Issues of Life and Death Unit 1

Question 1

Afterlife

Answer 1

Life after death; the belief that existence continues after
physical death

Question 2

Environmental
responsibility

Answer 2

The duty upon human beings to respect, care for and
preserve the natural environment. Crucial to environmental
responsibility is the idea of sustainability.

Question 3

Euthanasia

Answer 3

From Greek, eu ‘good’ + thanatos ‘death’. Sometimes referred to as ‘mercy killing. The act of killing a person, either directly or indirectly, because a decision has been reached that death would be the best option.

Question 4

Evolution

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Abortion

Answer 5

When a pregnancy is ended by the deliberate removal of the
foetus from the womb so that it does not result in the birth of
a child.

Question 6

Quality of life

Answer 6

The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable, for example, if a life is free from undue pain and stress

Question 7

Sanctity of life

Answer 7

The belief that life is precious, or sacred because humans
are made ‘in God’s image’. For many religious believers, only
human life holds this special status.

Question 8

Soul

Answer 8

The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects
someone to God. The soul is often regarded as non-physical
and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.