theme b - science and religion

Question 1

creation of universe: contrasting views?

Answer 1

Big Bang theory that universe is created in one bag millions of years ago, universe still expanding
the universe started with an incredibly small, hot, dense singularity, which expanded over approximately 13.8 billion years to become the cosmos which we know today

the genesis says god created the world is 6 days and rested on 7th
‘God made the world and indeed it was very good’
Fundamentalists/ others argue that days are eons lasting thousands of years

early Buddhist scriptures do contain creation stories, = accept scientific thinking
Buddhists do not focus on ‘a creator’ / see space and time as cyclical
world-systems come into being, survive for a time, are destroyed and then are remade

Question 2

evolution argument? conflicts between science and religion

Answer 2

humans go through change and adaptations over thousands of years, natural selection occurs; as opposed to creating the “perfect creation of god” the way it is now in 7 days
Some argue evolution is “part of God’s plan” all along

Question 3

the genesis creation story of days vaguely

Answer 3

day 1 god created light “let there be light” and there was light
day 6 god created humans and life
day 7 god rested = sunday

Question 4

what is the birthday cake analogy for science and religion?

Answer 4

science is the recipe/ingredients for how the cake is created
but religion is the reasonings behind why the cake is created in the first place
= they are not contradictory

Question 5

what is meant by a scientific truth?

Answer 5

idea that is confirmed by tests and experiments from a hypothesis. repeated observation is necessary, and is open to new theories and developments

Question 6

compare scientific and religious truths

Answer 6

s is originated by experiments, r from old texts passed down by generations
s is open to new ideas ; r is absolute and strict

Question 7

what are the objectives of science?

Answer 7

to understand the functional role of nature by exploring through experiments, based on evidence

Question 8

what are the objectives of religion?

Answer 8

to give answer to ultimate questions to give comfort and guidance

Question 9

what is stewardship?

Answer 9

mankind’s responsibility and duty to god to take care of his creation
“lets all be protectors of god’s creations” - pope Francis

Question 10

what is dominion?

Answer 10

humans have power over nature by permission of God - for medical reasons, to preserve human life
“god created everything for man”
“they may rule over all creatures”
human life is more important than animals
instrumental value to a certain extent

Question 11

what is the sanctity of life? +quote

Answer 11

all life is sacred as they are “created in God’s own image”

Question 12

buddhist attitudes to the environment

Answer 12

metta and karuna to all life
karmic consequences to all actions
have intrinsic value
“Abstain from harming life” - 5 moral precepts

Question 13

christian attitudes to the environment

Answer 13

“God made the world and gave the duty of stewardship to humans”
“let us all be protectors of god’s creations” for ‘the earth is the lords and everything in it’
sanctity of life
god created the world out of love for humans, so taking care to show gratitude!
“Respect for life extends to the rest of creation”

Question 14

definition of abortion

Answer 14

termination of pregnancy before giving birth

Question 15

buddhist beliefs about abortion?

Answer 15

5 moral precepts, do not kill
karmic value in actions, affect path to enlightenment

Question 16

christian beliefs about abortion?

Answer 16

it is a deadly sin to kill - “do not kill” 10 commandments
they believe life starts when contraception occurs
“before I formed you in the womb I knew you”

Question 17

arguments in favour of abortion

Answer 17

• reasonable if a woman is a rape victim
• quality of life of both mother and baby when it is born - family, financial, health circumstances
• life does not officially start until foetus leaves womb
• “clothe yourselves with compassion”. potential poor quality of life
• god has given people free will, “my body my choice”
  legal in uk (before 24 weeks)

Question 18

arguments against abortion

Answer 18

• sanctity of life
• life begins at contraception, foetus is a person = RC
  Necessary evil = Anglican
  ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you’
• sin to kill in both Christianity and Buddhism
• negative kamma if kill child, affect mother and child’s rebirth
  -“I your lord gave life and I take it away”
• “abortion is a grave moral disorder”
• “you shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb”
• humans “created in the image of god”, damage to the mystical body of christ as “we are one”
  Buddhism
  Life is special, metta and karuna, first moral precept

Question 19

define euthanasia

Answer 19

mercy killing, to help someone to die who is suffering from a terminal illness, or unbearable quality of life
done out of compassion

Question 20

arguments in favour of euthanasia

Answer 20

• free will, “individual is sovereign over his body and mind”
• “clothe yourself with compassion” under the circumstances they are suffering in (quality of life)
• “blessed are the merciful”
• “there is a time to live and a time to die”
  -not just for themselves, but family and carer of the person
• offer dignified exit
• metta and karuna to eliminate suffering
  Dalai llama = ‘the termination of life is permitted under Mahayana Buddhism’

Question 21

arguments against euthanasia

Answer 21

• sanctity of life
• “i, your god, give life, and I take it away”, only he has the power to take life, in his timing
• life is a gift from god, invaluable and should not end until god decides
• “we are one” “in the mystical body of Christ”, collectively damages God too
• 10 commandments, 5 moral precepts - do not kill
• there is care for the dying, dying is not the right

Question 22

contrasting beliefs of death and afterlife

Answer 22

buddhists believe in rebirth- goal is to achieve enlightenment and no further rebirths. No eternal soul
Scripture describes the six places of rebirth (including hungry ghost :))some Buddhists take this literally
recollection of previous lives also taken as evidence (the Buddha at enlightenment)
The Tibetan Book of the Dead describes the Bardo stage between rebirths

Christians believe in heaven and hell, in judgement day Jesus evaluate their deeds and decides where they will spend the rest of their eternity in- paradise or punishment, eternal soul ‘each of us will receive what is due to us’ ‘faith, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead’
‘Those will go away to eternal punishment and the righteous to eternal life’
Jesus rose from the dead + ‘whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ Jesus claimed to be the ‘resurrection and the life’
Jesus told one of those crucified with him that he would join him in paradise

Question 23

Animals as food

Answer 23

‘Dominion over the earth’ ‘they may rule over all creatures’
Essential nutrients
‘Everything that lives and moves will be food for you’
‘I, your lord gave life, and I take it away’
‘The righteous take care of their animals’
Part of tradition eg. Christmas + Jesus ate fish
“Do not kill”

Most Buddhists are vegetarian
animals are part of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
2 Sutras state that the Buddha insisted his followers should not eat any meat or fish
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Comparing [others] with oneself, one should not kill or cause to kill”
5 moral precepts