Matters Of Life And Death

Question 1

Euthanasia

Answer 1

The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease

Question 2

Immortality of the soul

Answer 2

The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body

Question 3

Near-death experience

Answer 3

When someone about to die has an out of body experience

Question 4

Non- voluntary euthanasia

Answer 4

Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so

Question 5

Paranormal

Answer 5

Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual cases, eg, ghosts,

Question 6

Quality of life

Answer 6

The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living.

Question 7

Resurrection

Answer 7

The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raised.

Question 8

Sanctity of life

Answer 8

The belief that life is holy and belongs to God

Question 9

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 9

Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death

Question 10

Abortion

Answer 10

The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive

Question 11

Assisted suicide

Answer 11

Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide

Question 12

Reincarnation

Answer 12

The belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new body

Question 13

Catholic opinion on abortion

Answer 13

Catholicism states that life begins at conception, the Catholic Church is generally opposed to abortion. Sanctity of life.
• “Abortion is a horrible crime…the law must provide appropriate sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child’s rights.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Question 13

Church of England opinion on abortion

Answer 13

• “We affirm that every human life is unique, born or yet to be born…we therefore believe that abortion is an evil. But we also believe that to withdraw compassion in circumstances of extreme distress or need is a very great evil. In an imperfect world the ‘right’ choice is sometimes the lesser of two evils.”

Question 14

Methodist opinion on abortion

Answer 14

• “Abortion is always an evil to be avoided if at all possible… However, in an imperfect world there wi be circumstances where a termination of a pregnancy may be the lesser of two evils.”

Question 15

Quaker opinion on abortion

Answer 15

• Use the conscience - whatever you think is morally correct.
• God is in everything, when a person becomes a person is up to the individual.

Question 16

What are the 4 main arguments for abortion?

Answer 16

• A woman has a right to choose what happens to her body, her life, her relationships and whether to have a child.
• If a foetus will not have a reasonable quality of life, it would be unfair to bring it up into the world.
• The abortion may save a woman’s life.
• Abortion helps to control population growth.

Question 17

What are the main arguments against abortion?

Answer 17

Anti-abortion groups like LIFE and The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child say that the foetus is a human being and has the right:
• Not to be killed.
• To fulfil its potential.
• For its life to be valued.
• To be fairly represented by an unbiased party.
- If a foetus is handicapped, it is wrong to kill it because of the mother’s circumstances.

Question 18

What is the current British law on abortion?

Answer 18

• It is legal when certain conditions are met (usually 24 weeks).
• It must take place in a registered medical unit.
• It must be agreed by two separate doctors.
• It is allowed if the mother’s life is at risk.
• It is allowed if there is a substantial risk of the child being seriously mentally or physically disabled.
• To protect the physical/mental health of the mother.
• To protect the physical/mental health of the existing children.

Question 19

What are the arguments for euthanasia?

Answer 19

• It leads to a pain-free death, someone with a late stage disease could not die in lots of pain.
• It allows sufferers to die with dignity instead of a slow and painful death - example of Tony Nicklinson with locked-in syndrome cannot move or talk.
• It saves money on hospital and medical expenses.
• It relieves the burden on families.

Question 20

What are the arguments against euthanasia?

Answer 20

• Not all illnesses which are diagnosed as terminal will necessarily end in death.
• Pietro d’Amico was misdiagnosed with a terminal illness so received euthanasia.
• If doctors can kill those who are very sick, society will stop looking for cures.
• Elderly and sick may feel pressure on them to die.
• The Hospice Movement cares for the terminally ill and offers an alternative to euthanasia.

Question 22

How is one Christian agency trying to end world poverty?

Answer 22

• Christian Aid provides long-term aid such as assisting with a scheme in Afghanistan to help farmers increase their wheat yield and share it out equally. This encourages people in poverty to help themselves (more food).
• Christian Aid provides emergency aid in situations where there are disasters, such as giving antibiotics, food and shelter to people in Bangladesh in 2004 after the floods.
• Christian Aid has a quarterly newspaper called Christian Aid News which publishes what they are doing in LEDCs and what needs to be done. This helps raise awareness of issues in impoverished countries.
• Christian Aid fundraises in May for a Christian Aid Week which raises money so that it can go and provide aid around the world.

Question 23

Why should Christians work to relieve world poverty?

Answer 23

• God gave Christians stewardship of the Earth and so they should look after it, its resources and share the resources fairly - “the Lord God placed man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and guard it”.
• Parable of the Sheep and Goats shows that Christians will be judged on how well they have looked after other people and this will determine whether they go to heaven - “When I was hungry, you fed me”.
• Jesus’ teachings say that Jesus told a man to “give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven”.
• Church teachings show how Christians can act in a way to please God - “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.” (Catechism).
• Bible teachings show that Christians should be active in their ways of showing love - “your love must be not just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine.”

Question 24

Why would Christians believe in life after death?

Answer 24

• Jesus rose from the dead - “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father”. If Jesus rose from the dead, so can Christians.
• The Catechism, which holds the words of God teaches that there is life after death - “it is Jesus himself who on the Last Day will raise up those who have believed in him”.
• The Christian creeds, which all Christians should believe state that there is life after death - “I believe in…the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”.
• St. Paul, who has divine authority so all Christians should believe him, taught that people will have a resurrection like Jesus and said “the body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable”.

Question 25

What do Roman Catholics believe about life after death?

Answer 25

Believe in the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul.
• The soul of Christians who are free of sin will go straight to heaven and those who have sinned will go to Purgatory to be cleansed. The souls of people who have not believed or have committed unforgivable sins will go to Hell.
• On the Day of Judgement, Jesus will raise the dead and reunite bodies and souls. Those in Heaven and Purgatory will go to the new Heaven and those in Hell will go back to Hell for eternity.

Question 26

Why do Roman Catholics believe in life after death?

Answer 26

• Jesus was resurrected - so Christians will be resurrected too.
• They believe that Jesus sits next to the Father and so will judge Christians.
• Bible teachings - “to those whose by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.” (Romans)
• Catechism - “those who have refused to believe will go to Hell”.

Question 27

What does the Church of England say about life after death?

Answer 27

Believe that the body stays in the grave and the soul goes to God to be judged.
• There is a difference of opinion about what happens to those who do not go to heaven (some do not believe in Hell).

Question 28

Why does the Church of England say what it does about life after death?

Answer 28

• Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”.
• Bible teachings - “to those whose by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.” (Romans)
• There is evidence of the paranormal - people sometimes see ghost and talk to spirits through mediums.

Question 29

What do Evangelical Christians believe about life after death?

Answer 29

Believe that after death the soul and body stay in the grave until the end of the world.
• At the end of the world, Christians will be judged and the good will go to heaven and the sinners will go to hell.

Question 30

Why do Evangelical Christians believe in life after death?

Answer 30

• Jesus was raised so Christians will be too.
• St. Paul taught that “the body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable”.
• The Christian Creeds support their belief - “I believe in…the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.”

Question 31

How might beliefs about life after death affect a Christian’s life?

Answer 31

• Not wanting to donate organs because on the last day bodies are resurrected.
• Christians may act more kindly and follow the teachings of the Bible so that they do not go to Hell (Judgement Day).
• Christians may act more kindly because they believe that there are people watching over from Heaven (e.g. dead relatives) and would not want to disappoint them.
• Some Christians, for example Roman Catholics, believe in Purgatory and they can repent their sins there after dying. These Christians may not follow the Bible so carefully as they know that God will eventually forgive their sins.

Question 32

What are the general Christian attitudes to Euthanasia?

Answer 32

Most Christian churches are against euthanasia, but some allow doctors to switch off life support machines.
• The Sanctity of Life principle would not support euthanasia.
• Christians often turn to the hospice movement instead, which offers care to those suffering from a terminal illness.

Question 33

What does the Roman Catholic Church say about euthanasia?

Answer 33

“An act or omission which causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder greatly contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.” (Catechism)

Question 34

What does the Salvation Army say about euthanasia?

Answer 34

“We believe that it is right to use medical treatment to control pain. We deny the right to legalise the termination of life by a doctor.”

Question 35

What are the main points of the Sanctity of Life (that show that murder is wrong)?

Answer 35

• Christians believe that they are all made in the image of God because it is said in the Bible “so God created mankind in his own image”.
• Christians believe that they must not murder because it says in the Bible “you shall not commit murder”.
• Christians believe that they must not murder because the Church teaches against it - “God alone is the Lord of life…no one can under any circumstances claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” (Catechism)
• Christians believe that the body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” and so they must not mistreat it.
• Christians believe that only God can give or take life because Jesus suffered and did not do anything to cut short his sufferings so neither should humans.

Question 36

What is a quote from the Christian Hospice Movement?

Answer 36

“We are now always able to control pain in terminal cancer in the patients sent to us…euthanasia as advocated is wrong…it should be unnecessary and is an admission of defeat.”

Question 37

What are non-religious arguments for believing in life after death?

Answer 37

• Some people have near-death experiences when they say that they have met someone from another world and have gone outside of their bodies.
• People may believe in life after death because they have contacted the spirit world through mediums and things such as Ouija boards.
• People may believe in life after death because they have seen ghosts and therefore see evidence that people live on.
• Reincarnation can be a theory for life after death. People often believe in reincarnation due to examples of when they hear stories of people who remember details of their past lives.
• Some people believe in life after death as it is comforting.
• Some people believe in life after death because there must be a reward for living a good life.

Question 38

Why is euthanasia a controversial issue? (6)

Answer 38

• It can lead doctors to have ethical dilemmas if they do not want to end someone’s life but they are told to do so.
• It may be regarded as murder as it is the taking away of someone’s life.
• It could lead to misuse if people use euthanasia to receive an inheritance.
• Someone may change their mind when it is too late to do so and there may be unwanted deaths.
• Some people believe that it is a loving thing to do.
• Some people believe that people should be able to choose when they want to die.

Question 39

Why is abortion a controversial issue? (4)

Answer 39

• There are many different views on when life after death begins and so different people feel differently about whether it is murder or not.
• There are different views on how soon into the pregnancy abortion should be allowed (e.g. 20 or 24 weeks - when the foetus can feel pain).
• There are arguments regarding who has the most rights, whether it is the woman or the foetus.
• There are arguments regarding whether the medical staff should have to carry out abortions (many do not wan to).

Question 40

Why should the media be allowed to criticise what religions say about matters of life and death?

Answer 40

• The media has freedom of speech (freedom of opinion and expression is a human right).
• If religious people are prepared to give their opinions in public, they should also be prepared to be criticised on their opinions.
• Life and death is a very important topic and so as many arguments on all sides should be shown as possible - media makes arguments known.

Question 41

Why should the media not be allowed to criticise what religions say about matters of life and death?

Answer 41

• Criticising what religions say is arguably criticising what God says and is therefore blasphemy.
• The media’s criticism can stir up religious hatred (e.g. Charlie Hebdo).
• Opinions on matters of life and death are too personal for the media to criticise.
• The media might be biased (e.g. newspapers are right and left wing).

Question 42

Why do some people not believe in life after death?

Answer 42

• There is no evidence for where life after death would take place (space exploration has not found Heaven/Hell).
• Near-death experiences can be explained as being hallucinations or dreams, don’t have to mean that there is an afterlife.
• When the body dies, it decays and science has proven that the nothing can function in the body without the brain (including the mind).
• All religions have conflicting ideas about life after death (e.g. Hindus believe in reincarnation and Christians in Heaven) and if there were life after death, the ideas would all be the same.