Unit 1: Matters Of Life & Death

Question 1

Assisted suicide definition

Answer 1

Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide

Question 2

Euthanasia definition

Answer 2

The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease

Question 3

Immortality of the soul definition

Answer 3

The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body

Question 4

Near-death experience definition

Answer 4

When someone about to die has an out of body experience

Question 5

Non-voluntary euthanasia definition

Answer 5

Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so

Question 6

Paranormal definition

Answer 6

Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes, for example, ghosts, mediums

Question 7

Quality of life definition

Answer 7

The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living

Question 8

Reincarnation definition

Answer 8

The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new body

Question 9

Resurrection definition

Answer 9

The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raised

Question 10

Sanctity of life definition

Answer 10

The belief that life is holy and belongs to God

Question 11

Voluntary euthanasia definition

Answer 11

Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death

Question 12

Why do Christians believe in life after death?

Answer 12

Some Christians believe in life after death because of evidence of the paranormal - unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes e.g. Ghosts
It gives their lives meaning. They feel that for life to end after death doesn’t make sense so that fact that you will be rewarded/punished after death encourages you to live a good life.
Jesus rose from the dead - the gospels record several ‘resurrection appearances’ of Jesus. Clearly, if Jesus rose from the dead, there is life after death.
All Christian churches believe in life after death, therefore Christians believe in life after death because this is what they’re taught.

Question 13

Abortion definition

Answer 13

The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive

Question 14

How do Christian beliefs about life after death affect their lives?

Answer 14

Christians try to follow the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself, so that they go to heaven.
Christians try not to sin because they could go to hell if they do.
Christians try to be charitable e.g. By being part of charities such as CAFOD and Christian Aid.
Christians are less likely to suffer from depression because they believe that their life has meaning.

Question 15

Why do Muslims believe in life after death?

Answer 15

The Quran teaches that there is life after death. The Quran is the word of God, so Muslims should follow it.
The prophet Muhammad taught that there is life after death. Prophet Mohammad is the last prophet & the perfect Muslim, so Muslims believe what he taught.
Muslims believe that life is God’s test. Muslims believe in life after death because it makes sense of this life being a test.
It gives Muslims’ lives meaning and purpose. If you are judged in your life, life after death makes sense.

Question 16

How do Muslim beliefs about life after death affects their lives?

Answer 16

It gives Muslims’ lives meaning and purpose. As a result, Muslims are less likely to suffer from depression.
Muslims follow the holy law of Shariah. This means that they have to eat halal meat, observe Muslim dress laws, not drink alcohol, etc.
Muslims believe in resurrection, so nothing should be removed from the body after death e.g. As a result of organ donations.
Muslims believe that on the Last Day they will be gathered before God on a vast plain to be judged. Muslims have to live a good life to go to paradise.

Question 17

Why do non-religious people believe in life after death?

Answer 17

There is evidence of the supernatural e.g. Medium Stephen O’Brian told Marian Jones that he could see his peasant grandmother.
Near-death experiences e.g. Jeanette Mitchell-Medows was having major spinal sugary when she found herself leaving her body and following a bright light.
Evidence of reincarnation e.g. A Muslim baby had supposedly been born as a reincarnated Hindu God since he had a tail.
They’re scared to think that there’s nothing after death.

Question 18

Why would some people not believe in life after death?

Answer 18

Religions have different ideas about life after death. Surely God would provide just one afterlife for us all.
There is no concrete proof of an after life. Exploration of Earth and space has not yet uncovered an afterlife.
Evidence of the after life comes from holy books. There is no concrete evidence that these books are true.
They’re no religious, so they don’t believe in God. Therefore they don’t believe that an afterlife has been provided for you.

Question 19

What is the British law on abortion?

Answer 19

The 1967 abortion act says that abortion is allowed if it will affect the mother’s mental or physical health, for example, if the mother was raped then she may suffer mentally if she kept the baby as a constant reminder of that rape.
Abortion must be carried out in a hospital or specialist licensed clinic, so that it isn’t carried out I safely as back street abortion.
Since 1990, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks. After this you need a special reason for abortion to be carried out e.g. If the baby is disabled and its quality of life will be affected.
Two doctors must agree that an abortion would be the right decision, so that the woman doesn’t suffer greater physical or mental problems as a result of an abortion.

Question 20

What is the Catholic and Evangelical Protestant view of abortion?

Answer 20

They’re against it.
Life is holy and belongs to God. Abortion violates the sanctity of life.
Life begins at conception. The 10 commandments teach that it is wrong to take a life, so abortion is wrong because it violates this commandment.
Every person has a right to life. A foetus is a human and abortion destroys its right to life.
Adoption is always a better solution. Adoption preserves life and brings joy to a new family who can’t have children.

Question 21

What is the Liberal Protestant view of abortion?

Answer 21

Accept it in some circumstances.
Jesus taught Christians to love their neighbour and abortion could be the most loving thing to do, for example if the family can’t afford the baby because they’re in poverty.
Some people believe that life doesn’t begin at conception, so abortion isn’t taking a life.
Christians are concerned with justice. If abortions were made illegal, this would cause a split between women who can afford to go abroad to get an abortion and women who have to risk their lives to get back street abortions.
Christians should accept technological advances in medicine. Doctors have developed tests which can detect certain issues with the foetus, such as Down’s Syndrome. People should be allowed to abort their baby if the condition detected will severely affect the baby’s quality of life.

Question 22

What are many Muslim views of abortion?

Answer 22

Many Muslims discourage abortion, but believe it’s permitted up to 120 days for certain reasons such as if the mother’s life is at risk.

Question 23

What are some Muslim views of abortion?

Answer 23

It is wrong, but should be allowed if the mother’s life is at risk. The Shirah states that the mother’s life comes before the life of the unborn child.

Question 24

Why might Muslims be against abortion?

Answer 24

The Quran, Surah 6:151 says that killing your children is shameful, so abortion must be shameful too since this is killing a child.

Question 25

What are the laws on euthanasia?

Answer 25

It's illegal in the UK. It's legal in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Oregon. In the UK passive euthanasia is legal - stopping artificial feeding or not giving treatment.

Question 26

Why do Christians believe that euthanasia is wrong?

Answer 26

They believe in the sanctity of life. Life is sacred and belongs to God, so only God can take life away. Euthanasia is a form of murder, murder is forbidden in the 10 Commandments. Not giving extraordinary treatment is permitted by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. So, painkillers can be used so that people can die in dignity, even if painkillers will kill them. The Bible bans suicide and both assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are forms of suicide.

Question 27

Why do Christians accept a limited amount of euthanasia?

Answer 27

Modern science is very advanced, so we can no longer be sure what God's wishes are about death. Jesus taught Christians to love their neighbour and euthanasia could be the most loving thing to do. A basic human right is that people are in control of what doctors are doing to them, so people should be allowed to have their lives taken.

Question 28

Why might some people want euthanasia to stay illegal?

Answer 28

There is always likely to be doubt as to whether it's what a person really wants. If there is money involved, a greedy relative may want to take the life of a rich relative in order to inherit their money. The disease might not be terminal, a cure may be found or the person may recover. People may want to change their mind about euthanasia when it's too late.

Question 29

Why might some people want euthanasia to be legalised?

Answer 29

Advances in medicine allow people to stay alive, but they have a bad quality of life. Doctors and relatives should have the right to carry out a painless death. Doctors can switch off life support machines. Judges allow doctors to stop treatments, so doctors should be able to carry out euthanasia. People feel that people should have the right to control ending their life. If people are allowed to commit suicide, they should be allowed to ask their doctors to assist their suicide.

Question 30

Why are Muslims against euthanasia?

Answer 30

The Quran says that suicide is wrong, so you will be sent to hell on the Last Day if your commit assisted suicide. Muslims believe in the Sanctity of Life, so taking life by euthanasia would be murder, which is banned by the Quran. Muslims believe that life is a test from God. Euthanasia is cheating that test and will result in being sent to hell on the Last Day.

Question 31

Why do some Muslims believe that switching off a life-support machine is not euthanasia?

Answer 31

The machine can be switched off if doctors agree that the life has ended. Muslims believe that if someone is brain-dead, God has already taken their life and switching off the machine wouldn't be euthanasia.

Question 32

What should the media not be free to criticise religious beliefs about life and death?

Answer 32

Criticising is a way to stir up religious hatred. For example, Catholics were shown in a bad light when the Catholic Church told them to withdraw from Amnesty International, who believe that abortion should be a human right for rape victims. The media cause offence by criticising religious attitudes. For example a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Mohammad. This criticism is blasphemy. For example if the media criticise the Pope's views on abortion, they are condemning the Catholic Church. Religious statements are based on what God says, so they're beyond human criticism.

Question 33

What should the media be free to criticise religious beliefs about life and death?

Answer 33

Freedom of expression is a basic human right. For people to vote, they need to know what's happening in the world. For this, the media need freedom of expression. Religious leaders criticise the media's statements about life and death, so they should be prepared for criticism from the media about their views. In a multi-faith society, there should be freedom of expression and religious belief. So, the media should have the right to question and criticise religious views about life and death. People want to know the right views about life and death. This can't be done if only religious views can be put forward and can't be criticised.