Wealth and poverty (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes

Wealth and poverty

Understanding poverty

Poverty creates immense hardship across the globe and represents a major concern for Christians. The issue drives many believers to work towards reducing poverty and promoting greater financial equality amongst people.

The nature of poverty

Poverty occurs when individuals find themselves in extremely difficult financial situations or lacking essential resources for basic living. There are two main ways to understand poverty:

Absolute poverty was defined by the United Nations in 1995 as severe deprivation of basic human needs including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. This represents the most severe form of poverty where people cannot access fundamental necessities for survival.

Relative poverty is the standard of poverty defined in terms of the country it is within, so may vary from one country to another. This means that what constitutes poverty in a wealthy nation may be very different from poverty in a developing country, as it's measured against the general standard of living in that particular society.

Causes of poverty

Poverty results from multiple interconnected factors rather than a single cause. Understanding these various causes helps Christians respond more effectively to the needs of those experiencing hardship.

Main causes of poverty in the UK and worldwide

The complex web of factors contributing to poverty includes:

1. Low-paid work - When wages are insufficient to cover basic living costs
2. Unemployment - Loss of income due to lack of available work
3. Family breakdowns or illnesses - Personal crises that disrupt earning capacity
4. Inadequate social benefits - Insufficient government support systems
5. Rapid population growth leading to overpopulation - Too many people competing for limited resources
6. War and political instability - Conflict destroying infrastructure and economic systems
7. High national debt - Countries unable to invest in social programmes
8. Lack of education and opportunity - Limited access to skills development and advancement
9. Discrimination and social inequality - Unfair treatment preventing equal access to resources
10. Environmental problems or natural disasters - Climate issues destroying livelihoods and communities

Christian teachings and responses to poverty

Christians view helping those in poverty as a fundamental aspect of their faith, drawing inspiration from Jesus's example and biblical teachings about compassion and generosity.

Following Jesus's example

Christians believe they should model themselves on Jesus, who demonstrated care and compassion for others throughout his ministry. This example motivates believers to show practical concern for those experiencing hardship and to take action to help alleviate suffering.

Many Christians choose to give a portion of their income (traditionally 10%, known as tithing) to their church for charitable purposes. This practice reflects the belief that wealth should be shared rather than hoarded for personal benefit alone.

Christian perspective on wealth

Christianity teaches that being wealthy is not inherently wrong, but believers have a responsibility to use their wealth ethically and honestly. More importantly, Christians are encouraged to use their resources to help others who are less fortunate.

Christian organisations like Christian Aid work specifically to address poverty through various programmes and initiatives, demonstrating the faith community's commitment to tackling these issues systematically.

Biblical teachings on sharing wealth

The Bible contains numerous passages that guide Christian thinking about wealth and poverty:

Mark 10:21 records Jesus saying: "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven". This challenging teaching suggests that spiritual rewards come from helping others rather than accumulating material possessions.

Matthew 25:35-36 contains Jesus's words: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me". This passage emphasises practical care for those in various forms of need.

The parable of the sheep and the goats

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) teaches about God separating people based on whether they helped others during their lives. This parable reinforces the Christian belief that caring for those in need is not optional but essential for faithful living.

Virtue ethics and wealth

Virtue ethics provides another framework for understanding Christian approaches to wealth and poverty. This ethical theory focuses on the character of the person performing actions rather than simply examining the actions themselves.

According to virtue ethics, the "right act" is determined by considering what a virtuous person (someone with high moral standards) would do in similar circumstances. When applied to issues of social justice, virtue ethics suggests that helping others represents the morally correct choice because it enables those providing help to develop positive characteristics such as generosity and compassion.

From this perspective, sharing wealth demonstrates how virtuous people should behave towards others. The act of giving not only benefits recipients but also develops the giver's moral character, creating a positive cycle of ethical behaviour.