Wealth and poverty: religious attitudes and responses

Theme F2 covers religious and non-religious attitudes to wealth, the use of money, exploitation of the poor, charitable giving, and responses to global inequality.

Religious attitudes to wealth

Wealth is not inherently evil in any of the major world religions, but its pursuit and use are closely regulated by religious ethics.

Christianity

• The love of money — not money itself — is condemned: "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Greed (avaritia) is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
• Jesus warned that wealth can be a spiritual obstacle: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).
• However, the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) implies responsible stewardship of resources is expected.
• Liberation theology (Latin America, 1960s–present): God has a special "preferential option for the poor." Theologians like Gustavo Gutiérrez argue that authentic Christianity demands solidarity with the poor and structural change to end poverty. Key biblical text: Luke 4:18 — "He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor."
• Tithing — giving 10% of income to the Church — is rooted in Leviticus 27:30 and practised by many Christians.

Islam

• Wealth is a trust (amanah) from Allah: "Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend out of that in which He has made you successors" (Qur'an 57:7).
• The accumulation of wealth through interest (riba) is strictly forbidden — considered a form of exploitation: "Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest" (Qur'an 2:275).
• Zakat (obligatory almsgiving) is the Third Pillar of Islam: 2.5% of a Muslim's total savings given annually to eight specified categories (the poor, the destitute, those in debt, travellers in need etc.).
• Sadaqah — voluntary charitable giving — is highly encouraged. "Whoever gives charity equal to a date from honest earning — and Allah only accepts that which is good — Allah will take it in His right hand and cause it to grow for its owner" (Hadith, Bukhari).
• Islamic finance avoids riba and gharar (excessive uncertainty). Islamic banks share risk rather than charging fixed interest — seen as more equitable.

Humanism

• Wealth inequality is a social problem, not a moral failing in itself. The ethical imperative is to use wealth to reduce suffering and increase human flourishing.
• Peter Singer (The Life You Can Save, 2009): affluent people have a duty to give to effective charities to prevent suffering they could easily prevent. He famously lives by giving significantly to charity.
• John Rawls (A Theory of Justice): the "difference principle" — inequalities are only justified if they benefit the least well-off members of society.

The exploitation of the poor

AQA specifically mentions people-trafficking, fair pay and global inequality.

• People-trafficking (modern slavery): Millions of people are trafficked annually for forced labour or sexual exploitation. Religious responses:

  • Christianity: every person is imago Dei — trafficking violates their dignity. The Salvation Army runs the UK Government's contract to support trafficking victims.
  • Islam: Qur'an 5:32 — violating a person's freedom is a grave sin. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has campaigned against trafficking.
  • Humanism: trafficking is an extreme violation of autonomy and human rights; the state must act to criminalise and prosecute it.

• Fair pay: Many religious bodies support fair wages.

  • Christianity: "The worker deserves his wages" (1 Timothy 5:18); Catholic Social Teaching includes the living wage principle (first articulated in Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII, 1891).
  • Islam: Prophet Muhammad said: "Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries" (Hadith, Ibn Majah). Exploitation of workers is a sin.

• Fair trade: Many Christian churches actively support Fairtrade products — ensuring farmers in developing countries receive fair prices. The Fairtrade Foundation was partly founded by Christian charities (Christian Aid, CAFOD).

Religious responses to poverty

• Christian Aid: Works in 37 countries. Slogan: "We believe in life before death." Responds to emergencies and addresses long-term structural poverty.
• CAFOD: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development — UK Catholic charity aligned with Catholic Social Teaching.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: One of the world's largest Muslim charities. Founded in Birmingham in 1984; works in 40+ countries. Delivers humanitarian aid and long-term development.
• Zakat Foundation of America and similar organisations channel obligatory Zakat to those in need globally.
• The Salvation Army: Christian organisation providing food, shelter and addiction support to the most marginalised in society.

Global inequality

The richest 1% of the world owns more wealth than the bottom 50% combined (Oxfam, 2023).

• Religious response: This violates the dignity of the poor. All three traditions call for redistribution, solidarity and structural change.
• Humanist response: Global inequality is a human-created injustice that can be human-corrected through policy, taxation and effective aid. Effective Altruism (Peter Singer) maximises the impact of giving.

Examiner tips

• Always explain why the religion takes its view on wealth — not just what the view is (e.g. wealth is amanah from Allah; love of money is spiritually dangerous).
• Know the difference between Zakat (obligatory) and Sadaqah (voluntary) in Islam.
• Name specific charities: Christian Aid, CAFOD, Islamic Relief.
• For 12-mark questions: contrast "wealth is morally neutral / can be used for good" with "wealth inequality is inherently unjust and must be addressed structurally."