Theme B: RELIGION & LIFE

Question 1

What is the big bang theory?

Answer 1

A theory that suggests there was a massive expansion of space that set the universe in motion. It is accepted by most Christians and Buddhists.

Question 2

Explain the events of the big bang

Answer 2

The universe started with a tiny, dense collection of mass -> A massive expansion of space took place and condensed matter was flung in all directions -> As the universe expanded and cooled, the matter became stars grouped into galaxies-> The universe has continued to expand over billions of years to form the cosmos as we know it today.

Question 3

Why do Christians value the world?

Answer 3

Christians view the earth as a priceless gift from God, loaned to humans as a result of his love. The beauty of the world can give a sense of awe and wonder, and devout respect for God’s power of creation.

Question 4

Why do Buddhists value the world?

Answer 4

Buddhists value the world because it provides and sustains life. It also provides the conditions needed to achieve enlightenment. Buddhism teaches that although the world belongs to nobody, it is everyone’s responsibility to look after it.

Question 5

What is stewardship?

Answer 5

Most Christians believe God gave humans the responsibility to care for the world and protect the environment, this is stewardship.

Question 6

What is dominion?

Answer 6

The belief that God gave humans power and authority over the world. A minority of Christians interpret this as meaning humans can do whatever they want with the world.

Question 7

Why do Buddhists protect the environment?

Answer 7

Buddhist teachings such as dependent arising and the five moral precepts encourage Buddhists to protect the environment.

Question 8

Stewardship quote

Answer 8

Genesis- ‘Work it and take care of it’ in the Garden of Eden when God speaks to Adam.

Question 9

Buddhist quote for caring for the environment

Answer 9

‘extend that kind of attitude to the natural environment’- Dalai Lama

Question 10

The use of natural resources

Answer 10

Some natural resources are non-renewable so they will run out. Reducing the use of natural resources, recycling more, using renewable energy sources and helping to protect the environment are ways that people can help to preserve the world for future generations.

Question 11

What are the three types of pollution?

Answer 11

Air, land and water.

Question 12

Air pollution

Answer 12

Caused by fumes from factories and transport. It poses the problems of asthma, diseases like lung cancer, global warming, climate change and acid rain.

Question 13

Land pollution

Answer 13

Poor disposal of waste, poses the risks of chemicals polluting the earth, poisoned wildlife, inefficient farming and poisoned food.

Question 14

Water pollution

Answer 14

Caused by dumping waste into rivers and seas, poses the problems of killing birds and marine life due to oil spills/ plastic waste.

Question 15

Christian quote for reducing pollution

Answer 15

‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it’- The Bible

Question 16

Examples of Christian acts of reducing pollution

Answer 16

Pope Francis has called on everyone to take action in protecting the environment, some Christian groups work in their local communities to clean up the environment like litter picking, religious believers might join secular environmental organisations (e.g. Greenpeace).

Question 17

Examples of Buddhist acts of reducing pollution

Answer 17

THE HOLY ISLE PROJECT is an example of a Buddhist project that aims to protect the local environment, Tibetan Buddhists who live on Holy Isle takes care of the island’s environment such as planting 35000 trees, reducing the amount sewage entering the sea and created a nature sanctuary for wildlife.

Question 18

Christian beliefs about abusing animals

Answer 18

Christians believe animals were created by God for humans to use and care for. Many believe humans are more important but animals should still be treated kindly.

Question 19

Buddhist beliefs about abusing animals

Answer 19

Buddhists believe animals should be treated with kindness and compassion. The principle of kamma teaches that causing harm is unskilful and leads to suffering. It also violates the first mora precept. The eightfold path teaches Buddhists should not make a living from activities that cause harm to others including animals.

Question 20

Vegetarians

Answer 20

They do not eat meat or fish.

Question 21

Vegans

Answer 21

They do not eat meat or anything produced by animals, such as eggs. They also do not use products that have caused harm to animals (such as leather).

Question 22

Buddhist views on eating animals.

Answer 22

Many Buddhists are vegan/vegetarian because they believe this reduces the harm caused to animals. Some Mahayana scriptures state that the Buddha insisted his followers shouldn’t eat meat or fish.

Question 23

Christian views on eating animals.

Answer 23

Christianity has no rules about eating meat but the Bible states that Christians should be sensitive to the beliefs of others about what the wish to eat. Most Christians eat meat because they believe God gave humans animals to use for food, ‘Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you’- the Bible.

Question 24

Theory of evolution

Answer 24

The theory that higher forms of life have gradually evolved/developed from lower ones.

Question 25

Charles Darwin’s theory explained

Answer 25

Life started with single-celled creatures in the sea-> over a long period of time they evolved into creatures capable of living on land-> humans started evolving 2.5 million years ago-> they evolved into humans with the same anatomy as us about 200,000 years ago.

Question 26

Christian beliefs about the origins of life

Answer 26

Genesis 1 says God created all life with human life being created last. Genesis 2 says God created the first man, Adam, from the soil and breathed life into him, while he was asleep he took one of his ribs and used it to create a woman, Eve.

Question 27

Views about the Christian beliefs on the origins of life

Answer 27

Most Christians believe this story is not true (although some literalists do). Instead many choose to interpret it as a story showing humanity’s importance to God.

Question 28

Fundamentalist Christians

Answer 28

They believe that God created each species separately and do not believe in the theory of evolution. Some fundamentalists believe people were created exactly as Genesis described.

Question 29

What do most Christians believe?

Answer 29

They believe that God instead started the process of evolution and is therefore still the creator of all life.

Question 30

Buddhist views on the origins of life

Answer 30

The Buddha said that anything can come into existence when the necessary conditions are there- the process does not rely on a creator or God, it just happens. Buddhism teaches it is not possible to identify a beginning or end to the earth, the earth is just a constant process of change. They also believe that when conditions were right on earth, plants and animals came into being so as conditions kept changing, so did life as it continued evolving. This means Buddhist beliefs do not conflict with Darwin’s theory.

Question 31

Abortion laws

Answer 31

Abortion is legal in the UK up to 24 weeks of pregnancy (unless the mother’s life is at risk) provided it meets certain medical criteria.

Question 32

Abortion definition

Answer 32

Abortion is the deliberate removal of a foetus from the womb in order to end a pregnancy.

Question 33

Christian beliefs

Answer 33

Christians believe in the sanctity of life, meaning all human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God so all life should be valued and respected. Many Christians believe life begins at the moment of conception so they think abortion is wrong. Some believe abortion is sometimes acceptable such as if the pregnancy is due to rape or if the child would have a bad quality of life.

Question 34

Buddhist beliefs

Answer 34

Largely, abortion is seen as killing which is against the first moral precept and is therefore unskilful. However Buddhists may favour abortion if the baby is going to be born with severe disabilities or have a poor quality of life. Some Buddhists believe abortion is a question of personal choice. Therefore views differ.

Question 35

Arguments for abortion

Answer 35

Pro-choice groups believe the mother’s life is more important. The mother has to carry the baby, give birth to it and bring it up so she should have the right to choose whether to continue with the pregnancy. Life doesn’t start until birth or until the foetus can survive outside the womb so abortion does not involve killing. It is cruel to allow a severely disabled child to be born.

Question 36

Arguments against abortion

Answer 36

Pro-life groups argue that as life begins at conception, abortion is a form of murder. It is possible for disabled children to enjoy a good quality of life so they should be allowed to live. Unwanted children can be adopted into families that will care for them. Those who choose abortion can suffer from depression and guilt afterwards.

Question 37

Euthanasia

Answer 37

The painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful illness, or who is in an irreversible coma. Christians and Buddhists generally oppose euthanasia although some may agree with it when it is the most loving and compassionate action to take.

Question 38

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 38

The person asks for their life to be ended because they don’t want to live anymore.

Question 39

Involuntary euthanasia

Answer 39

The person is capable of expressing a choice but is not given the opportunity to do so.

Question 40

Non-voluntary euthanasia

Answer 40

The person is too ill to ask to die but the doctor ends their life as it is thought to be in their best interests.

Question 41

Active euthanasia

Answer 41

It involves active, deliberate steps to end a person’s life and is illegal in the UK.

Question 42

Passive euthanasia

Answer 42

It involves withdrawing medical treatment that is keeping someone alive if they believe the person cannot recover or if the person asks them to. This is called a non-treatment decision is legal in the UK.

Question 43

Christian views on euthanasia

Answer 43

Many Christians believe euthanasia is a form of murder and interferes with God’s plan for a person’s life. They believe that euthanasia is against the sanctity of life and only God has the right to take away life. If it were legal, then old people may feel pressured into ending their lives so they aren’t a burden. Suffering helps bring people closer to God and understand Jesus’ suffering. The Salvation Army say that it is morally wrong and undermines human dignity. However, some Christians support euthanasia when it is the most loving thing to do and God gave free will so they should be able to do what they want with their lives.

Question 44

Buddhist views on euthanasia

Answer 44

Many Buddhists oppose euthanasia because it contradicts the first moral precept. However, many Buddhists would also respect the right of the individual to do what they wish with their life and some may argue it is the most compassionate action if the person is suffering a lot. The state of mind of the person at death is important as it influences rebirth so if a person is helped to die quickly and peacefully this could benefit their future consciousness. At other times, a natural death eased by meditation and painkillers may be better for a person’s kamma. The Dalai Lama said that euthanasia should be avoided except in exceptional circumstances.

Question 45

What do Christians believe about death

Answer 45

Christians believe Jesus’ resurrection is evidence for an afterlife. Many Christians believe that after death they are judged by God and will either be eternally with God in heaven or eternally without God in hell. The desire to be close to God motivates them to have faith in Jesus and follow his teachings.

Question 46

What do Catholics believe about death + the afterlife

Answer 46

Catholics believe in a middle stage called purgatory, where souls are purified to allow them into heaven.

Question 47

What do others believe about judgement?

Answer 47

Some Christians may believe judgement happens as soon as a person dies. Others think that Jesus will return on a future day of judgement when all souls will be judged,

Question 48

Christian beliefs about heaven

Answer 48

Some believe people will be in heaven in their physical bodies while others believe it is just their souls that enter heaven. Some Christians may also believe that God, who is the source of all good, would not condemn people to hell and that all go to heaven. Others believe that all who go to hell deserve their fate.

Question 49

Buddhist teachings about death

Answer 49

Many Buddhists believe death is a process rather than a single moment. The consciousness passes on from the physical body over a period of hours or days.

Question 50

Buddhist teachings about the afterlife

Answer 50

Most Buddhist traditions teach that people are reborn after they die. This means that at some point after death, the person’s consciousness enters another life at the point of its conception. The quality of the rebirth is dependent upon the ethical quality of the person’s actions in their previous life. Skilful actions build merit which leads to a favourable rebirth. Many Buddhists believe that what happens after death depends on their state of mind when they die. Someone who becomes enlightened is freed of future rebirths.

Question 51

Christian quote for the afterlife

Answer 51

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’- John

Question 52

Buddhist quote for the afterlife

Answer 52

‘Having reached perfection, fearless, without craving, without blemish, he has cut off the darts of existence. This body is his last.’- The Buddha.