issues of life and death Flashcards
quote that supports Christians’ beliefs on the sanctity of life
“i made you in my image” genesis 1:27
literal Christians see this as every human who has ever walked earth does
quakers oppose death penalty and wars for this reason
humanist view on sanctity of life
see special value in human life but not that the value of life comes from god
believe no afterlife is what makes life special
all hummanists believe important to make each other happy in life
so life isn’t seen as sacred but worthy of highest respect
traditional Christian view on abortion
+ case study
forbidden in all circumstances as only god has the right to take away life
see embryo not as potential life but as an actual human one
therefore as bad as murder
“before i formed you in your mother’s womb, i knew you”
supported by story of Gianna Jesson who was left disabled after surviving an abortion
liberal christian view on abortion
+ case study
all life is sacred as made by god
actively discourage abortion, only allowed if the mother is at risk or been raped but never encouraged
seen as “the lesser of two evils”
however, see UK law as too liberal and resulted in too many unnecessary murders
supported by story of Savita Halappanavar who died due to infection after miscarriage having requested an abortion as the pregnancy was ending anyway but refused by hospital due to faint fetal heartbeat
how do hummanists approach ethical dilemas
situation ethics approach
not one belief but strive towards best, kindest outcome in each individual situation
what is the concept dominion
some Christians think this idea gives them the freedom to use the created world as they choose
concept of stewarship
idea of God-given responsibility that humans have to take care of his creation
such as operation noah and christian aid being set up to counteract all the bad things humans have done to the world
what is natural revelation
some religious people say that when they look at the natural world, they feel like God is revealing something about himself
e,g looking at sunset and feelng a sense of awe
traditional christian views on euthanasia
always wrong- only god has the right to give and take away life
life is gift from god- therefore precious
just as bad to assist in euthanasia- going against the 10 commandments
suffering is for a purpose- god would not give you more suffering than you could ensure “god will not test you beyond your abilities”
hospices used as alternative care
slippery- slope argument, acceptance of this will lead to acceptance of other unacceptable practices (involuntary euthanasia)
aids criminals, e.g harold shipman
more liberal christians view on euthanasia
believe it is wrong
however, allow for life support to be turned off if there is medical evidence person is brain dead- already dead and machine just completing bodily functions
would also consider with-holding treatment which prolongs a painful illness the person will definitely die soon from- love thy neighbour + jesus’ teachings
Stephen hawking said: “we don’t let animals suffer, so why humans”
hummanist view on euthanasia
supported attempts to legalise assisted and voluntary euthanasia
not just terminally ill people but those “permanently and incurably suffering” such as being severely paralysed
CofE views on afterlife
dualist- believe we have a body and a soul
soul= true inner part of us, eternal and will live on in afterlife after death of our material body
“god breathed soul into adam”
catholic views on afterlife
non-dualists, body and soul are one and cannot be separated
after death, soul temporarily apart from body but body and soul will be reunited on judgement day
“so it will be with the resurrection of the dead”
literal chrisitan view on heaven and hell
view on judgement day
real, physical places where people spend eternity
“they will be tormented day and night”
see judgement day as the end of time
dead will be resurrected and given ‘spiritual bodies’
supported by the parable of the sheep and goats; to get into heaven you must ‘feed the hungry and ‘clothe the naked’
liberal chrisitan view on heaven and hell
should be seen as symbolic
hell= no longer being in the presence of god, sinning moves you further and further away creating a life of ‘torment’
although raises question of what actually happens after death if heaven/hell are symbolic
