Issues of Life and Death Key Concepts

Question 1

Afterlife

Answer 1

• Life after death
• The belief that existence continues after death

Question 2

Environmental Sustainability

Answer 2

• Ensuring that the demands placed on natural resources can be met.
• This does not reduce the capacity to allow all people and animals to live well now and in the future.

Question 3

Euthanasia

Answer 3

• From Greek, eu = good and thanatos = death.
• Sometimes referred to as ‘mercy killing’.
• The act of killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from a serious illness.

Question 4

Evolution

Answer 4

The process by which different living creatures are believed to have developed from earlier less complex forms during the history of the earth.

Question 5

Abortion

Answer 5

When a pregnancy is ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child.

Question 6

Quality of Life

Answer 6

The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable.

Question 7

Sanctity of Life.

Answer 7

• The belief that life is precious or sacred.
• For many religious believers, only human life holds this special status.

Question 8

Soul

Answer 8

• The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone with God.
• The soul is often regarded as non-physical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.