theme B notes
key terms:
abortion - deliberate termination of a pregnancy
afterlife - beliefs about what happens to us after our body has died
animal experimentation - the use of animals for research and testing
awe and wonder - sense of wonderment at nature, often linked to the feeling that God is involved
big bang theory - scientific theory about the origins of the universe, belief that it began long ago from a reaction of particles
death - the end of the physical/bodily life
dominion - belief that humans have been given control of the world
environment - world around us
euthanasia - assisting with the end of life
evolution - theory of the development of species
natural resources - resources found in nature
pollution - contamination of an environment with harmful substances
quality of life - standard of health, comfort and happiness of a group
responsibility - duty or obligation to act a certain way
sanctity of life - belief that human life is sacred
stewardship - duty given by god to mankind to look after the world and the life within
the origins of the universe
Islam | Christianity | |
beliefs | believe God created the universe and everything in it, in 6 days however we don’t know the order in which things were created most believe the big bang occurred because of God | God created the heavens and the earth six days of creation followed by rest Catholic Priest created big band theory and Pope Francis supports the big bang theory |
quotes | “God s the creator of all things” “we are it’s expander” | “God created the heavens and the earth” |
fundamentalists reject scientific explanations because they take the bible literally
liberals accept the theory - Genesis had an important message but it should not be taken literally
some Muslims may view the big bang as contradiction the creation story
most Muslims believe science is compatible with their beliefs
origins of human life
Islam | Christianity | |
beliefs | God created Adam from clay Most believe science - evolution is part of God’s plan | Genesis says God created humans in his image many believe that evolution was part of God’s plan |
quotes | “God is the creator of all things” “he created you stage by stage” - evolution “we have made from water every living thing” | “in the image of God he created them” |
fundamentalist reject science because they take the bible as literal
liberals believe God used science and the bible is not supposed to be literal
some Muslims may be sceptical of evolution because the Qur’an teaches that God made Adam from clay
most see evolution as part of God’s plan
the value of the world
“God has appointed you his stewards” - Islam
“do not commit abuse on the earth”
“God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”
“they may rule over the creatures”
“the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”
“you put everything under their feet”
Christian responses to pollution:
humans had a duty to look after the world
may try to reduce pollution
for example, recycling, shopping sustainably
Islam has a duty of be Kahlifahs
may pray for the strength to help the environment
recycling, etc
animals experimentation/eating animals
80 billion are killed for food every year
Christianity | Islam | |
agree with experimentation |
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disagree with experimentation |
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good quotes for this:
pope Francis - let us be protectors of God’s creation
God has appointed you his stewards - Hadith
God created everything for man - Catechism
Catechism - it is wrong to cause animals suffering or death needlessly
surah - all creatures are communities like yourselves
sanctity/quality of life
key quotes:
“God created mankind in his own image” - Christians
“God gave you life” - life is a gift from God - Christians
“do not kill” - Christians
“do not kill yourselves or one another” - Islam
these reflect the idea of sanctity of life
on the other hand we have
“it is not possible to die except by permission of God at an appointed time”
quality of life is subjective and subject to change throughout life
many Christians and Muslims believe that how you feel is important but it does not affect life’s value
abortion
there is lots of debate around when life begins for a foetus
conception
when the foetus has a heart of it’s own (~5 weeks)
viability (~24 weeks)
at birth
UK law says that an abortion can be granted up to 24 weeks if:
the pregnancy will cause permanent injury to the mother
the pregnancy would severely harm the mother, physically or mentally or threaten their life
abortions can also be granted up to 9 months if:
if the child would have severe disabilities of any kind
pro life | pro choice |
people who think the foetus has the right to life from the moment it is created → therefore abortion is wrong | people who think that the pregnant person has the right to decide what happens to their own body |
argument | explanation | quote |
Sanctity of Life | all human life is sacred → life begins at conception → it is wrong to kill | “i chose you before i gave you life” |
Quality of Life | Quality of life is measured on external factors, of which a baby has none → therefore mother should be protected over baby | “Jesus came to give us abundant life” |
playing God | to take the life of a foetus is judging who deserves to live and to die → God is the only judge → to kill a foetus is disrespecting God | “there is only One lawgiver and judge” |
it’s wrong to kill | it is wrong to kill innocent human beings → an embryo is an innocent human being → it is wrong to kill the embryo | “thou shalt not kill” |
all people are made in God’s image | people are made in God’s image → foetus is made in God’s image → to kill the foetus is to disrespect God | “God created mankind in his own image” “God is the creator of all things” |
God gave people free will | therefore it is up to the pregnant person to make a choice and God will guide them | “you, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free” |
it is wrong to judge | we should be kind and not judge someone for their choices | “clothe yourselves with compassion” |
catholic | liberals |
abortion is murder because life begins at conception | people have free will and can make their own choices |
“i chose you before i gave you life” | “you, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free” |
euthanasia
euthanasia is illegal in the UK, but it is always reserved for someone terminally ill or with a degenerative illness
one should be able to die happily on their own terms | n/a | philosopher Niezsche said “one should die proudly once they can no longer live proudly” |
show mercy and love | following someone’s wishes may be the kindest thing to do - situation ethics | “clothe yourselves in compassion” |
do not kill | this is not situational but universal | “do not kill” “do not kill yourselves or others” |
God gave people freewill | therefore people should be able to do what they wish | “it is not possible for you to die except by permission of God at an appointed time” - Surah |
slippery slope | people might feel a burden to stay alive and might kill themselves even if they don’t want to | “the right to die can so easily become a duty to die” |