Unit 2 - Matters Of Life And Death Flashcards
Define: abortion
the removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive.
Define: sanctity of life
The belief that Life is holy and belongs to god
Define: quality of life
the idea that life must feel like it is worth living.
Define: euthanasia
bringing about a premature but painless and gentle death.
Define voluntary euthanasia
ending life painlessly when someone in great pain requests death.
Define: non voluntary euthanasia
ending someone’s life painlessly in their best interest when they are incapable of requesting death themselves .
Define: assisted suacide
Helping a seriously ill person with the means to commit suacide
Define: near death experience
when someone about to die has an out of body experience.
Define: paranormal
unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes e.g. ghosts, mediums.
Define: reincaration
when souls, after death, are reborn in a new body
Define: resurrection
when after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raised
Define: immortality of the soul
the idea that the soul lives on after death.
How did god create humans ( quote from bible)
The Bible says, ‘God created
Humans in His own image.’ Genesis 1:27
Reasons for sanctity of life in Christianity
‘Do not commit murder.’ Exodus 20:13
Humans are made like God, so whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man will his blood be shed.’
Genesis 9:6
When is it said that abortion can not be done (what week and why )
When the baby had a heart beat and is able to survive outside of the womb. Around week 24 of the pregnancy.
Reasons that accepts abortion
- The mother’s life is at risk.
- There is a substantial risk the child may be born seriously handicapped.
- The mother’s physical or mental health may be at risk.
Define: pro choice
The belief that women should be the person to decide as it is her body
Define: pro life
In favour of protecting the life of the foetus. The belief that life begins at conception
Reasons for pro-choice
The women should not be forced to go through with a unwanted pregnancy.
Reasons for pro-life
The foetus is a living growing thing . To destroy it is the same as killing it
Christian view for abortion
Jesus taught us to love our neighbour, abortion may be the most loving thing to do in certain circumstances
Christian view against abortion
Every person has a ‘natural right to life’ taking away that life is to deny the potential of a human life.
Also life begins at conception, not 24 weeks into pregnancy.
Life is holy and god is the only one who can end a pregnancy
What is the law on euthanasia in the u.k
Within the UK there is currently no law that directly deals with euthanasia. However, the act of taking a life is dealt with under murder laws, and the 1961 Suicide Act.
Define: Active Euthanasia:
Active euthanasia is a direct act of a doctor or other to end the life of an individual. e.g. giving a patient an overdose of pain killers such as morphine.
Define: passive euthanasia
Passive euthanasia is where treatment that would help a person live longer is stopped with the idea of ending the life. e.g. not using life support.
Arguments for euthanasia
People should be allowed to die with dignity.
People don’t want to be a burden.
Keeping a person alive artificially using machines and medicines may go against god will by preventing someone’s death.
Arguments against euthanasia
There is nothing dignified about taking someone’s life.
Life comes from god, therefore only god has the right to take someone’s life (sanctity of life).
Euthanasia can be used as abuse e.g murder disguised as euthanasia.
Suffering can allow some one feel closer to god as it allows them to feel what Jesus felt like during his struggle.
What is a hospice and why is it a replacement for euthanasia.
Hospices offer palliative care; that is treatment of the symptoms of an illness e.g. pain, not the illness itself.
A place where terminally ill people can live out the remainder of their life and be looked after in comfort and with dignity. for short-term breaks as well as long-term care.
Why do Christians believe in like after death.
Part 1
Jesus rose from the dead and he taught his followers that they would have ‘everlasting life.’ John 3:16
The church has always accepted and taught the belief in life after death.
Why do Christians believe in life after death.
Part 2
The Bible talks about life after death, and the early Christian leaders including St Paul taught about life after death.
Life after death gives a meaning and a purpose to the life we live now.
non-religious reasons for believing in life after death.
Part 1
Near Death Experiences
classed as clinically dead for a short period then revived. They often describe feelings of peace; out of body experiences; seeing a bright light; and even meeting deceased relatives.
People claim to have near
Non - religious reasons for believing in life after death.
Part 2
Paranormal Activities
believe that the spirits, or souls, of the dead live on. Mediums claim evidence for life after death by contacting people’s dead relatives and telling them things only their relatives could know. Beliefs in ghosts give some people reasons to believe in life after death.
Non - religious reasons for believing in god.
Part 3
Reincarnation
Many people believe that after death the soul is re-born into a new body. The idea is found in many ancient mythological and pagan beliefs. People believe the memories of past lives can pass into a person’s current life offering evidence for life after death.
born into a
The media and matters of life after death
Euthanasia was tackled in the BBC film ‘A Short Stay in Switzerland. The documentary is based on a Dr Anne Turner suffering from Supranuclear Palsy,travelled to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, where doctors gave her drugs to end her life, as she believed her quality of life was not worth living.
