Human Rights and Christianity

‘Whatever you do for

the least of these you
do for me.’
Human Rights

YWBATs

• Refer to three of the rights guaranteed by HRA.

• Explain the political significance of human rights.
• Conclude how Christian thinking relates to human rights
• Refer to Biblical passages that support Christian social responsibility.

‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’

 ARE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPORTANT?
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights - Signed into being in
1948, in the aftermath of WWII. Not legally binding.

European Convention of Human Rights – Signed in 1953 and made

part of our law in 2003.
• Life • Freedom from torture • Freedom from slavery and forced labour

• Right to liberty • Right to a fair trial • Freedom of association

• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion • Freedom of expression

‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’


ARE RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE?
Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist
punk rock protest group, staged civilian and military targets.
an unauthorised performance in He was shot and killed during Liu Xiaobo was
Moscow's Cathedral of Christ
the Saviour. The women said
their protest was directed at
the Orthodox Church leader's
support for Putin during his
election campaign. On August 17,
2012, the three members were
convicted of "hooliganism
motivated by religious hatred",
and each was sentenced to two
years imprisonment.
Osma Bin Laden was the lead
of the organization that
claimed responsibility for the
September 11 attacks on the
United States, along with
numerous other mass-
casualty attacks against
a raid by American special
forces in 2011.
‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’
Shaker Amer –
imprisoned
without trial in
2002 when he was
detained in
Afghanistan.
Alleges he has
been tortured by
the USA, with
British
intelligence
convicted by a service knowledge.
Chinese court with
"inciting subversion
of state power" in
2009. He was given
an 11-year prison
sentence for co-
authoring a proposal
for political and legal
reform in China.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND
CHRISTIANITY

In your rows discuss:

• which Human Rights would be
important to Christians and why?
• which would be difficult for
Christians and why?

Be prepared to share your work with

the class.

‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’

CHRISTIANS APPROVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Gen. 1:26 Gen. 4:1-12 Matthew 7:12

Luke 10:25-37 Matthew 25:31-46

‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’

SUMMARY
Pro Human Rights
All human beings created in the
image of God and are one human
family. (Gen. 1:26) Freedom from:
torture, slavery, detention without
wrong doing; right to: liberty, a fair
trial, property, education and
participate in elections.
Life belongs to God (Gen. 4: 1- 12).
Right to life.
Freedom of thought, religion and
belief – protects Christians in the
practice of their religion.
‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’

Pro Human Rights
All human beings created in the image
of God and are one human family.
(Gen. 1:26) Freedom from: torture,
slavery, detention without wrong
doing; right to: liberty, a fair trial,
property, education and participate in
elections.
Life belongs to God (Gen. 4: 1- 12).
Right to life.
Freedom of thought, religion and
belief – protects Christians in the
practice of their religion.
Con Human Rights
SUMMARY
Many Christians are against the right to form civil
partnerships because they believe being gay is against God’s
will as shown in the Bible. They also believe they have the right
to discriminate against gay people by refusing them the same
kind of blessing service that they give to couples who have
been divorced and had a civil wedding.
Some Christians are against the right to marry a person from a
different faith. So Christians only marry Christians and bring-
up their children as Christian. They would also discriminate
against inter-faith couples by refusing them a church wedding.
Some Christians are against the right of same-sex couples to
adopt children. They have chosen to close down Christian
adoption agencies rather than be forced to offer their
services to same-sex couples.
The Roman Catholic Church has concerns with Human Rights
being used to force the ordination of women as priests and
with priests using Human Rights to fight for their right to
marry.
‘Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me.’