All existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos.
Fundamentalist Christians
Christians who believe that the Bible is 100% true and the word of God e.g. the World created in 6 days.
Liberal Christians
Christians who believe that both the Bible and science are right e.g. the Bible story is not literally true, but a myth, God created the Big Bang etc.
Wonder
Marvelling at the complexity & beauty of the universe.
Awe
A feeling of respect, mixed with fear & wonder.
Responsibility
A duty to care for or something we have to do.
Stewardship
Duty to look after the world, and life. To guard over/look after something on behalf of God.
Dominion
The idea that humans have the right to control all of creation.
Environment
The world around us.
Natural Resources
The resources the earth provides without the aid of mankind.
Sustainable development
Building and progress that try to reduce the impact on the natural world for future generations
Fossil fuels
The Earth's natural resources - coal, oil and gas.
Deforestation
The removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.
Renewable/sustainable energy
Energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.
Pollution
The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.
Vegetarian
A person who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons.
Vegan
A person who does not eat or use animal products.
Evolution
Change in inherited traits in a species
Abortion
Deliberate expulsion of foetus from the womb with the intention to destroy it.
Sanctity of Life
The belief that life is sacred, special and holy. Therefore, all life deserves respect, and should be treated equally. Life is special because it involves the creative action of God.
Quality of Life
A description of how good someone's life is. It includes how comfortable they feel, how easy it is for them to live through each day, perhaps how much they have in terms of money and possessions. For many medical ethics issues it is ultimately about whether or not life is worth living because of the situation a person finds themselves in.
Euthanasia
Mercy killing; ending life for someone who is terminally ill, or has degenerative disease.
Voluntary euthanasia
If someone asks someone else to help them to die.
Involuntary euthanasia
If the person has not asked for it or is incapable of asking for it (e.g. in a coma).
Active Euthanasia
When action is taken to bring life to an end.This is generally against the law.
Passive euthanasia
When a decision is made to stop giving a dying person further treatment, even though death will be the result. This is not against the law.
Afterlife
Belief about what happens after we die to our self/soul.
Big Bang Theory
The scientific view of the beginning of the universe.
Foetus
The name of the unborn baby from the eighth week of pregnancy until birth.
Embryo
An egg in the early stages of growth from fertilisation by a sperm until the eighth week of pregnancy.
Abuse
Misuse of the world and environment.
Animal rights
The idea that animals should have rights because of respect for life.
Charles Darwin
The man who put forward the theory of evolution.
Conception
When the sperm fertilises the female egg so allowing pregnancy.
Hospice
A place that cares for the dying, usually from an incurable disease.
Natural Selection
One of the basic mechanisms of evolution.
Pro-choice
The idea that women have the right to decide on abortion.
Pro-life
The idea that life should be preserved and so abortion be disallowed.
Science
Knowledge coming from observed regularity in nature and experimentation.
Right to die
The belief that a human being should be able to control their own death.