The different Christian views are:
- Life comes from God. It is sacred. It is God's gift to us and therefore we have a responsibilty to live
- Christians should show compassion. Jesus said 'treat others as you would want to be treated'
- God gives life but also gives us free will to choose right and wrong. The dying person whould be able to determine when they die.
- Roman Catholic 'double effect' - the effect of helping a person in pain by giving pain-relief drugs, might have a double effect. first, to take away the pain, and second, bringing death sooner. This is ok, because the primary aim is to provide pain-relief and not end life.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Wednesday 4 April 2007
Christian pacifism
Some Christians are pacifists. They believe that the Christian principle of love means that fighting and killing is never allowed, even during war. They would use the example and words of Jesus like‘Love your enemies’ and ‘Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other also’ to support their belief. Jesus also said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be children of God'. Examples of Christian pacifists are Martin Luther King and Dietrich Bonohoeffer. Quakers are a type of Christians who believe in pacifism. Other types of Christians, like Anglicans or Methodists, leave it up to individual conscience.
How to answer part (b) questions
An example question: ‘Explain why a Christian might regularly give to charity’
An example answer:
All Christians try and follow the teachings of the Bible because they believe it contains how God wants them to live. The Bible says a lot about God’s heart for the poor. In the Bible, St. Paul says that God likes a cheerful giver and that people should set aside money on a regular basis to give to the church to help the poor. The Bible also teaches that you can’t claim to love God and ignore those in need, that loving God and loving other people are the same thing. Elsewhere Jesus teaches that God will judge people on the basis of whether they care for the poor or not.
This answer gives reasons behind why a Christian might do this or that, in this case, give to charity.
An example answer:
All Christians try and follow the teachings of the Bible because they believe it contains how God wants them to live. The Bible says a lot about God’s heart for the poor. In the Bible, St. Paul says that God likes a cheerful giver and that people should set aside money on a regular basis to give to the church to help the poor. The Bible also teaches that you can’t claim to love God and ignore those in need, that loving God and loving other people are the same thing. Elsewhere Jesus teaches that God will judge people on the basis of whether they care for the poor or not.
This answer gives reasons behind why a Christian might do this or that, in this case, give to charity.
christian responses to social injustice
social injustice is the term given to any occasion when members or groups of a society are given fewer rights and privileges than others. Where they are treated unfairly. This could be the treatment of ethnic minorities and immigrants, prisoners and especially those unjustly imprisoned, people with learning difficulties or the physically disabled, etc.
Christians believe all people are equally valuable to God (every person is made in the 'image of God'). Christians believe they should try and make the world a fairer place. The Bible teaches that is wrong to mistreat the ‘poor’ and the ‘weak’. Some Christians are part of a movement called 'liberation theology'. Liberation theology says that God wants to liberate or set free people from oppression and injustice and Christians should take action to help this happen. Liberation theology says you can't read the Bible without seeing that God is on the side of the poor and down-trodden. God wants the world to be a place where people are treated equally and fairly.
Christians believe all people are equally valuable to God (every person is made in the 'image of God'). Christians believe they should try and make the world a fairer place. The Bible teaches that is wrong to mistreat the ‘poor’ and the ‘weak’. Some Christians are part of a movement called 'liberation theology'. Liberation theology says that God wants to liberate or set free people from oppression and injustice and Christians should take action to help this happen. Liberation theology says you can't read the Bible without seeing that God is on the side of the poor and down-trodden. God wants the world to be a place where people are treated equally and fairly.
Monday 2 April 2007
Bible quotations for peace and justice
Christian beliefs about pacifism
‘Do not commit murder’ (10 Commandments, Old Testament)
Jesus said ‘Love your enemies’ (Sermon on the Mount)
Christian beliefs about the treatment of criminals
Jesus said ‘Forgive those who have sinned against you’ (the Lord’s Prayer)
How many times shall I forgive my brother? Up to seven times? Jesus answered ‘I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times’ (Matthew’s gospel)
Christian responses to social injustice
‘The spirit of God is upon me to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the prisoners and sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed …’ (Jesus at the beginning of his ministry)
‘Do not commit murder’ (10 Commandments, Old Testament)
Jesus said ‘Love your enemies’ (Sermon on the Mount)
Christian beliefs about the treatment of criminals
Jesus said ‘Forgive those who have sinned against you’ (the Lord’s Prayer)
How many times shall I forgive my brother? Up to seven times? Jesus answered ‘I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times’ (Matthew’s gospel)
Christian responses to social injustice
‘The spirit of God is upon me to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the prisoners and sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed …’ (Jesus at the beginning of his ministry)
absolute and relative morality
What is absolute morality?
This is when a person believes that there is a right course of action in a moral dilemma that is true for all situations, regardless of culture, religious tradition, time or age. For example 'it is always wrong to kill'.
What is relative morality?
This is when a person believes that they are different courses of action needed in different situations. For example, 'it is usually wrong to kill, but sometimes it might be necessary for a particular reason'
How to use it an exam answer?
If you get a question on Christian attitudes or beliefs about war, you could say
Some Christians are always against war, because they are pacifists. This position is an example of absolute morality. Other Christians, believe it is usually wrong to fight, but recgonise there are some situations where it might be necessary. Before going to war they would argue the Just War criteria must be met. This position is an example of relative morality.
If you get a question on Christian attitudes or beliefs about contraception, you could say.
Some Christians, like Roman Catholics, believe that the use of contraception is wrong because they believe sex was created primarily for the creation of children and contraception interferes with God's plan for a couple. This is an example of absolute morality. Other Christians, like Anglicans or Methodists, believe that the use of contraception is sensible and responsible, because it allows a couple to decide when and how many children they have and so every child is wanted. This is an example of relative morality.
This is when a person believes that there is a right course of action in a moral dilemma that is true for all situations, regardless of culture, religious tradition, time or age. For example 'it is always wrong to kill'.
What is relative morality?
This is when a person believes that they are different courses of action needed in different situations. For example, 'it is usually wrong to kill, but sometimes it might be necessary for a particular reason'
How to use it an exam answer?
If you get a question on Christian attitudes or beliefs about war, you could say
Some Christians are always against war, because they are pacifists. This position is an example of absolute morality. Other Christians, believe it is usually wrong to fight, but recgonise there are some situations where it might be necessary. Before going to war they would argue the Just War criteria must be met. This position is an example of relative morality.
If you get a question on Christian attitudes or beliefs about contraception, you could say.
Some Christians, like Roman Catholics, believe that the use of contraception is wrong because they believe sex was created primarily for the creation of children and contraception interferes with God's plan for a couple. This is an example of absolute morality. Other Christians, like Anglicans or Methodists, believe that the use of contraception is sensible and responsible, because it allows a couple to decide when and how many children they have and so every child is wanted. This is an example of relative morality.
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