Community
Cohesion
Women’s Rights and
Sexism
Key Words
Sexism
Discriminating against
people because of their
gender (being male or
female)
Men and women in the UK have equal
rights. During the twentieth century women
gained the right to vote and to have equal pay
with men.
There have been many Acts to gain women
equal rights.
1975 Sex Discrimination Act – illegal to
discriminate in employment on the grounds of
gender or if someone is married.
Why attitudes changed
• During the First and Second World War
women had to do jobs previously done by
men and proved that they could do them.
• The work of the suffragettes showed men
that women were not willing to be second
class citizens.
• UN declaration of human rights and the
Feminist movement put forward a strong
case for equal rights.
Christian attitudes to the roles
of men and women
Traditional Protestant Christianity
Men and women have separate and different
roles.
•Women raise the children and run a Christian
home. Should not speak in church and submit
to their husbands.
• Men provide for the family and lead the family
in religion. Love their wives as themselves.
Only men can be church leaders.
These teachings are based on…
Teachings of St Paul in Timothy
about women not being allowed to
teach or speak in church.
 Teaching in Genesis 2 that
says Adam was created first.
 Jesus’ disciples were men.
I am not giving permission for a
woman to teach or to tell a man what
to do. A woman ought not to speak,
because Adam was formed first and
Eve afterwards, and it was not Adam
who was led astray but the woman
who was led astray and fell into sin.
(1Timothy.2:12-14)
Modern Protestant Christianity
Today they accept
that men and
women have equal
roles. They have
women ministers
and priests.
This teaching is based on…
 Genesis 1 teaches that men and women were
created at the same time.
 St Paul taught that in Christ there I neither male
or female.
 The Gospels show that Jesus treated women
equally. Treated Samaritan woman as his equal and
he had women disciples who stayed with him at the
cross.
 Council of Laodicea banned women priests in the
fourth century, so they must have existed at some
point.
Catholic attitudes to the roles of men
and women
Teaches that men and women should have
equal roles. Women can study and teach
about the faith. They can take funerals and
hand out the bread and wine.
BUT only men
can be priests.
Women are
equal but
priests
represent Jesus
at the Mass.
This teaching is based on…
Men and women are created at the same time
(Genesis)
The Catholic Catechism teaches men and
women are equal.
The apostles were all men and priests follow
on from them.
 Jesus was
a man and
priests
represent
Jesus in the
Mass.
Key Words
Discrimination - Treating people less
favourably because of their
ethnicity, gender, colour, age,
sexuality etc
Prejudice -
Believing some people are
inferior or superior without
even knowing them.
Key Words
Ethnic Minority - A member of an ethnic group
(race) which is smaller than
the majority group.
Multi-ethnic
society -
Racism -
Many different races and
cultures living together in one
society.
The belief that some races
are superior to others.
Effects of Discrimination an Racism
• If treated unfairly some groups could start
to work against society.
• Racism and discrimination can lead to the
rise of racist groups like the BNP. They
can stir up hatred between groups.
• Some politicians believe that young black
people feel that they are not treated fairly
and as such may be more likely to turn to
crime.
Benefits of living in a multi-ethnic society
Less chance
of war. People
get to know
those of other
countries
Life is more
varied and
interesting.
Lots of people
means lots of
ideas and
society moves
on quicker.
Lets people see
the things they
have in common
with other human
beings.
Key Words
Community
Cohesion -
A common vision and shared
sense of belonging for all
groups in society.
Multi-faith
society -
Many different religions living
together in one society.
Government action to promote community
cohesion in the UK
• Giving money to groups working for
community cohesion.
• Schools have to promote community
cohesion by law.
• Race Relations Act – illegal to discriminate
against people based on race, colour etc
• Cabinet ministers and judges appointed from
ethnic minorities.
Why community cohesion is important
• Without it different groups work against
and not with each other which causes
tensions.
• Riots in Oldham and Burnley were due to
different groups living ‘parallel lives’ and
not mixing with each other.
• Violenc is a way of life in countries with no
community cohesion e.g. Iraq.
The Christian church has
members from all over the
world. 70% of Christians are
non-white.
Christians are taught to
promote racial harmony.
The Story of the Good
Samaritan (Luke.10:3037)
In this parable Jesus tells
us to help whoever is in
need, even if they are
people who you would
usually dislike…
Jesus treated a
Samaritan
woman as his
equal (John.4)
Healed a Roman
Centurion’s servant
(Luke.7)
St Paul
In Galatians.3:26-29 that everyone is equal in
Christ. There are no different races within
Christianity.
“You are, all of you, sons of God through
faith in Christ Jesus…there are no more
distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave
and free, male and female, but all of you
are one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal.3:26-28)
Taught that God created all nations from one
man, Adam. Therefore all nations are equal to
each other.
There are Christian
leaders of every race
and colour.
All Christian Churches have condemned
racism.
May 1998 the Presidents of Churches
Together in England published a letter
against racism and religious hatred.
“Any attack on the
dignity and human rights
of any racial or religious
group damages all of
us.”
Work of a Christian Church to help asylum
seekers and immigrant workers
How the Church of England helps asylum
seekers and immigrant workers.
• The Mission and Public Affairs Council of the
Church oversees research on social and
political issues on behalf of the church.
• London Churches Refugee Fund provides
refugees with basic necessities.
• Provide church services in different
languages to immigrants maintain their faith
until they learn English.
Why he Church of England helps asylum
seekers and immigrant workers
• God wants people to seek justice for
everyone which includes immigrants.
(Book of Amos)
• Jesus always served others and Christians
should do the same.
• Jesus’ teachings in the Good Samaritan
and the Parable of the Sheep and the
Goats echoes this.
The parable of the sheep and the goats
(Matthew.25:32-33)
The goats are those
who are selfish and will
go to hell.
The sheep are those who
treat others well and will go
to heaven.
God is concerned with our actions it does not
matter what we look like.
The U.K as a multi-faith society
Multi-faith
society
Many different religions
living together in one
society.
Britain has many different
religions represented within it
and they are free to practice
their own religion. This is not
the situation in all countries.
Religion in England and Wales
Christians
No religion
No answer
Muslim
Hindu
Sikh
Jewish
Buddhist
Other Religions
2001 Census
42,558,000
8,197,221
4,823,000
1,591,207
558,746
336,040
267,711
149,237
157,000
Religious
freedom
and
Pluralism
Religious
Freedom
Religious
Pluralism
The right to practise
and change your
religion.
Accepting all religions
as having an equal right
to co-exist.
Benefits of living in a multi-faith society
Religions
living closely
can learn
about what
they have in
common.
May become
more
understanding
of other faiths
Make people
question their
own faith or
take it more
seriously.
Could help to
stop religious
based conflicts.
Christian attitudes to
other religions
They believe in religious freedom but have
different views on particular religions.
There are 3 responses.
There is
some truth in
other
religions but
only
Christianity
has the
whole truth.
Christianity is
the only true
religion.
All religions are
a different path
that still leads to
God.
Despite showing respect to other religions
Evangelicals still believe they should be allowed to
convert people as Christianity is the only true
religion.
Jesus said, “I am the way
and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the
Father except through
me.” (John.14:6) Means
only Christians will go
to heaven.
Jesus’ last words ‘to
make disciples of all
nations’ means everyone
should be converted to
Christianity.
“No matter how
good and true any
other religion might
seem, it is false,
useless – because
the light of Christ
has not fallen on it.”
Karl Barth (Evangelical
Protestant Theologian)
Catholics see other faiths as searching for God
and having some truth but only they have the full
truth. They believe this because…
The Church teaches that they do not
understand how but, ‘God can lead
those…who do not know of the
Gospel, to that faith (Christianity)
without which it is impossible to
please him, the Church has the
obligation to…evangelise (convert)
all men.’
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)
They believe Jesus is the
Son of God who is the only
person that can show the
true nature of God.
The Bible teaches that
Christianity is the truth about
God but that Judaism can
contact God.
Some Liberal Christians see all religions as being
equal in finding God. As such they should work
together to make Britain a more holy place.
They do not believe the Bible is the
word of God.
See God as a force, like
gravity, that can be
discovered in different
ways.
Jesus said, ‘In my
Father’s house there
are many rooms.’
(John.14:2) There is
room in heaven for
many religions.
Hands up all
those who
believe in
God?
“All religions have a
common faith in a
higher reality which
demands brotherhood
on earth.” John Hick
(Christian Philosopher)
Problems for religion in a multi faith
society
Bringing up
children
Conversion
Mixed
Marriages
Conversion
Christianity sees converting people as a duty.
Some see it as the only true religion and
should show other religions that they are wrong.
Is this the right attitude to have in a multi faith
society?
Is it not prejudiced to believe other religions are
wrong unless you have studied them all?
Treating others differently because they have a
different faith is discrimination. What problems
might this cause?
Then Jesus came to them and
said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to
me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations,
baptising them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have
commanded you.”
(Matthew.28:18-20)
Problems of trying to convert
• Trying to convert people from other
religions could be seen as a form of
discrimination or prejudice.
• Can’t call all other religions wrong unless
you have studied them all.
• It can lead to arguments and even
violence.
Bringing up children
In a multi faith society children have the chance to
think for themselves about religion.
Most religions encourage people to raise children in
that faith. Some do not want their children to learn
about other religions.
Some religions teach that people will only have a
good life after death if they follow their faith.
Parents fear not seeing their children in death if
they leave the faith.
Mixed Marriages
People of all faiths mixing together can lead to them
falling in love. What problems can this cause?
• Where will they marry?
• What religion will they raise
the child?
• Where will the couple be
buried when they die?
• Their parents might feel
betrayed.
Ways religions promote community cohesion in
the UK
1) Some people are working to find out what
different religions have in common with each
other and then build on it. E.g Christianity,
Judaism and Islam all believe in the prophets
Abraham and Moses.
2) Some religious groups are working to
help interfaith marriages.
• Protestant churches and liberal Jewish
synagogues have developed wedding
services for mixed faith couples.
• Those in mixed marriages have developed
the website www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk
to offer help and advice to other couples.
3) Some liberal religious groups encourage
mixed couples to raise their children in
both faiths. The children can then choose
when they are older.
4) Different groups are joining together to
explore ways of helping community
cohesion.
• The Inter Faith Network was set up in
1987 to promote good relations between
people of different faiths.
• See www.interfaith.org.uk.
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