AQA Religious Studies - Religion and Life

THEMATIC studies; Paper 2

Big Bang Theory

• massive expansion of space set the creation of universe in motion

• Christians have accepted

• Aligns with traditional Hindu stories

Genesis as a theory

The universe was designed and made by God out of nothing in 6 days

• some take it literally

• others take it liberally, as symbolic

Value of the world - Christianity

• Earth is a priceless gift from God as a result of his love

• sense of awe and wonder

Value of World - Hinduism

• should be respectful to natural world

• sense of awe and wonder

• river crossings and mountain peaks considered to be holy

Stewardship

• to take care of the earth

• “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”

Dominion

• We have been given charge of the Earth

• “fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over […] every living thing that moves on the ground”

Hinduism on environment abuse

• Earth is our mother, provide for their needs so we have a duty to respect it

• Damage to the environment will bring bad karma

• “There are two birds, who dwell on the self-same tree. The one eats the fruit thereof, and the other looks on in silence”

Use of natural resources

• Natural resources should be used sustainably according to most people

3 Pollution types

• Air, Land and Water

Pollution - Christianity

• Humans have been given responsibility to look after the world by God

• Pollution is not loving towards others - Jesus teaches Christians to ‘love your neighbor’

• “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”

Pollution - Hinduism

• Divine is part of nature and cannot be separated

• Nature is sacred

• Pollution goes agaist this

Pope Francis ab pollution

‘On the Care of Our Common Home’ - stressed need to reduce pollution, use renewable energy and recycle more

Bhumi Project

• international Hindu environmental network → Hindus around the world to take part in Hindu Environmental Week

• Events included bike rallies and city clean-ups

• One concern is the pollution at events like Varanasi

Ahisma

Non-violence practiced by many Hindus

Animal Experimentation - Christianity

• If it is necessary, and the welfare of animals is considered, its okay

• Against stewardship, for dominion

Animal Experimentation - Hinduism

• Animal experimentation goes against the priciple of ahisma so many Hindus believe it is wrong

• Animals have souls in samsara

• Animals associated w deitites are to be protected

Use of animals for food - Christianity

• no rules about eating meat

• Romans 14:3 says Christians to be sensitive to what others wish to eat

• “Everything that lives and moves about wil be food for you”

Use of animals for food - Hinduism

• ~44% of Hindus are vegetarian, with another ~39% practicing some restriction on the food they eat

• Generally not vegans as animal products are seen as ok

• Some eat meat that isn’t cows as cows are holy

• Referred “Aghnya” → not to be killed

Use of animals for food - Non religion

• some don’t care

• some say that the land used for animal farming if used for crops could provide a lot more food for everyone helping food security

Theory of evolution

• species change and adapt to their environment

• survival of the fittest

Christian belief of life origin

• God created all life (Genesis 1)

• God created the first man (Genesis 2)

• God created first woman from man

Hindu views on life origin

• No to evolution

• Brahman created everything when he was born out of vishnu

Abortion

deliberate removal of a foetus from womb to end a pregnancy

Abortion - UK law

• in specific circumstanecs

• agree that there is a risk to physical/mental health of mother, baby or existing children in the family

• Can only happen during first 24 wks of pregnancy (unless mother’s life in danger of foetus is severly deformed)

Abortion - Christianity

• NO

• Sanctity of life - image of god - must be respected

• Some may agree if QoL if really bad

• Some may agree if it seems the kindest option

• Catholic and many evangelical Christians believe that abortion is wrong because life begins at conception

Why pro-choice

• mother’s life is more important

• pro-life can say children can be adopted into families that will care for them

Why pro-life

• life begins at conception

• baby didn’t choose

• abortion is murder wowwww

• pro-choice says the baby isnt even alive and has no thoughts

Euthanasia

“a good or gentle death” - involves painlessly ending the life of someone who is dying

Euthanasia - UK Law

• Illegal in the UK

• However doctors can withhold treatment if in patient’s best interests - would not be euthanasia as it is allowing death to take place rather than actively ending a life

Euthanasia - 3 types

• Voluntary - asks to end life because they don’t want to live anymore

• Involuntary - the person is capable of expressing a choice but not given the opportunity to do so

• Non-voluntary - person is unable to express a choice

Euthanasia - Christianity

• Form of murder and interferes with a person’s life

• Argue that people may feel a pressure to end their lives in order to not burden family

• Suffering brings people closer to Jesus

• Salvation Army : “undermine human dignity and are morally wrong”

Euthanasia - Hinduism

• Not accepting

• Doctor assisting with euthanasia would receive bad karma

• Hindus are allowed to fast to death - allowing soul to leave the body early

• This is only useful to free the soul from the body in the case of terminal illness

Christianity - death & afterlife

• Jesus’ resurrection is evidence for an afterlife

• Judged by god → Heaven/Hell

• Catholics believe in a purgatory others believe in immediate judgement

• “For god so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Hinduism - death & afterlife

• cycle of samsara

• hopefully moksha

• Bhagavad Gita describes rebirth like putting on “newer clothes” and “discards the worn-out ones”