Others feel that different religions don’t deserve to be helped because they don’t believe in the ‘right’ God. They feel that people who have faith in a different God to them are inferior and so refuse to help.
Some people of certain religions just dislike other religions and have been feuding for years. For example, fairly recently there have been lots of disputes between Irish Protestants and Catholics just because of some minor disagreements in their religions. This has not only led to a refusal to help, but sometimes even fighting and abuse between people from the two religions.
However, the Bible states the opposite. One of the commandments is “Love thy neighbour”. It doesn’t say anything about whether the neighbour has to be the same religion as you. The Good Samaritan is a story in the Bible about two men from rather different backgrounds. A man is robbed and left for dead by the side of the road. A priest walks by but is worried the thieves might still be close by and try to attack him, so he crosses to the other side of the road. A Levite did exactly the same upon seeing the man. Finally a Samaritan saw him and cared for him until he was better. This proves that you do not have to have anything at all in common with your ‘neighbour’, but you should always help if they are in need of your help.
Some people might argue that everyone is equal. The Bible says that God made man in his own image. Therefore there should be no prejudice when it comes to who deserves help and who doesn’t. The Bible also tells us that God loves each and every one of us, so people should follow his example and care for everyone too.
Many people would say it is against human morals to ignore the suffering of others and therefore they would have to help, no matter who they were helping. After all Jesus himself did his very best to help anyone who needed his help.
The Old Testament also has some views on helping others. It states:
“Do not ill-treat foreigners who are living in your land. Treat them as you would a fellow Israelite and love them as you love yourselves. Remember that you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”
It also says:
“Do not deprive foreigners, orphans and widows of their rights.”
These quotes both express their views on the equal treatment of those different to you (“foreigners”). They state that you should treat them with as much respect as you would somebody you know.
Also, on judgement day God separates the sheep from the goats by what help they have given others, not necessarily to people they know.
“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.”
Those who turned a blind eye to these people less fortunate than themselves, whoever they might have been, also turned a blind eye to God.
I believe that one should do their best to help others no matter what religion they are. Especially as there are so many different religions and cultures today, and many people don’t even follow a religion. I think it is important for the public to realise that everybody is equal no matter what their religion and therefore everyone deserves help.