The right to equality

Article 1 of the UDHR

The first right listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is:

This means that no one should be treated as better or worse than anyone else because of their race, gender, religion, or background. Everyone is valued equally and should be treated fairly.

What do the Abrahamic religions say about equality?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all teach that all people are equal in value because we are created by God. There are different teachings that support this core belief.

Christianity

Old Testament

The Old Testament teaches that all humans are equal in value because everyone is created in the image of God (Latin: imago dei):

However, the Bible does not clearly explain what being made in the image of God means. As a result, theologians and philosophers have suggested that it refers to certain human qualities, such as:

• Reason – humans can think logically and reflect on their lives and decisions.

• Free will – humans can make their own choices and be held responsible for them.

• Morality – humans can distinguish between right and wrong.

• Reflecting God’s character – particularly the ability to love and care for others.

Jesus - the greatest commandment (Mark 12)

The principle of equality is shown in Jesus’ second greatest commandment:

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12)

This command is linked to agape, which is selfless, unconditional love. Because agape is not based on personal gain or judgement, it supports the idea that all people should be treated as equal and valued in the same way as oneself. This means that everyone is a neighbour, regardless of religion, race, or social status, meaning all people deserve equal love and respect.

St Paul's letter to the Galatians

In the years following Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Paul wrote letters to new Christian communities. Writing to the Christians in Galatia, he made a powerful statement about equality:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3)

This teaching shows that in Christianity all human hierarchies are broken down before God. A person’s ethnicity, social status, or gender does not affect their value, meaning all people are equal in worth and should be treated with equal dignity and justice.

Judaism

Torah - love your neighbour

In teaching the importance of loving one’s neighbour, Jesus was echoing a key Jewish teaching from the Torah:

This shows that treating others with equal love, dignity, and respect is central to both Judaism and Christianity. The command to love others as oneself means that no person’s life, needs, or rights are more important than another’s, directly supporting the principle of equality.

Islam

Qur'an - God's creation

Islam teaches that all people are equal in value because they are all created by Allah. The Qur’an states:

This teaching shows that no person is superior to another because of race, gender, nationality, or social status. Instead, all humans share the same origin and have equal worth. A person’s value is judged only by their righteousness, not by worldly characteristics, which strongly supports the Islamic principle of equality.

The views of non-Abrahamic religions

Hinduism

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that one of the paths to moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth) is to follow dharma, which includes acting selflessly and treating others fairly.

Hindus are encouraged to recognise the same divine reality (Brahman) in all living beings, which means every person has equal value and deserves respect. For many Hindus, promoting equality in society (by challenging discrimination, helping those who are disadvantaged, or supporting inclusive communities) is therefore a way of living out their dharma and moving closer to moksha.

Sikhism

Sikhism teaches that all human beings are equal because everyone is created by the same God. The Guru Granth Sahib emphasises equality and the importance of serving others through seva (selfless service).

Sikhs are encouraged to promote the welfare of all people, regardless of gender, caste, or social status. For many Sikhs, working to ensure equality in society is a way of living according to God’s will, for example through the langar, which provides free meals to everyone and demonstrates that all people are valued equally.

Buddhism

Buddhism teaches that all people are equal in their experience of suffering (dukkha). The Buddha emphasised compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) towards all living beings. Buddhists believe that acting selflessly and treating others fairly helps reduce suffering and creates good karma, supporting progress towards enlightenment (nirvana).

For many Buddhists, promoting equality in society—by challenging unfair treatment, helping those who are disadvantaged, or supporting inclusive communities—is therefore a way of living out compassion and reducing suffering in the world.

Why is equality important?

God's will

The Abrahamic religions and Sikhism teach that equality is God’s will because it comes directly from his creative act. In particular, according to Judaism and Christianity, all humans are created in the image of God, and in Islam all people are created by Allah from a single origin.

Human value is given by God, not earned through race, gender, wealth, or status. Because God gives equal worth to all people, denying equality goes against God’s will and the way humanity was intended to live.

Preventing harm and injustice

All religions teach that denying equality causes real harm to individuals and communities. When people are treated as inferior because of race, gender, religion, or social status, this can lead to discrimination, exclusion, poverty, and violence, all of which are forms of social injustice.

Because every person has equal value, inequality is seen as a moral wrong that damages human dignity and breaks down trust and harmony within society. [See Social justice]