2) Life and Death Flashcards
2.1 The Day of Judgement
The last day, when God judges all of humanity according to how they have lived.
-Judged as acceptable will go to heaven, those that aren’t will to to hell
-‘we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ’ (2 Corinthians)
2.1 The parable of the sheep and the goats
Jesus uses the example of a shepherd who separates his sheep from his goats in order to help his followers understand what judgement will be like.
-Sheep - lived good lives and believed in God - go to heaven
-Goats - rejected God and sinned - go to hell
-Jesus explains that helping a person, whoever they are, is just the same as helping Jesus himself and is therefore a duty for all Christians
2.1 The parable of the sheep and the goats quote
‘whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
‘they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’
2.1 The rich man and Lazarus
A rich man ignored a poor beggar at his gate (Lazarus). When both men died Lazarus went to heaven and the rich man went to hill. He asked Abraham if he could send a messenger to his friends and family to warn them about his fate but was refused.
–Abrahim send they already had the words of several prophets in the scriptures to warn them
‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’
2.1 Teaching of the rich man and Lazarus
-Going to heaven or hell depends on their actions in their earthly life
-they must follow the guidance given in the scriptures and God’s law in order to go to Heaven
-people must be kind and compassionate to go to heaven
2.1 Heaven
Christians are happy there and will know God on a more personal level.
2.1 Differing views on Hell
-Traditional Christian view of Hell - place of fire, darkness and punishment where sinners will be cast for eternity - ‘unquenchable fires of hell’ (Mark 9)
-Hell is an absence of God where people who have rejected God throughout life are rejected by him after death. (2 Thessolonians) says that sinners will be ‘forever separated from the Lord’.
-Some liberal Christians interpret Hell in terms of the psychological pain caused by the conscious when people finally face up to their own sins.
-God does not resurrect sinners to eternal punishment. John 3:16 - Jesus saves people from death. Resurrection is for those who believe in Jesus.
2.1 Christ’s resurrection
Through his cruxifiction, he pays the penalty for mankind’s sin and relationship with God.
On the cross, he says ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’
-This is the full incarnation of God to become completely human. God’s gift and sacrifice to us is to place all of humanity’s sin of Jesus and feel the burden of humanity
When Jesus dies, ‘the curtain of the temple was torn in two’
-The curtain of the temple separated the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle - the Holy of Holies (term in the Hebrew Bible), where God’s presence appeared. Only the High Priest could enter. The fact that it is torn shows the divide between humanity and god has gone.
2.1 Teaching of the resurrection
-when Jesus died on the cross, he was sacrificed for the sins of humankind. This allows humans to be reunited with God after death in Heaven - salvation
-Although physical death happens, those who believe in Christ and follow his example will be given eternal life in heaven
‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16)
2.1 How to achieve salvation
Roman Catholic, Orthodox and some Anglican Christians believe it is by:
-receiving sacraments (baptism, confirmation, reconciliation/confession, the Eucharist (Holy Communion)
-leading a Christian life
2.2 A ‘good’ meaning of life
-universal application
-makes sense of life (why are we here)
-profound moral, spiritual, physical implications
-impeccable (without weakness)
2.2 Christian views of the meaning of life
-to know God
-To display the glory of God
-To seek the kingdom of God in the afterlife
-Share in the love of God
-To be good
2.2 The meaning of life - to know God
Thomas Aquinas said it is to know God. Proof that God exists:
-Beauty and order of creation
-Universal awareness of right and wrong
-Exposure to Christians/ the Bible
2.2 The meaning of life - to display the glory of God
-Only humans were made imago dei
-Genesis - ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ - our work is to display God’s greatness, and to spread His creation to fill the world
-Everything we do should be the glory of God
2.2 The meaning of life - To seek the kingdom of God in the afterlife
-Enter heaven by doing God’s will
-This way we can be happy
‘the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God’ (1 Corinthians)
2.2 The meaning of life - Share in the love of God
–Before Christ, humanity lived an empty, sinful life.
-God sent down his only son to save us from eternal death - ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16)
-God’s agape (unconditional love) - we need to learn to love as he has loved us
2.2 The meaning of life - imitate Jesus
Replace original sin with Christ as he came down to earth to save us
-life is a process of becoming more like Christ as he is perfect and we will enter Heaven
-‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48)
2.2 The meaning of life - to be good
-‘Love your neighbor as yourself’
2.2 Argument against the meaning of life
-Jean Paul Satre - nothing has a pre-ordained, God given purpose so we are free to do whatever we want
-The Christian view is too prescriptive and exclusive as only people who believe in Christ can have a ‘good’ meaning of life
-‘existence precedes essence’
2.3 Euthanasia
-Means ‘gentle and easy death’
-used to describe the deliberate ending of a person’s life for compassionate reasons - e.g. because they are suffering
2.3 UK Law on euthanasia and assisted suicide
Euthanasia - Illegal - regarded as manslaughter or murder - can carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment
Assisted suicide - illegal - can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years (under the Suicide Act 1961)
2.3 Alternatives for euthanasia
Hospice - where specialist medical staff look after the terminally ill
-Refusing treatment - allowed. They must have the capacity to understand the situation they are in
2.3 Secular arguments supporting euthanasia
-humans should be able to decide how they die
-enables a person to die with dignity, in control of their situation
-death is private
-family and friends are spared from a drawn out death
-animals can be euthanized out of kindness, why can’t humans be
2.3 Secular arguments against euthanasia
-weakens society’s respect for life
-puts too much power in the hands of doctors
-could be a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia - those seen as undesirable can be killed - eugenics
2.3 Christian arguments supporting euthanasia
-Death is not the end
-‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me’ (Psalms)
-death is not a bad thing
-no more suffering
-one will be joined with God and comforted
2.3 Against euthanasia - ethical gradualism
Slippery slope - this could lead to the incidental involuntary euthanization of people who are not wanted
2.3 Abortion
Termination of pregnancy. UK law only permits abortion up to 24 weeks.
2.3 Laws on abortion
The Abortion Act 1967 - abortion is legal if:
-it is performed by a registered medical practitioner (a doctor)
-authorised by two doctors
-acting in good faith
-UK law only permits abortion up to 24 weeks
-It is allowed up to birth if there is a risk to the woman’s life (or of serious harm) or if the child will be born with a severe disability.
2.3 Alternatives to abortion
-parenting, raising the child
-adoption - give child up for adoption
2.3 5 Secular arguments supporting abortion
-woman’s right to choose
-in cases of rape, it is lacking compassion to deny woman the right to an abortion
-may be too young
-woman’s health is more important than the embryo
-making it illegal could lead to ‘back street’ abortions-more suffering to health and well being of women
2.3 5 Secular arguments against abortion
-every human being should have the right to live and reach their potential
-there are alternatives - adoption
-unborn child denied choice
-destroys human life, making it cheap and disposable
-people with disabilities can live full, happy lives
2.3 4 Christian arguments against abortion
-the unborn fetus is already a life
-sanctity of life
-it is unjust
-should not be a way out of sin
2.3 Against abortion - fetus is already a life
‘before I formed you in the womb I knew you’ (Jeremiah 1:5)
-was a person long before he was born
The Roman Catholic Church
-believe human life begins at conception
2.3 Against abortion - Sanctity of life
Birth and death are part of the life process God has created
-no human has the authority to take the life of an innocent person
2.3 Against abortion - it is unjust
The taking of an innocent human life at its most defenceless
Against abortion - not a way out of sin
‘do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?’ (Corinthians)
-do not commit sexual sins for pleasure/ outside of marriage
2.3 2 Christian arguments supporting abortion
-fetus is not a life
-people were given the choice by God
2.3 Supporting abortion - a unborn fetus is not a life
‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul.’
-man had consciousness after their bodies were formed
2.3 Supporting abortion - people were given the choice
In Genesis, we were given dominion over other things
-in case of unwanted pregnancy
-women have the God-given authority of choosing whether they want to keep the baby
2.4 Christian teaching of love
-Unconditional love (agape) The love of God for man and of man for God.
-The last supper
-Parable of the good Samaritan
2.4 Love - The last supper
Jesus said ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’
-to be a follower of Christ means to show unconditional love to all
-Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, shows the extent of his love
2.4 Love - The parable of the good Samaritan
-only the Samaritan helped the Jew
2.4 Love - 2 Bible quotes on how you should treat people
-‘Love your enemies’
-‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
2.4 3 Christian teachings on sexual relationships
-All humans are made imago dei
-Male and females are intimately connected to each other
-Humans have a responsibility for their body
2.4 Sexual relationships - imago dei
‘God created man in His own image’
-we are made in his image, so we can also create via sex
2.4 Sexual relationships - males and females are intimately connected to each other
‘A man leaves his father and his mother and unites with his wife, and they become one flesh’ (Genesis)
-man and woman unite to become complete, they cannot be separated
2.4 Sexual relationships - Humans have a responsibility for their body
‘Do you not know that your body is a temple, of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?’ (Corinthians)
-it would be disrespecting God to mistreat your body
2.4 3 Christian views on sex outside of marriage
-it is immoral
-sex should only happen during marriage
-Presbyterian Church
-Church of Ireland
2.4 Sex outside of marriage - it is immoral
‘Thou shall not commit adultery’ - 10 Commandments in the Book of Exodus. Rules for God’s way of life and love
-marriage is the cure to sexual immorality
2.4 Sex outside of marriage - sex should only happen in marriage
‘You should not commit adultery’ (Ten commandments)
-Christians believe this commandment shows that God wants people to exercise sexual fidelity within marriage and chastity before marriage.
2.4 Sex outside of marriage - Presbyterian Church
Sex meant to be enjoyed in the content of the full commitment of marriage
-physical expression of the deeper reality of the two becoming one
2.4 Sex outside of marriage - Church of Ireland
Human sexuality is a gift from God
-urge for young people to question behavior that devalues this gift
2.4 3 Christian evidences against homosexuality
-God made male and female, according to Genesis to complete each other and procreate - homosexuality is unnatural
-In the book of Leviticus, it says a homosexual should be put to death
-Saint Paul’s letters in the Bible, condemns homosexuality as ‘unrighteous’ and homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God
2.4 3 Christian evidences supporting homosexuality
-Just because procreation cannot happen, it is not right to forbid any action that is a physical expression of love
-homosexuals are just following their natural instincts - God created them, no mistakes —response to this –> homosexuality is a test
-some believe St. Paul’s comments were about male prostitutes, not homosexuality in general
2.4 Roman Catholic view on homosexuality
-said ‘they must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity… Homosexual people are called to chastity’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church) - fundamentals of the Catholic doctrine
-love the sinner, hate the sin
2.4 Quaker view on homosexuality
-When there is love between people, to reject people because of their sexual behavior is a denial of God’s creation
2.5 Why is marriage important to Christians
-To unite with someone they love for the rest of their lives - ‘a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’
-To be faithful as they make this sacrament with God’s blessing and in His presence
2.5 Purpose of marriage
Marriage is a covenant (an agreement/ promise) before God
-takes place in presence of friends, family, God - publicly shows they are committed to each other
2.5 Marriage vows
-I take you to be my wedded wife/ husband - expresses choosing each other
-To have and to hold - free to express love towards each other
-From this day forward - starting a new chapter
-For better or for worse - commitment
-Till death do us part - strength and permanence of marriage
-According to God’s holy ordinance - God is the author and creator of the holy ordinance of marriage. You are doing what God intended for his people
-And this is my solemn vow - unbroken
(Anglican vows from the book of common prayer)
2.5 Monogamy
The practice or state of being married to only one person at a time - Christians believe in this
2.5 Proof in the Bible for monogamy
-Adam and Eve - God didn’t create several women for Adam, only one
-‘so they are no longer two, but one flesh’ (Matthew)
-If she is joined to another man while her husband is alive she is called an adulteress’ (Romans)
2.5 Cohabitation
A couple living together before they are married
2.5 Church of England view on cohabitation
Believe they may cohabit only if it leads to marriage
2.5 Catholic Church views on cohabitation
Don’t believe in cohabitation
-can lead to sexual behaviors before marriage (sleeping in the same room, shower in the same bathroom, etc)
-when you love someone you should fully commit (enjoying benefits of marriage without the commitments)
2.5 Humanist view on cohabitation
Believe in cohabitation
-opportunity to see if people are compatible in a living situation
2.5 Civil partnerships
Legal partnership which can be registered. Available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
-doesn’t need to happen in public
-legal rights shared
-legalized in the UK in 2005
2.5 Catholic and CofE view on civil partnership
Don’t believe in this and don’t perform them.
-Sex should be within marriage
-marriage is more intimate than civil partnerships - marriage involves God
2.5 Catholic view on same-sex marriage
Homosexual feelings are not a sin, but homosexual sex acts are
2.5 CofE view on same-sex marriage
Doesn’t regard homosexuality as a sin. Church defines marriage as being between a man and a woman but supports civil partnerships for same-sex couples
2.6 Divorce
The dissolution of marriage
2.6 Catholic view on divorce
Divorce is impossible. Only when the partner dies.
-vows - ‘until death do us part’
-‘What God has joined together, let no one separate’ (Matthew)
-In Corinthians, it states that a wife must not separate from her husband. If she does, she must not remarry or she should reconcile with her husband.
-10 commandments ‘do not commit adultery’
2.6 Annulment
In some instances the RC church will grant an annulment to a couple whose marriage is not working out
-promises made in marriage were not valid in the first place (already married, too young, under the influence, mentally incompetent)
2.6 CofE view on divorce
Believe couples should work hard to keep their vows of lifelong commitments
-also recognize sometimes it is impossible for a couple to remain together
-divorcees can marry someone else
2.6 Attitudes to remarriage
Catholics - a couple may separate and live apart, but they cannot divorce and may never remarry
-The CofE - issued specific guidelines for priests when considering allowing a person who has been divorced to remarry in the Church. Up to the priest themselves to decide whether they can in good conscience marry the couple.
-The Methodist Church - allows the minister to make their own decision based on their conscience. If any minister feels they cannot marry a couple who want a church marriage they should refer the couple to another minister who would be willing to do it.
2.6 Relativism (annulment)
All points of view are equally valid and all truth is relative to the individual
-couples can have differing views in a marriage
2.7 Christian teaching on the family
The family unit is where loving and respectful relationships can be formed
-model family: mother, father and children (nuclear family)
-should be brought up with faith
-sacrificial - just like how Jesus died on the cross
2.7 Types of families
-Nuclear family - a family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children
-Extended family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins living nearby/ in the same household
-Reconstituted family - one or both adults have children from previous relationships living with them.
Single parent family - consists of a parent not living with a partner and raises the children
-Same-sex family
2.7 How children should be treated
The Bible teaches that parents have a responsibility towards their children. Discipline them but don’t be too hard on them.
-10 Commandments - ‘Honor your father and your mother’
-bring them up in faith
2.7 What the Catholic Church and CofE do to have children brought up with faith
Child is baptised, usually within the first year after their birth
-promises made at baptismal service by the parents, godparents, etc. to try bring the child up within the Christian faith (pray for the child, incorporating faith into their daily routines)
Sunday school
-taught stories from the Bible and the teachings of the church
Confirmation
- special church service that signifies a young person’s desire to commit themselves to the Christian faith
2.7 What the Amish community do to have children brought up with faith
Believe that God has called them to a simple life of faith, discipline, dedication and humility.
Use Ordnung (set of rules)
-outline how they should live. E.g marry only other Amish, keep separate from the school
Provide schooling
-ends at 14 (practical skills). Amish family (man in charge, woman - domestic)
From a young age children given jobs
-contribute to family and community
Rumspringa
-at 16 Amish children are allowed to live outside the community and decide if they want to become fully members of the Amish community
2.7 What do the COE do to stress the importance of marriage
-CofE recommends every diocese should encourage its parishes to run courses in marriage preparation and in parenting to help strengthen family life
2.7 Value of fidelity
-Affairs will damage their marriage
-fidelity helps to protect the stability of the family
2.7 Supporting/ strengthening family life
Mission of the church - ‘the family is the original cell of social life’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Mothers’ Union
-Christian organization that supports stable family life in their own communities
-providing counselling and support for women who have been sexually abused
-parenting program
-as it works to support couples and families it is helping to strengthen society as a whole
2.7 Children’s rights
Right to:
-health
-education
-family life
-play and recreation
-an adequate standard of living
-protected from abuse and harm
2.8 Arguments against childlessness
-‘be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it’
-our duty to follow God’s commands
-in order for people to ‘subdue’ the earth, they must have children
-Christians should marry and have children, and raise them to be Christian disciples ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations’ (The Great Commission)
-main purpose of marriage is to have a child
2.8 Celibacy
Remaining unmarried and abstaining from any sexual intercourse
2.8 Differing attitudes to celibacy
-Buddhism - most monks are celibate - sensual desire is an obstacle to enlightenment, and for many, sexual desire is the most persistent desire
-waiting for marriage to have sex
-form of protection/ contraception
2.8 Purpose of celibacy
Fully focus on God
-‘only marry if you cannot control your desires! Better to marry than to burn with passion’ (Paul in Corinthians)
-Christian priests must be celibate (and monks and nuns)
-Celibacy is a gift, not a restrictions
-priest is better enables to share the love of God with all, not distracted by the love he would otherwise have for a wife and children
2.8 Contraception
Otherwise known as ‘birth control’ and is used to help prevent pregnancy resulting from sex
-Artificial - condom, vasectomy, pill
-Natural - reduces changes of a woman becoming pregnant (having sex at the least fertile time in a woman’s menstrual cycle, withdrawal’
2.8 Arguments against contraception - Roman Catholic Church
People have condemned artificial forms of contraception
-Pope John Paul II in 1987 said that anything that tries to ‘render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil’
-Separates the unitive and creative aspects of sex, which is not what God intended
-Church relates contraception as a major cause in sexual promiscuity, broken families, rise in divorce rates
Natural contraception is allowed
-the Catholic Church teaches responsible parenthood
-deciding on the number of children to have and when
-does this through restricting sex to the infertile period of a woman’s menstrual cycle
2.8 Church of England teaching on Contraception
-teaches that it is responsible to use contraception in order to ensure children are planned and wanted
2.8 Christian views for contraception
-God is about love and justice - contraception improves women’s health and raises the standard of living of children as families are smaller
-God created sex for enjoyment and to cement the bonds of marriage - within marriage, contraception allows the role of sex to be separated from procreation which is not against God’s will
-better to combat AIDS/ HIV by using condoms than expecting everyone to follow Christian rules on sex and marriage
2.8 Fertility treatment
The process of joining a sperm and egg together outside a woman’s body, them placing the fertilized egg in the woman’s body so that she can become pregnant
2.8 3 views on fertility treatment
-Roman Catholic
-It is God’s will
-Methodist Church
2.8 Catholic Church view on fertility treatment
-Supports the view that a marriage should be open to children, but in a way that is in love with God’s intention for the creation of new life
-humans should not be created in a lab
-the doctor (or donor) may be a third person into the marriage relationship - adultery and is wrong. Baby should be made through the conjugal act between spouses
2.8 Methodist church on fertility treatment
Creating life is welcomed by any means - ‘be fruitful and multiply’
2.8 Fertility treatment - it is against God’s will
(In Samuel) Hannah’s infertility is explained as ‘because the Lord has closed her womb’ - God’s choice for her to be
2.8 Genetic engineering
The modification and manipulation of an organism’s genes using technology
2.8 Views for genetic engineering
As Christians we should be concerned about the physical well-being of ourselves and others
-Corinthians - -Corinthians - ‘do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?’
As caretakers of creation, humans have an obligation to ‘fix’ the effects of the sin caused by Adam and Eve
-Creation was impacted by our sin and anticipates being redeemed from the sin’s effects
2.8 Views against genetic engineering
GE will take on a role beyond that which God has given to us as stewards of His creation
-Bible states that all things were created by and for God - too much manipulation of the genetics could be tampering with things reserved for the designer
-the forbidden fruit - taking knowledge that wasn’t meant for us
