Dialogue between religion Flashcards
Give three examples of how the christian church is embedded in British life.
- School terms are centred around christian festivals e.g. Christmas or Easter
What does the ‘established’ church mean.
The Church has close links with the state in government, law education and military. The Church of England is the established state.
Outline the role of the monarch within religion.
She is the head of state and defender of the faith (Church of England)
- she appoints senior clerics
- she opens new sessions of the Church’s governing body
- she keeps the coronation vow to maintain the faith
What is significant about the house of Lords.
Within the house of Lords, there are 26 Lords spiritual. They are involved in making laws for the country.
How may christian services be used to mark key events?
- marriage, funerals, baptism.
Christian events are not limited to those withing the faith. Many people choose to have a christian funeral, or to marry in a church
What are the four christian public holidays?
- Good Friday (Jesus’ death)
- Easter Monday (Jesus’ resurrection)
- Christmas day
- Boxing day
What does it mean to be a faith school? What proportion of Schools in England are faith schools?
They will have a ‘religious character’ and may have close links with a faith organisation. 1/3 of schools are faith schools.
What is the law regarding religion for all schools?
All pupils must be taught religious education. There must be a daily act of collective worship.
What are arguments for religious funded schools?
- They contribute 10% of costs of faith schools, so are paying for public education
- Parents should be able to choose where to send their children
- Children are taught the same curriculum to faith schools
What are the arguments against religious funded schools?
- If Churches want faith schools, the should fund them themselves
- They do not represent the wider community
- It is unfair that children cannot get into certain schools because of their parents views
What is secularisation? What evidence is there to show that the UK is becoming more secular?
Secularisation is the idea that religious beliefs are becoming less important in society.
- People rely on material comforts for happiness rather than faith.
- Religious teachings are no longer respected
- Religion has become a private matter and has less influence on public life.
How has the numbers of religion in the UK changed?
- Church of England (40% to 17%)
- Muslims are the fastest growing
(0.5% to 5%) - Non religion (49%)
What are 3 possible causes and 3 effects of secularisation?
Causes
- Rationalisation = people rely more on provable principles of science and economics
- Differentiation = The Church used to control large parts of peoples lives which are now run by non-religious organisations
- Community = people no longer live in small communities held together by the Church
Effects
- Fewer people attend Church
- Churches are closing
- Fewer people being baptised
What are the arguments that the UK is not becoming more secular?
- Other religions are rising
- People still hold religious beliefs
- Religion in other parts of the world are strong
What is humanism?
Humanism is a way of responding to the world based on science, logic and reason rather than religion. Human goodness comes from logic rather than external power.
What are the three main principles of humanism? What three things do they campaign to do?
- A view of the universe based on science.
- A concern for the welfare of others through human conscience rather than divine authority
- People must create meaning in their life without the belief in life after death.
- Disestablish the Church of England
- Remove Bishops from the House of Lords
- Abolish faith schools
What does the National secular society say about religion within schools?
They are not against the teaching of religion, but the promotion of Christianity. They think pupils must be taught non religious beliefs.
What does the British humanist organisation say about religion in schools?
It limits freedom of religion within children.
Outline Christian perspectives on forced marriages.
Christians are opposed to forced marriages as it does not involve consent. The legal age for marriage is 16 with parental consent and 18 without. Catholic Churches are allowed to set laws for marriage within individual countries.
What are Christian views regarding equality? Why?
All people should be equal regardless of race, gender etc
- God created all people in his image
- God loves each person
_ God created the human race
What are some Bible blitz for and against equality?
‘Render to Caeser the things that are Caeser’s and to God the things that are God’s. Mark 12:17
Paul 1 Corinthians
‘women should be silent in Church and in submission to men’
What was the Equality act of 2010? The Marriage Act 2013?
Men and women should have equal treatment in employment. Priests, monks and nuns are exempt.
Same sex marriages are lawful but religious organisations do not have to allow it on their premises.
What is euthanasia?
The deliberate ending of someone’s life to relieve them of suffering.
Why do Christians think euthanasia is wrong?
- Life is precious (sanctity of life)
- Assisted suicide is murder (ten commandments)
- Christians have a responsibility to look after those who are suffering
What are non religious reasons against euthanasia?
- A Doctors job is to preserve someone’s life, not end it
- People may choose euthanasia to not be a burden
- Medical advances mean pain medication is very effective.
What are Christian attitudes towards the right to die attitudes?
A person’s life is not their own as it was created by God, so only God may take it away. Some Christians would agree that people should be able to refuse medication - if it is God’s will to die, it is best not to interfere.
Outline Christian views towards abortion.
Christianity teaches that life begins at conception - fertilised egg is a sacred life and should be protected.
Roman Catholics are wholly opposed to abortion as they see it as murder. The Church of England is against abortion but recognises there are circumstances where it may be necessary, for example if the mother’s life is in danger.
‘For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb’ Psalm
What is genetic manipulation?
The changing of a person’s genome by isolating or adding genes.
What are Roman Catholic attitudes towards therapeutic cloning?
They are wholly opposed to it - life begins at conception so an embryo is a human life and the destruction of embryos is immoral.
What do some Christians believe about the creation of life?
The ability to have Children is up to God and fertility treatments may interfere with God’s plan.
What are Christian attitudes towards artificial insemination?
The Church of England teaches that conception should occur in a loving sexual relationship, but if that is not possible then AI is acceptable.
The RC Church says that conception should only happen through sexual union and AI is therefore unacceptable.
What is IVF? What are Christian attitudes towards it?
Several eggs are fertilised outside the body, then implanted. Spare embryos may be used for research, for other couples or destroyed after 10 years.
The RC Church opposes IVF because it does not take place through sexual union. Research should not be conducted on embryos.
The Church of England accepts IVF and medical experimentation within 14 days.
What is Exclusivism?
Only one religion is true and the rest is false. Accepting God is the only way to achieve salvation, therefore all other faiths (or even other denominations) are destined for hell.
The Roman Catholic Church adopts an exclusivist view, which has led to missionary work to convert all to Catholicism. (refer to Evangelism)
