Contrasting Beliefs Flashcards
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Abortion
Catholics -> abortion is wrong
Sanctity of life, life is sacred and a gift from God.
Catholics believe life begins at conception and human right to live applies from there.
Anglian Christian’s accept abortion in rape or mother’s life is at risk.
Muslims believe there is potential life at conception, but ensoulment happens at 120 days.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Euthanasia
Catholics -> only God has right to take life away.
Muslims believe that death with dignity is NOT acceptable -> suffering is for a reason.
Many Christians -> passive euthanasia is acceptable if life quality is poor.
ALL RELIGIONS allow the turning off of life support machines.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Animals
Some Christians -> animal experimentation is wrong. “Not one sparrow is forgotten by God’
ALL RELIGIONS disagree with cosmetic testing.
Alternative methods are preferred where possible (computer simulation).
Some Christians -> Medical testing acceptable as humans were created to rule over other species for survival (dominion).
Some Muslims allow testing if it is necessary and suffering is kept to a minimum.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Violence
Many Christians -> violence as last resort: self defence or defence of others. War is allowed.
Christian Quakers -> against all violence, pacifism. They refuse to take an active role in War and Conflict but may become first aid officers.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
WMD
Christians generally don’t support WMD but slow possession for deterrence.
Many Christians condemn WMD as they hurt innocent civilians in mass numbers. Goes against Just War Theory
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Pacifism
Qur’an gives permission to fight ‘permitted to take up arms’ in self defence or defence of Islam
Quakers are pacifists ‘blessed are the peacemakers’ and ‘thou shall not kill’. They refuse to kill in war or take an active role in conflict so they may become first aid officers
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Corporal Punishment
Christianity is against corporal punishment -> goes against human dignity and rights. Form of violence (purely revengeful rather than merciful).
Quakers reformed this punishment and made it illegal in the UK.
Islamic countries using Sharia law allow the use of corporal punishment, as it is used for retribution and deterrence. ‘cut off the hands of thieves’ Qur’an
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Death Penalty
Christians generally don’t support capital punishment ‘thou shall not kill’
Breaks the concept of the sanctity of life.. all life is sacred and a gift from God, only he ahs the right to take it away.
The use of the death penalty is allowed in Islam. The justice of ‘a life for a life’ is used to satisfy victims. Muhammad agreed with this principle.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Forgiveness
Central teaching of Jesus -> ‘forgive not seven times but seventy seven’. Main theme of the Lord’s Prayer ‘Forgive us our sins’ Jesus died so our sins could be forgiven.
Forgiveness is ultimately for Allah to administer. A human must be truly sorry and not repeat the same sin. Humans are encouraged to forgive each other but punishment is important.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Status of Women
Many Christians -> women made in ‘image of God’ -> all equal.
Catholic Christianity -> women cannot become a priest
Islam -> cannot read prayers
In many Muslim countries, women’s rights are a concern.
Modern Christianity -> women and men can do jobs at home and in the house
Modern Islam -> women can work on top of house duties.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Use of wealth
Christian -> ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’.. Christiasn can be rich BUT they must earn it through honest means and not be greedy or selfish.. they shouldn’t let their wealth distract them from God.
Christians may give a tithe -> a tenth of what they own to charity.
Islam -> 5 pillars - Zakah (2.5%) and Shi’a pay Khums - 20% of their prophets/ savings.
CONTRASTING BELIEFS
Religious expression
Christians -> tolerance of other beliefs - all people created by God and have equal value. This was not always the case.. Crusades
Islam -> acceptable to believe in other faiths if you were born into it. However, converting from Islam is seen as the greatest sin (It even carries the death penalty in some countries).
