Religion and Life, Existence of God, and Crime and Punishment

Flashcards covering the origins of the universe, animal rights, environmental ethics, sanctity of life, euthanasia, abortion, internal arguments for God's existence, revelation, peace and conflict, and theories of crime and punishment.

Genesis 1

The biblical account recording that God created the universe, including the world and its inhabitants, in six days and then rested a day.

Big Bang theory

A scientific account of the origins of the universe that some Christians who interpret the Bible symbolically may agree with.

Atheists

Individuals who see religious views involving God creating the universe as incompatible with science.

Dominion

The belief held by many Christians that God gave the world to them as a gift to use or own; it is theirs to use.

Stewardship

The belief that God charged humans with looking after the world and managing the environment.

Awe and Wonder

A feeling of amazement towards the world experienced by religious people who feel it is God’s creation.

Ahimsa

The Hindu principle of non-violence, which often leads to opposition against animal experimentation and support for pacifism.

Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

The teaching to 'do to others as you would have them do to you,' used by some Christians to argue against animal experimentation.

Genesis 2:7

The biblical verse stating: '… then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.'

Theory of evolution

A scientific theory explaining how life on Earth developed; Christians interpreting the Bible symbolically may see it as the method God used to create life.

Sanctity of Life

The idea that life is sacred or special because God created it and humans are made in God's image.

Quality of Life

The standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual; if this is very low, some may consider euthanasia.

Euthanasia

Often known as mercy killing, it is the act of killing or helping someone to die because they have a reduced quality of life.

Active Euthanasia

Taking a specific action to kill somebody.

Passive Euthanasia

Stopping medical treatment or life support to allow someone to die.

Double effect

Using medicines to reduce pain that may also shorten life as a side effect; an idea accepted by some Christians and Jews.

Purgatory

A Catholic belief in a state after death that is neither heaven nor hell.

Reincarnation

The belief in being reborn after death, held by Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Abortion

The deliberate ending of a pregnancy in a way where the foetus dies.

1967 Abortion Act

The UK law setting criteria for legal abortion, including being agreed by two doctors and usually occurring before 24 weeks.

Natural Suffering

Pain not caused by a person but by natural events, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, or disease.

Moral Suffering

Pain caused by a deliberate human action, such as murder, theft, or exploitation.

First Cause Argument

The argument by St Thomas Aquinas that because everything has a cause, there must be a first cause, which is God.

Design Argument

The religious argument suggesting God's existence because the world appears to have organized parts, purpose, and function, similar to a designed object like a watch.

General Revelation

Discovering knowledge about the divine through natural means available to everyone, such as nature, scripture, conscience, and reason.

Special Revelation

Knowledge of the divine experienced through supernatural means by specific individuals, such as miracles, visions, or prayer.

Visionaries

Individuals who experience a vision where they see God, a religious figure, or a visual message from the divine.

Enlightenment

In Buddhism, the revelation of eternal truth that leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

Omniscient

The attribute of God knowing everything, including silent prayers.

Omnipotent

The attribute of God being all-powerful, demonstrated through nature, Jesus, and miracles.

Immanent

The belief that God is active in the world, exemplified by miracles and the incarnation of Jesus.

Transcendent

The belief that God is outside of space and time and cannot be controlled by them.

Justice

Fairness, or receiving what is deserved or right.

Reconciliation

Being reunited in a positive sense with someone from whom one was separated.

Lesser Jihad

In Islam, the struggle involving violence permitted in self-defence or to fight against enemies of the religion.

Just War Theory

A philosophical discussion regarding when it is acceptable to go to war (jus ad bellum) and how to fight justly (jus in bello).

Holy War

A war fought in the name of religion, usually commanded by a religious authority like God or the Pope.

Pacifism

The belief that violence and war are wrong and that it is better to be passive and not cause harm.

Terrorism

Unauthorised, non-state violence carried out for political reasons, often targeting civilians.

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

Nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons with the power to kill and harm many people and the environment.

Nuclear deterrence

Keeping nuclear weapons for the purpose of stopping others from attacking, rather than for active use.

Christian Aid

A Christian charity that helps victims of war by providing food, water, education, and healthcare.

Retribution

An aim of punishment focused on taking revenge on a criminal for what they have done.

Deterrence

An aim of punishment used to persuade others not to commit a crime.

Reformation

An aim of punishment trying to change criminals so they do not commit crimes in the future, often through rehabilitation.

Reparation

An aim of punishment where criminals make up for the wrong done, such as through community service.

Corporal Punishment

Physical punishment, such as hudud punishments in Islam, intended to act as a deterrent.

Capital Punishment

The death penalty; a highly controversial legal punishment used for retribution and protection.

Hudud

Fixed corporal punishments in the Qur'an that are considered compulsory and the will of Allah.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement in Judaism when Jews ask for forgiveness from those they have wronged and from God.