How has war changed?
1.
Cost has increased dramatically – total military expenditure is approx. £1.5
million a minute, due to the need for the development of new technology like
chemical weapons and weapons research.
2.
Weapons have changed – wars used to be fought with guns alone, now we
have nuclear and chemical weapons.
3.
At the beginning of the century, 90% of victims of war were soldiers, now
90% of victims are civilians, because weapons are becoming more difficult
to target at specific people.
4.
Potential for damage has changed – countries now have the capability to
wipe out the entire human race. If a third world war were to occur and
nuclear weapons were used, we would be in a situation of mutually assured
destruction.
The Just War theory
The effects of War
1.
2.
Ill health – people can
suffer for years with the
effects of gas bombs,
loss of limbs and burns
Psychological – some
people suffer from post
traumatic stress
disorder after what
they have seen in the
war
3.
Environmental damage
to land and wildlife
4.
Refugees – estimated
15 million world wide
who have had to leave
homes to live in
another country
War must have a just
CAUSE, a justifiable reason
War must be the last
RESORT, negotiation must
have been tried.
War must be started by the
legitimate ruling AUTHORITY
War must use
PROPORTIONALITY, only as
much force as is necessary
and not involve civilians
War must bring PEACE and
justice.
The first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima Japan on
the 6th August 1945, by an American B29 bomber named the
Enola Grey. Nuclear weapons are regarded as being the most
destructive because:
 Destructive capability – MAD
Radiation – nuclear fallout can cause radiation sickness, and can effect
families for generations
Environmental damage – nuclear fallout pollutes water and makes land
unusable for hundreds of years.
Indiscriminate killing -impossible to target individual groups such as the army
and so many civilians are killed.
Unilateral Disarmament – when one
country disarms regardless of the
actions of others
Multilateral Disarmament – all
countries give up weapons
Britain should get rid of its
nuclear weapons
 Gives a lead to other
countries to disarm
Money could be spent on
better things – Trident Nuclear
submarines cost £100 billion
each over their lifetime
Protect future generations –
would not live with nuclear
threat
Chernobyl, Ukraine – 26th April 1986,
explosion at a nuclear power plant
cause 600,000 people to be exposed
to radiation. Caused 4,000 deaths from
cancer, children still being born today
with birth deformities because of it.
Britain should not get rid of its
nuclear weapons
 Protects the country –
deterrent to others because you
have capacity to retaliate
Maintains balance of power
between countries
Makes you weak if you don’t have
them
Having weapons makes us a
target to others
May be a target if you do not
have them
Could feel pressured to use
them
Cannot get rid of the knowledge
of how to make a nuclear bomb, so
it is better to have them
Potential for nuclear accidents
like Chernobyl
Somebody who believes all violence is wrong. A
pacifist would never fight in a war. Some pacifists
are pacifists because of religious beliefs, eg.
Martin Luther King.
A person who refuses to fight in
a particular conflict because off
the terms of that war.
Why may Christians be pacifists?
• Thou shalt not kill (6th
commandment)
•The body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit (St Paul’s letter to the
Corinthians)
Martin Luther King refused to use
violence in his campaign for racial
equality in America; he used non
violent direct action;
•Man is made in the image of God
(Genesis)
•Sit ins - where blacks and whites
sat together in areas which should be
segregated
He achieved 3 important things before he
was assassinated in 1968:
•Marches – freedom march on
Washington 1963
1.
Public places no longer segregated
2.
Great deal of support including
presidents JFK and Nixon
•Boycotts – Bus boycott and Rosa
Parks 1955
3.
Black people won the right to vote 1965
•Freedom Rides – greyhound buses –
whites and blacks together
•Speeches – “I have a Dream”
Jesus was a Pacifist
Jesus was not a pacifist
•Matthew 5: 38 – “turn the other
cheek” – do not retaliate
•Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the
peacemakers for they will be called
sons of God”.
•Matthew 26:47 – Jesus told Peter
that “all who take the sword will die
by the sword”
• Matthew 5:43 – “Care for your
enemies and pray for those who
persecute you”
• Mark 11:15 – Jesus in the temple,
drove traders out in anger, turned
over tables and damaged property
•Nowhere in Gospel does it say that
Jesus said war was wrong
•Luke 4: 16-21 – Spirit of the Lord
was upon Jesus proclaiming
freedom of prisoners and releasing
the oppressed, which is not
peaceful.
•He is a Christian who began as a pacifist, but
changed hi view and decided that sometimes
violence is justified in order to bring justice.
•Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. He
trained to be lawyer and joined the for an end to
Apartheid. African National Congress to
negotiate peacefully. Blacks suffered many
hardships; no votes or rights, no proper jobs, bad
housing on worst land. Mandela decided after
joining the ANC in 1944 that violence was his only
option, “ a necessary evil to defeat evil”.
•He was arrested in 1963 and sent to Robben
Island Prison, where he was held until 1990.
•In 1994 he became the first democratically
elected president of South Africa.
Why Christians may fight:
1.
Cause is justified
2.
Paul says in Romans 13 that God has put rulers where they are and Christians should obey
them. If you are called up, you must serve – God is in ultimate control.
3.
Nationalism and Jingoism (aggressive nationalism) – defending national pride
4.
To overthrow a tyrant or dictator
5.
Agree with their country defending another – Christians wish to defend other Christians.
•Use of violence or the threat of violence to create a climate of
fear.
•They try to force a change in government or community, often
targeting innocent civilians.
•Terrorism can never be ‘just’ because it does not use
proportionality and is never started by the state.
Romans 13: 1-7
Paul’s teaching on the authority of state
Matthew 5: 38-48
Paul lived in the Roman empire. He
believed that it was just and that Kings
and Governments were put there by God
Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness
Paul felt that you should always obey
government because if you disobeyed you
would be punished and they had been put
there by God’s power.
But today, not all rulers are just, so some
Christians like MLK did not obey.
Matthew 26: 47-53
The arrest of Jesus
After sharing the Last Supper, Jesus
went to the Garden of Gethsemane to
pray for strength for the crucifixion.
Whilst he was praying, Judas brought
chief priests and guards to arrest him.
Peter realised what was happening and ran
forward to attack the guard. Jesus said,
“Put your sword back in its place, for all
who draw the sword will doe by the
sword”. This suggests Jesus was against
violence.
Mark 11: 15-18
Jesus throws traders out of the temple
The court of the gentiles in the temple had
been turned into a market place; people
were selling animals and cheating when
exchanging money. The gentiles therefore
had nowhere to pray. Jesus overturned the
tables of the traders, and said, “My house is
a house of prayer for all nations. But you
have turned it into a den of thieves.” Jesus’
aggressive approach may make some people
think he is not a pacifist.
You have heard it said “An eye for an eye,
a tooth for a tooth”. I tell you do not
retaliate. If someone wants to sue you for
your tunic let him have your cloak as well.
If someone forces you to go one mile, go
two. You have heard it said “Love your
neighbour and hate your enemy” I tell you
love your enemy and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of you
father in Heaven.
Jesus quotes Moses, and says something
different, he wants you to want what is
best for your enemy.
In a war situation, this would mean having
more negotiations and not harming
prisoners of war.
Luke 4: 16-21
The work of the Messiah
Jesus went to Nazareth and on the
Sabbath went to the synagogue. He
read form Isaiah in the Torah, and it
said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon
me. He has sent me to bring good
news to the poor, proclaim freedom
for prisoners, to give sight to the
blind and release the oppressed.”
May Christians believe that this
means it is sometimes right to fight
is there is a just cause, eg people
who have been falsely imprisoned.
The Developing World
Resources are not divided equally…
80% of the world population have 20% of the resources.
20% of the world population have 80% of the resources.
More Economically Developed
Countries
Less Economically Developed
Countries
More Food
Plentiful clean water
Education for most
Healthcare for most
Housing for most
Jobs for most
Benefits for most
Little Food
Less clean water
Education for few
Healthcare for few
Housing for few
Jobs for few, all poorly paid
Benefits for no one
A DEVELOPING country is a poor or primitive country
which is developing better social and economic
conditions. Key features of a “third world country” are;
lower average income, shorter life expectancy,
underdeveloped infrastructure, low economic
growth, poor education system.
Our 6 Basic Needs
Every has has 6 basic needs, without which we cannot survive.
1. Food – if we do not receive enough food or the
right types of food, we could suffer from
malnutrition or starvation.
2. Water – is essential for life. Helps to clean, stops
disease, and keeps us hydrated. The water
must be clean, and free from microorganisms
that could cause cholera for example. 600
people die every hour due to lack of clean
water.
3. Healthcare – clean hospitals which are well
staffed with good resources, including health
education and immunisation. In Uganda, over
a period of 10 years, 1.5 million children
became orphans because their parents died of
AIDS.
4. Education – most people agree that education
should be a right for all children. If a country
cannot even feed its people, education would
be a low priority. In 2000, 125 million children
aged between 6 and 11 will not be in school.
5. Shelter – somewhere to live to protect us from
the weather
6. Work – people must have jobs in order to earn
money to support themselves and their families.
The Poverty Cycle
No money,
so less food
Lack of Food
Earn less
money
Unable to work
Hunger
No energy
Causes of the problems in Developing Countries…
• Harsh climate and environment
•Corrupt Government
•National Debt
•Resources taken by other countries
•Vulnerable
•Terms of Trade – receiving little money for produce
Barriers to Trade
Western and wealthier countries have encouraged
poorer countries to grow “cash crops” like coffee
beans, rather than food to eat for themselves. Often
high taxes are put on import goods like instant coffee
to stop competition from Western companies.
Terms of Trade
Farmers do not receive fair payment for their
products. The Fair Trade Foundation is supported
by many Christian charities, like Christian Aid, and
it aims to;
•Ensure farmers have fair and stable prices for
goods
•Guarantee extra income for farmers and estate
workers
•Have greater respect for the environment
•Help smaller farms have a stronger position in
world markets
•Have a closer link between producers and
consumers
National Debt
Money was loaned to developing countries by Western banks.
Instead of building schools, hospitals etc. it was squandered by
corrupt government officials. The currency of developing countries is
often weak, and so it takes more money to pay off the loan in hard
currency. If a country is in large amounts of debt to another, it has to
spend most of its money on the repayments and little is left for
healthcare, education etc. Sub-Saharan Africa pays back $10 billion
dollars very year; this is 4 times the amount it spends on healthcare
and education.
At the G8 Summit in Gleneagles Scotland, it was agreed by the
countries ( USA, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, Germany and
Canada) that the £3.3 billion debt of the 20 poorest countries should
be written off.
Environment
Many developing countries suffer extreme climatic
conditions; intense heat and drought means that
animals and crops die, so people cannot be fed.
Sometimes the drought is followed by severe
flooding, also destroying crops, animals, shelter,
and killing people.
Short term solutions can often cause long term
damage to the environment, like when trees are cut
down to make charcoal.
Poor and Corrupt Government
Some countries are so poor that the government has
little money to spend. Some developing countries have a
history of unstable political systems. Some governments
rule by dictatorship and fear, rather than democracy.
There may be wars in the country, which adds to the
instability.
Short and Long Term Aid
SHORT TERM
(EMERGENCY) AID is sent
to an area which has been
affected by natural disaster
or by social problems which
have resulted in War. Aid is
sent which is specific to
that disaster.
Examples; tents to provide
shelter to those fleeing war;
medical aid to help initial
casualties following an
earthquake; food needed by
victims can sometimes be
dropped by air.
LONG TERM AID is given over a
long period of time. Its aim is to
develop self sufficiency rather
than dependency, and help the
country to help themselves.
Examples; tools and basic
equipment given to farmers;
education programmes about the
spreading of HIV; the goat scheme
(2 goats given, milk for people,
adults can work and children go to
school because they are healthier;
provide manure for crops, crops
sold and eaten, give income, goats
produce kids, they are given to
another family.)
Bible Passages
The sheep and the goats Matthew 25: 31-46
The Lord will judge all people, and separate them into two groups, as a
shepherd separates sheep from goats. The King will say to people on the right,
‘Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has
prepared for you since the world was made. I was hungry and you gave me
food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away
from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you
gave me something to wear. I was sick and you cared for me” The people on
the left had not done these things. ‘I tell you the truth, anything you refused to
do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me. These
people will go off to be punished for ever,, but the good people will go to live
forever’.
The rich fool Luke 12: 13-21
There was a rich man who had some land which grew a good crop. He thought
to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said,
‘This is what I will do; I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and
there I will store my grain and other goods’. He thought that he could then
have enough good things stored to last for many years. But God said to him,
‘Foolish man! Tonight, your life shall be taken from you.” This is how it will be
for those who store up things for themselves, and are not rich towards God.
The rich man and Lazarus Luke 16: 19-31
There was a rich man who everyday lived in luxury, and a poor man named
Lazarus who laid at the rich man’s gate. Lazarus died, and the angels carried
him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In the
place of the dead, the rich man saw Abraham with Lazarus at his side, and
called to him; “Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip his
finger in water and cool my tongue because I am suffering in this fire!” But
Abraham told the rich man that no one could cross the deep pit between them.
The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his 5 brothers about
what had happened to him, so that they would not go to that place of pain.
Abraham refused, saying that they had the law of Moses and writings of the
prophets, and they should learn from them.
Barnabas and the early church Acts 4: 32-37
A group of believers shared everything. The apostles were telling people that
Lord Jesus truly was raised from the dead. God blessed all the believers much.
Sometimes, they would sell their houses and land and give the money to the
apostles, who would give it to people in need. Barnabas (whose name was
Joseph) sold his field, and gave the money to the apostles.
The Environment
Day 1. God created light and separated it from dark.
Day 2. God expanded out of water to separate water from sky to create the heavens.
Day 3. Land appeared and vegetation grew on the land.
Day 4. The moon, sun and stars created to separate the day from night and to
separate the seasons.
Day 5. God created the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air.
Day 6. God created the beasts of the land and created man in his own image to rule
over all the Earth and living creatures.
Day 7. God rested and made the day Holy.
DEFORESTATION – reduces
the amount of oxygen in the
atmosphere.
CFC GASES
DESTROYING
THE OZONE
LAYER – more
UV radiation
reaches Earth
and causes
malignant
melonoma.
AIR POLLUTION –
greenhouse gases
causes global warming.
WATER POLLUTION oil spills kill animals and
destroy habitats.
• Write to local MPs – those who can influence
the community
•Join an environmental group like Greenpeace.
•Give money to environmental organisations
•Recycle at home and work/school
•Conservation of specific areas, like the
National Trust and National Parks. Cleaning
local parks and canals, repairing fences and
footpaths.
•Publicise green issues – Greenpeace sprays
baby seals with a bright harmless paint so that
they are not hunted for their fur. WWF
sponsors guard patrols to stop illegal ivory
trade.
•Raise issues at world summits.
•Ministers raised issues about conservation with
African MPs and talked to Russia about nuclear
submarines leaking waste into the sea.
•Governments can set pollution reducing targets,
like the 1987 Montreal Protocol which banned
CFC gases.
Decisions on Life & Living: Relationships,
Marriage and Divorce
Primary
Relationships
The people we rely on for support, our
closest relationships. Parent, best friend,
partner.
Secondary
Relationships
Necessary relationships which can also
shape our lives, like teachers and
classmates.
Philos love –
platonic love, or
friendship
Agape love –
spiritual love which
is considered the
highest and purest
form of love.
Eros love –
deep, intimate
love, sexual love
between
partners.
Sex
Pre marital sex – sex before marriage
Adultery – sex when one or both of the people are married –
having an affair.
Promiscuity – having a careless attitude towards sex.
Fornication – sexual activity outside of marriage.
Christian attitude to Sex
Sex outside of marriage is wrong. Corinthians I
6:18 – “He that committeth fornication sinneth
against his own body. Your body is a temple of
the Holy Spirit who is in you.” Respect your
bodies – it contains God’s spirit. “You were
bought by God at a price”. God gave his son for
us to live, so he has the right to tell us how to treat
our bodies. “Sex affects the body”, like catching
STDs.
Matthew 5:27 “You must not be guilty of
adultery. But I tell you that if anyone
looks at a woman and wants to sin
sexually with her, in his mind he has
already done that sin with the woman”.
Adultery is also against the 7th
commandment in Exodus 20:1-17.
Marriage
Christians believe in 4 main purposes for marriage;
1. Companionship – friendship for life
2. Commitment – to the person you love
3. Children – bring children up in a loving, secure home.
4. Sex – to control and direct sexual instinct.
The Christian church teaches that marriage is the context in
which to bring up children – Genesis, God’s commandment to
Adam. He told Adam and Eve to “Be fruitful, and increase in
number”.
The wedding ceremony has 4 parts;
1. Declaration – Vicar asks if anyone has a reason for the
couple not to get married.
2. Vows – exchange of promises and rings
3. Proclamation – couple are declared man and wife.
4. Blessing – “Those whom God hath joined together let
no man put asunder”, meaning nobody should break the
bond of marriage that had been made before God.
…as a Sacrament. RC believe in these rituals/ceremonies
through which Christians come to know God better. Marriage in a
church is a sacramental bond between the couple which should
not be broken.
Marriage
When a couple are married, they are husband and wife.
Ephesians 5:21-23 says wives should submit to their husbands as
the Church submits to Christ. Teaches that men should love their
wives as much as they love themselves as Christ loved the church.
It also tells Christians that once married, they should both leave
their parents and become “one flesh”.
Divorce
Church of England – divorce granted in certain circumstances.
Roman Catholic Church – does not accept divorce. Annulment
can be offered to a couple if one was forced into the marriage
Free Churches – Accepts divorce. When love dies, it is better to
divorce than live a lie. God is “open to the future” and church
should be flexible.
Orthodox Church – Accepts in some circumstances vows cannot
be kept and couple should be released form vows.
Christians generally would encourage divorce to be a last resort.
Couples should try to communicate their issues with each other;
cooperate with each other and come to a compromise; spend
time together to reconcile; and seek counselling from Relate or
Marriage Care.
Divorce
Christians who are against divorce base their view on;
1. Marriage is a sacrament and no one can break the sacrament
other than God.
2. Marriage is a life long commitment and you should not break
the promise you made in front of God.
3. In Mark 10, it states that Jesus is against the divorce of a man
and wife.
4. Divorce will have a negative effect on children.
5. All couple will experience difficult periods, but they must be
worked through to make the relationship stronger.
Remarriage
Church of England – officially vicars should not marry divorcees
but can offer a service of blessing.
RC – Does not accept remarriage at all.
Methodist – Treat cases individually. Take a compassionate view
that people make mistakes.
Orthodox – Church has the authority to grant marriage and
divorce. Believe God is willing to forgive mistakes and remarriage
is accepted.
Matthew 5:32 Anyone who divorces and
remarries commits adultery. Anyone who
marries a divorcee is also guilty of adultery.
Sanctity of Life: Abortion
Where does life begin?
At day 21, the heart of a foetus begins to beat. A baby is viable from 23
weeks.
Abortion and the Law
The Abortion Act 1967 [revised 1990] sates that 2 doctors must agree
that at least one of the following reasons exists for an abortion to be
granted;
1. Mother’s life at risk if pregnancy continues
2. Mother’s mental/physical health is at risk (social clause)
3. Baby is physically disabled or unlikely to live long after birth.
4. Risk to existing children.
The limit for abortion is 24 weeks. If a baby is disabled, it may take place
anytime up until full term, 39 weeks.
Christianity and Abortion
Christians believe in the sanctity of life. This means that all life was made by
God and is sacred.
Genesis 1:2627 writes that
man was
created by God
in his own
image.
Therefore the
child is a gift
from God, and
no one but God
has the power
to take that life
away.
St Paul 1
Corinthians
6:12-20 reminds
Christians that
the body is a
temple of the
holy spirit, and
by harming a
baby within that
body you are not
respecting God
who is there.
The 6th commandment Thou
Shalt not Kill Exodus 20:1-17.
By aborting the baby you are
disregarding God’s law.
Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, before you were born I set
you apart.
Jeremiah 1:5 indicates that God
created us all as individuals and
life starts from the moment of
conception.
Pro Choice (for abortion)
Pro Life (against abortion)
•Every woman has the right
to choose as long as she
has all the information
•Women would have
abortions if they were illegal,
so it is safer to make them
legal and have procedures
carried out by professionals.
•Every child should be
wanted.
•Some see foetus as a group
of cells not a person, and so
it is just like removing an
unwanted organ.
•Acceptance on grounds off
compassion, if child was
conceived by rape.
•If baby was thought to have
a life threatening disease or
disability which would lower
their quality of life, their
parents may choose to have
the pregnancy aborted.
•Abortion goes against the
7th commandment
•Sanctity of Life – all are
special and created by God.
No one other than He can
take life away.
•Foetus may feel pain when
being aborted. Some types
of abortion such as “partial
birth” are considered forms
of infanticide.
•Women can suffer Post
Abortion Traumatic Stress
and feel guilty for the rest of
their lives.
•God resides within the body,
and so by harming a baby
which is part of the body is
disrespecting the Holy Spirit.
•If it is God’s will, the baby
will miscarry naturally.
Sanctity of Life: Euthanasia
Mercy Killing vs Murder
Euthanasia is not suicide but the assisted ending of someone's
life who is suffering. It is a Greek word literally meaning “good
death”. There are two types;
•voluntary euthanasia - the person concerned asks someone to help
them die, perhaps by asking for help to take an overdose of painkillers
•involuntary euthanasia - euthanasia is carried out without the patient’s
consent, for example, if they are in a persistent vegetative state and no
longer able to live without a life support machine, which is then switched
off.
The HYPOCRATIC OATH is a promise which all doctors must swear by. It
includes them swearing to always preserve life and will not assist in the
ending of a life even if asked to do so.
Christianity and Euthanasia
Christians are against euthanasia;
1. All life was created by God and is sacred. Genesis 1:26,
God made man in his own image. 1 Corinthians 6:19, The
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
2. It is wrong to take life, the 6th commandment in Exodus
20:13, Thou shalt not kill.
3. For everything there is a season, and a time for every
matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a
time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 states that human beings are not
meant to choose when they die. Only God should have
the decision.
Crime and Punishment
SIN – breaking God’s will by thought, word or action.
CRIME - action that goes against the law of you country
for which punishment is laid down – violation of the law.
People commit crime
because;
•Thrill of getting caught
•Poverty – only way to
survive
•Boredom
•Fuel an addiction
•Crimes of passion
•Family & upbringing
•Peer pressure
•Revenge
Types of punishment;
• Prison – liberty removed. A Consecutive
sentence is when time is served for many
crimes one after another. Concurrent is when
one sentence is served for more than one
crime.
•Fines
•Community service
•Loss of license
•Penalty points
• Corporal punishment
•Caution
•Suspended sentence
Aims of punishment;
•Electronic tagging device
1. Protection – keeps
criminal away form
opportunity of crime and
protects society. Prison.
2. Retribution – you deserve
to be punished in a n
appropriate way for the
crime you have
committed.
3. Deterrence – hopefully stop criminal
offending again and put others off.
Community Service.
4. Vindication – punished so that the law
is respected by all. Fines.
5. Reform – Christian aim. Criminals
need help to change themselves. Drug
counselling.
Capital Punishment
The death penalty is no longer used in Britain, nut is legal in
30 out of 50 states in USA.
For Capital
punishment
Against Capital punishment
•The offender
can’t commit
more crimes
(protection)
•Revenge for the
crime they have
committed
•Huge deterrent
• Wrong person could be convicted and killed –
injustice
•Turns terrorists to martyrs
•Only God has the right to end life
•All life sacred
•Someone would have to perform the execution
•Criminals should be given the chance to reform
•Killing is wrong
•Inhumane
•According to statistics it does not deter.
Christians
for the
Death
Penalty:
Exodus
21:23-24
“An eye
for an eye,
a tooth for
a tooth”
Christians against the death penalty;
•
Matthew 5:38-42. The sermon on the Mount. Jesus
teaches that we should forgive those who have sinned
and pray for those who do, and love our enemies.
•
Luke 15:11-32. The Forgiving father parable. Rejoice
when those who turn away from the light return. When
somebody commits wrong and asks for forgiveness this
should be celebrated.
•
John 8:1-11. The woman in adultery. You should forgive
everyone for no-one is without sin.
•
Luke 23:32-43 The Penitent Thief. Jesus forgave the
thief who admitted his wrongs and welcomed him into
Heaven. We should do the same.
•
Matthew 18:23-35. The unmerciful Servant. If you have
been forgiven, you should forgive others with the same
degree of mercy.
Prejudice & Discrimination
Prejudice is prejudging a person when not knowing the facts. It is having a
bias feeling or attitude about a person or group of people.
Discrimination is prejudice in action. Acting differently towards a person
because of their race, religion, age, sex, skin colour etc.
Christ’s teachings on Prejudice and
Discrimination
•The Centurion’s Servant Luke 7:10.
Jesus healed the servant of a Roman
Centurion, because the gentile
believed that Jesus had the power to
do this from far away. By helping a
man of a different religion, Jesus
shows he is not racist.
•Luke 10:25-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells in his story
that anyone in need is your neighbour. He teaches that regardless of
religion, you should help people, as Jesus did.
•Jesus healed the disabled and ill. Lepers were made total outcasts in this
time, but Jesus would speak to them. He would heal the deaf and the
blind, and let them touch him. He healed Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:40).
He helped anyone in need.
•Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” This suggests all are equal in
God’s eyes, and no one should be considered better than another.
Martin Luther King
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 15th January 1929. He became a
Baptist minister in a church in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1955, MLK lead the Bus Boycott
movement in Montgomery. This was
provoked by the actions of Rosa Parks,
when she refused to give up her seat to a
white person on a segregated bus. The bus
boycott lasted for 382 days, during which
blacks walked or car pooled to get around. It
lead bus companies to change their
regulations and the Supreme Court rules
that “such segregation was unconstitutional”.
In 1957 King was active in the organisation of the Southern Leadership
Christian Conference (SLCC), formed to co-ordinate protests against
discrimination. He advocated non-violent direct action based on the
methods of Gandhi, who led protests against British rule in India
culminating in India's independence in 1947. King believe in non
aggressive passive resistance, and boycotted the buses just as Ghandi
boycotted British goods in India.
MLK won the Nobel Peach Prize in 1964, after delivering his famous “I
have a dream” speech during his march on Washington. In 1965, he lead
a campaign to win blacks the right to vote. The same year, US congress
passed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed the discriminatory
practices which stopped blacks voting in the South.
He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 during a visit to Memphis,
Tennessee by James Earl Ray.