RS - Religion and Society

Christians:

• Jesus never told soldiers they were wrong
• St Paul - "Chritains MUST obey government"
• Jesus - "Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's" --> Obey government
• Fifth commandment = "Do not kill"

Jews:

• Talmud = war must be fought if it is Milchemet Mitzvah (a war that must be fought)
• Tenakh = accounts of wars where God has been involved --> War = good
• Should fight in wars due to Holocaust
• Nature of modern warfare = no war can be just

Christians:

• Jesus died on cross for reconciliation
• Jesus - "If you do not forgive those who have sinned against you, God will not forgive your sins"
• St Paul - "Christians should try to live in peace with everyone"
• Churches = Christians should use forgiveness and reconciliation to end conflicts

Jews:

• Tenakh ecourages people to forgive
• Rabbi's encourage people to forgive
• Judaism = God forgives those who forgive others

Global Warming (the increase in the Earth's temperature):

• Temperatures will rise causing sea levels to rise so coastal areas like Southend will disappear
• Global warming is necessary to live as without it Earth would be to cold to live on

Human Waste (waste caused by humans e.g. litter - recycling):

• Acid Rain: pollutants like coal make rain more acidic - renewable energy (wind)
• Eutrophication: chemicals get into rivers so fish die - increase organic farming
• Radioactive - giving out harmful radiation e.g. Nuclear power stations - geological disposal (buring waste deep under rocks)

Christians:

• Old testament = treat animals humanely
  
• Sermon on the Mount = Jesus taught should share Earth's resources
• Judgement day = Christians judged on whether they have been stewards

Jews:

• Tenakh and Talmud = stewardship is sharing resources
  
• Torah = reduce pollution
• God cretaed world = must be protected
• Life is test on how well they have followed mitzvot (mitzvot to be good stewards)

Christians:

• Body not needed after death = soul is immortal so physical body is not used
  
• Jesus = "Treat others as you would like to be treated"
• Usurping role God = only God can give/take life
• Sanctity of life = save life of accident victim or use their organs for a transplant

Jews:

• God wants people to use medical technology to save lives
• Mitzvot - "Love thy neighbour" = donate organs
• Organs created by God = intrinsic to an individual
• New organs may affect someone's Jewishness (Judaism = blood religion)

Christians:

• Bible = only God can give/take life - cannot usurp God
  
• God = encourages use of technology
• Experimenting with life is dangerous = sin and child is aborted
• Expliting poor (treatment = £4000) = treat others as you would like to be treated

Conscience:

• St Thomas Aquinas and St Paul - "Conscience = Voice of God"
• Could just be listening to own opinion e.g. Yorkshire Killer

Situation Ethics:

• Abortion in Bible is wrong = if 12 year old was problem, abortion needed
  
• Religion on love and forgiveness

Church:

• Body of Christ = same authority
• God speaks through Chuch

Bible:

• Ten Commandments = clear moral guidance
• Word of God = absolute authority

Variety of Methods:

• Bible not up to date
• Conscience and situation ethics can be opinionated
• Church can be opinionated e.g. Westboro Baptist Church

Christians:

• Right to life = basic Christian belief, life belongs to God, sanctity of life
• All made by God = one human family, teachings of equality and dignity are taught in Bible and Church
• Freedom of expression = essential to being Christian e.g. festivals like Easter
• Right to not be discriminated against = e.g. employers must not discriminate against Christians because they are non-religious

Christians:

• Bible - "God is just" = rewards righteous and punishes sinners
• Churches make statements about them - instilling fairness across world
• Jesus - "Treat others fairly" (New Testament)
• Vancover 1984 - Christian communities engaged in process of "justice, peace and integrity"

Jews:

• God is just and created world as a place of justice
• Torah - "God is a god of justice" (Torah word of God - true)
• Tenakh and Responsa - "People must be treated fairly"

Non-Religious:

• Acts as a deterrent
• Murderers are a threat to society
• Wrong judgement - killed innocent person
• Life sentence is worse than death sentence

Christians:

• Bibles agrees with death penalty for some crimes - God approves
• Thomas Aquinas said that peace in society is more important than reform for sinners
• Only God can give and take life
• Jesus came to save sinners (cannot reform if dead)

Jews:

• Torah says it can be used sometimes
• Basis of Jewish punishment = society protcetion
• Torah needs updating
• Mahnah said that a Bet Din that executed a person once is 70 years was destructive

Retribution:

• Victims suffer so criminals should
• Punishment - suffering for their actions
• Criminals pay for crime by severity (eye for an eye)

Deterrence:

• Will not commit crime if punishment outweighs the reward of crime

Reform:

• Some criminals come from bad backgrounds (can give them a chance to live without crime)
• Can rehabilitate - get a job and no longer commit crimes
• Retribution will just lead to anger

Protection:

• Capital punishment = can't threaten people
• Long prison time = out of society
• Community service = keeps them off the streets in their leisure time

Health Problems:

• Tobacco = lower fertility (male), risk of dementia
• Alcohol = liver problems, addiction
• Drugs = liver problems, injections through dirty needles -  problems

Social Problems:

• Tobacco = smells of smoke, family see them slowly deteriorate
• Alcohol = 50% of sex abusers also abuse alcohol, many more crimes/anti-social behaviour
• Drugs = financial issues, violent in use

Christians:

• Moderation = (John) Jesus turned water into alcohol (wine), some churches use alcohol during services as Jesus' blood
• Abstinence = lots of drunkennes - incest relationship with daughter (Genersis), Noah brought shame to his family with alcohol

Jews:

• Moderation = Tenakh praises wine as it gladdens the human heart, wine required in some practices e.g. Kiddush
• Abstinence = Drugs - less concentration to pray and fulfill mitzvot, parents may be distressed by behaviour so it is not honouring your parents