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Unlock This CourseIn Human Rights and When They Can Be Limited you met the five basic rights: liberty, equality before the law, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion and freedom of speech. This lesson asks what Christians add to the discussion. The Bible does not use the phrase "human rights", but Christians say that its teaching about love and the value of each person is the basis for them.
Key terms:
You have seen that Genesis 1:27 teaches that every person is made in the image of God. Christians believe this gives every human being the same worth, whatever their age, wealth or background. A right belongs to a person simply because they are a person.
Jesus taught, "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Christians say that if you love someone, you cannot lock them up without cause, treat them unfairly or silence them. Respecting rights is a way of showing love.
Galatians 3:28 says that all believers are "one in Christ Jesus". Christians use this to teach that no group is worth more than another. You will study this text properly in Equality and the Role of Women in Christianity.
Oscar Romero became Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 1977. At that time many poor people in the country suffered violence and oppression. Romero used his sermons, which were also broadcast on the radio, to speak out for the poor and to condemn the killing of civilians. He taught that the Church must stand with those whose rights were being denied. On 24 March 1980 he was shot dead while celebrating Mass (the Catholic communion service). Many Catholics see him as a martyr, and in 2018 the Catholic Church declared him a saint.
Romero shows how a Christian can turn belief into action: he said that every person is loved by God, so no one should be treated as worthless. Other Christians support human rights in different ways. Church members join groups that campaign for prisoners of conscience (people jailed for their beliefs or opinions, not for a crime), and Christian charities help refugees. Martin Luther King Jr also campaigned for equal rights, and you will study him in full in Paper 2.
Christians do not all give the same answer.
Because Christians must love their neighbour, one person's rights should not harm another. Many Christians say that speech which stirs up hatred can be limited. Romans 13:1-4 teaches that rulers have a duty to keep order, so a government may limit liberty by sending a dangerous criminal to prison.
Other Christians warn that limits are often used to silence people who tell the truth. They point to Acts 5:29, "We must obey God rather than human beings", and to Romero. Their view is that a limit is only fair if it protects people and does not deny anyone's dignity.
So most Christians accept that rights can be limited for good reasons, such as protecting others, but that the limits must be fair, and that the value of each person must never be taken away.
(a) Identify three human rights. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings in this religion that support human rights. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why some people in this religion support human rights. [6 marks]
(d) "Christians should always speak out when people's rights are being denied."
Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Liberty (1). 2. Equality before the law (1). 3. Freedom of speech (1).
(b) Christianity teaches that every person is made in the image of God (1), so each person has equal worth and rights (1). Jesus taught "Love your neighbour as yourself" (1), which means Christians should not treat other people unfairly (1).
(c) Christians support human rights because Genesis 1:27 teaches that everyone is made in God's image. This means that every person has worth and dignity, so their rights should be respected. Jesus taught that Christians should love their neighbour, and loving someone means not locking them up unfairly or silencing them. Jesus also said he came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners (Luke 4:18), so many Christians believe they should work for freedom. Christians such as Oscar Romero spoke out for the poor because they believed that each person is loved by God. (Level 2: correct teachings used to explain why.)
(d) Plan. For: Romero spoke out and was killed in 1980; Acts 4:20; love of neighbour means helping those who have no voice; the prophets spoke against injustice. Against: speaking out can be dangerous, and some Christians think prayer or quiet help works better; Romans 13:1-4 says to respect rulers; speech must not stir up hatred. Other view: Humanists also defend human rights without a religion, so the duty is not only Christian. Conclusion (one possible): Christians should usually speak out because of love of neighbour, but "always" is too strong, because there can be times when another action helps more.
In (b) and (c), name the teaching, then say what it means for human rights. In (d), do not just describe Romero: say how his example supports or challenges the word "always".