Social Injustice

1
Social Injustice

• Injustice this refers to unfair (often
  prejudice) treatment or action
• Social injustice is a term used to refer to
  occasions when some members of society are given
  fewer rights and privileges than others. In other
  words people who suffer unfair/prejudice
  treatment.

2
Social Injustice

• Christians believe that all people are equally
  valuable to God, and therefore they believe that
  any form of injustice is always wrong.
• Christians have not always lived up to the
  standards set for them, but at least in
  principle, they do everything they can to try and
  make the world a fairer place for those who live
  in it.

3
Social Injustice

• The Bible teaches that it is wrong to mistreat
  the poor and the weak.
• In the Old Testament, the prophets often spoke
  out against social injustice, telling the people
  that God saw what they were doing and would
  punish them unless they changed their ways.

4
Social Injustice

• In the New Testament, Christians are warned
  against having favourites and against being more
  respectful to those who have money, while
  ignoring the poor
• Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a
  gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in
  shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special
  attention to the man wearing fine clothes and
  say, Heres a good seat for you. But say to the
  poor man, You stand there or Sit on the floor
  by my feet, have you not discriminated among
  yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5
Social Injustice

• The Bible teaches that people from ethnic
  minorities and immigrants (often called aliens
  in the Bible) should be treated just the same as
  relatives they should be welcomed and given fair
  chances at employment
• When an alien lives with you in your land, do not
  ill-treat him. The alien living with you must be
  treated as one of your native-born. Love him as
  yourself.
• (Leviticus 1933-34)

6
Social Injustice

• Because of this belief, some Christians join
  organisations which aim to promote racial
  equality.
• Some have devoted their lives to campaigning
  against racism.
• Amnesty International is an organisation that
  helps people that have been unjustly imprisoned,
  and many of its members are Christians.

7
Social Injustice

• Some Christians visit their local prisons on a
  regular basis, or join movement such as the
  Howard League for Penal Reform which tries to
  improve the conditions for prisoners in the UK.

8
Social Injustice

• Sometimes, people are treated unjustly because
  they have learning difficulties or are physically
  disabled.
• It is harder for them to find employment, and
  often difficult for them to get appropriate
  housing.

9
Social Injustice

• Because Christians believe that everyone has
  equal value, they sometimes become involved in
  local groups and national organisations that work
  for equal rights for people with disabilities,
  such as MENCAP.

10
Social Injustice

• Liberation theology is the name of a Christian
  movement which tries to put beliefs about justice
  into action.
• In countries where people are oppressed and where
  the police kidnap, torture and execute those who
  disagree with the government, some Christians
  have spoken out against injustice and have risked
  their lives.

11
Social Injustice

• Extension
• Research Task
• Find out more and write about the work of
  Elizabeth Fry, Liberation Theology (Oscar Romero)
  or Amnesty International. Use t he following
  websites to help with your research.
• www.amnesty.org.uk/give/legacy
• www.cofe.anglican.org/view/index/html
• www.quaker.org.uk/more/qviews4html
• www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Refry.htm

12
Social Injustice

• Discussion
• Do you think that prisoners today are treated
  properly, or do you think that conditions in
  prisons are too harsh or too lenient? Give
  reasons for your answer.