Religion and life | RS GCSE | Christianity and Islam

Christian beliefs about the creation of the universe

Christians believe the universe was designed by God out of nothing. The creation story in Genesis says God made the world in 6 days and rested on the 7

What God made on each 6 days

Day 1: Light and darkness,
Day 2: The sky,
Day 3: Land & sea & vegetation & plants,
Day 4: The sun & moon & stars,
Day 5: Fish & sea creatures & birds,
Day 6: Animals & Humans,

What fundamentalist christians believe about creation

That god literally made the world in six days, exactly how it is described in the bible, others might believe it is seven long periods of time

What Liberal christians believe about creation

The creation stories are symbolic, and main message is that God created the universe, they might look to science to find out HOW god did this

Muslim beliefs about the creation of the universe

Muslims believe the world was designed and created out of nothing,
Most muslims believe 'six days' refert o six periods of time but there is no indication of what was created on each day and no mention of a rest day

Bing Bang theory about the creation of the universe

Started with a tiny and hot and dense 'something,
Over 13.8bil years it expanded to the cosmos as we know it,
It continues to expand and cool,
Matter that had been flung everywhere became stars and galaxies

Why Islam might encourage scientific investigations

To better understand God

Sense of awe for religious believers

Devout respect for God's creations

Sense of wonder for religious believers

Marvelling at the complexity of the universe

How muslims see the world

As a place of worship, damaging the earth is as a serious sin as harming a mosque, its is a Muslims duty to respect and care for the environment

Christian beliefs about stewardship

If humans damage the earth, they are damaging what belongs to God

Muslim beliefs about Khalifah

Both sunni and shi'a muslims believe that humans have role of Khalifah and protect environment for future generations

Christian beliefs about dominion and stweardship

The belief that God gave humans power and authority to rule over the earth and can therefore do whatever they want with it

Religious beliefs about the use of natural resources

Christians and Muslims believe that they should avoid waste and conserve energy

Stewardship (Khalifah)

The idea that people have the duty to look after the earth and protect and care for the environment

Assisi Declaration

When religious leaders met at Italy to discuss how religious people could help care for the environment

What Christians and Muslims believe about the environment

Believe the earth should be cared for and promote stewardship and khalifah

Christian teachings about the use of animals for food

Christianity has no rules on eating meat,
Some believe God gave humans animals for food and are happy to eat meat,

Muslim teachings about the use of animals for food

Killing animals to provide food is a just cause but killing animals for pleasure or hunting is not,
Muslims have strict laws on how animals are killed for food,

Religious beliefs about animal experimentation

Causing unnecessary harm for animals is against Muslim principles,
Most believers allow testing for essential human needs,
Many christians believe stewardship involves treating all life with care,

Christian beliefs about the origins of human life

Genesis 1 shows God created humans on the sixth day of creation,
Genesis 2 shows God created the first humans Adam and Eve

Muslim beliefs about the origin of human life

God created humans and everything in it,
Adam was moulded out of clay by God by breathing life into him

Religious arguments with the theory of Evolution

Minority of religious believers accept the theory and do not believe it should cause conflict with their faith,
Some say it is true for animals but not for humans

Abortion

The termination of a pregnancy

Arguments supporting abortion

Situation ethics if mother's life is at risk,
If baby will have poor quality of life,
Extreme cases like rape,
"Blessed are the merciful" quote,
Atheist and the Law,

Arguments against abortion

"You shall not kill" quote,
Destruction is murder,
God gave life and only he can take it away,

Legal abortion positions in the UK

Abortion must take place within first 24 weeks of pregnancy,
2 doctors must agree to an abortion if:
Pregnancy endangers woman's life,
If woman's physical or mental health is endangered,
If there is a strong risk the baby will be born with severe mental or physical disabilities,
If an additional child will endanger the family physically/mentally,

Euthanasia

A 'good death' painlessly ending the life of someone who is dying

Active euthansia

Is deliberate steps taken to kill someone like a lethal injection, This is illegal in the UK

3 main types of Euthanasia

Voluntary if person asks for their life to be ended,
Involuntary if person is capable of expressing a choice but is not given opportunity to do so,
Non-Voluntary if person is unable to express a choice for example a baby or a person in coma

Muslim beliefs about Euthanasia

Euthanasia is forbidden and is Haram in Islam as it goes against the sanctity of life,
Al-Qadr (predestination) means God has planned a person's life and ending it goes against his plan,

Christian beliefs in support of euthanasia

God gives people free will to end their own life,
Euthanasia may be the most loving thing to do "love thy neighbour",
A good and gentle death may bot be possible if natural death occurs,
Drugs to end life are God given so they can be used,

Christianity beliefs against euthanasia

Euthanasia is deliberate killing and murder,
It may be open to abuse and against the will of the person,
Only God should take life at the time of his choosing,
Inheritance issues may pressurise families,
It may encourage compulsory euthanasia at a certain age,

Christian beliefs about life after death

Death is the beginning of an eternal life that depends on faith in God,
It begins at death or on the day of judgement when God judges people's behaviour as well as faith,
The results of God's judgement is eternity in heaven or hell,

Islamic beliefs about life after death

Muslims believe in afterlife called Akhirah,
Life on earth is a test or trial which will decide what happens in the afterlife,
On the day of Judgement each person will be bought before God and their book of life will be opened,
Those who reject God and did not do good enough deeds are sent to hell while good people are sent to heaven,