Poverty and Wealth

YEAR 9 · UNIT 15: HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE · LESSON 3

What You'll Learn

Understand poverty causes, wealth teachings, liberation theology, fair trade.

Recall: Religious Justice

Time to recall what you learned last lesson
5:00

Lesson 2 explored justice teachings.

Zakah vs sadaqah?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Zakah: obligatory 2.5% annually. Sadaqah: voluntary charity.

Why wealth difficult for Jesus followers?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Distracts from God; may forget poor; Jesus calls sharing.

What is sewa?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Sikh selfless service; central to faith.

Humanist justice approach?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Reason and human flourishing; systemic policy change.

Poverty and Wealth

Causes of Poverty

Structural inequality: unequal education, healthcare. Economic systems: wage inequality, unemployment, inadequate nets. Historical injustice: colonialism, slavery effects persist. Geographic: fewer resources. Individual: illness, disability. Systemic discrimination: racism, sexism.

Religious Teachings on Wealth

Christianity: "love of money root of evil"; wealth is test; not sinful if generous. Islam: permissible if honest and shared; wealth is trust. Sikhism: honest earning valued but wealth worthless without sharing. Judaism: tzedakah obligatory. Buddhism: greed is poison.

Liberation Theology and Fair Trade

Liberation theology: Jesus was liberator; God sides with oppressed; sin is structural. Oscar Romero: archbishop assassinated defending poor. Fair Trade: fair wages, safe conditions, direct relationships; justice in exchange, not charity. Limitation: individual help, not system change.

Can Religious Person Be Wealthy?

Jesus: "harder for rich to enter kingdom than camel through needle." Interpretation 1: wealth spiritually dangerous. Interpretation 2: okay if honest, used generously, doesn't replace faith. Interpretation 3: problem is inequality not wealth. Islamic finance: riba (interest) forbidden; profit-sharing fair; zakah ensures distribution.

Your View

Change wealthy people's hearts or reform systems creating inequality?

Perspectives

Poverty from laziness Structural inequality persists Wealth is God blessing Wealth good if shared Systems must change Wealthy give from compassion Fair Trade ensures justice Poverty is spiritual failing God sides with oppressed Wealth okay if honest

Pro-Wealth

On Poverty

Balanced

Words: 0/300

Guidance

Reference: two traditions; acknowledge tension; is problem wealth or inequality; what say traditions about sharing; can someone be wealthy and religious?

Review

Three causes of poverty?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Unequal education, wage inequality, unemployment, no safety nets, discrimination, geography, racism, sexism.

What is liberation theology?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Christian movement reading Bible through lens of oppressed; Jesus as liberator; structural sin.

What does Fair Trade ensure?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Fair wages, safe conditions, direct buyer relationships.

Why riba forbidden?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Prevents predatory lending; fair profit-sharing.

"Wealth sinful" vs "Unjust systems"?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: First condemns all wealth. Second: okay if honest and shared. Modern view: problem is exploitation, not wealth itself.