Religion and Life Flashcards
Abortion
deliberate ending of a pregnancy to prevent new life
Acid Rain
when chemicals dissolve in the water droplets in the atmosphere and as the rain falls it damages and poisons land, buildings and water
Afterlife
beliefs about what happens to us after our body has died
Air Pollution
caused by factories and cars, causes acid rain
Animal Experimentation
use of animals for medical research and product testing
Animal Rights
belief that animals should be treated with respect, so have rights to adequate food, water, shelter, rest and freedom
Awe
sense of wonderment, often linked to the feeling that God is involved or being revealed
Big Bang Theory
scientific theory about the origins of the universe, that universe was created in a huge explosion
Charles Darwin
the man who came up with theory of evolution
Conception
point at which sperm fertilises an egg to begin pregnancy
Conservation
the practice of repairing and protecting the natural environment and animal species
Creation
belief that God created the world and universe from nothing eg Genesis creation story
Creationist
a Christian who takes the Bible literally and believes that God created the world in seven days
Culture of Death
the idea that death is preferable to being alive
Death
the end of physical, bodily life
Doctrine of Double Effect
the idea that abortion is okay if you are killing the baby to save the mother’s life
Dominion
belief that humans have been given control and are in charge of the world
Environment
the world around us, can be natural or artificial
Euthanasia
ending the life of a person who is terminally ill or has a degenerative illness
Active Euthanasia
where a person deliberately intervenes to end someone’s life, for example, by injecting them with a large dose of sedatives
Involuntary Euthanasia
where a person is killed against their expressed wishes
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia
where a person is unable to give consent, for example because they are in a coma or are severely brain damaged, and another person takes the decision for them to be euthanised on their behalf, often because the ill person previously expressed a wish for their life to be ended in such circumstances
Passive Euthanasia
where a person causes death by witholding or withdrawing treatment
Voluntary Euthanasia
where a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do this
Evolution
scientific theory of the development of species, which comprises natural selection and survival of the fittest
Fossil Fuels
coal, oil and gas, fuels that develop over millions of years beneath the Earth’s surface
Hospice
place of medical care for the dying, but which also gives emotional support to the dying and their families
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1967
the act of law that lies out laws for abortion
Land Pollution
the result of people littering, wild animals might get hurt by the rubbish we throw away and it can be an eyesore
Lesser of Two Evils
the idea that something such as abortion or animal testing is okay, provided it is to prevent something worse
Natural Resources
resources which are found in nature, such as fossil fuels and biomass
Pesticide
chemicals used to kill pests, especially on farmed crops
Pollution
contamination of an environment with harmful substances
Pro-Choice
stance of being for a woman’s right to decide what happens to her own body, which extends to the right to have an abortion
Pro-Life
stance of being anti-abortion and/or anti-euthanasia
Pro-Test
an organisation that promotes animal testing
Quality of Life
how good or comfortable a person’s life is
Responsibility
having a duty or obligation to act in a certain way
Right to Die
belief that a human has the right to end their life, or seek it to be ended if they want that
Right to Life
belief that life is sacred and special, because it was created by God, or because we are each unique individuals, and so it should not be taken unnaturally
Sanctity of Human Life
the belief that human life is a precious gift from God and is not to be taken without just cause
Science
knowledge that comes from observed regularity in nature and experimentation
Scientific
knowledge based on what can be observed and experimentation
Specieism
the belief that humans are more important than other animals
Stewardship
duty to look after the world given by God to humans, which extends to looking after all life, including other humans
Sustainable Energy
resources that are renewable and will not run out, e.g. solar or lunar power
Water Pollution
pesticides, used by farmers, might wash into rivers, making algae grow too fast which ultimately take oxygen from the water killing fish
