religion and life Flashcards
instrumental value
something that satisfies human needs and wants
intrinsic value
something that has value in itself
awe
a feeling of devout respect mixed with fear and wonder
wonder
marvelling at the complexity and beauty of the universe
stewardship
humans have a duty to care for and look after the environment which belongs to god
dominion
humans can use the environment to their own advantage
quotes on stewardship
“the lord god took the man and put him in the garden of eden to work it and take care of it”
“serve the garden in which we have been placed”
quotes on dominion
“he brought them to the man to see what he would name them”
“rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground”
pro-environment arguments
- arne nass - “everything has the right to bloom and grow”
- holism - ecological idea referencing karma, that we are all interconnected and reliant on each other in the circle of life
- rights - as cultures develop, rights expand from adult males, to women, children, minorities, plants, landscapes and eventually to the planet
similarities between animals and humans
- both the ability to make independent choices
- both have survival instincts
- similar levels of biological complexity
- both can experience pain and suffering
- some animals have a sense of self-awareness eg. dolphins
differences between humans and animals
- animals cannot think or reason, they act solely on instinct
- animals do not have souls
- animals have no sense of morality
- humans can appreciate music, philosophy, art and culture etc.
- animals cannot communicate or use complex language
jeremy bentham quote - can they suffer?
the question is not, “can they reason?” nor, “can they talk?” but rather “can they suffer?”
peter singer
- non-human animals can definitely feel pain, so she should be treated with moral consideration
- they may have certain interests which should be taken into account
- to act only for human interests is speciesist
quotes on why christians should not eat animals
“the righteous care for the needs of their animals”
“aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? yet not one sparrow is forgotten by god”
“the earth is the lord’s and everything in it”
“the one who eats everything (meat) must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for god has accepted them”
quotes on why christians should eat animals
“everything that lives and moves will be food for you”
“let man have dominion over the fish of the sea, birds of the air, creatures that move on the ground”
medicines/treatments discovered due to animal testing
- blood transfusions
- antibiotics - penicillin
- vaccines
- dialysis
are animals used to test cosmetics?
- there is a ban on using animals to test cosmetics (including soap, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste) or their ingredients in the uk and eu
- however, there are no national law banning this in the us or china
arguments for animal testing
- animal testing contributes to life-saving cures and treatments
- animal testing is crucial to ensure that vaccines are safe
- there is no adequate alternative to testing on a living, whole-body system
- animals themselves benefit from the results of animal testing
- animal researchers treat animals humanely, for both the animals’ sake and to ensure reliable test results
arguments against animal testing
- animal testing is cruel and inhumane
- scientists are able to test vaccines on human volunteers and should do so
- alternative testing methods now exist that can replace the need for animals
- animals are very different from human beings and therefore make poor test subjects
- drugs that pass animal tests are not necessarily safe
- there is an increasing demand for cruelty-free products
sanctity of life
the belief that all life is holy as it is created and loved by god; human life should not be misused or abused due to this
reasons for believing in life after death
- religious beliefs
- comfort
- purpose
- near death experiences
- ghosts/mediums
bodily resurrection
some christians believe in the resurrection of the body. just like jesus, they will be raised from the dead
quality of life
describes the general well-being of a person, in relation to their health and happiness
arguments for abortion
- right to choose - her body.
- in cases of rape, it’s compassionate to have an abortion
- circumstances - too young, childrenalready
- her health and welfare are more important than
foetus’ - the quality of life of the unborn child or the
woman’s existing children - stopping legal abortions would mean a return to
‘back street’ abortions