1. The relationship between religious belief and practice and human rightsFormal attempts to guarantee, for all human beings, decent treatment and protection from discrimination and abuses of power. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based on belief in the 'dignity and worth of the human person'. The universality of human rights appeals very much to humanists., social justice and citizenship.

2. Means by which contemporary, historical and founder figures have created paradigms of action for people of faith.

3. Responsibilities and commitments in being a person of faith.

(See also ‘Belief in action' and ‘Beliefs and concepts'). Commitment to the Christian belief in JesusFounder of Christianity as the template for living a modern life entails responsibility to other people. The many stories in the gospelsThe first four books of the New Testament of Jesus assisting people who were under-privileged, sick, distressed or outcast, illustrate that modern Christians must respond to these same needs. Society generally and the world specifically, is still stricken with these problems. Some Christians might say the world is sinful and only through the action of Christian work will this be healed. By bringing about a state unconditional loveLove which has no conditions attached to it is the ruling principle, will the needs of all be catered for.

Although this is an ideal to which many Christians aspire, others have worked practically to make this a reality. Examples range from John Howard the prison reformer, AbrahamFounder of the Jewish nation Lincoln president of the United States of America and a committed abolitionist, to Lord Shaftesbury's role in improving the working conditions of poor children in the nineteenth century, Father Damien who helped lepers in the South Seas and Dr Barnado who established homes for orphaned children. Present day reformers include Christian groups who assist sufferers of HIV/AIDS, those with alcohol and drug related problems, children and adults with mental health issues and working to provide hospice care.

Christians have always seen their social responsibilities as part of their faith. The Christian Social Movement of the 19th century founded by FD Maurice gave its support to improving the appalling conditions of working men of Victorian England. In the 21st century, there are still many unresolved problems, and Christians continue to find ways to play a central role in this.

Websites

http://www.request.org.uk/issues/issues.htm - REQuest information on the issues of love.

http://www.request.org.uk/main/basics/rightandwrong/rightandwrong01.htm - REQuest on rights and wrongs.

Bibliography

Cox, C., 2006. Cox’s Book of Modern Saints and Martyrs. London: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.

Curtis, K., & Graves, D., 2005. Great Women in Christian History: 35 Women Who Changed the World. s.l.: Christian Publications.

Curtis, K., & Graves, D., 2007. Great Women in Christian History: 37 Women Who Changed Their World. s.l.: Christian Publications

Douglas, J.D., 1995. Twentieth Century Dictionary of Christian Biography. London: Paternoster Press.

Ford, D., 2005. The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology Since 1918 (The Great Theologians). Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Gaarder, J., 1995. Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy. s.l.: Orion Childrens.

Hefley, J. & Hefley, M., 2004. By Their Blood: Christian Martyrs from the Twentieth Century and Beyond. s.l.: Baker Books

Hosier, H.K., 2000. 100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century. s.l.: Fleming H. Revell.

Woodbridge, J., 1997. Great Leaders of the Christian Church. s.l.: Moody Press.

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