Less chance of war.
The feeling of being treated unfairly when someone has been
discriminated.
Issues raised for religion by a multi-faith society
How religions promote community cohesion
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Discovering what is the same in their
religion.
Some religious groups are developing ways
of helping inter-faith marriages.
Developing ideas of how to bring up
children in two religions.
Joining together in special groups to explore
ways of helping community cohesion.
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A multi-faith society needs to have laws giving
equal rights to all religions and to those who have
no religion.
However a multi-ethnic society can raise issues for
religious people in areas such as:
Conversion attempts by other faiths because it can
be seen as discrimination.
Bringing up children - they may choose to leave
their parents’ religion.
Interfaith Marriages – marriage services and
differences in day to day practice of faith
Christians and racial harmony
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The Bible teaches that all people, regardless of colour, race, are
equal.
Christianity talks about the equality of human beings and that
we are all God’s creatures.
Saint Peter was given a vision by God, which showed him that
God treats all races equally.
Jesus treated a Samaritan as his equal, healed a Roman’s
servant and had a black African help him carry his cross.
Teachings of the Bible and the Church against racism and
because they should follow the example of Jesus.
Religion and community cohesion in the media?
What issues were presented in:
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Make Bradford British
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East is East
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Questiontime
(with Nick Griffin)
Gender
Muslims and racial harmony
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The worldwide Muslim community is known as the Ummah; it is
made up of all races
When Islam began, the first person that the Prophet made read
out the call to prayer was a Black Ethiopian
Muslims are taught that they must wear white garments to
show their equality on the Hajj (pilgrimage)
The Qur’an teaches that racism is wrong.
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Married Women’s Property Act 1882 – allowed married
women to keep their property separate from their husband’s.
 1892 the Local Government Act gave women the right to stand
as councilors.
 1928 Electoral Reform Act gave equal voting right to women
and allowed them to stand as MP’s.
 Equal Pay Act 1970- required employers to pay women the
same as men.
 1975 Sex Discrimination Act- made illegal to discriminate on
grounds of gender or whether someone is married (though
religion was given an opt-out this)
 Roles have changed greatly through the years.
Christian attitudes to equal rights for men and women in religion
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Evangelical Christians- Believe that men and women should
have different roles. Women should look after the children and
men should provide for the family. St Paul said women should
not speak in church and obey their husbands. Genesis chapter
2 says Adam was created first.
Liberal Protestants- Men and women are equal and have
women ministers and priests. Jesus treated women equally.
Genesis chapter 2 says God created men and women at the
same time.
Roman Catholic Christianity- teaches me and women are equal,
should have equal roles, but men can only be priests. Jesus
appointed men as disciples. Priests are successors of the
apostles.
Islamic attitudes to equal rights for men and women in religion
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Traditional view- Men and women should have different roles.
Women should bring up children; men should provide for the
family and take the boys to mosque. The Qur’an says that men
should support women. It also says that women should inherit
half of what a man inherits.
Modern view-Men and women are equal. The Qur’an says that
men and women are equal in religion and education. Women
worshipped in the mosque at the time of the Prophet.