Theme B- Religion and life Flashcards
(23 cards)
Sanctity of life
belief that life is sacred/special because it was created by God
Stewardship
- duty given by God to humankind to look after the created world, and all life within it
Dominion
- belief that humans have been given control/charge of the world
Christian beliefs on the origins of the universe
“in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
Literalists:
- God created the universe in six days, followed by a day of rest. This is what Genesis 1 teaches. Genesis 1 is seen as literally true, and the Bible is seen as the infallible and inerrant word of God.
- Literalists therefore reject scientific explanations like the Big bang which is compatible with the Genesis account
Liberal Christians:
- see Genesis a a metaphorical and spiritual rather than literal truth- it was written in a pre-scientific era and is not supposed to be taken literally
- Genesis contains important and moral truths e.g God is omnipotent and human are stewards
- science explains HOW God created everything
- God created the universe through the Big Bang
- Pope Francis- Big ban “does not” contradict belief in God - it “requires” divine intervention
- Isaac Newton “gravity explains the motion of the planets. but not who sets them into motion
Islamic beliefs about the origins of the universe
“God is the creator of all things”
Literalists:
- Surah 7 teaches that God created the universe in “six days”
- Qur’an is the infallible and inerrant word of God- this must be literally true
- therefore anything that contradicts/challenges this explanation is wrong
Liberal:
- there is no conflict between religion and science- the Big bang theory explains scientifically HOW God created the universe.
- “day” does not necessarily translate as six literal 24 days- could be “phases”
- we should use science to help us understand the universe God has created
- Surah 51 “we are its expander”
- The Big bang is a process of expansion- shows that the Qur’an is consistent with todays widely accepted scientific explanations
Christian beliefs about the value of the world (stewardship)
Stewardship- responsibility to look after
- man was placed in the Garden of Eden to “work and take care of it” Genesis 2:15 humans have a duty to be stewards who take care of God’s creation
- Pope Francis writes in “Laudato Si” his encyclical on climate change “let us be protectors of Gods creation”- humans have vocation to look after the world
- Psalm 24: teaches that “the earth is lords and everything in it”- everything in the world belongs to God, you must therefore look after creation and treat the world with respect. It is not yours to use and abuse
Christian beliefs about the value of the world (Dominion)
- Psalm 8 : “you put everything under their feet”
- Genesis teaches “they may rule over…all the creatures”
Genesis says Adam named all the animals
Genesis teaches that humans have been made “imago dei” (in the image of God”- they are distinct from the rest of creation
Genesis teaches that “everything moving thing that lives shall be food for you”
Islamic beliefs about the value of the world
(Stewardship)
- Muslims are Gods “khalifah”- appointed to look after the world
Adam was the first prophet and khalifah
Hadiths teach “God has appointed you his stewards”
Hadiths teach “the whole earth is created a place of worship” - it is special, sacred and holy and must be looked after and treated respectfully
Surah 2 teaches “do not commit abuse on the earth”- you must look after the planet
Islamic beliefs about the value of the world
(Dominion)
Surah 35 teaches “God has made you successors upon the earth”- although dominion carries responsibility
Christian beliefs about the support for animal experimentation
Catechism - “God created everything for man”
Genesis “they may rule over all the creatures”
St Augustin “Both their life and death i subject to your use”
St Thomas Aquinas - “preservation of human life” is one of the 5 primary precepts of natural moral law- would support using animals for medical experiments that will save human life
Genesis 9- “every moving thing will be food for you”
Christian beliefs about the opposition of animal experimentation
Catechism - “it is wrong to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly” may not justify cosmetic testing on animals, simply for profit
Pope Francis- “let us be protectors of Gods creation” must treated animals with care and protect them. Do not exploit them for cruelty- for example intensive farming methods or unnecessary animal experiments
Islamic beliefs about the support for animal experimentation
“It is God who made for you the grazing animals upon which you ride and some of them you eat”
Hadith- “actions are judged by intentions”
whether animal experimentation is ethical depends on the intention behind it (e.g medical vs cosmetic experiments)
“Actions shall be judged according to intention. any kind of medical treatment of animals and experiments on them becomes ethical and legal or unethical and illegal according to the intention o the person who does it” Al-Hafiz
Islamic beliefs about the opposition of animal experimentation
Hadith- “actions are judged by intentions”
Hadith “God has appointed you his stewards”
Surah 6 “all creatures are communities like yourselves” treat with care, compassion
Christian beliefs about the origins of human life
Literalist Christians
- Genesis teaches that God “formed man from dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life”
- Literalists believe that Adam and Eve were the first human beings created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden
- Eve was formed from Adam’s rib
- they will reject evolution as they believe humans are made “imago dei” and completely distinct from all other animals
Liberal Christians
- accept the theory of evolution as the best explanation for how humans came into existence- God started the process
- Genesis contains metaphorical and moral truths- such as human life is sacred
Pope Francis- theory of evolution “is not inconsistent with the notion of creation evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve”
Islamic beliefs about the origins of human life
“God gave you life”
Literalist Muslims:
- The Qur’an states that God created Adam, the first man, from clay
- Liberalists believe that this is what literally happened and so would reject explanations that contradict this
Liberal Muslims:
- believe that the theory of evolution is the best explanation for how humans came into existence- God used evolution in order to create human beings, it is part of his plan
Surah 71- “he created you in stages”
Surah 71 is consistent with the scientific explanation of evolution- God created human beings in stages, over a period of time
Evolution is part of Gods plan
Christians believe about the sanctity of life
- Genesis “God created mankind in his own image”- human beings are made “imago dei” in the image and likeness of God
Genesis “God breathed into him the breath of life”- God has given each human being a soul
Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” God has a plan and purpose for every human life from before conception
St Paul- “your body is a temple of the holy spirit”
Job “the lord gave and the lord takes away”
Exodus “do not kill” all life is sacred
St Thomas Aquinas- “preservation of life” and “ordering of society” are two of the primary precepts
Strong version of the principle- catholic church and life begins at conception- abortion is wrong
Weak version of the principle- church of England, there are strictly limited conditions when abortion is morally preferable
Islamic beliefs about the sanctity of life
Surah 2 - “God gave you life”
Surah 2 - “whoever has killed a soul it is as through he has killed all mankind”
Surah 4- “do not kill yourselves or others”
Surah 3- “it is not possible for you to die except by permission of God at an appointed time”
God is sovereign over life- God gives life and takes life away
Paper 1 link to predestination
Ensoulment - around 7 months
Support Abortion
Christianity: “loves decisions are made situationally”
Church of England allows abortion in strictly limited situations - if the mothers health is at risk from pregnancy. In this case abortion may be the most loving thing to do.
Islam: “no mother shall me made to suffer because of her child” Qur’an
Some Muslims would allow abortion if the Mothers health was at risk from continuing with the pregnancy. May be the “lesser of two evils”
Oppose Abortion
Catholic Christians “Do not kill” 10 commandments
Catholic Christians believe that life begins at the moment of conception- abortion is therefore wrong. It is moral evil that violates Gods commandment
Catholic Christians - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”
Catholic Christians oppose abortion because it violates the strong sanctity of life principle- the belief that all life is sacred and holy because it is created by God. Abortion interferes with God’s plans
Islam: “Do not kill your child for fear of poverty, we shall provide for them” Qur’an
Muslims believe that you should no have an abortion due to fear you cannot provide for the child - God will help you do so
Support Euthanasia
Some Christians : “clothe yourselves with compassion” St Paul
Euthanasia could be supported if it is the most compassionate thing to do- for example if someone has a terminal illness or degenerative illness
Some Christians “Loves decisions are made situationally” Joseph Fletcher
Euthanasia could be the most loving thing in certain situations- for example if someone has a terminal/degenerative illness. They may wish for euthanasia to alleviate increasing pain and die “with dignity” on their own terms
Oppose Euthanasia
Many Christians “Do not kill” 10 commandments
Euthanasia would violate this commandment and therefore this would be seen as sinful. Human life is sacred and should never be intentionally ended- only God can take life away. This is why Pope John Paul 11 said that “Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God”
Islam: “No soul can die except by permission of God at an appointed time” Qur’an
Muslims are against Euthanasia because God is able to take life away. The Qur’an teaches Muslims “do not kill yourselves or others” human life is sacred and ultimately belongs to God
Christian beliefs about Life after death
Heaven is an eternal paradise for the righteous
Christians believe Heaven is an ternal paradise where you will be with God forever. Jesus said “My fathers house has many rooms”. Heaven is a reward for the righteous. in the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus taught that “the righteous will have eternal life”
Some Christians believe Heaven is a physical place. The physical resurrection of Jesus gives them hope for s continued physical existence after death. Others believe it is a spiritual state for the soul. St Paul wrote that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”
Hell is a place of punishment for sinners. The Book of revelation describes hell as the “fiery lake of burning sulphur”. It is a place of punishment for unrepentant sinners
Islamic beliefs about life after death
Muslims believe Heaven is an eternal paradise which is a reward for the righteous. Heaven is described by the Qur’an as the “Garden Promised to the pious”. It is ‘blessed reward’ and ‘pleasant resting place’
Heaven (Jannah) is not static but a continuous journey towards God
Hell is a place of punishment for sinners
The Qur’an teaches Muslims that “hypocrites and disbelievers will be gathered in Hell. In hell there will be “garments of fire tailored for those who disbelieve” (Qur’an). Punishment in Hell involves scalding water and be restrained with iron crooks- it is a “terrible” place (Qur’an)
