Explain religious teaching about equality
with particular reference to gender, race & disability.
Descripción
A-Levels R.E Mapa Mental sobre Explain religious teaching about equality
with particular reference to gender, race & disability., creado por Katie Hanlon el 06/05/2013.
Explain religious teaching about equality
with particular reference to gender, race & disability.
Equality is the state of being equal concerning rights, opportunities and status, in
particularly gender equality implies that men and women should receive equal
treatment (unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment) and
race equality refers to equal regard and treatment for all races. Christains oppose
predujice and discrimination because they believe in the equality of all people, no
matter what race or gender.
RACE
In Christianity, many people see Jesus as someone who promoted racial harmony. He proved he was against
discrimination as he associated himself with groups considered to be outcasts such as the poor and tax collectors,
despite the fact this discouraged people to believe he was the Messiah. He also ignored Jewish ideas on pollution by
sharing a cup with a Samaritan. The idea that God loved the world so much he sent Jesus to lay down his life makes
Christians believe that the world is all one race, it just consists of different ethnicities. The New Testament teaches 'there is
neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ' again suggesting the human race
is seen as one and no one should be treated unequally because of it. Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu and Trevor
Huddleston are all examples of Christians that stood out against racism.
Nota:
-Jesus association with groups
-'Neither Jew nor Greek...' suggests human race as one
-Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu & Trevor Huddleston
In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two 'racial groups': the Jews
and the Gentiles, God's intention was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests,
ministering to the Gentile nations, however the Jews became proud of their
status and despised the Gentiles, Jesus put an end to this, destroying the
dividing wall of hostility. Christians follow this teaching as it is another example
of how Jesus was against discrimination and seeked equality. The Golden Rule
is another example Christians follow that promotes racial harmony, 'Treat others
as you would wish to be treated' proves that one race shouldn't be considered
differently just on the colour of their skin. The parable of the Good Samaritan
links with this concept as it teaches to treat everyone with kindness and
compassion, the general idea of agape concerning self-sacrifical love also
helps Christians to support equality.
Most Christians would oppose racism, however
there is a tiny minority called the Dutch Reform
Chuch in South Africa who use the bible to argue
that white people are superior to other races.
Other Churches condemn them for this. It is called the apartheid system
GENDER
There are many different attitudes within Christianity to the roles of men and woman. The bible
can suggest that women should take a submissive role and that men are superior. St. Paul said
women should be obediant to their husbands and cover their hair because it is beautiful and
should not be viewed by other men and remain silent in Church and in the New Testament he
wrote 'The man is the head of the woman, as Christ is the head of the Church.' The Roman
Catholic Church and Orthodox Church have a traditional view, that woman are not allowed to
become priests, the reason being is that Jesus' apostles were all men. Protestant Churches
have within them a mixture of conservative and liberal views about the role of woman in Christian
ordained ministry.
The quote 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female...' was
written by St. Paul and would infer that man and woman were equal.
Women were regarded as important to Jesus and Paul, both had good
friendships with women and Jesus first appeared to woman such as Mary
Magdalane after the resurrection. Fundamentalist Christians tend to take
the view that women should take a submissive role to men. They would not
say that woman are less valuable to God than men but that God has given
them a different role in life. More liberal Christians claim that Jesus and
Paul lived over 2,000 years ago when the role of women was very different,
they believe the message of the bible needs to be understood very
differently now when men and women have equal rights. Ultimately, the
attitudes to the role of men and women are dependant upon which
Christian tradition is followed.
ISLAM
In Islamic teachings, muslims also
believe in equality for gender and
race. Allah does not tolerate any
superiority of one experience over
another, an example is when
Satan is being dispelled from
God's kingdom of special mercy due
to his pride over Adam, satan- 'i am
better than he, you created me from
fire, and you created him from clay,
Allah replied 'then get out of here, for
verily you are outcast'. The holy
prophet Muhammed said 'all people
are equal, as equal as the teeth of a
comb.' Some muslims are not in
favour of racial equality, this is
demonstrated in the Darfur war in
Sudan with Muslim arabs purposely
killing the black Africans.
ABILITY
Historically within religions there has been association of
outward physical conditions with the inner spiritual health, with
mental disabilities seen to be 'demonic'
Golden rule- 'treat others as you would like to be
treated', agape, The Christian application of love
that is indiscriminate
Jesus focused his life on being with those who needed healing,
such as the healing of Jairus' daughter. This could also be
understood as highlighting all disabilities should be rectified
In the Gospel of John, the disciples asked Jesus why a man was blind, he reply was
'neither this man or his parents have sinned, it is to show the work of God can be
displayed on his life' Jesus goes on to heal this man, to show the power of God
inside of him, could be used to prove the existence
Some Christians believe the fall of man influenced ability. After Adam and Eve sinned, mankind inherited the sin
nature, and with it, it is believed some humans developed it. Jesus died to take away the eternal consequences of
sin, to make it possible to go to heaven, however, the physical conseqyences are still within us. The bible also says
that God will make a new earth, where there is no sickness or disease of any kind which would suggest it was Adam
and Eve who inflicted sin in the world that is shown through mental disability.