Life and Death

Question 1

what do Christian’s believe about environmental sustainability

Answer 1

• humans should live in partnership with God and Creation
  -we should preserve and conserve the resources of the world
• we should give thanks to God for his provision
  -we should be responsible for earth’s citizens by looking after it carefully
• some christian’s believe in dominion as the bible refers to humans being made ‘rulers’ over creation

Question 2

what do Muslim’s believe about environmental stability

Answer 2

• they should exercise their Allah-given responsibility to be Khalifahs and respect and care for the world
  -they should use their skills to preserve the fitrah (balance in the natural world)
  -avoid waste
  -we should care for the earth as we will be judges by Allah

Question 3

what do Christian’s believe about the sanctity of life

Answer 3

• god created all human and animal life
  -each life is special and unique and should be protected
• god is interested and involved in every human’s life
  -only god should take a life

Question 4

what do Muslim’s believe about the sanctity of life

Answer 4

• every life is special and created by Allah so it should be protected
  -each life is unique and has value beyond measure
  -Allah has a plan for each life and has written one for every person
  -no one has the right to take their own or anyone else’s life

Question 5

what do Christian’s believe about abortion

Answer 5

• 10 commandments state ‘thou shall not kill’
  -god is the creator, only he gives and takes away life
  -all life is sacred
  Roman catholic and Orthodox :
  -against abortion under any circumstances
• believe from the moment of conception, a new life is born
  Anglicans :
  -accepts that certain situations might need abortion

Question 6

what do Muslim’s believe about abortion

Answer 6

-usually considered as haram
-only Allah can take a life
-abortion to save the mother’s life is acceptable
-if ensoulment has taken place they don’t believe you can have an abortion
Allah takes the person’s judgement into account

Question 7

what do Christian’s believe about euthanasia

Answer 7

-bible has no clear teaching
-guidance may be saught from prayer
- importance of doctor’s viewpoint
-aim should be to ease suffering
-‘thou shall not kill’
-wrong for human’s to play God and take a life
Catholics :
-important to respect all life
-euthanasia is not allowed

Question 8

what do Muslim’s believe about euthanasia

Answer 8

-regarded as haram
-allah chooses how long a person lives
-euthanasia is not listed in the reasons for killing in Islam
-importance of patient’s wishes
-importance of doctor’s views

Question 9

what do Christian’s believe about death and the afterlife

Answer 9

-humans have a soul which is the spiritual part of a being
-eternal life after death which is lived through faith
-there is heaven and hell
-there is a judgement which will determine a soul’s future
-there is a resurrection from the dead
Catholic’s :
-souls of very good believers will go directly to heaven
-other believers will go through a purgatory
-prayers can be said for those in purgatory

Question 10

what do Muslim’s believe about death and the afterlife

Answer 10

-there is Akhirah (life after death) which is determined by one’s deeds on earth
-there is a soul which is released right after death
-there is a heaven and hell
-there will be a day of judgement and only God knows when it will be