Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice
What's covered
Key facts
Charity and Giving
Agape is the Christian word for self-giving, neighbour-love, one of the highest expressions of which is charitable giving.
Sources of Wisdom and Authority: Key Quotes
Langar is the Sikh free communal kitchen attached to every gurdwara, serving a vegetarian meal to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, or status, a practical expression of equality and sewa (selfless service).
Equality and Freedom of Religion
The Church of England is the established (state) church in England.
Ethical Arguments About Racial Discrimination
Jewish people today often view antisemitism as a continuing threat requiring vigilance and education: recent data show rising incidents in the UK and Europe.
Exploitation of the Poor: Fair Pay, Loans, Trafficking
Exploitation is the unfair use of others for one's own benefit, treating people as means rather than ends.
Human Rights and Responsibilities
Christians link rights and responsibilities through "love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31): others' dignity creates a duty for me to honour their rights.
Prejudice and Discrimination
Christian teaching views prejudice as wrong because all humans are made in God's image (imago Dei) and so share equal dignity.
Racial Prejudice and Discrimination
Most major religions today officially condemn racism, for example Christianity (imago Dei), Islam (Final Sermon of Muhammad) and Judaism (b'tselem Elohim).
Religion and Same-Sex Relationships
The Catholic Church does not marry same-sex couples; the 2023 Fiducia supplicans permits non-liturgical blessings of individuals in same-sex couples while reaffirming marriage as between a man and a woman.
Responsibilities of Wealth: Tackling Poverty
Absolute poverty is lacking basic necessities such as food, clean water, or shelter, the World Bank line is $2.15/day (2017 PPP).
Practice questions with answers
A taste of the 141 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What is Maimonides' highest level of tzedakah?
- •Boasting publicly about giving large gifts
- •Giving only to family relatives
- •Giving the smallest possible amount
- ✓Helping someone become self-sufficient
What human right means the freedom to hold and practise a religion?
- •freedom of expression
- ✓freedom of religion
- •freedom of the press
- •right to assembly
What is one argument for positive action?
- •Banned outright by current UK law
- ✓Corrects historical injustice and underrepresentation
- •Punishes innocent people unfairly always
- •Required by all major UK religions
What is the term for pay that is enough to live with dignity?
- ✓A fair wage
- •a living bonus
- •a one-off grant
- •a performance bonus
What is the UK's Human Rights Act?
- •1689 Bill of Rights protecting citizens from the Crown
- •1976 Race Relations Act covering protected characteristics
- ✓1998 Act enshrining ECHR rights
- •2000 Act creating the Equality and Human Rights Commission
What is prejudice?
- •Acting unequally toward a group
- •Discriminating based on race
- •Holding strong religious convictions
- ✓Pre-judging without evidence
Three minutes a day. Knowledge that sticks.
Practise all 141 Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice questions with spaced repetition, so what you revise today is still there in the exam. Free to use, no card needed.