Bullying
Bullying is intimidating or frightening people who are weaker than yourself. Bullying can often happen in schools where children can be picked on by groups of older or stronger children.
Such bullying can result in injury, mental illness, suicide or murder.
Bullying not only takes place amongst children but can happen between adults as well. Forms of bullying can happen at work. This takes place when people abuse their position of power or authority to frighten, intimidate or humiliate people who are under their authority. This kind of bullying is not usually physical (managers don’t normally beat up their employees!) but uses words. It can cause stress, depression, nervous breakdown or suicide.
Such bullying can result in injury, mental illness, suicide or murder.
Bullying not only takes place amongst children but can happen between adults as well. Forms of bullying can happen at work. This takes place when people abuse their position of power or authority to frighten, intimidate or humiliate people who are under their authority. This kind of bullying is not usually physical (managers don’t normally beat up their employees!) but uses words. It can cause stress, depression, nervous breakdown or suicide.
Non-religious attitudes to bullying
The law tries to protect victims of bullying. Schools have anti-bullying policies and trade unions have procedures for protecting people at work.
Society disapproves of bullying because:
• It is a human right to be able to live free from fear.
• Bullying has harmful effects on society e.g. the victims of bullying are unlikely to realise their potential.
• A civilised society is based on law and mutual respect. Both of these are threatened by bullying.
Society disapproves of bullying because:
• It is a human right to be able to live free from fear.
• Bullying has harmful effects on society e.g. the victims of bullying are unlikely to realise their potential.
• A civilised society is based on law and mutual respect. Both of these are threatened by bullying.
Religious attitudes to bullying
All religions see bullying as wrong because:
• All religions see using violence without just cause as sinful. Bullying involves physical or non-physical (verbal) violence.
• Christians see all people as being made in the image of God. They are precious and shouldn’t be harmed through bullying.
• Religious people are often commanded by their faith to protect those who can’t stand up for themselves. This includes the victims of bullying.
Key quote
“We should love one another.”
From 1 John 3:11, The Bible
• All religions see using violence without just cause as sinful. Bullying involves physical or non-physical (verbal) violence.
• Christians see all people as being made in the image of God. They are precious and shouldn’t be harmed through bullying.
• Religious people are often commanded by their faith to protect those who can’t stand up for themselves. This includes the victims of bullying.
Key quote
“We should love one another.”
From 1 John 3:11, The Bible