DOING JUSTICE

1. DOING JUSTICE CHAPTER 3

2. The Circle of Faith-in-Action 1971, Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical A Call to Action…calls for Christians “to take personal responsibility for promoting justice not only through charity but also through political efforts to change the structures of injustice.” At about the same time, liberation theology (talking about God amid the reality of the suffering of innocent people) developed an approach to justice that is called circle of praxis. Praxis—living according to one’s beliefs, not just in private, but in a way that affects the world.

3. The Circle of Faith-in-Action Combination of aspects from both the circle of praxis and A Call to Action. Involves three basic steps: Awareness Analysis Action

4. Awareness Awareness—seeing, hearing, and knowing the world in a spirit of friendship, as God does. Being aware involves interpreting the information provided by our senses in a way that gives us an accurate picture of the world. The differences that arise between people is the way they interpret the situation.

5. Worldviews Worldview the way we see the world and all reality How do we develop our worldview? Experience—results from past experiences, or lack thereof Culture—all of the shared values, beliefs, and ways of relating and living together that characterizes a particular group of people.

6. Culture • Each of us belongs to many different groups—defined by race or ethnicity, nationality, religion, school, or sport—and so we are influenced by many different cultures. • A shared culture enables members of a group to work, play, and live with one another with less conflict and misunderstanding. • Within a culture are many different subcultures • Ex: Youth culture: slang, clothing, attitudes, music, etc. • Youth culture can, in turn, be divided into many more subcultures.

7. Seeing the World as Jesus Does • Love-centered worldview: • Seeing, hearing, and knowing with respect • Respect means “to look again.” • We should look beyond outer appearances and first impressions to see the goodness that is the foundation of God’s creation. • A vision of abundant life • Jesus desires that all people live an abundant life, full of goodness. • Compassion • To understand, both in their mind and heart, others’ experience of suffering.

8. 2. Analysis: Asking “Why?” Questions are perhaps the most important tool of social analysis. Good questions are based on a love-centered awareness of the world. Finding the way to justice requires identifying the relationships that make it possible, as well as those that prevent it.

9. A World of Relationships All creation is interdependent—we depend on one another to live. Our lives are shaped by an intricate web of relationships that connect us, directly or indirectly, to millions of other people. The analysis of how people’s lives are affected by the various relationships that shape society is an example of a relationship map.

10. Social Structures • The patterns of relationships that shape any society are known as social structures. • The relationship map shows how government, law, business, labor, education, and families— • all social structures because their existence is shaped by the relationships within and among them Social structures that block justice are called structures of sin.

11. Structures of Sin • The 1987 encyclical On Social Concern made three observations about structures of sin: • They can be traced back to the personal sin of individuals. • They are the result of the interrelated actions of many people. • The root causes are the desire for profit and the thirst for power.

12. Power: Shaping Our World Power—God-given ability everyone has to affect their own lives, the lives of others, and the world around them in either positive or negative ways. Power builds relationships! Power-Over and Power-With example worksheet

13. 3. ACTION Once the process of social analysis reveals the individual choices and social structures that cause injustice, the next step is to change the situation in a way that allows all people involved to experience the good life that God planned for them. Action for justice should address not only the immediate needs of those who suffer but also the social structures that cause injustice.

14. Direct Action/Social Action • We can divide the opportunities to act for justice into two categories; • Direct Action—occurs on the level of individual relationships and is usually aimed at meeting an immediate need. • Social action—occurs on the level of social structures. Attempts to change the behavior of society that promotes justice. • Direct action and Social action work together to move justice forward.

15. Ghandi—A model for acting in love • Mohandas K. Gandhi (Basic principles of belief) • Nothing is more important than respect for human life and dignity. • He was a model for nonviolent non-cooperation • Organized strikes, boycotts, and acts of civil disobedience—intentionally breaking laws that are unjust.

16. Definitions, Terms, and People to Know Encyclical On Social Concern The Circle of Faith-in-Action Awareness Analysis Action Worldview Culture Social Structures Respect Interdependent Structures of sin Power Power Over vs. Power With Direct Action vs. Social Action Mohandas K. Gandhi Civil disobedience