Religion and Animal Rights Revision

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Religion and Animal Rights Revision
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Animal rights

• Animals are often used for medical experiments in
  order to improve the lives of humans. Without
  animal testing many life saving drugs could not
  be used.
• Animals are part of the food chain but are often
  kept in poor conditions until slaughter. This has
  led 10 of the UK not eat meat (vegetarian) or
  even not use any animal products (vegan).
• Sometimes animals are used in blood sports. This
  is when animals are killed in the name of sport.
  Their deaths are often violent and painful. Many
  people in the UK hate the idea of blood sports
  and have called for a complete ban of fox hunting.

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• Companionship Food
• Medical testing
• Clothing
• Entertainment Cosmetic testing
• Sport Transport
• Work

Use Abuse of animals
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Factory Farming
Factory farming
Make notes on the clip
See blog for website link to clip
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Christianity and Animal Rights

• Attitude 1 Most Christians believe that animals
  do not have rights but humans should not be cruel
  to animals and that farmers should care for their
  animals humanely.
• 2 reasons
• 1. God gave humans the right to control animals
  according to Genesis when he appointed them as
  stewards
• 2. God is the creator of animals as well as
  humans and the Bible says that humans should
  respect Gods creation.
• Attitude 2Some Christians believe that animals
  should have similar rights to humans
• 3 reasons
• God is the creator of animals as well as humans
  and the Bible says that humans should respect
  Gods creation
• it is impossible to use animals for food or
  experiments without being cruel to them and this
  is wrong
• The Bible says that God morns the loss of one of
  his creations

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Buddhism and Animal Rights

• Buddhists believe that all life, in all forms,
  should be respected, and no suffering should be
  caused e.g. so no experimenting on animals, bull
  fighting etc
• Buddha taught compassion (love and kindness) for
  all life. Harming animals is not showing
  compassion.
• Do not harm others (First Precept)
• Right Livelihood includes NOT having a job that
  exploits animals
• There are Karmic consequences for all our
  actions. Karma affects our rebirth.
• Most are vegetarian for these reasons. However,
  it doesnt say you cant eat meet but animals
  must be slaughtered humanely.

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Animal Rights
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Test yourself

• Name 3 things that animal are used for
• What are the 2 different Christian attitudes to
  animal rights?
• What reasons are given?
• What is the Muslim attitude to animal rights?
• What are the 4 reasons given?

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• ANIMAL RIGHTS
• Give two ways animals and humans are
  different. (2)
• Give two reasons why people use animals in
  sport. (2)
• Name two ways in which humans misuse
  animals. (2)
• Name the first Buddhist precept and explain its
  meaning. (3)
• Explain briefly why some religious believers
  choose not to eat meat. (4)
• Explain Christian and Buddhist attitudes to
  making animals extinct. Use beliefs and teachings
  in your answer. (6)
• Zoos should all be closed down, and the animals
  released. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 8. Weve learnt most of our medicine from animal
  research, so it must continue. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 9. Eating meat is disrespectful to Gods
  creation. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.

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Explain the religious attitudes to making animals
extinct. Use beliefs and teachings in your
answer. (6 marks)
Example Answer

• Christians believe that humans were given
  dominion over animals, which was to care and
  respect all living things. This is known as
  stewardship. God created the world and all
  creatures in it, which means all creation belongs
  to him and we are looking after it for him. In
  the Ten Commandments, it says do not kill, and
  so if you are killing animals and making them
  extinct, you are against what Gods rules.
• Buddhists believe your actions have consequences,
  which means you should respect all life,
  otherwise you will have bad karma and affect your
  rebirth. You could also affect the animals
  chances of improving their karma. In the Five
  Precepts, its says not to harm sentient beings,
  because they should practice ahimsa, which is
  non-violence towards all life.
• Both Christians and Buddhists believe that
  destroying habitats, is destroying creation and
  animals chances of survival.

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Religion and the Environment Revision
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Key words write out the answers then click to
check them

• Pollution
• The contamination of the natural environment
• Global warming
• Increase CO2 in the atmosphere raises the
  temperature of the earth, with potentially
  devastating effects on the environment
• Conservation
• Preserving and protecting the environment and its
  natural resources
• Stewardship
• Taking care of the environment on behalf of God
  and for the benefit of future generations
• Animal rights
• The principle that animals have the right not to
  be exploited by humans

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Air pollution
Water pollution
Types of pollution
Noise pollution
Land pollution
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Effects of pollution

• Most scientists say that pollution has caused a
  hole in the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect
  which is heating up the earth
• This in turn has caused the polar ice caps to
  melt
• It has also meant that we experience more freak
  weather conditions
• However, not all scientists agree! Some believe
  that this is a natural worldly cycle that happens
  every so many thousands of years
• Also, not all pollution is damaging e.g. noise
  pollution only effects people, not the
  environment

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Non-religious attitudes to the environment

• Many non-religious people are concerned about the
  environment. Governments have pressured large
  companies such as McDonalds and BQ in to making
  sure that they recycle waste and that they
  ethically source good.
• Governments have also set targets to reduce CO2
  and to recycle more, hence many houses now have
  recycle bins and tips are more accessible.
• It is understood that the effects of global
  warming are felt everywhere but especially by
  LEDCs who experience more drought and so have
  food shortages.
• It is estimated that over the next few hundred
  years much of low land in countries will be under
  water due to the melting of the ice caps e.g much
  of Holland
• On the other hand some people still dont care
  what the damage is and refuse to do their part.
  If governments really wanted change then more
  could be done to make people have environmentally
  friendly cars and use solar panels on their
  houses to get electricity

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Greenpeace

• This is a non-religious group who
• Work for sustainable development
• Campaign against climate change
• Try to protect the rain forests from being
  destroyed
• Stand up for animal rights e.g. they try to stop
  whaling
• They do this because they believe that the planet
  belongs to everyone and so no one should destroy
  it.

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Ways people try to reduce pollution

• Recycle clothes, plastics, paper etc
• Use public transport or walk rather than use a
  car
• Use energy efficient products e.g. light bulbs,
  washing machines
• Carry re-useable bags to cut down on plastic bags
• Buy local produce to reduce transports carbon
  foot print

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The Christian attitude to the environment

• All Christians believe that they have a duty to
  protect and care for the environment and should
  not pollute it

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• This is because
• The Bible says that people were created by God to
  be stewards to take care of it on Gods behalf
  and for the benefit of future generations
• God made the world and so it is not ours to ruin
• Christians believe they should protect the
  environment for future generations, because God
  wants the world to continue developing, not being
  destroyed.
• If Christians look after the world then they will
  be rewarded by God in heaven.
• Pollution is NOT looking after the planet. It is
  selfish and does not look after the world as God
  intended.

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Buddhist attitudes to the environment

• All Buddhists believe that they have a duty to
  protect and care for the environment and should
  not pollute it

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• This is because
• Buddhists believe that all life, in all forms,
  should be respected, and not destroyed through
  e.g. deforestation
• Buddha taught compassion for all life. Destroying
  the environment affects humans, animals and the
  whole of nature.
• The Dalai Lama said the destruction of nature
  and natural resources results from ignorance,
  greed and lack of respect for the earths living
  thingsthis lack of respect extends to future
  generations who would inherit the degraded
  planet.
• Do not harm others (First Precept)
• There are Karmic consequences for all our
  actions. Karma affects our rebirth.

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Christian Aid

• This is a Christian group who work for
  conservation.
• They do this because they believe that humans are
  stewards of the earth, and should look after it
  for God
• They believe in the parable of the talents which
  says that those who leave the earth in a better
  state than they found it will go to heaven
• They campaign against climate change and put
  pressure on the international community to reduce
  CO2
• They believe that we all have a responsibility to
  recycle and to save the rainforests which are the
  lungs of the earth

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Planet Earth
See blog for website link to game
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Test yourself

• Name the 4 types of pollution
• Which do not physically damage the environment?
• Name 3 ways people try to reduce pollution
• What is the Buddhist and Christian attitude
  towards the environment?
• Give 4 reasons a Christian has this view
• Give 4 reasons a Buddhist has this view

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• PLANET EARTH
• Give two ways we damage the earth. (2)
• Give two reasons why humans should look after the
  environment. (2)
• Name two forms of renewable energy. (2)
• Name two ways we use natural resources. (2)
• Explain briefly how science believes the world
  began. (4)
• Explain what makes it difficult to look after the
  environment. (Think about in school, in your home
  street, in your country, across the world) (4)
• Only religious people have a duty to look after
  the world. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 8. People today only think of themselves, not
  the planet. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 9. A hotter world is a better world. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.

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Religion and Prejudice Revision
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How did Racism develop?

• Western History has not always kept to the
  teaching of the Bible.
• The white man saw himself superior to others and
  this led to the slave trade and exploitation of
  many countries (particularly in Africa).
• In USA when slavery was abolished in the southern
  states racist attitudes continued. Black people
  made to live and work in poverty, lacking civil
  rights and proper education.

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• In S. Africa the apartheid (separateness) system
  was started in 1948 when the white (Boer)
  government forced strict rules on where black and
  coloured people could live and work.
• They had no civil rights and were subject to
  strict laws.
• They were segregated from whites and had separate
  schools, cafes, cinemas etc

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Why do people discriminate?

• Bad experience 1 bad experience can lead you to
  think everyone is like that.
• Parents/upbringing Families have a huge
  influence on us from a young age.
• Media The media is often biased. People tend to
  believe what they read/hear in the media.
• Ignorance Judging someone before you know
  anything about them.
• Scapegoating When you blame others as an excuse
  for a problem. E.g. Hitler blamed the Jews for
  Germanys economic problems.

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KEY WORDS
Prejudice
A thought - Judging someone before knowing them
Racism
Discriminating against someone because of their
race or colour
Discrimination
Ageism
An Action putting your prejudice into action
e.g. not employing a woman because you dont
believe theyre good enough
Discriminating against someone because of their
age
Sexism
Discriminating against someone because of their
gender
Stereotyping
Homophobia
A common belief that a person or country have the
same characteristics or behaviours e.g. all
French people wear a beret
Discriminating against someone because they are
attracted to people of the same sex
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Martin Luther King

• Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia where his father
  was a Baptist Minister.
• Brought up in segregated way of s. States.
• Became a Baptist minister in Montgomery, Alabama
  when Rosa Parks started her bus protest in 1955.
• Helped lead bus boycott that led to change in the
  law.
• Became leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
• Followed Christian ideas of non-violence, Love
  thy neighbour and that God created everyone
  equally.
• Led marches, sit-ins, demonstrations.

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MLK continued

• Very effective leader because of powerful
  speeches.
• Often imprisoned, home bombed, physically
  attacked.
• Gained a lot of support because of his
  non-violence, let others use violence against him
  and supporters.
• March of ¼ million in Washington in 63 led to
  change in law.
• 1964 won Nobel Peace Prize.
• 1968 assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Christian attitudes to Discrimination

• The Golden Rule do unto others as you would
  have them do to you.
• Everyone is created in the likeness of God.
• Good Samaritan helping a neighbour, not judging.
• St Paul In Christ there is no Greek or Jew,
  slave nor free man, male nor female. We are all
  one in Christ.
• Love your neighbour as you love yourself, pray
  for those who persecute you.

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Attitude of the Churches and Christians

• Churches are united now in putting Bible teaching
  into practice.
• All Christians would
• try to avoid making judgements,
• try to have equal opportunity policies in
  place,
• disapprove of racist jokes
• bring up children to share views on equality.

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Bible and Gender

• The Bible gives 2 differing images of the role of
  women
• Timothy and Paul (books in the Bible) write that
  women should not be heard in church, they must
  dress modestly and do good deeds.
• In the OT women were seen as possessions and
  could be divorced by their husbands.
• Jesus only chose men as his disciples/apostles.
• On the other hand on the OT women were brave,
  loyal and set good examples.
• In the NT many women followed Jesus and were more
  faithful being at the cross, at the tomb and the
  first to see him when he rose from the dead

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Christian Churches and Gender

• For nearly 2,000 years men have taken all
  priestly roles in the churches.
• For many there is the strong belief that a priest
  represents Jesus at the altar and that therefore
  his place cannot be taken by a woman.
• In some churches in the 20th century Baptist,
  Methodist and even Church of England changed
  their minds and allowed women to become priests.
• The Roman Catholics believe that women have a
  special and distinct role in the Church but it is
  not priestly.

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Buddhist Views on Prejudice

• Discrimination leads to suffering its wrong and
  should be avoided
• Do not harm others (1st precept)
• Do not use harmful language (3rd precept)
• Everyone should develop metta (loving-kindness)
  be kind respectful to others
• Karmic consequences your actions affect you
  karma, which affects your rebirth bad karma
  lower rebirth
• Dalai Lama said Always think compassion
  (kindness)
• Show beliefs actions racism through Eightfold
  Path
• Right Action (work for company that promotes
  equality),
• Right Livelihood (respect all life and treat
  people kindly),
• Right Thought (think kind thoughts),
• Right Speech (tell your friends your against
  racism, speak out against racist comments)

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• A. What do the following terms mean
• Tolerance (1)
• Justice (1)
• Prejudice (1)
• Discrimination (1)
• Stereotype (1)
• Ageism (1)
• Sexism (1)
• Racism (1)
• Homophobia (1)

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• PREJUDICE
• Give two ways people are prejudice. (2)
• Give three examples of stereotyping. (3)
• Give some examples of ageist behaviours. (3)
• Explain briefly religious teachings about
  sexism. (4)
• Explain how attitudes towards women can conflict
  in religion. (6)
• Describe the story of the Good Samaritan and
  explain its meaning (5)
• If prejudice creates bad karma, how could it have
  a negative effect on rebirth? (3)
• Describe the work of one individual who has
  worked against discrimination. (5)
• Without Gandhi, violence would always have been
  the main method of protest.(6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 11. Disabilities hold you back in the work
  place, so the job should be given to someone
  healthy. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.

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• Explain the attitudes of religious believers
  towards racism. Use religious teachings and
  beliefs in your answer. (6)

Example Answer
Religious people would disagree with racism.
Christians believe all forms of discrimination
are wrong because God created everyone equal and
so we should treat everyone with respect. In the
Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that
it doesnt matter what skin colour you are or
where you come from, you should love your
neighbour, which means to treat everyone
equally. A Buddhist might say discrimination
leads to suffering, which is wrong, because all
life should be respected. The Dalai Lama said
always think compassion, which means to be
loving and kind to others. If you do good actions
in life, Buddhists believe you will get good
karma and be reborn as something better. This is
why they believe they should treat everyone
equally and with respect.