Theme B Flashcards
Universe
Time, space and it’s contents, including planets, stars and galaxies
Christian views on the creation of the universe
Genesis 1 - creation of the world in six days
Genesis 2 - creation of the first humans on Earth, Adam and Eve
Hindu views on the creation of the universe
Vishnu is the primary creator
Brahma is the secondary creator
Arguments for scientific discovery of the universe (Darwin’s theory or Big Bang)
The Bible might not be accurate (e.g. the mention of Jesus present in the creation only in New Testament)
Some biblical stories are not true, so it might be the same with the creation stories
Many creation stories in different religions
Arguments against scientific discovery of the universe (Christian and Hindu views)
Religious references for the creation of the universe and life (e.g. Genesis)
‘Nothing is impossible for God’
Vishnu is the source of everything that exists
Dominion
Dominance or power over something
Stewardship
The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
Christian attitudes towards the world - dominion
“Be fruitful and increase in number” - Genesis
Some people may not interpret this in the right way - they believe they can rule the world
Christian attitudes towards the world - stewardship
“The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work” - Genesis
Hindu attitudes towards the world - dominion
Hindus believe that the Earth is their mother and therefore they have a duty to respect everything on the planet
Hindu attitudes towards the world - stewardship
Hindus believe that they have a duty to look after the natural world, helping them to achieve moksha
Air pollution
Caused by many fumes from factories and vehicles
Land pollution
Caused by the ineffective disposal of waste
Water pollution
Caused by dumping waste into the sea
Christian response to pollution
“The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” - Psalm
Humans have been given a responsibility to look after the world by God - Genesis
Jesus teaches to “love thy neighbour”
Hindu response to pollution
Everything is part of the Divine
The principle of ahimsa
The Bhumi project - network which calls on Hindus to better the environment
Animal rights
Animal right supporters believe that animals should have the same rights as humans
Animal welfare
Animal welfare supporters believe that animals cannot have rights as they are not self-conscious
However, they do believe that they should have an adequate living standard and should not be used for other purposes other than food and research
Christian views towards killing animals for food
‘Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you’ - Genesis
“Every plant and fruit you shall have them for food” - Genesis
Hindu views towards killing animals for food
Ahimsa – non-violence
We are all atman
‘If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it’ - BG - Krishna asks for a vegetarian diet
Christian views to animal experimentation
Christians support the 1998 law that forbids testing cosmetics on animals
Using animals to develop new drugs may benefit millions of people and save many lives
Some Christians would also use the principle of dominion to support using animals to benefit humans
Hindu views to animal experimentation
Animals have souls - goes against ahimsa
However, it can be used if the animal is taken care of properly
Abortion
The removal of a foetus from the womb to end a pregnancy
Quality of life
The general well-being of a person, in relation to their health and happiness
Sanctity of life
All life is holy as it is created and loved by God
Pro-life
Support the foetus’ right to live
Sanctity of life
Life starts at conception
Pro-choice
Focus on the rights / choice of the mother
Quality of life
Life starts at birth
Christian view on abortion - conservative
Life is holy and belongs to God; therefore, only God has the right to end a pregnancy
Human life begins at conception
A foetus is a human being, and abortion destroys its right to life
Rape, a sinful act, should not provoke another sinful act –abortion
Women who have abortion can suffer from traumas leading to guilt complexes and sometimes mental illness
Christian view on abortion - liberal
Life does not begin at conception
In some situations, the sanctity of life can be broken
Jesus told his disciples to love their neighbour as themselves and abortion may be the most loving thing to do
Agape principle
Hindu view for abortion
If the mother’s life is at risk
If the foetus has physical and/or mental disabilities
In case of rape and extreme poverty
Hindu view against abortion
Life begins at conception
Embryo/ foetus should be sheltered and protected by the mother
Hindu scriptures state that all life is sacred (sanctity of life)
Bad karma to disrupt the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Voluntary euthanasia
When a person asks a doctor to end their life
Non-voluntary euthanasia
When the person is too ill to request to die a doctor will end their life for them as they think it is the best thing to do
Active euthanasia
Ending a life by deliberate action, such as by giving a patient a lethal injection
Passive euthanasia
Allowing a terminally ill person to die by withdrawing or withholding medical treatment
Christian views for euthanasia
Agape principle - euthanasia may be the most loving thing to do
May argue God gave Christians free will so they can choose whether to end their life
Christian views against euthanasia
A form of murder - breaking the Ten Commandments
Against sanctity of life
Playing the role of God
The very old could feel pressure to end their lives in order not to burden the family
Suffering brings people closer to God and helps them understand Jesus’s suffering
Hindu views for euthanasia
Hindus are allowed to fast to death, thus allowing the soul to leave the body early and reconnect with God
Hindu views against euthanasia
Not acceptable to Hindus as this would be interfering with God’s plan by separating the soul from the body
A doctor assisting with euthanasia would receive bad karma
The taking of a person’s life is thought to be a great sin – even if the aim is to show compassion
Christians views on afterlife
You either go to heaven or hell
Hindu views on afterlife
You can break away from the cycle of birth and death
