Unit 3 Section 2 Matters of Life and Death

Question 1

What do Catholics think happens in life after death?

Answer 1

God will reward the good and punish the bad

Question 2

Why do Catholics believe in life after death?

Answer 2

1) Jesus rose from the dead
2) St. Paul said we will resurrect
3) The catechism teaches that there will be life after death
4) Catholics believe in the immortality of the soul

Question 3

How does belief in life after death change the way Catholics live their lives?

Answer 3

1) They live a good life to be allowed into Heaven
2) They pray and attend Mass every Sunday to show love for God
3) They work for charities such as CAFOD
4) They avoid committing sins

Question 4

What are the three forms of evidence which make non-religious people believe in life after death?

Answer 4

1) Reincarnation
2) Near-death experiences
3) Paranormal

Question 5

Why do near-death experiences make people believe in life after death?

Answer 5

People who have experienced them remember things they wouldn’t if they hadn’t been to a life after death

Question 6

What are the problems with believing in life after death because of near-death experiences?

Answer 6

• They could be lying
• No evidence
• Could be imagination

Question 7

Why does paranormal activity make people believe in life after death?

Answer 7

If dead people can be seen or communicated with, it proves they are alive in another form

Question 8

What are the problems with believing in life after death because of paranormal activity?

Answer 8

• No evidence

- Modern technology can forge things

Question 9

Why does reincarnation make people believe in life after death?

Answer 9

There’s no other way that they could know details about their past life

Question 10

What are the problems with believing in life after death because of reincarnation?

Answer 10

• Could be staged

- Greater access to information in the modern day

Question 11

Why do some people not believe in life after death?

Answer 11

1) There’s no God so there’s no Heaven
2) If it were real, all religions would say the same thing
3) Science shows the mind can’t exist without the brain
4) There’s nowhere for it to take place

Question 12

Define Pro-Choice

Answer 12

The name given to the movement which supports a girl or woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy

Question 13

Define Pro-Life

Answer 13

The name given to those who support the foetus’ right to life and want abortion banned because it denies this

Question 14

Reasons FOR abortion

Answer 14

1) Abortion isn’t taking a life because life begins when the foetus can live outside the mother
2) A woman should have the right to do what she wants with her own body
3) It’s not fair for the unborn child’s life to be more important than the mother’s
4) In some circumstances it should be acceptable

Question 15

Reasons AGAINST abortion

Answer 15

1) Life begins at conception so abortion is killing
2) A foetus born at 22-24 weeks can now survive
3) The unborn child’s right to life is greater than the mother’s rights
4) Medical staff shouldn’t have to carry them out

Question 16

4 Laws on Abortion

Answer 16

1) Abortion can’t take place after 24 weeks unless the mother’s life is in grave danger
2) Two doctors must give consent
3) Abortion can be carried out if there’s a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health
4) Abortion can be carried out if the child is probably going to be born seriously handicapped

Question 17

Catholic attitude to Abortion (what and why)?

Answer 17

All abortion is wrong!

1) Life is holy and belongs to God
2) Life begins at conception
3) The Ten Commandments says it’s wrong
4) Everyone has a right to life

Question 18

Liberal Protestant attitude to Abortion (what and why)?

Answer 18

Wrong except in some circumstances, eg. rape or health implications

1) Love your neighbour - it may be the most loving thing to do
2) Life doesn’t begin at conception
3) There is such thing as Just War so why not Just Abortion?
4) Doctors can now detect disease and suffering in a foetus

Question 19

Why is Euthanasia controversial?

Answer 19

1) Nobody knows if it’s really what the person would want and there may be money involved £££
2) The disease may not be terminal/coma may not be permanent
3) Doctors are supposed to SAVE lives
4) People might change their minds too late
5) Who should be allowed to decide?

Question 20

Why do people want Euthanasia to be legal?

Answer 20

1) People who should have died are being kept alive
2) Life support machines are already a form of this
3) Life may not be worth living
4) The pain and suffering may be too severe

Question 21

Catholics think Euthanasia is wrong but don’t consider turning off a life support machine or giving life-shortening painkillers as Euthanasia.
Why’s this?

Answer 21

1) Life belongs to God
2) Euthanasia is murder
3) If someone is brain-dead, switching off their machine is accepting what God’s decided
4) The painkillers which may shorten a life were intended to help them

Question 22

Some Christians believe all forms of Euthanasia is wrong.

Why’s this?

Answer 22

1) The Bible forbids suicide
2) Switching off a life machine is Euthanasia because it involves a human ending life
3) Murder is banned in the Ten Commandments
4) Life is sacred and belongs to God

Question 23

A few Christians accept Euthanasia in certain circumstances.

Why’s this?

Answer 23

1) God may want someone to die but doctors are keeping them alive
2) Love your neighbour - may be most loving thing
3) It’s a basic human right

Question 24

What are the 4 main causes of world poverty?

Answer 24

1) Natural Disasters - destroying land
2) Wars - destroying homes, schools, crops etc
3) Debt - the counties pay interest on loans
4) Others, eg lack of education, clean water

Question 25

How does CAFOD help end world poverty?

Answer 25

1) Development programmes, eg. clinics and education
2) Natural disaster funds
3) Raising awareness
4) Speaking out on behalf of poor communities

Question 26

Why is CAFOD helping to end world poverty?

Answer 26

1) Love your neighbour
2) Parable of the Sheep and Goats - helping the poor is like helping Jesus
3) Sermon on the Mount - Christians should share time and money with the poor
4) Golden Rule

Question 27

Give 2 reasons why ‘Heaven is for Real’ presented near-death experiences fairly to religious people:

Answer 27

1) Gave a realistic attitude from someone in that situation

2) Presented a religious ideal of heaven - he saw Jesus

Question 28

Give 2 reasons why ‘Heaven is for Real’ presented near-death experiences unfairly to religious people:

Answer 28

1) They were disbelieving towards the Pastor

2) Showed science as more important - woman didn’t believe the father

Question 29

Give 4 reasons why the media SHOULD be allowed to criticise matters of life and death:

Answer 29

1) Freedom of expression is a human right
2) Religious leaders use the media to make statements about life and death so should expect criticism
3) In a multi-faith society, there must be freedom of belief
4) People need to know what is the right view

Question 30

Give 4 reasons why the media SHOULD NOT be allowed to criticise matters of life and death:

Answer 30

1) It stirs religious hatred which is banned by the Racial Hatred Act
2) It can cause offence
3) It’s close to blasphemy
4) What God says is beyond human criticism