160 likes | 329 Views
Building a Culture of Life. What gives life value in our culture?. How do we know a person matters? Our brainstormed list W e need to reduce this to 5 criteria we can agree on Clothing Hygiene Job They fit in, popularity The fact that they are alive They are loved They are kind
E N D
What gives life value in our culture? • How do we know a person matters? • Our brainstormed list • We need to reduce this to 5 criteria we can agree on • Clothing • Hygiene • Job • They fit in, popularity • The fact that they are alive • They are loved • They are kind • Age (young) • They have feelings • Ability to make choices • Independence • Ability to learn • Hard working • Culture (race?) • Power • Wealthy • Being famous • good education • Physical ability
Judging the Value of Human Beings • What qualities give a person value in our culture? (brainstorm) • What are the top five criteria to determine a person’s status in our culture? (rank) • Look at your slip of paper (this is the person you will represent) • When it is your turn, read your slip of paper and ask “How does the culture value me?” and receive your candy. • This is how people seem to be valued in our culture. How do you feel about the unequal distribution of candy?
We have 2 options: • We can keep the criteria as it is – will you divide up the candy equally? • We can change the criteria for value • God wants abundance for all – and we need to see everyone’s dignity if the world is to be just. • People are free to make choices and we don’t have to share – but don’t all humans deserve a decent chance at life?
Building a Culture of Life • Since the church approaches topics like capital punishment and abortion in “both-and” terms; it seeks the well-being of women and their children, of both criminals and their victims. In order to do this we must become a culture that values each person so much that we are willing to make necessary sacrifices.
How do we build a culture of life?
How do we build a culture of life? • In reference to capital punishment, retributive justice (emphasis is on hurting the offender – “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”) contributes to the culture of death. We need an alternative to build a culture of life. • The goal of a criminal justice system should be the restoration of life.
AmenehBehrami • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql_IUPICBG8&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmD2dVWvLKo&feature=related
Restorative Justice • Shows equal concern to victims and offenders • Works toward the restoration of victims, responding to victims’ needs as the victims see them. • Supports offenders while encouraging them to understand, accept, and carry out their obligations • Recognizes that while obligations may be difficult for offenders, they should not be intended as harms • Provides opportunity for dialogue, direct or indirect, between victims and offenders, as appropriate
Read pages 127-128 in Living Justice and Peace together Define “Culture of Death” • Read pages 129-130 in Living Justice and Peace together Define “Culture of Life”
Culture of Life • Life is a gift from God. All life comes from God and is meant to return to God in time. • The value of a person is present because they are created in the image of God and have dignity as a result. • Being fully alive means imitating Jesus because he was the perfect image of God. • Focus is on souls. • The Paschal Mystery (Jesus’ death and resurrection) shows us that through suffering we can become fully alive.
Culture of Death • Life is separate from God. • The value of a person is based on what they have. • Being fully alive means having all we want and in doing what we want. • Valuing things leads to death because things like cars, clothes and bodies all pass. • In a culture of valuing people for what they have means the unborn, criminals, elderly, ill etc are seen as less valuable.
Journal Question: • In your own life, which one do you see yourself in: Culture of death or Culture of life? Why? (Explain in at least two sentences.)
Videos • Pope to Doctors: Promote the Culture of Life • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deorp-rTXS0 • How does our culture see itself? Who is defending women? Who is defending the unborn? • An authentic culture of life – Catholic News Service • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0-zM5iq9Ms
Videos • 99 Balloons – • When we think that one life doesn’t have an impact… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0 • The Butterfly Circus • How does a person learn that they have dignity? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98KAEif3bI • Nick Vujicic – No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKTg_INHgpc