SHHS Unit 8 Rights and Responsibilities Cards

Question 1

1.1Why might Christians use the Bible when making moral decisions?

Answer 1

1. They believe the Bible is the word of God dictated by God to the writers of the Bible.
2. They believe that the Bible is definitely authenticated by God and so only by following the Bible can they be sure that their moral decisions will be approved by God.
3. The Bible contains the teachings of Jesus on how to live.
4. The Bible contains letters from St Paul. He wrote letters to the early Christians about how they should behave.

Question 2

1.1Why might some Christians NOT use the Bible to make moral decisions?

Answer 2

1. Many of the attitudes reflect the social situations of the time and so they need to be revised in light of modern knowledge.
2. Some Christians would use the Church.
3. In the 21st century, other Christians believe it is more useful to use their own conscience.
4. Use Situation Ethics

Question 3

1.2Why might Christians use The Church to make moral decisions?

Answer 3

1. They believe the Church is the body of Christ. It is how Jesus works in the world.
2. God continues to speak to the world today through the Church
3. If people follow the guidance of the Church they can be sure they are doing the same as other Christians.
4. Christians expect the Church to give them guidance on the Christian life and making moral decisions is an important part of Christian life.

Question 4

1.3 Why might Christians use their conscience to make a moral decision?

Answer 4

1. The Church says that Christians should follow their conscience.
2. St Paul and St Aquinas taught that Christians should use their conscience as the final part of moral decision-making.
3. Christians believe that God speaks to Christians through their conscience.
4. The teachings of the Bible and the Church do not come directly from God. Both are interpreted or have come through the Popes and Bishops.

Question 5

1.3 Why might some Christians NOT follow their conscience?

Answer 5

People have been mistaken about the voice of God – E.g the Yorkshire ripper.

If Christians follow the teachings of the Bible they are following what all Christians agree is the right thing to do.

If Christians follow the teachings of the Church, then they know other Christians will think that what they do is right.

If everyone followed their consceince rather than laws the world would become chaotic as nobody would know what behaviour to expect.

Question 6

1.4 Why might some Christians use situation ethics when making moral decisions?

Answer 6

1. Jesus seemed to follow situation ethics because he over-ruled what the Old Testament said when he thought it was a unloving thing to do.
2. The Golden Rule
3. They believe that Jesus’ statement, that the only laws are to love God and love your neighbour.
4. They believe that Christianity is a religion of love and forgiveness.

Question 7

1.4 Why some Christians might NOT use Situation Ethics.

Answer 7

1. They think that God would not have given laws in the Bible if they were not to be followed.
2. They think that the Church knows better what Christians should do.
3. They believe that they should follow what all other Christians agree is the right way to behave e.g. the Ten Commandments.
4. They claim that you can never know all of the facts and so don’t know what the consequences might be.

Question 8

1.5 Why might Protestants use the Bible to make moral decisions?

What might be the problem with this?

Answer 8

Protestants might use the Bible as their
authority because:

• It is straightforward to use teachings such as the Ten Commandments to decide on issues such as stealing.

However, when it comes to modern day issues such as contraception, it is difficult to use the Bible only. The Bible says nothing about contraception.

Question 9

1.5 Why might Catholics use the Church to make moral decisions?

What might be the problem with using only this?

Answer 9

A Catholic would normally follow the authority of the Church, as the Magisterium applies the teaching of the Bible and the apostles to modern life.

However, although the Church bans artificial contraception, a Catholic may well apply situation ethics to the issue of supplying condoms to African states with a high rate of AIDS.

Question 10

1.5 Why might Some Christians use more than just their conscience when making a moral decision?

Answer 10

A Christian who usually followed their conscience might turn to the authority of the Bible or the Church if what their conscience was telling them went against what they knew was accepted Christian teaching.

•A good example would be if a Christian heard the voice of God telling them to kill all doctors who perform abortions.

Question 11

1.5 Why might some Christians choose to use more than just Situation Ethics?

Answer 11

A Christian who usually used situation ethics might decide that the issue was so complicated and the effects of a choice so uncertain that the safest thing would be to follow either the authority of the Bible or the authority of the Church because they are more likely to give the right choice than an individual trying to work it all out for themselves.

Question 12

1.1-1.4 Are these reasons interchangable?

Answer 12

YES!

For example, when asked a ‘d’ part question such as ‘The Bible is the best guide for making moral decisions’ you can use the supporting arguments for why Christians would use their conscience, the Church or situation ethics to argue for why more guidance is needed.

Question 13

1.6 What are your human rights?

Answer 13

• The right to life
• Freedom from torture and degraded treatment
• Freedom from slavery and forced labour
• The right to liberty
• The right to a fair trial
• The right to respect for private and family life
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• Freedom of expression
• The right to marry or form a civil partnership and start a family
• The right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms.
• The right to own property
• The right to an education
• The right to participate in free elections
  *

Question 14

1.7 Why do Christians believe human rights are important?

Answer 14

1. The right to life is a basic Christian belief because of the belief of sanctity of life.
2. Christians believe that all people are made in image of God and so are one human family.
3. It is important to Christians that everyone is treated fairly and equally.
4. Christians must have the legal right to believe in Christianity, to share their beliefs with others and to meet together for worship.
5. Employers cannot discriminate against Christians over jobs and pay.
6. Human rights are also important to Christians because Christians believe in justice.

Question 15

1.7 Why might human rights cause problems for Christians?

Answer 15

1. Many Christians are against the right to form civil partnerships because they believe that homosexuality is against gods will as shown in the Bible.
2. Some Christians are against the right to marry a person from a different faith.
3. Some Christians are against the right of homosexuals to raise a family.
4. There might also be problems for the church if a Catholic woman who wanted to be a priest used human rights laws against the Catholic church.

Question 16

1.8 Why is it important to take part in democratic and electoral processes?

Answer 16

1. Every UK citizen over the age of 21 is entitled to be a candidate in any of these elections.
2. The government sets the rates of tax and collects tax.
3. The government can pass new laws which will affect your life.
4. The government is responsible for many important things (police, NHS, benefits, pensions etc)
5. Your ancestors fought to have these electoral and democratic rights (in 1832 only 5% of the adult population had them) and so you should use them.

Question 17

1.9 What are the Christian teachings on moral duties and responsibilities?

Answer 17

Many believe it is the moral duty of Christians to bring about social change so society becomes truly Christian.

1. The Golden Rule - When Christians vote they should look at the policies of the candidates and how they would affect lives.
2. The parable of the sheep and goats - These teachings should affect the way a Christian votes and participated in politics
3. My brothers Keeper - Christians have a duty to look after everyone in need as the main principle in human rights and political processes.
4. Love thy neighbour.

Question 18

1.10 What is genetic engineering?

Answer 18

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characters of an organism by the manipulation of the genetic material.

It is also using techniques of gene development and manipulation to find cures or prevention for disease and disabilities in humans.

Question 19

1.10 What is cloning used for?

Answer 19

Stem Cell research
-cloning processes have been used to grow healthy cells to replace the malfunctioning ones and so cure disease.

Question 20

1.10 What is a cybrid?

Answer 20

Human animal embryos for medical research.

Cybrids could carry the DNA of patients with genetic diseases, which could then be used for stem cell research into the causes and cures for the disease.

Question 21

1.10 What are the non-religious arguments in favour of genetic engineering?

Answer 21

1. It offers the prospect of cures for currently incurable diseases
2. It is being done in other countries and so is available to those rich enough to travel and pay for treatments.
3. Cloning processes have been used to grow healthy cells to replace the malfunctioning ones and so cure disease
4. Cloning uses animal eggs, as in cybrids and does not involve any loss of human life.

Question 22

1.10 What are the non-religious arguments against using genetic engineering?

Answer 22

1. There is too little information about the long-term consequences.
2. It has effects which would be irreversible, so if anything went wrong it would be permanent.
3. It places too much power in the hands of scientists who could use genetic engineering to act like Dr Frankenstein.
4. It treats the human body as a commodity no different from plants.

Question 23

1.11 What do liberal protestants believe about genetic engineering?

Answer 23

• Genetic engineering is a good thing which should be supported by the church.
• Must only be used for the cure of disease.
• They support the work of authorities which supervise genetic engineering using human embryos.

Question 24

1.11 Why do liberal protestants support genetic engineering?

Answer 24

1. Jesus was a healer who showed that Christians should do all they can to cure disease
2. Improving human life is part of what God wants humans to do as stewards of his creation.
3. There is a difference between creating cells and creating people. Creating cells is working with God.
4. A far as using embryos for genetic research is concerned, embryos cannot be regarded as potential human life until they are fourteen days old.

Question 25

1.11 Why might Catholics agree with genetic engineering?

Answer 25

1. Jesus was a healer who showed that Christians should do all they can to cure disease
2. Improving human life is part of what God wants humans to do as stewards of his creation.
3. There is a difference between creating cells and creating people. Creating cells is working with God.
4. Love thy neighbour

Question 26

1.11 Why might some Christians, mainly Catholics, disagree with genetic engineering?

Answer 26

1. Life begins at the moment of conception whether in a womb or a glass dish
2. Killing an embryo is killing human life, which is banned by the Bible and the Church
3. Embryos for research have been produced by methods with which the Catholic church disagrees (IVF and AIH)

Question 27

1.11 Why are some Christians opposed to any form of genetic research?

Answer 27

1. God has created the genetic make-up of each human being at the moment of conception and people have no right to interfere with God’s will.
2. Genetic engineering is ‘playing God’ and this is a great sin.
3. It is wrong to try to make the earth perfect, as only heaven is perfect.
4. They accept the non-religious arguments against genetic engineering.