Outline Christian teachings of wealth and poverty

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Outline Christian teachings of wealth and poverty

Throughout the old and new testament, the bible teaches us that wealth is irrelevant in god’s eyes and that physical possessions are not important in heaven. Similarly Christian leaders are often extremely concerned with world poverty and agree that people should, “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18) and evenly distribute wealth amongst all countries, consequently many of the aid efforts in poorer countries i.e. CAFOD, are religiously based. All denominations of the Christian faith are dedicated to helping those in need, Jesus taught Christians to understand people’s suffering and do all they can to end it, ignoring thoughts of their own comforts and possessions.

Although all traditions of the Christian faith believe this, some differ on how they think it should be executed. The Catholic Church believes they should be actively involved in the struggle to end world poverty, they believe in liberation theology, which is a moral philosophy that states Christians should help the poor to achieve freedom from oppression. Some Christians disagree with this as it can cause conflict with the governments of the poverty-laden countries. Whereas the Church of England supports campaigns to reduce debt, and asks followers to give at least 1% of their wage to aid charities, they do not get involved in trying to change the countries political systems.

A Christian view to wealth is simple; money is inevitably irrelevant. Jesus taught them that if some one has “two tunics” he should share them with  “him who has none”, meaning that excess money and possessions are worthless and could be used to better someone else’s life.  Jesus once said “…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) This told Christians that the point of money was to feed and clothe yourself and keep yourself fit and health and nothing else.

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Explain why there is a need for world development.

          

World development is greatly needed and although some aid agency’s i.e. CAFOD, are trying to develop the world economy much more help is needed to end poverty throughout the world and create peace. Over the years the gulf between the rich and poor has vastly widened. Oxfam representatives say globalisation is making the rich richer and plunging developing nations into deeper poverty:

"World trade continues to fail the poorest people," (Katia Maia of Oxfam International)

The distribution of wealth and food is unethically and unevenly distributed. Almost 1/5 ...

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