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What should I include?
Suggested structure
- Introduction - Basically this is going to include your answer to the
question that the title is providing . The main idea behind this essay is
that Christians are taught to love everyone including those who they
perceive to be going against specific bible teachings. All the acts that
lead to the acquisition of AIDS are acts that Christians see to be wrong
according to the bible. However a Christian is also taught to love and care
for those who are ill and who need comfort. Therefore the question can be
summed up as " a Christian should love the people who have done the
acts but not the acts themselves"
- What is AIDS - you need to include a detailed account of what AIDS is. Use
a variety of sources with detailed accounts of history of disease and
background
- How do people acquire AIDS? - Look in detail and in an academic way at
this question. Ensure you include quotations
- How do Christians view these acts? - Use bible passages and teachings that
give an appraisal of how Christians see these acts i.e. promiscuity, sex
before or outside of marriage, homosexual acts, sharing of needles
- Identify the dilemmas - there are several
- Christians should love and forgive fellow man regardless of actions.
Give specific examples of life of Jesus, outcasts in society
- Idea that God and not people are the judge - contrasted to claims of
some that AIDS is the will of God
- How does a Christian continue to preach and teach against the acts that
cause AIDS but care and love those who have the disease? Is there a danger
that they can be seen to be condoning their actions?
- What about all the money that goes to AIDS research? Should that be
redirected?
- Third World? Catholic aid agencies will not give out contraceptives in
the developing world as it is against religious teachings yet AIDS is
almost at epidemic levels in some of these place?
- The way ahead - How should a Christian reconcile these dilemmas? Should
they just be accepted? What do different Christians see as the solution?
Should Christians accept that promiscuity, sex before marriage and
homosexuality are going to exist and therefore deal with the situation as
best they can?