abortion abortion the removal of a foetus from the removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survivethe womb before it can survive

assisted suicide assisted suicide providing a seriously ill providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicideperson with the means to commit suicide

euthanasia euthanasia the painless killing of the painless killing of someone dying from a painful diseasesomeone dying from a painful disease

immortality of the soul immortality of the soul the idea that the idea that the soul lives on after the death of the the soul lives on after the death of the bodybody

near-death experience near-death experience when someone when someone about to die has an out of body about to die has an out of body experienceexperience

non-voluntary euthanasia non-voluntary euthanasia ending ending someone’s life painlessly when they someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want reason for thinking they would want you to do soyou to do so

paranormal paranormal unexplained things unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual which are thought to have spiritual causes eg ghosts, mediumscauses eg ghosts, mediums

quality of life quality of life the idea that life the idea that life must have some benefits for it to be must have some benefits for it to be worth livingworth living

reincarnation reincarnation the belief that, after the belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new bodydeath, souls are reborn in a new body

resurrection resurrection the belief that, after death, the belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raisedof the world when it is raised

sanctity of life sanctity of life the belief that life is holy the belief that life is holy and belongs to Godand belongs to God

voluntary euthanasia voluntary euthanasia ending life ending life painlessly when someone in great pain painlessly when someone in great pain asks for deathasks for death

Controversial Controversial things that people argue things that people argue overover

Matters of Life and DeathMatters of Life and DeathPart 1 - Sanctity of LifePart 1 - Sanctity of Life

All Christians agree life is All Christians agree life is sacredsacred or or holyholy because: because: Given by God (Gift)Given by God (Gift) People made in God’s imagePeople made in God’s image Jesus became humanJesus became human

Means human life specialMeans human life special Thou shall not killThou shall not kill

(6(6thth commandment) commandment)

EuthanasiaEuthanasia((an easy, gentle deathan easy, gentle death))Voluntary – Voluntary – when someone when someone requests itrequests itAssisted Suicide – Assisted Suicide – when a when a seriously ill person is GIVEN THE seriously ill person is GIVEN THE MEANS to take their own lifeMEANS to take their own life ALL CHRISTIANS ARE AGAINST IT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE AGAINST IT

BECAUSE:BECAUSE: Sanctity of Life argumentsSanctity of Life arguments Only God can give and take lifeOnly God can give and take life Doctors should save lifeDoctors should save life Take better care of dyingTake better care of dying

HospicesHospices: doctors trained to ease : doctors trained to ease sufferingsuffering

But…But… MANY Christians say it’s okay toMANY Christians say it’s okay to

Switch off life support machines when Switch off life support machines when patients are brain dead (PVS) – called patients are brain dead (PVS) – called non-voluntary Euthanasianon-voluntary Euthanasia because because they can’t request it. God has already they can’t request it. God has already taken the life of brain-dead patientstaken the life of brain-dead patients

Give Give life shorteninglife shortening drugs to relieve drugs to relieve painpain

Not perform expensive operations to Not perform expensive operations to extend life (not extend life (not strive to keep alivestrive to keep alive))

SOME Christians say it is wrong toSOME Christians say it is wrong to

Switch off life support machines as Switch off life support machines as

only God can take life.only God can take life.

AbortionAbortion

Roman CatholicsRoman Catholics It’s wrong (Sanctity It’s wrong (Sanctity

of Life arguments) of Life arguments) Life begins at Life begins at

conceptionconception Murder (Murder (66thth

commandmentcommandment = = Thou shall not kill) Thou shall not kill)

POPE says it’s a POPE says it’s a sin sin (against God’s (against God’s will)will)

Liberal ProtestantsLiberal Protestants It is undesirable, It is undesirable,

but allowablebut allowable Lesser of two evilsLesser of two evils Christ said ‘Love Christ said ‘Love

your neighbour’your neighbour’ Remove sufferingRemove suffering Life doesn’t begin Life doesn’t begin

at conception at conception (viability?)(viability?)

1967 Abortion Act: 2 doctors must agree:

-mother’s mental or physical health may be affected

-or the baby may be born severely disabled

1990 Act: Illegal after 24 weeks unless the mother’s life at risk or the baby.

NON-RELIGIOUS ARGUMENTS NON-RELIGIOUS ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST ABORTIONFOR AND AGAINST ABORTION

Woman’s right to Woman’s right to choosechoose

Foetus part of Foetus part of woman’s bodywoman’s body

Back street Back street abortions abortions

Adoption Adoption alternativealternative

Women can suffer Women can suffer laterlater

The foetus has a The foetus has a right to life.right to life.

Part 2 - Life after deathPart 2 - Life after death

The mind/The mind/soulsoul is separate is separate from the body from the body

ReligionsReligions all teach there’s all teach there’s LAD (Life After Death)LAD (Life After Death)

ParanormalParanormal (unexplained (unexplained things like ghosts, mediums things like ghosts, mediums and near-death and near-death experiences)experiences)

GodGod and the Bible (if you and the Bible (if you believe in them you’ll believe in them you’ll probably believe in LAD probably believe in LAD

Death means Death means the endthe end so so LAD’s a contradictionLAD’s a contradiction

The mind/soul is just a part of The mind/soul is just a part of the brain when the body dies the brain when the body dies no part of us lives onno part of us lives on

No No scientific proofscientific proof of the of the paranormalparanormal

No evidence of a spiritual No evidence of a spiritual worldworld

Holy books and religion Holy books and religion contradictcontradict each other each other

Evidence of the Paranormal

(ghosts, NDE,Mediums etc)

The Bible talks about Heaven,

Hell and Judgement Day.

The Christian Church and all their leaders

say there is LAD.

All Christians think the soul

is immortal and lives on after

Death.

The resurrectionof Jesus proves

there is LAD

Why do Christians believe

in life after death?(LAD)

LOVE GOD

PRAY EVERYDAY

WORSHIPGOD EACHSUNDAY LOVE YOUR

NEIGHBOUR

FEED THEHUNGRY

GIVE TO CHARITIES

LIKECHRISTIAN

AID

BEING AGOOD

SAMARITAN

OBEY GOD’SCOMMANDS& DON’T SIN

How do beliefs about LAD affect the life of a How do beliefs about LAD affect the life of a Christian?Christian?

Christians believe if they have been faithful Christians Christians believe if they have been faithful Christians they will go to heaven.they will go to heaven.So Christians will try and live a good life by following So Christians will try and live a good life by following the Bible and the teachings of the church.the Bible and the teachings of the church.

The Causes of World The Causes of World PovertyPoverty

Natural DisastersNatural Disasters Many LEDCs (Less Economically Many LEDCs (Less Economically

Developed Countries) like Developed Countries) like BANGLADESH are in areas where BANGLADESH are in areas where there are regular FLOODS, there are regular FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES etcEARTHQUAKES etc

DebtDebt Many LEDCs owe massive DEBTS to Many LEDCs owe massive DEBTS to

the BANKS of RICH COUNTRIES for the BANKS of RICH COUNTRIES for money they borrowed in the PAST money they borrowed in the PAST for RELIEF and DEVELOPMENT. The for RELIEF and DEVELOPMENT. The interest they pay on these loans interest they pay on these loans could have been spent on could have been spent on developmentdevelopment

Causes - contCauses - cont

UNFAIR TRADEUNFAIR TRADE Many LEDCs survive by growing Many LEDCs survive by growing

more PROFITABLE crops like COFFEE more PROFITABLE crops like COFFEE and TEA. This farmland cannot then and TEA. This farmland cannot then be used to GROW FOOD.be used to GROW FOOD.

WARSWARS LEDCs often suffer from WARS LEDCs often suffer from WARS

caused by CORRUPT LEADERS or caused by CORRUPT LEADERS or TRIBAL DIVISION. This can create TRIBAL DIVISION. This can create REFUGEES who flee from their homes REFUGEES who flee from their homes and need SHELTER and FOOD.and need SHELTER and FOOD.

How is Christian Aid trying to How is Christian Aid trying to remove world Poverty?remove world Poverty?

HOW???HOW??? SPEAKING OUTSPEAKING OUT

Christian Aid CHALLENGES governments to Christian Aid CHALLENGES governments to ACT ACT

on BEHALF of poor people and campaigns for on BEHALF of poor people and campaigns for every every

poor community to have their basic human poor community to have their basic human rights.rights.

Eg. they were involved in the MAKE Eg. they were involved in the MAKE

POVERTY HISTORY POVERTY HISTORY campaigncampaign DISASTER AND EMERGENCYDISASTER AND EMERGENCY

Christian Aid has a disaster fund to deal with Christian Aid has a disaster fund to deal with natural Disasters. They give emergency aid natural Disasters. They give emergency aid eg. Food, blankets, shelter and they raise eg. Food, blankets, shelter and they raise funding funding

through appeals.through appeals.

How and why Christian Aid is How and why Christian Aid is trying to remove world Poverty…trying to remove world Poverty…

(continued)(continued)

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMESDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

Christian Aid works with over 600 Christian Aid works with over 600 partner groups to help partner groups to help

long-term development. long-term development. Eg. May support small businesses in a country Eg. May support small businesses in a country

that make water pumps so improving the that make water pumps so improving the lives of the makers and buyers of these lives of the makers and buyers of these machines.machines.

Why is Christian Aid trying to Why is Christian Aid trying to end world poverty?end world poverty?

•The Bible says money should be used to help others.

•Jesus taught that people should help the poor.

•On the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that Christians should share their possessions to help the poor.

•The Golden Rule for Christians is to treat other people the way you would like to be treated. If we were poor we’d want help too!

How has an issue about matters of life How has an issue about matters of life and death been presented in the and death been presented in the

media?media?Programme: Reg Crew's Last Day Channel: ITVIssue: EuthanasiaSummary of programme: Reg Crew's Last Day was a documentary about Reg Crew a retired factory worker from

Liverpool who was suffering from motor neurone disease. The documentary is about how Reg and his family travelled to Switzerland in order to end Reg's life at an assisted suicide clinic ran by Dignitas.

How was the issue presented? It gave the viewer understanding and empathy

about the issue. It gave arguments for and against euthanasia. It was dealt with in a sensitive way. It raised some religious views about euthanasia.

Was the programme fair to religious Was the programme fair to religious people and religious beliefs?people and religious beliefs?

Yes because…Yes because… It raised some It raised some

religious reasons why religious reasons why euthanasia is wrong, euthanasia is wrong, the presenter says the presenter says some say the some say the doctor doctor is ‘playing God’is ‘playing God’

They did not say They did not say anything to offend anything to offend religious beliefs they religious beliefs they still emphasised the still emphasised the value of life. (value of life. (Reg Reg sayssays he’s not tiredhe’s not tired of life just tired of of life just tired of living)living)

The issue was dealt The issue was dealt with with sensitivelysensitively. .

No because…No because… It did not give many It did not give many

religious argumentsreligious arguments against euthanasia. Eg. 6against euthanasia. Eg. 6thth commandment, Sanctity of commandment, Sanctity of life etc.life etc.

Reg says his life isn’t worth Reg says his life isn’t worth living any more. Christians living any more. Christians would disagree with this as would disagree with this as they would say they would say every life is every life is sacredsacred so valuable and so valuable and worth saving.worth saving.

The doctor says he’s not The doctor says he’s not playing Godplaying God – Christians – Christians would disagree.would disagree.

The documentary was The documentary was one-one-sidedsided as the aim was to as the aim was to make euthanasia legal in the make euthanasia legal in the UK.UK.

Should the media be free to criticise Should the media be free to criticise religion?religion?

No No they shouldn’t because…they shouldn’t because…

The media could The media could offend religious offend religious people. This couldpeople. This could lead to protests lead to protests and violence.and violence.

Religious views are Religious views are believed to be from believed to be from God so the media God so the media should not criticise should not criticise these beliefs.these beliefs.

Criticising religion Criticising religion can stir up religious can stir up religious hatred and hatred and

violence.violence.

Yes Yes they should because…they should because… Religious leaders Religious leaders

use use the media to make the media to make statements so the statements so the media should be media should be able to criticise able to criticise

them.them.

Freedom of expression Freedom of expression is a basic human right.is a basic human right.

Life and death issues Life and death issues are are

important to everyone. important to everyone. If the media are not able If the media are not able

to criticise people wont to criticise people wont

get get the full picture.the full picture.