Issues Of Life And Death

Question 1

Afterlife

Answer 1

Life after death

Belief that existence continues after physical death

Question 2

Environmental sustainability

Answer 2

Ensuring that natural resources are used but protected so that all people, animals and plant life can live well now and in the future

Question 3

Euthanasia

Answer 3

The aft of killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from a serious illness

Question 4

Evolution

Answer 4

The process by which different creatures are believed to have developed from earlier less complex forms during the history of the earth

Question 5

Abortion

Answer 5

The ending of a pregnancy so that it doesn’t result in the birth of a child

Question 6

Quality of life

Answer 6

The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable

Question 7

Sanctity of life

Answer 7

The belief that life is sacred and precious

For many religious believers, only human life holds this special status

Question 8

Soul

Answer 8

Spiritual aspect of a being
For some religions, believe connects a person to god
Also often seen as non physical and as living after physical death in an afterlife

Question 9

What are some Christian attitudes towards the creation of the world?

Answer 9

The first creation story (Genesis 1:1-2:3)

• Describes how God created the earth in six days
• From the creation of the earth, sky, sun, stars, plants, animals and humans
• “Let us make mankind in our image”
• On the seventh day he rested

The second creation story (Genesis 2:4-2:25)

• Teaches how God made Adam first before the animals and placed him in the garden of Eden to live in paradise
• Adam was formed from dust of the ground and the breath of God (symbolising the human soul)
• To give Adam a partner/companion he created Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs

Question 10

What do young earth creationists believe? (Christianity)

Answer 10

The world was created by God in seven actual days and this happened less than 10,000 years ago

Question 11

What do old earth creationists believe? (Christianity)

Answer 11

Agrees that God must have created the world but it accepts the idea that the creation of the earth took place millions of years ago

The seven days of creation refer to long eras of time, rather than 24 hour periods

Question 12

What are some Humanist attitudes towards the creation of the earth?

Answer 12

Believe we can understand the world through science and religious explanations are unreliable

There is no good reasons for believing in God and there is plenty of evidence to suggest the world formed itself

Evolution helps understand the way species are related to each other rather than relying on religious belief that the creation of life is a ‘mystery’

Question 13

What is the Big Bang theory?

Answer 13

The rapid expansion of matter from a state of extremely high temperature which according to current cosmological theories marked the origin of the universe

Question 14

What are some Christian attitudes towards the science aspect of the creation of the earth?

Answer 14

Some Liberal Christians and find no problem in accepting the big bang theory

Have no reason to question the evidence it is based on and accept it may be a way that God chosen to allow the universe to create life

Some religious creationists are very critical of these ideas

They believe it contradicts the truth that God created all life through his own power

Question 15

Evolutionary creationism

Answer 15

natural evolution was God’s method of creation, with the universe designed so physical structures (galaxies, stars, planets) and complex biological organisms (bacteria, fish, dinosaurs, humans) would naturally evolve.

Question 16

Humanist views about environmental responsibility

Answer 16

Humans should:
Exercise their moral duty to care for the Earth
Care for the environment based on reason rather than a belief in a supreme being
Create networks to campaign on issues such as global justice, climate change and the environment. Humanists forest r a better work

Question 17

Christian beliefs about environmental responsibility

Answer 17

Humans should:
Live in partnership with God and creation
Exercise responsibility given by god to look after the world (stewardship)
Preserve and conserve the resources of the world and the environment
Give thanks to god for his provision
Be responsible global citizens by using the earth’s resources carefully

Some Evangelical- have dominion rather than live in harmony with the world and its creatures

Question 18

Christian beliefs about the sanctity of life

Answer 18

Genesis teaches that a god created human and animal life
All life is special as it is created by god and should be protected
Each life is unique and valuable beyond measure
God is interested and involved in each human life
Only god should take life away
Jesus showed in his teachings and practices that all life should be valued

Question 19

Peter Singer

Answer 19

An atheist who believes that quality of life is more important than sanctity of life
To count as a ‘personhood’ he believes people must have the ability to think and be able to relate to others
He also believes that if there is little quality of life then the person should be allowed under certain conditions to end their life

Question 20

Christian attitudes towards abortion

Answer 20

Catholics and other orthodox denominations agree that abortion is forbidden since all life is sacred and God given
Goes against the 10 commandments “Thou shalt not kill”
Some Catholics believe that the foetus has the right to live and develop and that terminating this life is a great moral evil

The church of England believe all life is precious but also believe abortion should only take place if the mother’s life is in danger.
Abortion would be permitted if the mother was raped

Question 21

Buddhist attitudes towards abortion

Answer 21

The situation would be considered as the precepts are only guidelines and not commands
Life is an endless cycle of birth and rebirth
Abortion conflicts with the first precept forbidding the taking of human life

Question 22

Humanist views on abortion

Answer 22

Depend sin the situation
Consideration of the rights and wishes of everyone involved
Believe in free choice and have campaigned for legalised abortion
Generally they believe it’s personal choice

Question 23

Christian attitudes towards euthanasia

Answer 23

Orthodox- very strong pro life. Understands that life is a gift from god and the gift must be valued
Protestant- variety of views. Those who are opposed to the practice cited the teachings of Jesus against killing and suicide. Also strongly argue that no man can play god and determine when human life should be limited
Those in favour of it often use Joseph Fletcher, a well known humanist, as their main advocate
Catholic- regards euthanasia as morally wrong. Thou shall not kill

Question 24

Buddhist attitudes towards euthanasia

Answer 24

No point in committing euthanasia as the same karmic state at death would be that of the reborn
The first precept states that taking life is wrong
Some Buddhists might say it is an act of compassion and so according to the Dalai Lama, working with Dukkha may make euthanasia acceptable
The importance of the doctor’s views
Importance of wishes of the patient e.g. through a living will

Question 25

Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife

Answer 25

Some Christians are dualists which means they believe we are made from two distinctive parts: the body and soul. They say the soul is the true inner part us and even after death the soul will live on and rise to everlasting life in heaven

Some Christians are non-dualists which means they say the body and soul are one and cannot be separated. After death the soul is temporarily apart from the body but would be reunited on judgement day

Catholic- souls of very good believers go directly to heaven
Most other believers go through purgatory, a place of cleansing that is between heaven and earth
Prayers can be said for those in purgatory to shorten their stay there

Question 26

Buddhist attitudes about death and afterlife

Answer 26

Rebirth is the key to breaking away from the endless cycle (samsara) of birth, growth, decay and death
Nirvana is a state of mind where greed, ignorance and hatred cease
There is no separate soul to humanity
The aim of Buddhism is to escape from the six realms through reaching nirvana
Karma cannot be avoided but through choice of good actions it can be improved

Question 27

Christian funeral rites

Answer 27

When someone is dying (if possible) a priest is called to say the last rites and this allows the dying person to ask God for forgiveness for any sins

Funeral is held in a church, coffin is carried to the front and the candles may be lit. The minister reads the words of Jesus- “I am the resurrection and the life”

‘The Lord is my Sheppard’ is usually read which means we are not forgotten by God and he will comfort those who mourn and accompany those who have died

Finally the person is buried with the words ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ Today many Christians prefer to be cremated but traditionally the dead had to be buried

Question 28

Buddhist funeral rites

Answer 28

In Theravadan funerals monks will chant each day for seven days for the deceased to receive merit
In Theravadn funerals thread binds the dead person’s hands and feet and held by monks
Chanting often takes place for 49 days
In Tibetan Buddhism the body is often taken to mountains where vultures feed on it

Question 29

Speciesism

Answer 29

The idea that being human is a good enough reason for human animals to have greater moral rights than non human animals

Question 30

Abortion arguments pro choice (not religious)

Answer 30

The foetus isn’t a person yet
It’s the woman’s body, her choice
If the child is unwanted, it’s life will be bad
Trauma associated with adoption
Pregnancy could be dangerous for the mother

Question 31

Abortion arguments pro life (non religious)

Answer 31

It’s murder
Biologically unnatural
Everyone has a right to life
Chance baby could survive attempted abortion and live with a disability
Some people can’t have children - adoption
Consequence for lack of contraception

Question 32

Euthanasia arguments for

Answer 32

It’s their life, they should get the choice the end it
Without it they could resort to suicide
Living a bad life of suffering and pain from injury/disease and the only release is through death
We put animals down
Life support is expensive
Maintains quality of life
Already happening in the Netherlands, people from uk are going elsewhere

Question 33

Euthanasia argument against

Answer 33

Increase in involuntary euthanasia
Old people could feel like they’re a burden and consider euthanasia
Could make it easier for doctors to commit crimes
Hospices provide a real alternative to those feeling unable to deal with the symptoms of terminal illness
The drive to research terminal illness lessens
Can be seen as murder
Life is special and worthy of protecting

Question 34

Types of euthanasia (x5)

Answer 34

Active
Passive
Voluntary
Non voluntary
Involuntary

Question 35

Active euthanasia

Answer 35

When an action is taken to bring about the end of life (e.g. legal overdose of drugs). Illegal in uk

Question 36

Passive euthanasia

Answer 36

When a decision is made to stop giving further treatment through death will be a result
Some issues regarding how far these actions can be seen as euthanasia

Question 37

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 37

The person wants to die and says so
This includes cases of: asking for help with dying, refusing burdensome medical treatment, asking for medical treatments to be stopped, refusing to eat or simply deciding to die

Question 38

Non voluntary euthanasia

Answer 38

Person can’t make decision

Includes cases where the person’s in a coma or a baby

Question 39

Involuntary euthanasia

Answer 39

The person wants to live but is killed anyway

Usually murder but not always

Question 40

Design argument

Answer 40

Belief that the world is so beautiful and well ordered that it must have a creator, god
Newton- fingerprints
William Paley- watch

Question 41

Intelligent design

Answer 41

Idea that certain features of life are best explained by and intelligent cause, rather than an undirected process, such as natural selection

Question 42

Catholic view on theory of evolution

Answer 42

Generally accepts the theory as the scientific explanation for the development of all life
But man’s soul is the divine creation of god