Definitions Flashcards
Democratic processes
The ways in which all citizens can take part in government
The Decalogue
10 commandments
Pressure group
A group formed to influence government policy on a particular issue
Church
The community of Christians
Situation ethics
The idea that Christians should base moral decisions on what is the most loving thing to do
The golden rule
Teaching of Jesus that you should treat others as you would like them to treat you
Electoral processes
The ways in which voting is organised
Political party
Group which tries to be elected into power on the basis of it’s policies
Conscience
An inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action
Human rights
The rights and freedoms to which everyone is entitled
Social change
The way in which society has changed and is changing
Environment
The surroundings in which plants and animals love and on which they depend to live
Global warming
The increase in the temperature or the earths atmosphere
Infertility
Not being able to have children
In vitro fertilisation
Method of fertilising a human egg in a test tube
Natural resources
Naturally occurring materials such as oil and fertile land which can be used by humans
Organ donation
Giving organs to be used in transplant surgery
Stewardship
Looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation
Surrogacy
An arrangement whereby a woman bears a child on behalf of another woman
Artificial insemination
Injecting semen into the uterus by artifical means
Conservation
Protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment
Creation
The act of creating the universe or the universe which has been created
Embryo
A fertilised egg in the first eight weeks after conception
Aggression
Attacking without being provoked
Bullying
Intimidating or frightening people weaker than yourself
Conflict resolution
Bringing a fight or struggle to a peaceful conclusion
Exploitation
Taking advantage of a weaker group
Forgiveness
Stopping blaming someone or pardoning them for what they have done wrong
Just war
A war which is fought for the right reasons in the right way
Pacifism
Believe that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means
Reconciliation
Bringing together people who were opposed to each other
Respect
Treating a person or their feelings with consideration
United Nations
And international body set up to promote world peace and cooperation
Weapons of mass destruction
Weapons which can destroy a large areas and numbers of people
World peace
The ending of war throughout the whole world
Addiction
A recurring compulsion to engage in an activity regardless of its bad Effects
Capital punishment
Death-penalty for a crime or offence
Crime
An act against the law
Deterrence
The idea that punishments should be of such a nature that they will put people off committing crimes
Judgement
The act of judging people and their actions
Justice
Due allocation of reward and punishment
The maintenance of what is right
Law
Rules made by Parliament and enforceable by the courts
Reform
The idea that punishment should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again
Rehabilitation
Restored to normal life
Responsibility
Being responsible for one’s actions
Retribution
The idea that punishment should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong
Bible
The holy book of Christians
