Life and Death GCSE Eduqas

afterlife

life after death

environmental sustainability

ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources into the future

euthanasia

the act of: arranged killing of yourself or a suffering person or animal; mercy killing. not currently legal in the UK. Different from personal suicides. Means "good" "death".

abortion

The deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn child

quality of life

the degree of overall satisfaction that a person gets from life. it's difficult to measure as its factors are different for everyone.

Sancity of life

Life is sacred because it is God-given

soul

The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God. The soul is often regarded as non-physical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.

How does Genesis Chapter 1 relate to relate to free will?

-humans 'made in God's image'

-humans share the spiritual nature of God with power to know, choose and love.

-first humans are made stewards of creation.

How does Genesis Chapter 2 relate to the idea of souls?

-God breathed into Adam, "breath of life."

-humans have a physical and spiritual nature.

-Eve is described as being made from one of Adam's ribs. The Hebrew word rib is connected to the word 'spirit' so this suggests they share the same spirit.

literal

Exactly true, rather than figurative or metaphorical

liberal

metaphorical or can be seen as symbolic, not literally taken

The Big Bang theory

-The theory that the universe originated in a huge explosion that released all matter and energy.

-idea of starting point/starting existence

-Did God create the Big bang?

Religious reactions to the Big Bang:

-Liberal Christians, Jews and Muslims accept as there is no reason to question evidence

-Creationists are critical as it contradicts God forming life through his power

-Some Christians argue God created the Big bang

Creationism

the belief that God created the world and everything in it, in the way described in the Bible

Evolution

The gradual change in a species over time

Is life a chance or a plan?

-Most believers say there is a divine mind behind all life

-Christians use "written in your book before one of them came to be"

-Atheists believe life is a blind chance, "neither his destiny nor his duty has been written down"

Religious reactions to Darwin

-Liberal Christians accept science ideas as it can teach us things Bible writers had no understanding about

-Evangelical Christians and Muslims disagree as implies life developed by chance and undermines scriptures

-Jews mostly accept

Design Argument

The argument that God designed the universe because everything is so intricately made in its detail that it could not have happened by chance

What is a literalist interpretation of the Bible?

-word for word

-for example interpreting the Genesis account of creation to be an accurate scientific account

What is a non-literal interpretation of the Bible?

-holy books read for their meaning

-parables with a message rather than historical accounts

Stewardship

humans have the responsibility to take care of the whole earth we have been given

Dominion

to control over

Conservation

Protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment

Christian attitudes to stewardship

-Life is a gift and we are stewards

-Evangelical believe we have dominion over nature, "rule over"

-Liberal believe we have a responsibility to rule over earth as we were placed in Eden to "cultivate and care for it".

-"love thy neighbor" we should respect all living beings

Muslim attitudes to stewardship

-animals should be respected but are not uniquely sacred like humans are

-we are Allah's trustees (khalifahs) appointed to care for the world

-humans should maintain the pattern and balance of the universe (fitrah)

-we should treat the world with care or be judged by Allah

-"the earth is green and beautiful. God has appointed you his stewards over it." Hadith

Christian attitudes to the sanctity of life

-life was created, protected and valued by God

-made in God's image

-many agree only God can take life away (eg Quakers hate violence and Catholics disagree with artificial contraception)

-"God saw all that he made, and it was very good" Genesis 1

Muslim attitudes to the sanctity of life

-all life created by God and He has the right to take it away

-Murder is explicitly forbidden. NO ONE EXCEPT GOD CAN TAKE THEIR OWN OR ANYONE ELSE'S LIFE AWAY

-every soul created by God and lives are written

-"do not kill the soul which God has forbidden" Qur'an

Catholic attitudes to abortion

-Abortion is forbidden in all circumstances because life is sacred.

-Life begins at conception therefore abortion is murder and against the 10 commandments

-"thou shalt not kill"

Humanist attitudes to the sanctity of life

-special value in human life but not from God

-No souls or afterlife. No judgement

-make others happy through kindness

-Life is not sacred but deserves respect as we only live once

pro-life

always against abortion

pro-choice

a woman should have the right/freedom to choose to abort or not abort her baby.

Church of England attitudes to abortion

-abortion is a moral evil

-only allowed if the mother's life is in danger or she was raped.

-'the lesser of two evils' and "strictly limited"

Muslim attitudes to abortion

-Abortion is allowed if the mother's life is in danger or the baby is severely disabled.

-God creates life and only he can end it.

-'Do not kill your child out of poverty. We will provide for them.'

viability

Ability of the fetus to survive outside the womb on its own. abortion is illegal in the UK after this.

What is involuntary euthanasia?

ending a suffering person's life without the person's permission

What is Voluntary Euthanasia?

When a person asks a doctor or another person for help to end their life. Some people call this 'assisted dying'.

What is active euthanasia?

Doing something to deliberately bring about death.

What is passive euthanasia?

Not doing something to preserve a patient's life, with the intention of causing death. (For example removing breathing tubes for someone in a coma).

Christian attitudes to euthanasia

-goes against sanctity of life and 10 commandments

-murder

-some liberals will support because of situation ethics - doing the most loving thing in each situation. such as some Christians do support euthanasia in extreme cases on grounds of compassion in cases of terminal illness.

Muslim attitudes to euthanasia

-disagree with euthanasia as it is murder

-Allah will judge those who support

-"Allah gives life and causes death. And he sees what you do" Qur'an

Humanist views on abortion and euthanasia

Humanists usually have a strong belief in freedom of choice and a persons own judgment in the situation

what is hell?

A place of everlasting suffering

"hell, where the fire never goes out" Mark

How do some liberalism Christians imagine hell?

alone from God with no way out.

How do some literalism Christians imagine hell?

A literal place with burning fires that never go out, endless torture and pain. Devil rejected God's love and tempts us.

Purgatory (Catholic)

The state of purification that takes place after death for those who need to be made clean and holy before meeting the all-holy God in Heaven. Not lived a good life but are genuinely sorry. Souls released if prayed for by people on earth.

Why might the existence of hell seem to challenge belief in a good God?

Some might say a truly good God could never send his beloved children to Hell.

Humanist/non-religious funerals

-personalized rather than pre-written scriptures

-funeral celebrant to help

-reflection/peaceful moments

Christian funerals

-vicar to guide

-Church

-choices with holy communications (eg a cremation or burials)

-religious texts, hymns etc

-committal for Catholics (is the point when the coffin is removed from view at the end of service and prayer is said)

-priest may visit dying person or (Catholics) say last rites

-candles and flowers

Muslim funeral rites

1. close to death should try to repeat the final words of Prophet Muhammad

2. Kalimah is whispered into their ears to symbolize returning to their creator

3. funerals try to take place within 24 hours, Body wrapped in white shroud for purity and equality.

4. do not cremate. body buried facing Makkah to allow resurrection on Judgement Day

5. at graveside, recite the first chapter of Qur'an to emphasize God's greatness

6. do not usually have gravestones for equality in death purposes. raised dirt is often used instead.

Double Effect

a situation in which an action has two outcomes, one intended and another unintended (e.g. surgery on a pregnant woman may intentionally save their life, but unintentionally end a pregnancy)

Theistic Evolution

the idea that God used evolution to make everything in the world

Hospice

a home providing care for the sick, especially the terminally ill.

Speciesism

the belief in, and practice of, treating humans as more important than animals (think discrimination based on species)

Persistent Vegetative State

a continuing state of having no apparent consciousness but having a beating heart and appearance of being awake but not alert (usually with life support)

Living Will

when a person writes down their wishes for their care if they end up in a position where they cannot make these choices for themselves

Natural Selection

A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.

cumulative selection

the evolution of a simple structure into a more complex structure through a series of small adaptations

Creationist

one who believes the Bible's account of Creation

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory