Matters of Life and Death | Buddhism Flashcards
Describe the Big Bang theory
- 13.7 billion years ago all the matter in the universe was concentrated into a single point and then began to enlarge rapidly
- causing an explosion leading to life on earth.
Give 2 pieces of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory
- all the galaxies are moving away from us
- the universe is ever expanding
Give three Buddhist views on the origin of the world - link to SOA
- The buddha believed the origin of the world has no religious value for gaining spiritual wisdom.
- The world is nothing but samsara. The world came into being due to the destruction of another and will continue this way due to Paticca-Samuppada , - Dalai Lama
- The pattern of death and rebirth is eternal and cyclical and so it is pointless to single out any one beginning
Give 2 Buddhist views on the value of the universe ( how we use it) - link to SOA
- Buddhism promotes self restraint and balance by working with nature then mankind will be happier due to concept of Paticca-Samuppada
- Buddhists view the universe as a commodity and that we should use the resources in the world as we depend on nature for food /clothing and medicine
- Lily de Silva
Give a Buddhists view on the sanctity of life.
- Human life is not scared as there is no God however it is important and valuable as they are the only beings who can achieve enlightenment
What does the First Precept teach about the sanctity of life? - link to suffering
- The precept prohibits all kinds of violence against all living beings as it is unskilful because it brings suffering on the doer and the victim preventing them both from enlightenment
Give 3 reasons why humans are special in Buddhism
- Buddha’s are always human
- The chances of being born human are so remote and highly valued
- Humans have a unique capacity for moral choice, elimination of suffering and attainment of nibbana whereas animals and other realms do not
Describe Darwin’s theory of evolution ( All…)
All different species have developed over time from simple life forms
Describe the concept of the survival of the fittest
- individuals show a random variation in their genes
- They are found to be more suited to the environment and more likely to survive and reproduce
- these genes are then passed down to their offspring
Give a buddhist response to the origin of human life and the Big Bang theory ( hint: link to key buddhist belief)
- the absence of God and the view that existence is cyclical means there is no creation story nor a single one point where the universe began
Give two Buddhist views in favour of the theory of evolution
- the Buddha stated that the origins of the world are not important and meaningless and so do not challenge beliefs
- Many Buddhists tacitly agree with evolution as the buddha never condemned it and stated that we are to think about the origins of the universe using science
Give two Buddhist views against the theory of evolution
- Evolution states that natural selection is random.
- This challenges the belief of Paticca-Samuppada as it goes against the belief that everything is interconnected and reliant on other things
- Evolution states that the universe began at a specific point in time and evolved from there
- This challenges the belief that the universe is cyclical and there were universes before and will be universes after
Give three different views on when life begins and define them briefly - non religious
- conception
- viability ( when the foetus can survive outside the womb)
- birth
When does a Buddhist believe life begins and why ?
- consciousness arises at conception as this is when the karmic consequences are transferred to the body
Give the UK law’s view on abortion
It is legal up until 24 weeks after that it is illegal unless there is risk to life
Give 3 Buddhists views against abortion- link to SOA
- As rebirth begins at conception, abortion interferes with the transference of kamma and prevents that being from seeking enlightenment
- it breaks the first precept and the key principle of ahimsa as you are killing someone
- The Vinaya rules view a monk who has deliberately assisted a woman in having in abortion as a great offense requiring him to leave the monastic sangha