Religion, Poverty and

Wealth

1. The causes of poverty, hunger

and disease.

2. Christian teaching about

caring for others.

3. Muslim attitudes towards caring for others.

4. Charity and the uses of money.

(Internet research)

5. Moral and immoral

occupations

6. Assessmen

t

What is the point?In the teachings of most religions people are encouraged to show concern for the poor as long as it is followed by action. Nowadays, Christians believe our duty to help the poor applies to poverty anywhere in the world. This means Christians should involve themselves in not only helping the poor in their own communities, but getting involved with charities that fight poverty around the globe.You will need to know about Christian teaching on poverty, how Christians might help the poor, and what the Christian attitude to wealth should be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMiYmJnBvso

21st January 11Wealth and Poverty

Learning Objectives1. To explore why some people are rich and some are poor.By listing reasons why people are rich and poor.

2. To consider Christian attitudes to the rich and poor.By watching video clips and listing what Christians might think about it.

Reasons why some people are rich

Reasons why some people are poor

L.O. 1. To explore why some people are rich and some are poor.

War: Many poor countries are at war. Money is used for weapons and military equipment rather than for food, education, housing or industry. Wars and conflicts can also destroy crops, homes, schools and hospitals.

Natural Disasters: Many poor regions suffer from natural disasters e.g. earthquakes, droughts and floods. Droughts mean that the crops fail and floods destroy homes and farmland.

Debt: Many poor countries are in debt to rich countries. They make large interest payments on these loans. This money could have been spent on healthcare and education.

Trade: World trade is unfair. Poor countries grow cash crops e.g. tea, cotton and coffee to sell to rich countries but often at very low, unfair prices. The land is used to grow cash crops instead of food crops and so poor families often suffer from malnutrition.

AIDS: Methods of safe sex and drugs are too expensive for people in poor countries. Often parents die and so there is no one to provide money or food for the family.

Lack of Education: In most poor countries there is a lack of education and training. This means people do not have the skills needed to get a job, support their family and build up the economy.

Think about

what you see?

Think about what you hear?

Think about

what you

might smell?What questions would you ask?

L.O. 2. To consider Christian attitudes to the rich and poor.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgd52n_beyonce-named-hollywood-s-highest-earning-popstar_news

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlFumuNm9GY

What did

you see?What did you hear?

What

could you

smell?

What did you wonder?

L.O. 2. To consider Christian attitudes towards the rich and poor.

1.

2.

3.

1. At the time of Jesus, Christians

believed that illness was

caused by sin or a lack of faith

in God.

1. At the time of Jesus, Christians

believed that illness was

caused by sin or a lack of faith

in God.

How did Jesus heal the Paralysed man?

Your sins are

forgiven

The ‘gay plague’?

God’s Judgement?

2. In truth – poverty in developing countries has been caused by exploitation of

their wealth and resources by the rich countries. So

drugs and condoms are too expensive for people in poor

countries.

3. Today some believe that people damaging

the environment causes natural

disasters.

Natural disasters – the work of the devil to

test people’s faith in

God.

Stewardship

God intended humans to rule the earth but not to dominate it.

Love your neighbour as

yourself – look after others.

How can Christians help the problem of poverty, hunger and disease?

•http://www.youtube.com/cafodtv#p/search/0/OsJO619vxDQ

How can Christians use these teachings to help the poor?

Jesus said, ‘You need only one thing. Go and sell all

you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.’

(Mark 10:21)

‘You can not serve both God and money.’(Matthew 6:24)

‘The love of money is the root of all evil’

(Timothy 6:10)

‘Rich people who see a brother or sister in need,

yet close their hearts against them, cannot claim

that they love God.’(1 John 3:17)

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter

the Kingdom of God.Luke 18:25