re paper 2 - Issues of human rights actual

• What are muslim attitudes to the dignity of human life?

  The worth and dignity of each human is a natural and absolute right and muslims therefore believe in the dignity of human life. That human life has true value as it was specifically created by God. It is God given so therefore cannot be taken away by anyone but God. Muslims are therefore obliged to oppose any form of human injustice or oppression.
• Religion in action: Christian practices to promote human rights ie agape in action


  The belief that each human being is sacred and worthy of respect is central to Christianity, so therefore it is expected that each individual is treated with agape. Therefore christians utilise agape in action to promote human rights. Also, as christians believe that each human life has dignity, they believe in equality and taking a stand against unfairness and justice. Christians may therefore work actively and for example campaign to promote human rights, equality, and social justice.
• What is agape in relation to christian practices to promote human rights?

  Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, being foundation of christen social teachings, especially as it follows Jesus' example.
• What is Liberation theology in relation to christian practices to promote human rights? ie through agape in action


  It is a social action movement in chrsitanity, based on the teachings and actions of Jesus. This is because during his life, his actions helped liberate people from unjust social, economic, and political conditions, so christians strive to follow example also. It puts into practice for instance the Christian idea that God has the power to change situations in the world that are unjust.
• More on liberation theology - How do christians use this in practice?

  They stand up to governments that oppress their people. They may take part in peaceful protests, or actively take part in supporting those harmed by injustice.
• What are muslim attitudes to promote human rights? ie through the ummah in action


  Muslims believe that all people were created by God, and therefore each human life should be respected and treated with dignity. Within the muslim ummah all individuals are equal. The ummah therefore promotes the welfare of the entire muslim community in supporting human rights.
• What are actual muslim practices to promote human rights?

  Supporting one another through giving zakat and saddaqah.

  They encourage people to live good lives and oppose inequalities, through for example being part of the Islamic human rights commission.
• What is the Islamic human rights commission in relation to practices to promote human rights?

  It is a comisision that aims to 'work with [different] organisations to campaign for justice for all people', through raising awareness, and protesting against human rights abuses worldwide.
• What is zakat?


  The purification of wealth by payment of annual alms. It is an obligatory act of worship in islam.
• What's the bad thing? - Human rights


  There may be problems that may arise through actively supporting human rights and social injustice, by a person's belief in regard to human rights conflicting with the law of the country. This causes an individual to be required to obey the law or act from personal conscience and risk the consequences.
• Who is Oscar Romero in relation to human rights regarding personal religious conviction and the laws of a country in christianity?

  Oscar Romero was a christian priest but then became Archbishop of San Salvador. There was a lot of crime and corruption in El Salvador at the time but he decided not to speak out about the corruption he saw. His views changed after his friend was murdered and he knew he had to speak out about this human injustice and openly criticised the government. He later got killed due to his protesting.
• Who was Malala Yousafzai in relation to human rights regarding personal religious conviction and the laws of a country in Islam?

  She was a muslim human rights campaigner who wanted to create a more socially just society through campaigning for the lack of education that girls in the area of Pakistan in which she lived had. The Taliban were a powerful force that banned girls from attending school, and shot Malala who still survived and continued to campaign for social justice.
• Why do religious believers consider it important to campaign for issues of social justice?

  As a response to the teachings of sacred texts. Therefore to many people their belief in the importance and dignity of each human being drives them to campaign against abuses towards human rights in order to create social justice.
• Note on what censorship is:


  The control of the spread of information or ideas in society which may pose harm or offence. It is usually imposed by governments. In the uk people are free to express their views on any religion unless their views are likely to contribute to violence or discrimination against its followers. There are different views about whether or not censorship should be in place for religious views that may be considered offensive. Censorship would prevent the publication of content regarding these views.
• What is freedom of religious expression?

  Where people have the right to express themselves through their religious beliefs and feelings however and whenever they wish. Ie through specific clothing choices and symbols. These symbols are significant to religious believers in order to reflect a specific belief, and be a part of the believers identity. Sometimes these religious symbols are even compulsory in religions. However this may cause offence and complaints from the remains of society.
• What is islamophobia in regard to religious extremism in islam?


  Hostile or prejudice attitudes against muslims through distrusting or in general disliking them. Open days in mosques and other activities are often in place for the public to prevent active islamophobia and educate individuals on the truth about Islam.
• How do people show the importance of their religious beliefs regarding religious extremism?

  Through joining organisations and activities which include people who share similar beliefs, evangelism through persuading people to take up their own beliefs, etc. But there must be a balance between freedom of speech and religious extremism.
• Religious extremism in practice 


  Some people may consider their religious beliefs to be so important that they feel justified in acting in extreme ways to uphold this belief or propel other people to believe in this too. These people may act in this way due to the way in which the individual has interpreted religious scriptures, due to their belief that they will be rewarded by God in the afterlife for acting in this way, or potentially believe that through extremism they are doing the work of God. All extremists act in their manner because they hold a specific belief to be true.
• More on extremism


  Extremism is a set of beliefs, but is not illegal.
• What is terrorism?


  The illegal form of extremism that includes violence. It can include mass intimidation where people are made to feel scared about going on with their everyday lives, unlawful violence or the threat of violence against the public or violence which intends to change a law.
• note 


  There is evidence that religious extremism contributes to terrorism. Terrorists may say that they are acting in accordance with their religions teachings or fulfilling certain religious commandments but this is not the case.
• Moderate religious believers who do not act on extremism would refuse the suggestion that religion promotes violence and have the following beliefs about terrorism:

  Religious terrorists are mentally insane and have misunderstood religious teachings.

  Some terrorists who claim to act violently in the name of God are not actually religious.

  Some terrorists use their religion to make their activities seem morally right.

  Terrorism is motivated by religious organisations, not religious teachings.
• Anti abortion extremism:


  Exists due to religious believers' belief in the sanctity of life, and these anti abortion extremists therefore act in a way to stop abortion as they claim it is wrong. This may include violence.
• What is the link between prejudice and discrimination?

  Prejudice is all about what we think, and discrimination involves these thoughts and pre-judgements being put into action. Governments have been involved in discriminating certain people through preventing them from being involved in voting for instance.
• Note on prejudice


  It means pre judging someone or something based on a certain characteristic such as religion or race without any real evidence to base that judgement on. Also, different interpretations of religious texts can lead to discrimination.
• What are christian attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination?

  Christians believe that all human life was created by God and therefore all people are equal and do not deserve to be discriminated against as each life is sacred ( gift from God ). The many laws that Moses received from God give guidance for people to live in harmony with one another and support and protect those who may have been discriminated against.
• How does Jesus' example reflect christian attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination?

  As Jesus' ministry extended to many people who were marginalised and discriminated against. He for instance healed women and lepers. This reflects the importance for christians treating all people with equality, as everyone is God's creation.
• Note on equality, prejudice, and discrimination in Islam

  When muslims go on pilgrimage to Mecca, they all wear simple white garments to show the equality of all individuals before god. No individual can be discriminated against on pilgrimage through this due to matters such as wealth. These garments are also used at the time whereby the muslim dies for this reason.
• Racism and racial prejudice and discrimination

  Racism is discrimination against people on the basis of their race or ethnicity.
• What are christian attitudes towards racial prejudice and discrimination?

  Christian teachings promote the equality of all races. This is highlighted through the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus' own actions also showed how important it was in christianity to treat all races as equal. This is because Jesus healed men and women of different ethnic backgrounds. Jesus' actions also influence christians to campaign against racial prejudice and discrimination.
• Who was Martin Luther king In relation to racial prejudice and discrimination?

  He was a Baptist christian minister who had many teachings on equality due to being influenced by Jesus' teachings on love. In his campaign against racism in the USA as a black American, he adopted non violent protests to support the civil rights of black Americans. He followed Jesus' teachings to 'turn the other cheek' and not return hate with hate. Despite being discriminated against with physical violence he still utilised peaceful protests in his campaigns for equality.
• What are muslim attitudes towards racial prejudice and discrimination?

  Islam teaches that diversity, specifically through God creating humans with soil of different colours, is all a part of God's great plan for the world and therefore Muslims advocate for racial equality. The actions and words of the prophet Muhammad also reflect racial equality as he established a black individual to be the muezzin.
• What is the Christian Muslim forum linked to muslim attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination?

  It brings together christians and muslims from around the country for good relationships to be built between them. Discussions are held through the christian muslim forum which explore the differences between Islam and chrsitanity. Therefore muslims through this campaign work to promote interfaith dialogue, sharing and educating christens with their own views in order to create a more just, tolerant society. They desire stigma around Islam and islamophobia to be minimised in society.
• More on the christian muslim forum

  Through interfaith dialogue and activities, the forum seeks to educate and campaign for greater understanding between religions. The christian muslim forum activities show the muslim ummah in action.
• What are christian attitudes to the roles of women and men in worship and authority?

  In the time of Jesus it was normal for men to take up positions of authority and in the early christian church Jesus' disciples were all men. However nowadays in society the roles of men and women in worship is more equal. Jesus showed that he respected women and had women as his closest friends, who came to visit his tomb after his death. In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus also taught discrimination is wrong, and this includes gender discrimination.