Big Bang Theory

Question 1

What does the Big Bang Theory suggest?

Answer 1

it suggests there was a massive expansion of space that set the creation of the universe in motion. This theory is accepted by most Christians and Buddhists.

Question 2

Christian views on the origins of the universe and Genesis creation story?

Answer 2

Christians believe the universe was designed and made by God.
Fundamentalist Christians - believe the creation story describes exactly how the universe was created.

liberal Christians - They believe the creation story is symbolic, with the main message being that God created the universe.

Question 3

Buddhist views on the origins of the universe and example

Answer 3

• do not believe in a creator of the universe
• Buddhism has a cyclical vision of the universe - each universe is followed by another one. There is no beginning or end to the whole process.
• consider it more important to find a way out of suffering than to understand the origins of the universe
  (E.g: Buddha’s parable of the man hit by a poisoned arrow, it is more important the man receives treatment (relief from suffering), not that he finds out where the arrow came from.

Question 4

Christian value of the world

Answer 4

• view the earth as a priceless gift from God, loaned to humans as a result of his love.
• beauty of the world can give a sense of awe and wonder, and devout respect for God’s power of creation

Question 5

Buddhist value of the world

Answer 5

• they value the world because it provides and sustains life
• provides conditions needed to achieve enlightenment
• Buddhism teaches that although the world belongs to nobody, it is everyone’s responsibility to look after it

Question 6

Christian and Buddhist beliefs about the use and abuse of the environment

Answer 6

• C believe God gave humans the responsibility to care for the world and protect the environment.
• Buddhist teachings such as dependent arising and the five moral precepts encourage Buddhists to protect the environment.

Question 7

Meaning of stewardship + example

Answer 7

• Means Christians have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God.
  (E.g: when God puts Adam into the Garden of Eden to ‘work it and take care of it.’)

Question 8

Meaning of dominion

Answer 8

• means power and authority over the world

Question 9

Problems caused by different types of pollution

Answer 9

Air - fumes from factories + transport - Asthma, acid rain
Land - Poor disposal of waste - inefficient farming, posioned food
Water - Dumping waste into rivers and seas - Oil spills, plastic waste kill marine life

Question 10

Christian views about pollution (QUOTES AND EXAMPLES)

Answer 10

• “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Psalms 24:1)
• The parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) warns that God will be the final judge about how responsible humans have been in looking after the earth
• Pollution is not loving towards others - Jesus teaches Christians to ‘love your neighbour’ (Luke 10:27)

Question 11

Christians belief/teachings on the use of animals for food

Answer 11

• believe God gave humans animals to use for food
  “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.” (Genesis 9:3)

Question 12

Buddhist views about the use of animals for food

Answer 12

• important to treat animals with loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna).
• some mahayana scriptures state the Buddha insisted his followers should not eat meat or fish
  “Comparing (others) with oneself, one should not kill or cause to kill,” (the Buddha in the Dhammapada)
• 5 moral precepts

Question 13

Christian views on animal experimentation

Answer 13

• believe that if testing is proved to be necessary, and the welfare of the animals is considered, it is justified to ensure human safety

Question 14

Buddhist view on animal experimentation

Answer 14

• some are against animal experimentation because they believe animals should not be harmed
• Principle of Kamma teaches that causing harm to animals is unskilful and will lead to suffering.
• goes against the first moral precept (to abstain from taking life)
• Eightfold Path teaches that Buddhists should not make a living from activites that cause harm to others, including animals.

Question 15

Christian beliefs about the origins of life

Answer 15

• genesis 1 says that God created all life, with human life being created last
• genesis 2 tells how God created the first man, Adam, from the soil and breathed life into him.
  While adam was asleep, God took one of his ribs and used it create a women Eve. Eve was created to help adam and to live in a close relationship with him and God.

Question 16

Buddhist views on the origins of life

Answer 16

• Buddha said that anything (including life) can come into existence when the necessary conditions are there - doesn’t rely on a creator God - just happens
• Earth is in a continuous process of change

Question 17

Christians attitude towards abortion

Answer 17

• believe in the sanctity of life. This means human life is sacred as it is made in the image of God. All human life should be valued and respected
• Some c believe life begins at the moment of conception think abortion is wrong as it is taking away life that is given by God.
• acceptable if it from rape or child would have a very poor quality of life

Question 18

Buddhist’s attitude towards abortion

Answer 18

• seen as a form of killing which goes against first moral precept however sometimes favour abortion if baby is severly diasbled or poor quality of life.

Question 19

Secular attitudes towards abortion
For

Answer 19

• mothers life is more important
• mother’s choice, she has to give birth to it
• cruel if child severely disabled or poor quality of life

Question 20

Secular attitude for abortion
Against

Answer 20

• life begins at conception, abortion is a form of murder
• unwanted children can be adopted into families that will care for them

Question 21

Euthanasia meaning

Answer 21

painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful illness, or who is in an irreversible coma

Question 22

Different types of euthanasia

Answer 22

. voluntary - ill person asks for their life to be ended because they don’t want to live any more
. involuntary - person is capable of expressing a choice but is not given the opportunity to do so
. non - voluntary - person is too ill to ask to die, possibly in a coma, but the doctor ends their life as it is thought to be in their best interests.

Question 23

Active euthanasia

Answer 23

deliberate steps to end a person’s life

Question 24

Passive euthanasia

Answer 24

Doctors withdraw the medical treatment that is keeping the patient alive

Question 25

Christian views on euthanasia (AGAINST)

Answer 25

• interfere with Gods plan
• Against sanctity of life + only god has the right to take away life
• Suffering brings people to closer to god and helps them understand Jesus’s suffering
  “Undermine human dignity and are morally wrong” (Salvation Army)

Question 26

Christian view on euthanasia (FOR)

Answer 26

• most loving thing to do
• god gave people free will so they should be able to choose when to end their lives

Question 27

Buddhist view on euthanasia (AGAINST)

Answer 27

• goes against first moral precept
• natural death is better for a persons karma
• Dalia lama said that it should be avoided except in exceptional circumstances

Question 28

Buddhist view on euthanasia (FOR)

Answer 28

• compassionate to help someone end their life if they are suffering a lot
• state of mind of the person at death is important as it influences their rebirth - benefit the future consciousness

Question 29

Christian beliefs about death and afterlife

Answer 29

• after death they are judged by god and will either be eternally with god (heaven) or eternally without god (hell)
• some c believe judgement happens as soon as person dies
• others believe Jesus will return on a filter day of judgement when all souls will be judged
• catholics believe in purgatory where souls are cleanses to allow them into heaven
  “For god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Question 30

Buddhist views on death and the afterlife

Answer 30

• death is a process rather than a single moment
• people are reborn after they die, person’s consciousness entered another life at the point of its conception
• quality of the rebirth is dependent upon the ethical quality of the persons’s actions in the pervious life (their kamma)