Religion, philosophy and ethics · GCSE Religious Studies

Wealth and poverty

GCSE Religious Studies wealth and poverty: charity, Zakah, fair trade, liberation theology, and Christian duty to the poor with Matthew 25 and Qur’an on wealth.

UNDERSTAND→RETRIEVE→REMEMBER
THE MEMORY HOOK
Wealth is a trust, not a trophy — Zakah, tithe, CAFOD, and the exam’s “why do poverty and religion meet?”

The important bits

What you need to know

  1. 1

    Christianity: love neighbour, Matthew 25 “whatever you did for the least of these”; parable of Rich Man and Lazarus; camels and needles — hard for rich to enter kingdom.

  2. 2

    Catholic social teaching: preferential option for the poor; Rerum Novarum tradition. Evangelical: prosperity gospel exists but is not the exam mainstream.

  3. 3

    Islam: wealth is trust from Allah; Zakah (2.5% on savings) pillar; Sadaqah voluntary charity; riba (interest) condemned in classical fiqh.

  4. 4

    Poverty causes: injustice, war, debt, corruption, disaster — not only “laziness” caricature.

  5. 5

    Aid: emergency vs development; tied aid critique; NGOs (Christian Aid, Islamic Relief).

  6. 6

    Fair trade: minimum price and premium; limits — reaches small slice of trade.

  7. 7

    Liberation theology (Latin America): gospel read from the poor; controversial in some churches.

  8. 8

    Humanist: secular charities, human rights, welfare state — morality without God.

Quotations worth analysing

Short evidence. Real method.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Christ in the poor — drives Christian charity and justice work. Use in wealth essays, not as floating slogan.

“And establish prayer and give zakah.”
Qur’an 2:43 (Sahih International)

Zakah is worship and redistribution, not optional tip. Pair with sadaqah for extra charity.

Go deeper

Charity versus justice

Soup kitchens help today; fair trade and debt relief attack structures. GCSE evaluation wants both: Matthew 25 action now plus campaigning on causes.

Go deeper

Is wealth evil?

Neither religion says money is sin; attachment and neglect of duty are. Zakah assumes Muslims can have wealth — with obligations.

WORKED EXAMPLE

See the idea in action

Question: how should religious believers respond to poverty? Christian: Matthew 25, CAFOD, local food bank. Muslim: Zakah, Islamic Relief, no exploitation. Humanist: Oxfam, welfare policy. Evaluate: charity essential but insufficient without justice.

Exam technique

Turn knowledge into marks

Name an organisation and a teaching. “Help the poor” alone is RE kindergarten.

Common mistakes

Do not give these marks away

  1. 01

    Prosperity gospel as all Christianity.

  2. 02

    Zakah as optional for Muslims.

  3. 03

    Blaming the poor without structural causes.

QUICK RETRIEVAL

What is Zakah?

AObligatory charitable giving of a portion of wealth, a pillar of Islam

BA Christian baptism ritual

CInterest on loans

DA type of pilgrimage only

Show the answer

Obligatory charitable giving of a portion of wealth, a pillar of Islam. Zakah purifies wealth and funds the needy. Hajj is pilgrimage; riba is interest.

Quick questions

If this is the bit you searched

What is fair trade?

A market mechanism paying certified producers a minimum price plus a social premium. It helps some farmers; it does not end global poverty alone.

Do all Christians tithe 10%?

Some do; many give variably. The exam wants duty to the poor, not one fixed percentage for all denominations.