RE: Philosophy and Ethics

Relationships: Key terms

• Adultery: When a married person chooses to have sex with someone they are not married to

• Divorce: The legal ending of a marriage

• Cohabitation: Two people living together in a sexual relationship without being married or in a civil partnership

• Commitment: A sense of dedication to something or someone

• Contraception: Any methods used to prevent a pregnancy

• Gender Equality: When people of both genders are given the same rights and opportunities

• Responsibilities: Actions or duties someone is expected to carry out

• Roles: The position status or function of a person in society, as well as the characteristics and social behaviour expected of them

Relationships: Family

• Nuclear: Mother + father + children

• Childless: Couple with no kids

• Single parent: One parent + kids

• Reconstituted: Remarried adults with kids (step)

• Extended: Living with indirect family (eg Grandparents)

• Christian Views: Important place for nurture and celebration of faith, Commandments say children should honour their parents, Pope Francis called it 'the essential cell of society'

• Islamic views: Often includes extended family, role of family honour is important, festivals celebrated together, halal diet kept

Relationships: Marriage outside the religious tradition (Issues)

• Dietary rules

• What festivals to celebrate

• What faith any children would be raised in

• Mutual beliefs about death

• Moral issues that arise in either partner

• One of the faiths may not recognise the marriage

• Gender roles may be different in each faith

• BUT

• If handled well can exemplify their connection

• Children would be raised in a diverse upbringing

Relationships: Cohabitation

• Christian view: Sexual relationships are sacred and should not take place at all outside of a marriage, some Anglicans do accept cohabiting, some Baptist churches refuse to marry people who are cohabiting

• Islamic view: Some Muslims do choose to cohabit, generally sex should take place within a marriage so cohabiting is regarded as wrong

Relationships: Adultery

• Christian view: It breaks the wedding vows made, mentioned twice as forbidden in the ten commandments, may harm the family unit

• Islamic view: Goes against the unity and peace of the Ummah, Surah 17:32 says it to be shameful and opens ways to other evils

Relationships: Divorce and re-marriage

• Christian views: Catholics believe divorce in a marriage is not allowed + annulment is allowed with remarriage possible + civil divorce is allowed with remarriage not possible, other Christians believe accepted but not preferred (Mark 10:9) + reconciliation effort should be made + Jesus teaches remarriage (not after cheating) is adultery

• Islamic views: Should be a last resort after 3 months of attempted reconcilement (Qur'an 4:35), wife receives rest of dowry after divorce and is treated well (Qur'an 2:229), remarriage allowed, not wrong to separate as long as they both agree (Qur'an 4:128-130)

Relationships: Nature and purpose of marriages

• Christian views: Sacrament in some traditions, referred to as God's intention (Mark 10:6-8), vows taken show lifelong commitment, rings represent eternal love

• Islamic views: Seen as a gift from Allah (Qur'an 30:21), signed with witnesses to symbolise commitment and undertaking of ceremony, bride is offered to the groom as  a sign of responsibility

Relationships: Marriage ceremonies

• Christian: Procession of bridal party down the aisle, Officiant gives welcome and opening prayer, couple states their willingness to marry, Bible readings and a marriage sermon, Exchange of vows and rings symbolising eternal commitment, Prayers given to bless the marriage, pronounced husband and wife, kiss, exit followed by party

• Islamic: Contract is known as Nikkhah, Both must consent to the marriage, Virginal woman must have Wali (male guardian) present, Mahr is paid to the bride by the groom for her exclusive use, Shi'a need but Sunni recommends two witnesses, Walima takes place after and can take anywhere from a couple hours to several days

Relationships: Same-sex relationships

• Anglicans: Marriages not allowed but clergy might agree to blessings

• Quakers: Welcomed for a long time

• United Reformed Church: Allows individual churches to have same-sex marriages if they wish

• Catholics: Strictly prohibited as union must be only between a man and a woman "A man will leave his mother and father and be with his wife"

• Many Christians oppose same-sex relationships on biblical grounds (Leviticus 18:22) with the punishment being stoning (Leviticus 20:13)

• Islam does not allowed same-sex marriages (Qur'an 7:80-81)

Relationships: Sex and Contraception

• Christians: sacred gift from God, should only take place within a marriage, casual=devalued, adultery is harmful, consented contraception is allowed

• Catholics: Aquinas' Natural Law says artificial methods are banned and it should always allow the possibility of life, priests are expected to be celibate

• Islam: Should only take place within a marriage, way of meeting partner's needs, act of worship, Consensual temporary contraception is permitted

Relationships: Gender Equality

• Christianity: Disciples were men but some followers were women, 1 Timothy 2:11-12 says women should not have authority over men, Galatians 3:27-29 says gender is not important so long as there is faith, roles are equally important but different, Anglicans allowed women to be ordained and bishops (Libby Lane was first female bishop) and current Archbishop of Canterbury is a woman

• Catholics: Women can lead and Pope Francis said they have an important role, but cannot be ordained

• Orthodox: Bible shows different roles and they cannot enter priesthood

• Islam: Qur'an shows all are created from same soul (4:1) + a true believer can be male or female (40:40) + men should have authority in situations like divorce (2:228), only men can become imams, worships is separated, some Sunni let women lead for women but not raised above, taught roles are equally important but differ 

L+D: Key concepts

• Afterlife: The belief that existence continues after  a physical death

• Environmental Sustainability: Ensuring natural resources are used to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising any future needs

• Euthanasia: Killing or permitting the death of someone in order to end their suffering (usually from a terminal illness)

• Evolution: The process in which creatures become more physically complex over time

• Abortion: The ending of a pregnancy in order to prevent the birth of a child

• Quality of life: How much someone enjoys their life

• Sanctity of life: The belief that life itself is precious of sacred

• Soul: The spiritual aspect of a being that lives on after death

L+D: Creation

• Christianity: God created the world of the course of six days, he created it for a 'good' purpose, Adam made from dust of Earth, some believe literally and other believe he made the natural process

• Islam: No story, Allah made the world and everything in it, human were made khalifahs to look after and respect the world, DOJ will call all on account of what they have done to the world

• Big Bang Theory: The universe began from a single hot and dense point that expanded outwards

• Watchmaker argument: Paley claimed that the universe is so specific and perfect that someone must has designed it

• Evolution: Darwin came up with the idea that species changed over time to adapt to their environments, and contrasted the idea every living thing was already made perfectly

• Speciesism: Singer claimed that humans think they are better than animals simply for the notion of being human

L+D: Environmental Sustainability and Global Citizenship

• Christianity: People should exercise responsibility given by God and look after the world (Genesis 1:28), use resources carefully and preserve the environment

• Evangelical: Some believe humans have dominion over the Earth as the bible mentions being 'rulers' over creation (Psalm 8:6)

• Islam: Chosen by Allah to be khalifahs, must respect the world as Allah is creator and Lord of the worlds (Qur'an 7:54), skills should be used to preserve the fitrah and keep balance in the natural world, avoid waste and be kind to animals as it is all part of God's creation, some say we will be judged on how we have carried out our duties rather than just the respect held

• Humanist (non-religious): Moral duty to care for the earth, care based on reason rather than belief, networks created to campaign on such issues like H4BW

L+D: Sanctity of life

• Christianity: Genesis teaches all life is special as it is made by God and so should be respected, Jeremiah "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you", Only God should take life away, Good Samaritan parable shows all life should be valued

• Islam: All life is created by Allah so is special and should be protected, Every soul made by Allah, Allah has a plan for everyone, it is forbidden for anyone but Allah to take a life (Qur'an 6:151)

• Quality of life: Singer believes quality of life is more important than sanctity and that speciesism shows how not all life is respected

L+D: Abortion

• Roman Catholic and Orthodox: Against abortion under any circumstance, moment of conception is the start of life, Didache states "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion"

• Anglicans: certain scenarios allow it, only include if life or quality of life is at risk

• Evangelical Protestants: Against in principle but allow in scenarios

• Other Christianity: TC says "Thou shalt not kill", only God gives and takes life, sanctity of life, Jesus taught and showed the importance of compassion, Humans made in the image of God, Jeremiah 1:5 God claims "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"

• Islam: Usually haram, Only Allah can take away life, doing so for economic reasons is forbidden (Qur'an 6:151), Some allow up to 16 weeks, some up until 120 days as ensoulment takes place, to save a person's life is acceptable, intention is taken into account

• Humanist: Depends on situation, Rights and wishes of everyone involved considered, campaign for legalisation, believe it to be a personal choice

L+D: Euthanasia (Beliefs)

• Roman Catholic: All life must be respected, Withholding can only take place in exceptional circumstances

• Other Christianity: Death is the doorway to the next life, Bible has no clear teaching, aim should be to ease suffering, only God can give and take life, TC says "Thou shalt not kill"

• Islam: Regarded as haram, Allah chooses how long everyone will live, not included in reasons for killing, Qur'an teaches only God can give and take life, Wishes of doctors and patients important

• Humanism: Dignity in Dying movement lobbies for  choice regarding assisted dying and provides expert information on good quality end of life care to anyone considering

L+D: Euthanasia (Types)

• Passive: Treatment that would extend life is withdrawn

• Active: Something done to make someone die quicker

• Non-voluntary: When someone cannot make a decision so someone else decides it to be in their best interests to be euthanised (e.g. In a coma)

• Voluntary: When someone asks for their life to be ended and it is

• Involuntary: When someone wants to live but someone else makes the decision to end their life (e.g. car crash victim)

• Assisted suicide: When someone is assisted or encouraged to end their own life

L+D: Death and the afterlife

• Catholic: Souls of good believers go to heaven, other believers cleansed in purgatory, prayers shorten purgatory

• Other Christian: Soul=spiritual part of being, Faith gives eternal life after death, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die" (John 11:25-26), Paul teaches that those who believe will be raised from death and that their eternal life will be more glorious than their physical life (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

• Islam: Akirah is determined by actions on Earth, ruh is released after death, Janna and Jahannam, "And everything they did is in written records" (Qur'an 54:52), Hell is for those whose good deeds outweigh the bad, "And the evil consequences of what they did will appear to them" (Qur'an 46:33), Only God knows when the day of judgement will be

• Humanist: Do not believe in souls, once you die your existence ends

L+D: Funeral ceremonies

• Christianity: Prayers said and forgiveness asked to show importance of relationship, RC gives Holy Communion to show importance of sacraments, "I am the resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25) is read shows spending eternity with God, Candles lit to show Jesus as the light, Buried rather than cremated due to later physical resurrection

• Islam: Shahadah whispered into ears to show return, Body wrapped in white shroud to show equality, Buried for physical resurrection, Mound with no gravestone shows equality, "We shall bring you forth once more" (Qur'an 20:55) said during lowering

• Humanist: Takes place anywhere to show no belief of POW importance, Readings and songs that reflect the dead are chosen to emphasise importance of life, No mention of God or sacred texts to signify no belief

G+E: Key terms GEFFJMSSP

• Good: That which is considered morally right, beneficial and to our advantage

• Evil: That which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong

• Forgiveness: To grant pardon for a wrongdoing and to give up the desire for revenge against a wrongdoer

• Free Will: The ability to make choices freely and independently

• Justice: Where everyone has equal provisions and opportunities

• Morality: Principles and standards that determine whether an act is right or wrong

• Sin: An action done deliberately that breaks a religious or moral law

• Suffering: Any form of pain or distress caused by injury, illness or loss

• Punishment: A penalty given to someone for a crime or wrongdoing they have done

G+E: Types of morality

• Absolute morality: When a person has a principle and will never alter their views in any situation

• Relative Morality: When a person's moral principle adapts depending on the scenario

G+E: Aims of punishment

• Protection: To protect the public from any future crime

• Retribution: Making up for the suffering caused

• Reformation: Fixes problems that leads to issue

• Deterrence: To put people off from committing crimes

• Reparation: Repairment of damage done through crime

• Vindication: Proving that the law should be respected and followed

G+E: Beliefs about the aims of punishment

• Christianity: Everyone created with choice to accept or reject God, Justice must follow sin but Jesus taught of forgiveness, To gain Justice = punishment given + forgiveness sought, God will be the final judge, Jesus taught compassion and not revenge

• Islam: Believers make the choice, Allah is the Merciful, the Compassionate, and the Generous, Allah is final judge, Qur'an 16:90 teaches Allah set the rules and shows the way. Some countries enforce strict Shariah Law

G+E: Prison Reformer (Case study)

Elizabeth Fry

• Ensured education for women

• Made sure all basic needs were met

• Put people in separate cells to preserve hygiene

G+E: Prison Chaplains

• Christian: Lead weekly service, give out Communion, Follow Jesus' teachings of respect and forgiveness

• Islam: All have a role to support the Ummah, discuss what foods are halal and what foods are haram, Qur'an readings

G+E: Death Penalty

• Christians against: "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13), "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39), "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), the golden rule of doing unto others what you would want done unto you, Quakers have campaigned against for almost 200 years

• Christians for: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Exodus 21:24), "Whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed" (Genesis 9:6), designed to maintain law and order rather than in anger, failure to show seriousness leads to more violent crime

• Islam against: "Never take life, which God has made sacred" (Qur'an 17:33), stress importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, some argue there are better ways

• Islam for: "Never take life, except for just cause" (Qur'an 17:33) could justify the killing, Shariah law in some countries uses executions

G+E: Forgiveness (Beliefs)

• Christians: "Forgive us as we forgive others" in the Lord's prayer proves, "If you do not forgive men for their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15), "Forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:21-35), "Father forgive them for they know not what they do (Jesus on the cross), Catholics confess and atone, Evangelicals through faith

• Islam: God's and human but both are needed, Qur'an states no limit on forgiveness, "And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is what your hands have earned; but He pardons much" (Surah 42:30), "if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed God is Forgiving and Merciful, Muhammad (PBUH) once helped an old lady who brushed dust toward him

G+E: Forgiveness (Case studies)

• Christian: Gee Walker's son was killed in a racially motivated attack in 2005 and she wanted to follow the teachings of Jesus and forgive, "I have to forgive them. I cannot hate. Hate is what killed Anthony"

• Islam: Khaled Hosseini moved to America to become a doctor but his family in Afghanistan all "disappeared", so he set up the Khaled Hossieni Foundation to shelter, educate, and give opportunities in Afghanistan, "I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded… with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night"

G+E: The origin of Evil

• Christian: Born with inner urge to do bad, evil existing develops moral souls, Ireneus thought free will meant evil had to exist and humans were created for spiritual growth

• Islam: All happens for the plan, Actions will be judged on Judgement day, Shaytan tempts humans but it can be resisted

G+E: Suffering

• Christians: St Irenaeus and John Hick believed humans existed for spiritual growth and suffering was part of that, Job teaches that the reason for suffering cannot be known but that we must have Faith in God, some say it connects to understanding Jesus' suffering, Catholics accept it as one of the five sorrowful mysteries

• Islam: Suffering is a test of faith, Zakat helps other who are suffering

G+E: Free will

• Methodists: God knows what choices everyone will make but still gives them the ability to choose

• Lutherans: Humans are free to choose and act in every regard except for the choice of salvation

• Roman Catholic: Do not believe free will contradicts grace

• Other Christian: Emphasis varies between denominations, God has given everyone the freedom to live their lives

• Islam: Allah knows the final outcome (Surah 22:70), Free will was granted by Allah so that people are not puppets and have the ability to learn from their mistakes (Surah 30:41), everyone can choose whether or not they obey Allah, impact of free will is determined on Judgement day

HR: Key concepts - CDEHPPRAS

• Censorship: Supressing and limiting access to materials considered to be obscene, offensive, or a threat to security

• Discrimination: Treating groups of people or individuals of that group differently based on their membership to it

• Extremism: Believing in and supporting ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable

• Human rights: The basic entitlements of all human beings, simply because they are human

• Personal conviction: Something a person strongly feels of believes in

• Prejudice: Judging people to be inferior or superior without evidence

• Relative poverty: Someone who lives on less than the average income for their area

• Absolute poverty: An acute state of deprivation where the most basic needs cannot be met

• Social justice: The promotion of a fair society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity

HR: The dignity of human life

• Christianity: All humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 1 26:27), all life should be valued and treated with respect (visiting people with leprosy, Good Samaritan), Evangeli Gaudium by Pope Francis speaks of importance to care for the homeless and the elderly, Everyone treated with selfless unconditional love (Agape)

• Islam: Each individual is unique and even helping just one is important (Qur'an 5:32), all are equal within the ummah, Life is god made so should be treated with respect

HR: Christian practices promoting human rights

• Agape in action

• Helping at Salvation Army Hostels

• Church food banks

• Volunteering for St Vincent de Paul

HR: Islamic practises promoting human rights

• Promotes welfare of the Muslim community

• Paying of zakat and sadaqah to those in poverty

• Volunteering for Islamic aid

HR: Freedom of expression (Case study)

Charlie Hebdo

• French satirist magazine

• Depicted Muhammad in human form and as a terrorist

• Goes against Islamic teachings of Idolatry

• Building was shot up by terrorists

HR: Christian beliefs towards prejudice and discrimination

• God created all humans as equal, regardless of race or gender (Galatians 3:28)

• TC gives guidance of living in harmony with one another

• Jesus treats lepurs and outcasts with respect to set example

• Jesus did not discriminate against women (John 4 - Asks for water)

• RC and GO do not allow female priests

• Other churches do allow though

HR: Islamic beliefs towards prejudice and discrimination

• All are equal though not the same (Qur'an 49:13)

• Ummah crosses all national, cultural, political, racial, and language boundaries

• White clothing in pilgrimage shows equality

• Bilal, the black slave, selected as the first muezzin

• Men and women have equal religious and ethical rights (Qur'an 5:8)

• Women have the right to not be harassed, to be protected, to be provided for, and to wear the hijab for modesty

HR: Christian campaigner against discrimination

Martin Luther King Jr

• Believed all were equal in the eyes of God

• Dreamed of a world where everyone would be equal citizens

• Non-violently protested and gave speeches

• "We must learn to live together as brothers or to perish as fools"

• "Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which seeks revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love"

HR: Islamic campaign against discrimination

The Christian Muslim Forum

• Creates a safe space for Christians and Muslims to discuss and explore ideas, whilst building good relationships

• Educates others through interfaith dialogue and activities, for communities, students and teachers, women, young people, and international development agencies

HR: Christian beliefs on the acquisition and use of wealth

• Spiritual values are the most important

• Wealth is not inherently wrong but depends on how it is required

• Many (inc Methodists and Quakers) oppose gambling as it encourages greed

• Giving to Charity is important

• Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) teaches focusing on material possessions and not helping others will put you in hell, and suffering in this life took you to heaven

HR: Islamic beliefs about the acquisition and use of wealth

• All wealth is a gift from Allah

• The wealthier you are, the more generous you should be

• Zakat is when Sunni and Shi'a give 2.5% of their wealth each year

• Khums is when Shi'a give 20% of their savings for community welfare

• Sadaqah is when all Muslims do any good deed out of compassion or generosity

• Zakat-ul-Fitr is the donation at the end of Ramadan so that even those in poverty can enjoy a nice meal

• "[True] righteousness is [in] one who believes in God, who gives wealth… to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help] and for freeing slaves… and gives Zakah" (Qur'an 2:117)

HR: Christian charity alleviating poverty

Christian Aid

• Challenges systems that favour the rich

• Reflects that God loves all

• Committed to stewardship

• Organises educational projects

• Work in cooperation with faith and secular groups

• Publicises examples of inequality

HR: Islamic charity alleviating poverty

Islamic Relief

• Guided by values to make a caring world

• Show compassion, justice and sincerity through actions

• Respond to disasters and emergencies

• Provides long term shelter and education support

• Supports orphans emotionally and financially