soical Issues
Introduction to World Religions - Social Justice Issue Paper Tracey Martin
Legalization of Marijuana
Introduction:
Every Religion demonstrates unique aim to adhere to specific way of living. “Typically, members of the Religious institutes either take vows of evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience (the “Evangelical Counsels”) to lead life in imitation of Christ Jesus or those following the Rule of St. Benedict, the vow of obedience, stability (that is. To remain with this particular community till death and not seek to move to another), and “conversion of life”which implicitly includes the counsels of chastity and evangelical poverty” (Bowker, 2003). “The golden rule exists in all Religions in some form. It is a statement, in summary, of the basic requirement for all human behavior. It appears sometimes in positive form: Jesus said, Do to others whatever you have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). It also appears in negative form: Confucius said, “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others” (Analects 15.23) Since this is the fundamental obligation in all religions, why are so many religions involved in so many of the most bitter conflicts in the world?”(Bowker, 2003). With that question stated, we will explore and compare the view points offered by Catholicism and the United Methodist (Methodism) related to the social justice issue around the legalization of Marijuana.
Supporting Data:
The controversy over the legalization of illegal drugs in the U.S., has been an ongoing debate over the last decade or greater. From the early 1920 's to the 1960 's, Congress had enacted marijuana control laws, which saw a change in penalties for possession in the early 1950 's, imposing minimum sentence of 2 years for first-offense, and again increased in 1956 based on the Narcotic Control Act, which classified marijuana with heroin. By 1965, the first-time drug offense carried a sentence of 5 to 20 years of imprisonment, and second
Legalization of Marijuana
Introduction:
Every Religion demonstrates unique aim to adhere to specific way of living. “Typically, members of the Religious institutes either take vows of evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience (the “Evangelical Counsels”) to lead life in imitation of Christ Jesus or those following the Rule of St. Benedict, the vow of obedience, stability (that is. To remain with this particular community till death and not seek to move to another), and “conversion of life”which implicitly includes the counsels of chastity and evangelical poverty” (Bowker, 2003). “The golden rule exists in all Religions in some form. It is a statement, in summary, of the basic requirement for all human behavior. It appears sometimes in positive form: Jesus said, Do to others whatever you have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). It also appears in negative form: Confucius said, “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others” (Analects 15.23) Since this is the fundamental obligation in all religions, why are so many religions involved in so many of the most bitter conflicts in the world?”(Bowker, 2003). With that question stated, we will explore and compare the view points offered by Catholicism and the United Methodist (Methodism) related to the social justice issue around the legalization of Marijuana.
Supporting Data:
The controversy over the legalization of illegal drugs in the U.S., has been an ongoing debate over the last decade or greater. From the early 1920 's to the 1960 's, Congress had enacted marijuana control laws, which saw a change in penalties for possession in the early 1950 's, imposing minimum sentence of 2 years for first-offense, and again increased in 1956 based on the Narcotic Control Act, which classified marijuana with heroin. By 1965, the first-time drug offense carried a sentence of 5 to 20 years of imprisonment, and second
References: Allen, J.L. (2013), Pope decries “ dealers of death” opposes drug legalization, National Catholic Press Retrieved from http:// www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/ Bowker, J (2003), World religions (2nd ed.), (pp. 208-209) New York, NY: DK Publishing Inc. Millhorn, M.(2009), Journal of human behavior. North americans ' attiudes toward illegal drugs, (19: pp. 125-141) Phoenix, AZ: Haworth Press. Tooley, M. (2012, October 19). Marijuana methodism. The American Spectator. Retrieved from http://www.spectator.org/articles/34567. UMC, Beliefs and social issues, Retrieved from http:// www.archieves.umc.org/interior/ US Catholic Organization, Social justice issues, Retrieved from http://www.usccb.org/