THEME B: RELIGION AND LIFE

Universe

All existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos.

Fundamentalist Christians

Christians who believe that the Bible is 100% true and the word of God e.g. the World created in 6 days.

Liberal Christians

Christians who believe that both the Bible and science are right e.g. the Bible story is not literally true, but a myth, God created the Big Bang etc.

Wonder

Marvelling at the complexity & beauty of the universe.

Awe

A feeling of respect, mixed with fear & wonder.

Responsibility

A duty to care for or something we have to do.

Stewardship

Duty to look after the world, and life. To guard over/look after something on behalf of God.

Dominion

The idea that humans have the right to control all of creation.

Environment

The world around us.

Natural Resources

The resources the earth provides without the aid of mankind.

Sustainable development

Building and progress that try to reduce the impact on the natural world for future generations

Fossil fuels

The Earth's natural resources - coal, oil and gas.

Deforestation

The removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.

Renewable/sustainable energy

Energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.

Pollution

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Vegetarian

A person who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons.

Vegan

A person who does not eat or use animal products.

Evolution

Change in inherited traits in a species

Abortion

Deliberate expulsion of foetus from the womb with the intention to destroy it.

Sanctity of Life

The belief that life is sacred, special and holy. Therefore, all life deserves respect, and should be treated equally. Life is special because it involves the creative action of God.

Quality of Life

A description of how good someone's life is. It includes how comfortable they feel, how easy it is for them to live through each day, perhaps how much they have in terms of money and possessions. For many medical ethics issues it is ultimately about whether or not life is worth living because of the situation a person finds themselves in.

Euthanasia

Mercy killing; ending life for someone who is terminally ill, or has degenerative disease.

Voluntary euthanasia

If someone asks someone else to help them to die.

Involuntary euthanasia

If the person has not asked for it or is incapable of asking for it (e.g. in a coma).

Active Euthanasia

When action is taken to bring life to an end.
This is generally against the law.

Passive euthanasia

When a decision is made to stop giving a dying person further treatment, even though death will be the result. This is not against the law.

Afterlife

Belief about what happens after we die to our self/soul.

Big Bang Theory

The scientific view of the beginning of the universe.

Foetus

The name of the unborn baby from the eighth week of pregnancy until birth.

Embryo

An egg in the early stages of growth from fertilisation by a sperm until the eighth week of pregnancy.

Abuse

Misuse of the world and environment.

Animal rights

The idea that animals should have rights because of respect for life.

Charles Darwin

The man who put forward the theory of evolution.

Conception

When the sperm fertilises the female egg so allowing pregnancy.

Hospice

A place that cares for the dying, usually from an incurable disease.

Natural Selection

One of the basic mechanisms of evolution.

Pro-choice

The idea that women have the right to decide on abortion.

Pro-life

The idea that life should be preserved and so abortion be disallowed.

Science

Knowledge coming from observed regularity in nature and experimentation.

Right to die

The belief that a human being should be able to control their own death.