UNIT FIVE: GLOBAL CONCERNS
This unit explores Christian views on the world focussing on their attitudes
towards creation, responsibility and poverty.
What Christians believe about the creation of the World:
 Things created by God have value
 The natural world was created for humans to use responsibly
 Many Christians believe they are stewards of the world
“To till and keep the land”
What is meant by the word stewardship? (2 marks)
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Some Christians believe that humans beings have dominion over
the earth
What is meant by the word dominion? (2 marks)
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What does the creation story tell you about the role of humans on earth?
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‘Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let
them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along
the ground.’ Genesis 1:26
Environmental Issues
The people on the Earth face increasingly serious environmental problems. In
the table below you need to think about the different environmental issues
facing our Earth, think about how it has developed, the affect on future
generations and finally, how a Christian would respond to this problem.
Environmental
Issues
Pollution
How has this
happened?
Car fumes,
littering, nuclear
waste
Affect on future
generations
Christian
Response
“to till and keep
the land”
Christians should
help with climate
change and look
after the earth
TOP TIP
Make sure you give specific examples of Christians acting on their
beliefs about the world around them.
Responses to poverty
Individual response
Recycling and reducing unnecessary packaging
Home energy conservation and insulation
Community response
Non-polluting forms of transport
Buy local
National response
The Stern Report – review of climate change
UK Government Policies – looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions
International response
Earth Summits
‘An individual Christian can do very little to protect the environment.’
What do you think? Explain your opinion
(3 marks)
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Christian responses to environmental problems
Many Christians believe that you shouldn’t be wasteful, especially with
natural resources because they are part of God’s creation.
Pope John Paul II wrote that the misuse of the natural world is like
blasphemy – destroying part of God’s plan
Many Christians argue that there needs to be a change in lifestyle.
One way that Christians have responded to their concerns through the
Earth Charter Movement.
Some evangelical Christians see these environmental changes as part
of God’s plan. They believe that we are entering an ‘end time’ (end of
the world) and that rather than trying to avert the problems, we should
be preparing for the second coming of Jesus and the final judgement.
Ultimately, Christians believe that they should care for the earth and
everything on it because it is given to them by God.
Wealth and Poverty
Poverty
Poverty is when you live with out the five basic needs of human beings.
These are food, water, education, health and work. Extreme poverty is
defined as living on less than $1 a day.
What do the following quotes mean for those in poverty?
“The poor are blessed and the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Luke 6:20)
“The poor are waiting for justice” (Luke 1:17)
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Christians believe it is their duty to show respect for people and the whole
world. Christians believe the should have to help those in need out of love for
God.
“Love your neighbour as you love yourself” (Matthew 22: 34-40)
Actions of love:
 Looking after those who are sick or in prison
 Providing for those who are hungry and thirsty
 Caring for strangers
 Respecting those who have lost everything
There is a big difference across the world between rich and poor. In the
below table complete the differences between poor and rich people and how
their needs are met. You may need to research some areas online.
Need
Food
Water
Rich world
Poor world
Education
Health
Work
Outline the cause of poverty (2 marks)
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Environmental problems
Healthcare
Conflict
Bad government
HIV/Aids
Debt
Trade barriers
Greed in MEDCs
TOP TIP
Make sure you can explain human cause, as well as natural cause, of
poverty.
Task: Design a diagram or picture that illustrates the different causes of
poverty.
How do Christians respond to the needs of the poor overseas?
Christians will respond in a number of ways. They will pray to God for them to
be relieved of suffering, they may form charities to help raise money or
volunteer to help whenever/wherever they can, they might also campaign
against exploitation to ensure no one is being taken advantage of and they
may support the campaign for fair trade.
Example question and possible responses
‘Aid should never be given to countries that are ruled unjustly.’ 6 marks
Agree – bad stewardship to give aide to a country that will misuse it, not
giving money might enforce change, giving aid might enable regime to be
even more oppressive/others are in need, so money could be used
elsewhere, similar to government only cancelling debt of nations where it
was clear the money would be spent on schools.
Other views – would lead to terrible suffering for thousands of innocent
people, helping the poor climb out of poverty is the only way to enable
change, aid does not have to go to the rulers, can be given to partners.
Faith in action
Christian Aid is a Christian organisation
that insists the world can and must be
swiftly changed to one where everyone
can live a full life, free from poverty. We
work globally for profound change that
eradicates the causes of poverty, striving
to achieve equality, dignity and freedom
for all, regardless of faith or nationality.
We are part of a wider movement for
social justice.
Core to our Christian values is the belief
that aid must be given regardless of
race, religion, nationality or gender, and
that it will never be used to further a
particular political or religious standpoint.
This is of vital importance to us, because
God’s love is for everyone, and this is
the kind of ‘development work’ the Bible
describes.
CAFOD is the official Catholic aid
agency for England and Wales.
We work with partners in more than 40
countries across the world to bring hope,
compassion and solidarity to poor
communities, standing side by side with
them to end poverty and injustice. We
work with people of all faiths and none.
Trócaire is the official overseas
development agency of the Catholic
Church in Ireland.
We were set up in 1973 by the Bishop’s
of Ireland to express the concern of the
Irish Catholic Church for the suffering of
the world’s poorest people