Religion and life

• abortion


  the deliberate termination of a pregnancy
• afterlife


  belief about an existence after death (self/soul)
• animal rights


  the belief that animals should have rights due to respect for life
• awe


  an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration (often linked to God)
• big bang theory


  (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated 15 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion
• conception/fertilization


  instant at which the sperm and egg unite (beginning of pregnancy)
• conservation


  to repair and protect animals and areas of natural beauty
• creation


  idea that God crated the world/universe from nothing ('ex nihilo')
• dominion


  idea that humans have the right to control all of creation
• environment


  the world around us
• euthanasia


  mercy killing: ending life for someone who is terminally ill, or has degenerative disease, can be voluntary or involuntary
• evolution


  change in inherited traits in a species
• fossil fuels


  a natural fuel (the earths natural resources) such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
• hospice


  a place that cares for the dying/terminally ill
• hypothesis


  a proposed explanation of something
• natural resources


  the resources the earth provides without the aid of mankind
• pesticide


  chemicals used to kill pests, especially on crops
• pro-choice


  against banning abortion; a woman should have the right/freedom to choose to abort or not abort her baby.
• pro-life


  against allowing abortion/euthanasia, often linked to the idea of life being sacred
• quality of life


  how good/comfortable life is
• right to die


  the belief that a human being should be able to control their own death
• sanctity of life


  life is special/sacred; life is created by God
• science


  knowledge coming from observation in nature and experimentation
• stewardship


  duty to look after the world and life
• sustainable energy


  resources that are renewable e.g. solar, wind and nuclear power