Religion and life Flashcards
(115 cards)
1
Q
creation ex nihilo
A
-according to Christianity, God created the universe out of nothing. God’s omnipotence.
2
Q
Richard Dawkins quote
A
‘I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.’
- We no longer need to believe in God because of scientific theories
3
Q
God’s omnipotence
A
And God said,’Let there be light and there was light’
4
Q
Genesis
A
First book of the Bible. Most scholars consider to be Christian-Judeo mythology, rather than historical. Tradition credits Moses as an author. Thought to have been written 6th century BCE.Countless translations since.
5
Q
Creation- God’s omnipotence
A
- creation ‘ex nihilo’: God creates the universe ‘out of nothing’
- God creates simply by speaking (eg: ‘Let there be light’)
- ‘God saw all that He had made…and it was very good (Genesis 1)
- “The heavens declare the glory of the God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
- “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… through Him all things were made.” (John 1:1-3)
6
Q
William Paley Design argument-link- for the existence of God
A
-William Paley argued that the watch was like a universe - they are both complex and require a designer to explain their existence.
7
Q
What was created on day 1?
A
Light was created
8
Q
What was created on day 2?
A
The sky was created
9
Q
What was created on day 3?
A
Dry land, sea, plants and trees were created
10
Q
What was created on day 4?
A
the sun, moon and stars
11
Q
What was created on day 5?
A
Creatures that live in the sea and creatures that fly.
12
Q
What was created on day 6?
A
Animals that live on the land, and finally humans made in the image of God, ‘imago dei’ were created
13
Q
What happened on the 7th day?
A
God finished his work of creation and rested, making the seventh day a special holy day.
14
Q
Why is there a query about the creation story?
A
In Genesis 2, it says humans are created before animals but genesis 1 says animals were created first.
15
Q
What do fundamentalist Christians believe about creation?
A
- they believe the universe was literally created in 6 days
- They regard the Bible as the inerrant,infallible and absolute voice of God. Each verse is to be taken literally as the direct word of God. It cannot be questioned or interpreted- it must be taken literally.
16
Q
Liberals Christians believe that the creation story is not supposed to be taken literally.
A
- the pursuit of truth did not end with the Bible and continues to this day
- should not be taken literally as it was written by humans
- the Bible is mythology and contains moral messages
- translated countless times since
- much more open to scientific explanations
17
Q
What does the Big Bang theory suggest?
A
The universe started with an incredibly small, hot, dense singularity which expands and continues to expand. As the universe continued to expand and cool, the matter that had been flung in all directions was grouped into galaxies.
18
Q
What are Buddhist teachings about the origins of the universe?
A
- Buddhist teachings neither explicitly support nor deny the Big Bang theory
- Buddhism teaches that all things are dependent upon conditions, known as ‘dependent arising’
- Buddhism teaches about the cycle of samsara
- Buddhism does not include belief in a God or creator
- It does not teach that the universe has any origin
- Buddhist teachings view the universe like the cycle of life- universe comes into existence, expands and evolves, and then withers and dies, without a beginning or an end. One universe simply replaces the next.
19
Q
Why can Buddhists accept the Big Bang theory?
A
-It does not necessarily state that there was nothing before the Big Bang happened.
20
Q
What do some scientists believe there are?
A
There might be a number of universes, creating one giant multiverse, where one universe grows out of another one. This idea is very similar to Buddhist teachings.
21
Q
What is the story of the poisoned arrow?
A
- one day a man was hit by a poisoned arrow and would only live if a doctor removed it quickly enough
- his friends found a doctor but the man refused because he wanted to know who shot it and the origin.
- Before the man could find out the answers to these questions, the poison took effect and the man died.
22
Q
What does the story of the poisoned arrow show?
A
Buddhism does not view the origins of the universe as an important question.
23
Q
George Lemaitre
A
- He is thought to be the first person who wrote about the Big Bang in 1927
- He proposed the theory of expansion of the universe, which he later called the Big Bang theory
- He was also a Catholic Priest (key focus: religion vs science)
24
Q
‘God of the Gaps’
A
- before human beings properly understood the world, it gave them a lot of comfort to believe in God.
- Richard Dawkins- we can outgrow the belief in God because of scientific explanations with evidence.
25
Religion vs Science
- creationist view is challenged by the Big Bang theory and Theory of Evolution
- For some people, the theory of evolution is a reason to reject not only the Genesis account, but the whole Bible (and belief in a creator God)
- Among Christians, there is a spectrum of responses to the creation story
- Fundamentalists believe it is absolutely true and a reason for rejecting theories of evolution and geological evidence ; others view the Bible as allegorical rather than literal
- Liberals seek to combine the two by promoting the idea of intelligent design (God) that set the current process of evolution into motion
- This is the argument that science explains 'how' things happened whereas religion explains 'why'- are they compatible?
26
eg case study- 'Scopes Monkey Trial'
- the evolution vs Creation conflict
- Butler act made it unlawful to teach evolution in state schools
- 24 year old high school science and maths teacher John T Scopes was accused ot teaching evolution in school and therefore violating the Butler Act
- Scopes was found guilty and was fined $100 but his conviction was overturned, while finding the Butler Act constitutional
27
Religion vs science compatibility quote
```
'The Big Bang ..does not contradict the divine act of creation, rather it requires it.'
Pope Francis (leader of Catholic Church)
- religion and science are completely compatible- they are not in conflict
```
28
Isaac Newton religion vs science compatibility quote
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion."
29
What are Buddhist views on the origins of life?
- though early Buddhist scriptures do contain creation stories, most Buddhists would regard these as mythological and not to be taken literally
- instead they accept current scientific thinking about how the earth and life on it came into existence
- The Buddha said anything can come into existence when the necessary conditions are there. When those conditions change, the things they give rise to also change. When they are removed, the things they give rise to die.
- it just happens - no creator in Buddhism
- When conditions were right on earth, plants and animals came into being. Today conditions are changing and we see the effect of change on plants and animals.
- the earth is in a constant process of change.
30
What is the sanctity of life?
It regards all life as holy and valuable because it is created by God.
31
Although Buddhism does not see things as having been created by God, what does it teach?
It teaches the importance of acting with kindness, compassion and wisdom towards all living things.
32
Who are Buddhists especially careful about how the act towards?
-sentient beings', things that have consciousness and feelings and therefore can suffer.
33
What is a traditional Buddhist view on sentient beings?
- Every sentient being is valuable because it has the potential to be reborn with an ever-more sophisticated consciousness, eventually being reborn as a human with the Buddha nature/potential to attain enlightment.
34
Why does Buddhism teach that human life is the most valuable?
- humans are more self-aware
- they are more able than any other species to reflect on their behaviour and make choices about how to live
- this means humans have a greater potential to develop the perfect wisdom and compassion of enlightenment, like the Buddha.
35
What does Buddhism teach about quality of life?
- Quality of life is about living with awareness of oneself, others and the world
- it has an effect of people's relationships with others, and the way they see themselves in relation to society
- Buddhism teaches that feeling a connectedness with others and being aware of all the beautiful things in life can give people a sense of meaning
- you do need basic necessities
- beyond this, they believe wellbeing comes by accepting that suffering is a normal part of life, and from doing one's best to live by the values in the five moral precepts.
36
Genesis 1:27 quote
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them:male and female he created them."
Gives life special significance and special worth- Christians believe in the sanctity of life. Humans are made in imago dei.
37
Awe and wonder
sense of wondermment at nature;often linked to the feeling that God is involved/revealed through it.
38
Dominion
Belief that humans have been given control/charge of the world
39
Responsibility
Having a duty or obligation to act in a certain way
40
Stewardship
Duty given by God to humankind to look after the created world, and all life within it.
41
What does Buddhism teach about the world?
It is a valuable thing that belongs to nobody, but is everbody's responsibility.
42
Why might Buddhists consider the world to be so valuable?
- the world provides Buddhists with all the conditions that are needed in order to develop perfect wisdom and compassion and to become enlightened
- Buddhist tradition teaches that to be born as a human is extremely fortunate, and follows many lives in other, less conscious forms. Humans can make ethical decisions which other species cannot, allowing them to follow the path to enlightenment. In the world, there was once the Buddha who explained the origins and end to suffering- had people been born in another time and world, they might not have heard this teaching.
43
What does Buddhist tradition say classifies someone as among the world's most fortunate people?
- anyone who lives in a country free from war, where most people have enough to eat, where there is education and healthcare for everyone- and where it is possible to hear the teaching of the Buddha, is among the world's most fortunate people, even if they are not rich. (Buddhists in Britain say they are fortunate).
44
What do Christians believe about Stewardship and responsibility?
- Christians see the Earth as belonging to God, who has dominion over it and who as trusted them to look after it for him
45
What do Buddhists believe about Stewardship and responsibility?
- Buddhism does not involve belief in a creator God to whom all things belong
- In a Buddhist view, nobody owns the Earth
- It is people's responsibility to develop more wisdom and compassion to move towards enlightenment
- Buddhists accept that humans need to take responsibility for protecting the environment and caring for all living beings.
- don't know origin of world.
46
What may Buddhists say about the creation of the universe?
They may say it was even more amazing that such a thing just happened without being created by anyone.
46
What may Buddhists say about the creation of the universe? (awe and wonder)
They may say it was even more amazing that such a thing just happened without being created by anyone.
47
How is the Buddhist teaching of dependent arising mysterious? (awe and wonder)
- For Buddhists, the teaching of dependent arising means that humans live in a vast web of interconnectedness with nature, people and all sorts of things, through time and space.
48
Why do Buddhists often talk about the importance of developing 'mindfulness'?
They believe this appreciative awareness of every passing moment can bring people deep enjoyment of the beauty and mystery in ordinary life, as well as helping people to be calm and less shaken by life's difficulties.
49
What are Christian beliefs about the value of the world?
- God created the universe (ex nihilo) and therefore everything within it is sacred.Genesis teaches that humans have a special duty to protect the world as God's creation
- Stewardship-Christians believe God gave humans the responsibility to be 'caretakers' of the Earth, which is part of God's sacred creation. Christians believe they must look after the world for future generations.
- Awe and wonder- Christians believe God's creation of the world and the universe is amazing- it inspires awe and wonder. This reinforces the responsibility to take care of t/maintain it as he intended. They view the earth as a gift to value.
- dominion- Genesis states that God made humans to be superior to everything else in creation. He gave them dominion (power over) the Earth. Different interpretations of the phrase 'rule over' (many say carries responsibility.
- Responsibility- Christians believe ideas of stewardship and dominion show God intended humans to be responsible for caring for creation. They accept the world is valuable and should be looked after/safeguarded. Special job should be taken seriously.
50
What is the problem with natural resources?
Forests are being destroyed. Natural resources (non-renewable) are being used up and will eventually run out.
51
What is important as the world's population increases?
The encouragement of sustainable development, progress that tries to reduce the impact on the natural world for future generations.
52
What are scientists developing in terms of energy?
Renewable energies from sourcies that won't run out, like wind or solar energy.
53
In return for looking after the earth, what are humans allowed to use it for?
To sustain life
54
What are Christian response to stewardship?
- Christians believe they should care for the world and not waste its resources because the Bible teaches that humans were put on Earth with a duty/responsibility to care for it
- Christians see the world as a sacred gift from God
- Christianity teaches that humans will be judged after death on how they treated the Earth, Creation and Others
- God gave humans the responsibility of stewardship and caring for the earth for future generations. (Genesis 2:15)
55
environment
The world around us; this can be made up of natural or artificial surroundings
56
Natural resources
Resources which are found in nature- fossil fuels (eg: coal, oil, natural gas), plants etc
57
Pollution
Contamination of an environment with harmful substances
58
What do Christians believe they should do about the environment?
They should avoid waste, conserve energy and reduce demand for natural resources.
This can be done by:
- turning off unused electrical appliances
- walking or cycling instead of driving
- reusing bags when shopping
- recycling waste eg: glass and paper
59
What are Christian responses to the abuse of the natural world?
- Christians believe they should care for the world and not waste its resources because the Bible teaches that humans were put on Earth with a duty/responsibility to care for it
- Christians see the world as a sacred gift from God
- Christianity teaches that humans will be judged after death on how they treated the Earth, Creation and Others
- God gave humans the responsibility of stewardship and caring for the earth for future generations (Genesis 2:15)
60
Air pollution
cause: fumes from factories and transport
| possible problems caused: global warming, climate change, acid rain, diseases such as asthma and lung cancer
61
Land pollution
- poor disposal of wate
| - chemicals pollute the earth causing wildlife to be poisoned, inefficient farming and poisoned food
62
Water pollution
- dumping waste into rivers and seas
| - oil spills and plastic waste kill birds and marine life including whales
63
What do Christians believe about pollution?
They believe the world is on loan to humans, who have been given the responsibility by God to look after it.
64
What are Buddhist reasons for protecting the environment?
1, the concept of dependent arising teaches that everything depends on other things so for humans to survive, they need to live on a healthy planet
2, The second noble truth is that suffering is caused by greed. The Buddha taught people to practise contentment, having just as much as they need for a simple and dignified life. Taking too much from the environment goes against this teaching
3, The first of the five moral precepts is to avoid causing harm to any living being. This means looking after the Earth so other people and living things, and those who come after us have a planet worth living on.
4, Making efforts to care for others is part of the Buddhist path of training which leads people gradually towards the path of enlightenment. This includes caring for the earth and everything on it.
65
What is the Holy Isle Project?
- Holy Isle is a small island
- A Tibetan Buddhist set up a centre on the island called the Centre for World Peace and Health, which is used to hold Buddhist retreats and courses
- Taking care of the island's natural environment is very important to the Buddhists who live and work there
- the centre itself has been built with the environment in mind
- eg: all the insulation materials are environmentally friendly, and a lot of the furniture was made using oak from a sustainable forest source
- 35000 trees have been planted on the island to create a woodland habitat that will provide shelter for wildlife and encourage biodiversity
- Local resources are being used to restore the soils on the island
- water conservation is encouraged, particularly during summer, and all the water that supplies the centre is collected from rain-fed natural springs
- the east coast of the island has been turned into a nature sanctuary to help protect local animals, birds and sea life
66
Animal experimentation
The use of animals for medical research and product testing
67
Dominion
Belief that humans have been given control/charge of the world
68
Stewardship
The duty given by God to humankind to look after the created world, and all life on it
69
How are animals used and abused by human beings?
- Animal experimentation: The use of animals for medical research and product testing
- Animals used as food eg: meat and dairy products
- Animals may be used for entertainment,eg: to visit in zoos or circus performances
- Animals may be killed for fashion
- Animals may be used for sport
- Animals may be used for work
70
What are Buddhist attitudes towards animals?
- most Buddhists will try to show loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) in all their dealings with animals
- some of the reasons are:
. the first moral precept teaches that Buddhists should not kill or harm any living beings, including animals
- the eightfold Path teaches that Buddhists should not make a living from work that harms others, including animals
- treating animals cruelly is unskilful and will lead to suffering. Treating animals with kindness and compassion is skilful and will lead to happiness, and even a favourable rebirth
- Many Buddhists believe they could be reborn as animals. This means that any animal may have been a Buddhist in a past life
- the lives of humans and animals are so closely related and interwoven that it makes no sense to treat animals cruelly, because this could have a negative effect on society as a whole.
71
What do Buddhists believe about animal testing?
- some argue against it because of the reasons above for why Buddhists believe in the kind treatment of animals. They feel there are alternative methods that scientists can use which do not result in animal cruely
- others argue for it because it can potentially save the lives of millions of people. Can reduce suffering of people.
- Many Buddhists adopt an approach that animal testing is acceptable where it is absolutely necessary (there is no other safe alternative), and it is carried out as caringly as possible.
72
What are Buddhist views on vegetarianism?
- there are different views in Buddhism due to inconsistencies in the Buddhist scriptures
- eg: a number of scriptures include references to the Buddha and his monks eating meat
- In Theravada Buddhism, the rules that monks and nuns have to follow state that monks and nuns who rely on the donations and generosity of others to live, should not be picky about what type of food they accept
- meat is fine to eat as long as the animal has not been killed on the monk or nun's behalf
- Various Mahayana scriptures state that the Buddha insisted his followed should not eat any meat or fish, and that eating meat has negative effects. These scriptures argue that eating meat does not show compassion (an essential quality for achieving enlightenment), and that it spreads an atmosphere of fear among all living beings.
73
In practice, many Buddhists are
vegetarian or vegan, particularly those in the Mahayana tradition
74
What do Buddhists who eat meat argue?
- the Buddha would have been clearer about his views on vegetarianism if he thought that it was important for achieving enlightenment
- a person's diet is not an important factor for achieving enlightenment
- when a person eats meat, they are not directly responsible for the animal's death
75
Why is conserving energy important to both Christians and non-Christians?
While renewable energy sources can theoretically give us unlimited energy, in practice there are currently a number of problems with them, which is why conserving energy is so important to both Christians and non-Christians alike
76
What do Christians believe they should avoid in terms of the planet?
- they should avoid waste, conserve energy and reduce the demand for natural resources
77
How can Christians help the planet?
- walk, cycle or use public transport instead of cars
- select products that don't have a lot of packaging
- turn off lights that are not being used
- reuse bags when shopping
- donate second-hand clothes, toys and furniture to charity shops
- recycle waste
78
The Assisi and Ohito meetings
- brought together religious leaders and environmental scientists to discuss how their faiths could and should help to care for the environment
- at these meetings, Christians said that being in charge of creation does not give people the right to abuse, spoil, waste or destroy what God has made, as humans only the tenants of God's world (Leviticus 25:23)
- Thoughtless exploitation should be opposed
79
What are the main types of pollution?
- Air pollution
- Land Pollution
- water pollution
80
How did Pope Francis challenge the world to help reduce pollution?
In his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis wrote a letter called 'On the Care of Our Common Home', which calls people of the world to take 'swift and unified global action'
81
What do Christians believe about pollution?
- Christians believe the world is on loan to humans (The earth is the Lord's and everything in it)
- the parable of the talents/ bag of gold warns that when God returns he will judge how responsible people have been
- polluting the planet is not good stewardship, as God's creation is being abused
- pollution also harms people so it is not 'loving one's neighbour' or considering future generations
- Christians, out of respect for God's creation, believe they must help to protect the natural world from being harmed by pollution
82
What do Christians believe about animals?
- they believe animals were created by God for humans to use and care for
- many believe God values animals but that humans are more important because they were created in the image of God, and have souls
- The story of Noah and the flood shows this
- God commanded Noah to take animals into the ark so they would be safe
- However, after the flood Noah is given permission to eat meat
- the Bible teaches that animals are to be treated kindly "the righteous care for the needs of animals"
83
What do Christians believe about testing cosmetics on animals?
Most Christians support the ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
84
What to Christians believe about animal testing?
- in modern societies, Christians generally support limited animal testing, providing there is no other safe way to develop medicines and it is carried out as caringly as possible
- Christians believe all human life is sacred and should be treated with respect; using animals to develop new drugs may benefit millions of people and save many lives
85
Should Christians eat meat?
- According to Romans, Christians have the choice to be meat-eaters, vegetarians or vegans and they should also be sensitive to the beliefs of others about what they wish to eat
- Most Christians eat meat- good source
- The Bible does not teach it is wrong to eat animals
- those who decide to be vegetarians or vegans usually do so because they are against killing animals, as they believe animals should not be harmed
- others object to animal cruelty that can occur in large factory farms
- some think eating vegetables is healthier
- some dislike the taste of meat
- others argue that if the land used to raise cattle for meat was used to grow vegetables, much more food would be produced
86
What happened in the story in Genesis 1?
God created male and female humans on the final day of creation
87
What does the story of Genesis 2 state?
- Adam was formed by God from the soil and God breathed life into him
- Adam was given the task of looking after a wonderful garden called Eden and was given instructions by God not to eat the tree of knowledge of good and evil
- God then created the animals and birds and finally a helper for Adam
- While Adam was sleeping, God took one of his ribs and formed Eve.
- The intention was that they would live in a close relationship with God
88
What are Christian attitudes on the Genesis creation story?
- Fundamentalists believe that this story is literally true and that the whole human race is descended from Adam and Eve
- Other Christians would say it is not meant to be a scientific account but is designed to show that humans are very special to God, created by him in his own image
- Being in the image of God does not mean being physically the same as God
- it means that humans have a spiritual nature like God, unlike the rest of creation, so are able to relate to God in a special way
- people have a moral goodness within them which is like their creator
89
What does science say?
- the theory of evolution
- suggested that as the earth cooled, conditions became right for the beginning of life
- single-celled creatures appeared in the sea and then evolved over long periods of time into other species
- individuals from the same species can still be quite different from one another because of the genes they inherit from their ancestors
- some individuals have certain genes that increase their chance of survival, meaning they are more likely to breed successfully and pass their favourable genes onto their offspring- 'survival of the fittest'
90
What are Christian attitudes to evolution?
- most atheists accept the theory of evolution because they think it best explains how life has developed on earth
- unlike Christians they do not need to worry about what the theory implies about God's role in creation.
- Fundamentalist Christians believe that the origin of human life was exactly as recorded in Genesis, with God creating each species separately
- while some accept that adaptation can occur within a species, they do not believe there is enough evidence to prove that creatures evolve
- some Christians believe in God as the creator but also accept the theory of evolution. Bible- 'why' is happened scientists 'how' it happened
- Some Christians say it happened because God designed and created the beginnings of life that set everything in motion to develop over the course of history. They believe evolution is the way God designed life to advance and evolve
91
abortion
the removal of a foetus from the womb to end a pregnancy, usually before the foetus is 24 weeks old
92
When may doctors agree on an abortion?
If:
- the woman's life is in danger if the pregnancy continues
- there is a risk to the woman's physical and mental health
- there is a significant risk that the baby will be born with severe physical or mental disabilities
- an additional child may affect the physical or mental health of existing children in the family
93
What are Buddhist views for abortion?
- most Buddhists see abortion as a form of killing (going against first moral precept) and therefore unskilful
- Some Buddhists believe consciousness begins at the moment of conception, others believe that consciousness is an unbroken flow from life to life
- The Buddha taught that unskilful behaviour is one that does not lead towards the happiness, wisdom and compassion of enlightenment
- the five moral precepts are considered to be guidelines rather than commandments or rules that one either gets wrong or right. The Buddha wanted people to apply the five moral precepts with flexibility depending on the situation
- some Buddhists may feel that abortion is always unskilful however, they could also feel that in a paritcular situation, having an abortion would be the best thing to do.
- many Buddhists want to judge each situation in its own merits, af they act in the way that minimises the suffering
- Many Buddhists believe that deciding whether or not to have an abortion is a personal choice
- views can vary depending on country
94
What do pro-choice groups argue?
- human life does not start truly until birth, or at the moment when the foetus becomes able to survive outside the womb
- they argue this means the mother's life is more valuable and should come first
- since the mother goes through everything, she should have the right to choose whether she continues the pregnancy
- these groups also believe it is cruel to bring a severely disabled child into the world if they will have a poor quality of life as a result
95
What do pro-life groups argue?
- life begins at the moment of conception and abortion is therefore a form of murder
- they believe that disabled people can enjoy a good quality of life with the right support, and that unwanted children could be adopted by those who are unable to have children of their own
96
What are Christian views on abortion?
- Christians believe in the sanctity of life and that humans are made in the image of God
- Life is sacred, precious and a God-given blessing
- within Christianity there are some contrasting beliefs towards abortion
- the Catholic Church and many evangelical Christians believe that life starts at conception. Abortion is therefore wrong and should not happen, except perhaps to save the woman's life
- other Christian denominations oppose abortion but believe it is acceptable in some circumstances, eg: rape. The Church of England and Methodist Churches say that sometimes it is the 'lesser of two evils' and the kindest thing to do, eg: if the quality of life of the baby looks as though it will be extremely poor
97
What is euthanasia?
It is painlessly ending the life of someone who is dying
98
What is active euthanasia?
- it involves taking deliberate steps to end a person's life, for example by giving a lethal injection. This is illegal in the UK.
99
What are the three main types of euthanasia?
- voluntary
- involuntary
- non-volunatry
100
voluntary euthanasia
the ill person asks for their life to be ended because they don't want to live anymore
101
involunatry euthanasia
the person is capable of expressing a choice but is not given the opportunity to do so
102
non-voluntary euthanasia
the person is unable to express a choice, eg: a baby or a person in a coma
103
Why is the witholdment of treatment from doctors not euthanasia?
- it is allowing death to take place, rather than actively ending a life
104
What are Christian beliefs for euthanasia?
- many Christians believe that taking a life is interfering with God's plan
- they think it is comparable to murder and open to abuse
- if euthanasia was legalised, it could potentially lead to the old feeling pressure to ask for euthanasia as to not burden their families
- most Christians believe euthanasia is against the sanctity of life and only God has the right to take life away at a chosen time
- where suffering is unavoidable,Christians say that this can bring people nearer to God and can help them to understand the suffering of Jesus
- some Christians do support euthanasia and believe that the drugs that are used to end a person's life are God-given, and should be used if it is the most loving thing to do
- they believe God had given people free will so they should be able to choose when to end their lives
- some Christians believe that euthanasia may be acceptable in some cases to end a person's suffering, but many believe it is never right to take a life.
105
Arguments in favour of euthanasia
- drugs to end life are God-given so can be used
- God gives people free will to end their own life
- Euthanasia may be the most loving and compassionate thing to do, following Jesus' teaching:
'Love your neightbour' (Luke)
- Euthanasia allows a good and gentle death which may not be the case if natural death occurs
106
Arguments against euthanasia?
- Euthanasia is deliberate killing, murder, and interferes with God's plan
- It is open to abuse and may be against the will of the ill person
- It disrespects the sanctity of life
- Only God should take life, at the time of his choosing
- It breaks the commandment:
'You shall not murder (Exodus)
- Suffering can bring people closer to God and can help them understand Jesus' suffering
107
What are Buddhist attitudes towards euthanasia?
- many Buddhists are against euthanasia because it breaks the first moral precept
- However, views towards euthanasia vary between Buddhists and may depend on the circumstances in which euthanasia is carred out
- Buddhists may be guided by:
. the first moral precept- many Buddhists are against euthanasia for this reason
- personal choice - this is emphasised in Buddhism. Buddhists argue that if a person has a clear mind and is not affected by any outside pressure, they should be allowed to choose what to do with their own life , including whether to end it or not.
- kamma, rebirth and suffering- the person being reborn would suffer as a consequence of the forced ending of their previous life
- compassion- important quality for Buddhists. Some Buddhists argue it is compassionate to help someone to die, to end their suffering. Others might argue, also out of compassion, that ending a person's life may relieve their suffering in the short term but may lead to more suffering in the future
- State of mind-Buddhism teaches it is important to have a calm and positive state of mind at the moment of death, as this is something that influences a person's rebirth. If a person is helped to die quickly and peacefully, it could be argued that this is beneficial for their future consciousness. They may be other times when euthanasia is chosen for the wrong reasons, because a person's suffering is negatively influencing their state of mind. In these cases, it might be better to use meditation combined with strong painkillers to manage pain while gradually approaching a natural death.
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What are Buddhist teachings about death?
- Buddhist traditions difffer on what exactly happens when a person dies
- most teach that death is not a single final moment but a process of transition in which consciousness passes on from the physical body over a period of hours or days
- means it is important to most Buddhists that a person dies as peacefully as possible, and the body is left in peace for many hours after the point at which medical opinion would regard the person as dead.
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What are christian beliefs about death and the afterlife?
- For a Christian, death is not the end but the beginning of something different
- atheists disagree but if Christians are correct, the afterlife applies to both believers and non-believers
- Christians believe God judges whether the deceased person spends eternity in heaven or hell. This means that unlike life on earth, heaven and hell are never ending
- Catholics believe in purgatory, where souls are purified and allow them to access God and heaven
- Some Christians believe this process begins as soon as a person dies
- others believe that Jesus will return on a future day of judgement when all souls will be judged
- Some believe that people will be in heaven in their physical bodies, others believe it is just their souls
- Jesus' resurrection is evidence that there is an afterlife
- Some believe that God, who is the source of all good, would not condemn people to hell and that all go to heaven; others believe that all who go to hell deserve their fate.
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What are Buddhist teachings about the afterlife?
- Rebirth: Some Buddhists today doubt the possibility of rebirth. However, most traditions teach that for those who are not yet perfect in wisdom and compassion, there are more lives to live in which to keep making progress towards enlightenment. The dead person's consciousness enters another life. then- depends on skilful and unskilful actions cultivated in this and previous lives. Skilful behaviour is said to help Buddhists build up a score of 'merit' which will lead to good fortune in future lives.
- Many Buddhists believe what happens after death depends strongly on their state of mind when they die. Particularly in Tibetan Buddhism it is believed that, as consciousness leaves the body, there is an opportunity to choose the freedom of enlightenment instead of another human life. For both of these reasons, and also because death can occur at any time, it is believed to be important to do one's best to live kindly and with awareness in every moment.
- enlightenment- Buddha said that he had lived many lives before he reached the life in which he became the Buddha. He progressed towards Buddhahood. Folowing his enlightenment, there were no more physical lives to live. The Buddha broke the cycle of samsara- once he achieved enlightenment and then died, he was not reborn in a physical body. The Buddha himself refused to say what happens after death to someone who has been enlightened.
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How is heaven described?
- It is a wonderful place where God lives
- Revelation 4:2-6 describes a vision of God's throne room in heaven with everybody worshipping him
- Revelation 21:4 describes how there will be no more death, mourning or tears in heaven because the old order is replaced by the new one
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How is hell described?
- originally designed for Satan (the devil) and his fallen angels
- a blazing furnace with weeping and gnashing of teeth that exists to punish the unrighteous (Matthew)
- An eternal place of torment where there is no rest (Revelation)
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What are Christian attitudes towards the descriptions of heaven and hell?
- Fundamentalists believe these descriptions to be literally true, and others believe that hell symbolises the frustration of not being in the presence of God and the idea that it should be avoided
- A more modern interpretation is that heaven is a state of being where God is present and hell a state of being without the possibility of God
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Eternity in heaven- Christian belifs
- Christians believe heaven is not gained simply by being a good person, but is a free gift to those who believe and put their trust in Jesus
- Many Christians believe that following Jesus still means living a life of doing good and avoiding sin, but salvation does not have to be earned.
