RICH and POOR in RICH and POOR in SOCIETYSOCIETY

Who are the rich?Who are the rich?

Ways in which people tend to Ways in which people tend to become wealthy in this country become wealthy in this country are:-are:-

1.1. The aristocrats – inherited wealth; The aristocrats – inherited wealth; landland

2.2. Industry and commerce owners – Industry and commerce owners – stocks and shares; golden stocks and shares; golden handshakes; fat catshandshakes; fat cats

3.3. ‘‘Strike it rich’ – talent or lucky? Or Strike it rich’ – talent or lucky? Or both! – entertainers; sportsman and both! – entertainers; sportsman and women; lotto winnerswomen; lotto winners

What are the moral issues What are the moral issues connected with ‘the rich’?connected with ‘the rich’?

Distribution of wealth is unfair?Distribution of wealth is unfair? Is it right to pay enormous salaries?Is it right to pay enormous salaries? Should we tax the rich more?Should we tax the rich more? Holy books like the Qur’an and the Bible Holy books like the Qur’an and the Bible

have much to say on this issue e.g. – “It is have much to say on this issue e.g. – “It is much harder for a rich person to enter the much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through he eye of a needle” (Mark ch.10 through he eye of a needle” (Mark ch.10 v.25) and “Riches are sweet and a source v.25) and “Riches are sweet and a source of blessing to those who acquire them by of blessing to those who acquire them by the way; but those who seek them out of the way; but those who seek them out of greed are like people who eat but are greed are like people who eat but are never full” (The Hadith)never full” (The Hadith)

Who are the Poor?Who are the Poor?

There are two kinds of povertyThere are two kinds of poverty 1.Absolute poverty – no income 1.Absolute poverty – no income

to buy even the basics like to buy even the basics like shelter, food and warmthshelter, food and warmth

2. Relative poverty – people who 2. Relative poverty – people who are poor compared to others are poor compared to others living in the same countryliving in the same country

What are the moral issues What are the moral issues connected with the poor?connected with the poor?

Minimum wage – good or bad?Minimum wage – good or bad? Single parentsSingle parents The unemployedThe unemployed The homelessThe homeless ““A home is more than having a A home is more than having a

roof over one’s head” Decent roof over one’s head” Decent housing means a place that is housing means a place that is warm and dry and in reasonable warm and dry and in reasonable repair…” Church of England repair…” Church of England report 1985report 1985

The LottoThe Lotto

The principles:-The principles:-

1)1) Distribute large sums of money Distribute large sums of money to a wide range of good causesto a wide range of good causes

2)2) To give people a chance to win To give people a chance to win sums of money that are sums of money that are beyond their wildest dreamsbeyond their wildest dreams

The moral cost of the Lotto?The moral cost of the Lotto?

Islam bans gambling in any form Islam bans gambling in any form for its believers because of the for its believers because of the moral harm it can do.moral harm it can do.

Church leaders are worried that Church leaders are worried that the Lotto might cause divisions the Lotto might cause divisions in societyin society

People are unable to cope with a People are unable to cope with a big lotto winbig lotto win

Long term relationships at risk?Long term relationships at risk?

Christianity and wealthChristianity and wealth

““What God the Father considers to What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world” from being corrupted by the world” (James ch.1 v.27(James ch.1 v.27

The needy – Sermon on the MountThe needy – Sermon on the Mount Wealth – Rich young ruler; tithe; Wealth – Rich young ruler; tithe;

covenant; wills; charitiescovenant; wills; charities Cafod; Christian Aid and Tear FundCafod; Christian Aid and Tear Fund

Islam and WealthIslam and Wealth

““Richness does not lie in the Richness does not lie in the abundance of worldly goods, but abundance of worldly goods, but true richness is the richness of true richness is the richness of the soul” (Hadith)the soul” (Hadith)

ZakatZakat SadaqahSadaqah Red Crescent and Islamic AidRed Crescent and Islamic Aid Judgement dayJudgement day

Who should look after the poor?Who should look after the poor?

The Government?The Government? Families?Families? The Local CommunityThe Local Community Charities?Charities? Help the AgedHelp the Aged Special eventsSpecial events ““Recall the face of the poorest and Recall the face of the poorest and

the most helpless man whom you the most helpless man whom you have seen and ask yourself if the have seen and ask yourself if the next step you take is going to be of next step you take is going to be of any use to him” (Gandhi)any use to him” (Gandhi)

What do you need to know?What do you need to know?

What are the possible causes of wealth and poverty?What are the possible causes of wealth and poverty? What are our attitudes to the minimum wage and ‘fat cat’ What are our attitudes to the minimum wage and ‘fat cat’

salaries?salaries? Who is responsible for the poor?Who is responsible for the poor? What is the role of the Lotto?What is the role of the Lotto? What is the difference between absolute and relative What is the difference between absolute and relative

poverty?poverty? Why is the gap between rich and poor growing?Why is the gap between rich and poor growing? What are the responsibilities of employers?What are the responsibilities of employers? Is Britain a materialistic state?Is Britain a materialistic state? What problems might be faced by someone who finds What problems might be faced by someone who finds

that they are suddenly rich?that they are suddenly rich? Why is the wealth in this country seemingly unfairly Why is the wealth in this country seemingly unfairly

distributed?distributed? What can we do about the above?What can we do about the above? What does Christianity say about wealth?What does Christianity say about wealth? What does Islam say about wealth?What does Islam say about wealth?