🕊️ Order of Freedom in Society

⚖️ Justice in Society

📚 Examples of Injustice in School or Home

• 👩‍🏫 Favoritism by Teachers: Some teachers favor certain pupils, giving them better marks, notes, and books, while neglecting others.
• 📉 Cheating During Exams: Some pupils cheat to get high marks, which raises cut-off points, preventing honest students from advancing.
• 😔 Mockery: Older boys often mock younger students, particularly those in Grade 8.
• 📜 Leakages: Exam papers are sometimes sold to wealthy students before the actual exams, disadvantaging poorer students.
• 🤰 Pregnancy Discrimination: Pregnant girls are often sent away from school, while the boys responsible continue their studies without consequence.

🇿🇲 Injustices in Zambia Today

• 💰 Bribery: Offering money or gifts to gain illegal benefits.
• 🔒 Blackmail: Using threats to expose someone's secrets to gain money or favors.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Nepotism: Giving jobs, loans, or promotions unfairly to relatives.
• 🌍 Tribalism: Favoring one's own tribe unfairly in decision-making processes.
• 🏢 Absenteeism: Frequently missing work without a valid reason.

💡 What is an Informed Vision?

An informed vision means having all the information, details, and truth about a subject, along with the ability to see into the future to make informed decisions.

🛤️ Steps to Arrive at an Informed Vision

• 🔍 Understand the Situation: Gather clear and detailed knowledge about the current state of affairs.
• 🌈 Consider How Things Could Be: Develop a vision of how things could improve and move in the right direction.
• 🚀 Take Action: Get involved and take steps to improve the situation and make the vision a reality.

👥 Four individuals who fought for justice:

• 🌟 Dom Helder Camara
  Archbishop of Olinda and Recife in Brazil.
  Fought against government policies that kept the poor poorer and the rich richer.
  Advocated for non-violence in the fight for social justice.
• 🌟 Chief Albert Luthuli
  President of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.
  Fought against apartheid and racial discrimination.
  Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961 for his commitment to non-violence.
• 🌟 Mahatma Gandhi
  Indian freedom fighter who lived a simple life and promoted passive resistance.
  Advocated for non-violence (Satyagraha) in fighting for political freedom.
• 🌟 Martin Luther King Jr.
  Fought for equality and dignity for Black Americans.
  Organized peaceful marches against unjust laws.
  Won the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent efforts to gain justice.

🕊️ Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha

Satyagraha means non-violence and passive resistance. Gandhi encouraged peaceful demonstrations and refusal to work to make grievances known to the colonial government. He taught that truth and non-violence were essential for fighting injustice.

📜 Teachings of Muhammad on Social Justice

Muhammad emphasized just treatment of people, especially workers, orphans, and widows. He condemned those who take loans with no intention of repaying, calling them thieves. Muhammad advocated for charity to the poor and kindness towards the vulnerable.

🇿🇲 Zambian Traditional Ideas About Justice

• 👥 Community Over Individual: In traditional Zambian society, the good of the community was prioritized over individual needs.
• 🤝 Community Harmony: Justice was linked to maintaining harmony in the community.
• 🔄 Reconciliation: Justice focused on restoring relationships rather than punishment.
• 💵 Compensation: Paying back those wronged was part of the reconciliation process.
• 🎉 Ritual Feasting: After reconciliation, a ritual feast completed the process.

🚫 Traditional Practices Considered Unjust

• 😢 Harsh Treatment of the Insane: People with mental illness were treated poorly.
• 🤨 Tribal Mistrust: There was mistrust of people from different tribes.
• 😠 Jealousy: People often became jealous of others who prospered materially.
• 🔮 Witch Hunting: Accusing and punishing people as witches.
• 👶 Discrimination Against Twins: In some cultures, women who gave birth to twins were divorced.

❓ Why Slavery Was Not Abolished When the Roman Empire Became Christian

The church benefited from slavery and gained wealth and property. Questioning slavery would disrupt the comfortable lives of the wealthy, who often donated to the church. Bishops were given privileges, and protesting against slavery was discouraged.

⚠️ Injustices of the African Slave Trade

Slave traders exploited Africa’s resources, taking gold and raw materials. Africans were subjected to long working hours, physical abuse, and were denied basic rights, such as food and medicine. Many African women were raped, and African families were torn apart.

📜 Old Testament: Building Justice in Israel

(Exodus 22:21-27, 23:1-8)

• 🚫 Do not oppress foreigners, widows, or orphans.
• 💵 Lend money to the poor without interest.
• 🚨 Do not spread rumors or give false evidence in court.
• ⚖️ Treat everyone fairly in trials, regardless of wealth.
• 🤝 Help enemies in need, like returning their lost animals.
• 🚫 Avoid taking bribes, as it leads to injustice.

📜 Examples of Applying Old Testament Justice in Zambia Today

• 👶 Taking care of orphans and widows by providing for their needs.
• ⚖️ Ensuring fair trials in courts of law for both the rich and the poor.
• 🚫 Avoiding rumor-mongering and spreading false information.
• ⚖️ Stopping favoritism and ensuring equal treatment for all.

📖 New Testament: Teachings on Justice

⚠️ Jesus Criticizing Unjust Pharisees

Matthew 23:1-4, 23: Jesus warned against the Pharisees who imposed heavy burdens on others while doing nothing to help. They focused on minor religious rituals but neglected the important teachings of justice, mercy, and honesty.

⚠️ Mark 12:38-40

Jesus criticized the teachers of the law for their hypocrisy. They loved public recognition but took advantage of widows and the poor.

❌ How Church Leaders Can Fail to Follow Jesus' Teachings Today

• 🚫 Preaching against sins like adultery while secretly engaging in them.
• 😢 Mistreating widows and orphans or exploiting church donations.
• 💼 Engaging in shady business deals or practicing witchcraft.

📜 Going Beyond the Old Testament Law

Matthew 5:21-48: Jesus taught that justice goes beyond following the law. He said it’s not enough to avoid murder; one should not even harbor anger. True justice requires settling disputes, avoiding revenge, and loving one’s enemies.

🤝 How a Prefect Can Practice Jesus' Teachings

• ⚖️ Treat everyone fairly and without bias.
• 🕊️ Be patient and slow to anger.
• 🚫 Do not misuse power or take advantage of other students.
• 💖 Forgive those who wrong them and avoid seeking revenge.

📖 James 2:1-19

The early church condemned treating people based on appearances. They taught that faith without action is dead and that caring for the poor was essential. If someone needs food or clothes, Christians should not just offer kind words but take action to help.

🤝 How to Promote Justice in Our Society

• 📜 Advocate for Fair Policies: Support legislation that promotes equality and fairness for all members of society.
• 🤲 Engage in Community Service: Volunteer in local organizations that assist marginalized groups.
• 📚 Educate Others: Share knowledge about social justice issues to raise awareness in your community.
• 🚨 Report Injustices: Stand up against unfair treatment in your school or workplace by reporting it to the appropriate authorities.
• 💖 Practice Empathy: Try to understand the experiences of others, particularly those from different backgrounds.

Justice is essential for a thriving society. By understanding the injustices around us and taking informed steps to promote fairness, we can contribute to a better future for everyone. It requires collective effort and a commitment to empathy, education, and action.