Moral and Immoral Occupations:
Concept of moral and immoral:
Religious views of wealth and of the causes of hunger, poverty
and disease:
Wealth (Having all needs provided for; a state of being well off):
1. Greed Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Luke 12:15
2. Christianity is not opposed to people having wealth and enjoying their
life but this can only be done after they have taken steps to help the
poor.
Materialism (Preoccupation with, or emphasis on, material objects, comforts and
considerations):
Do not store up treasures on earth. Matthew 6:19
The wise store up but fools gulp theirs down Proverbs 21:20
Causes of Hunger (a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food,
coupled with the desire to eat.) :
1. Lack of investment in agriculture
2. Poverty
3. Climate and Weather
Causes of Poverty (Lack of basic necessities that all human beings must have):
1. Third World Debt (when an LEDC receives tied aid or loans from MEDCs
which needs to be paid back)
2. Exploitation (using a resource or person for personal gain) Many of the
countries of the western world looted and exploited these developing
countries, robbing them of the wealth and natural resources.
3. Church of England: The Synod [believes] that, as a matter of common
humanity and of our mutual interest in survival, the world requires a new
and more equitable system of economic relationships between nations.
4. Gods test to show how strong their faith was.
Causes of Disease: (a disorder of structure or function in a human)
1. Cannot afford medical treatments or check ups.
2. Cannot afford hygienic food.
3. Overcrowding.
s 1. Almsgiving (making voluntary contributions to aid the poor)
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Responses to the needs of the starving, the poor and the sick:
1. Aid Agency (organisation dedicated to distributing aid to those in need)
God shows)
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2. Agape (unselfish love; all encompassing love like the love Christians believe
3. Justice (the quality of being just, right and fair) - The Church teaches that
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unfair laws and inequality has led to greater levels of poverty.
LEDC : (Less Economically Developed Country)
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MEDC : (More Economically Developed Country)
MEDC should not exploit other countries, as it is an act of dishonesty.
Moral An action that conforms to social standards of what is right.
Immoral An action that does not conform to social standards of what is right. (Prostitution, pornography, illegal
drugs)
Teachings about moral and immoral occupations:
Occupation Job or profession
1. Christians should not harm others so they should not earn money in a way that has a bad or negative effect on other
people.
2. Some Christian groups have said that working on a Sunday breaks the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Six days you
shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. - Exodus 20:8
3. The Methodist Church and the Salvation Army are opposed to the use of alcohol and states that alcohol cannot be
supplied. Human bodies should be treated with respect as it is created in the image of God. (Corinthians 3:16)
Impact of teachings on believers:
1. Some Christians avoid working in companies that would consider immoral. (e.g. make or use gambling equipment)
2. Christians working in industry might look for companies that actively support ethical employment practices, fair trade,
etc.
Concern for others:
om 3. Not work on Sundays.
The Uses of Money:
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Biblical teaching about caring for others:
1. Stewardship (To care for or manage resources or people
Teachings about the use of money:
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e.g. :
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responsibly) Christianity teaches a responsibility for others.
2. Compassion (a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for
another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a
Gambling play games of chance for money
- Many Christians do not approve of gambling such as the National Lottery.
Lending to give money to someone who agrees to pay it back in the future
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strong desire to alleviate the suffering)
Usury the action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest -
3. Treat others as you would have them do unto you.- Golden
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If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a
Rule
moneylender; charge him no interest. (Exodus 22:25)
4. Give to charity The widows Mite
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Understandings of Charity: 1. It is believed that the love of money will wander faith and lead them into temptations.
The love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10
2. It is wrong to be rich when there are people who are starving
2. Jesus explained to his followers that they should give away their riches in order to follow
God.
because of lack of money.
You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24
Different ways charity is put into practice: It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
1. Donating money
2. Raising awareness of the poor
Kingdom of God. Luke 18:25
3. Until 1936, it is a custom to give a tenth of their income to the church (tithes).
3. Relief Work (assistance, such as money, food, or shelter, Giving to Charity (generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill or helpless):
given to the needy, aged, or victims of disaster; often
1. Jesus taught that everyone should give to charity but he also said that such giving should
temporary)
be done privately and not as a public show of generosity. God rewarded those who gave
help in secret.
UN Declaration of human rights:
3. Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men. Matthew 6:1
In 1948, the General Assembly of the UN signed the Universal 2. The duty of caring for the poor is central to Christian belief.
Declaration of Human Rights. It establishes that all human
4. Do not neglect to do good and share what you have. Hebrews
beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
5. Feeding the 5000 Mark 6:34-44
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards
3. Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund are three of the charities which aim to co-ordinate with
one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Churches and help those who are in hardship in accordance with Christian teachings.