issues of life and death

• afterlife: the belief that existence continues after physical death.
• environmental sustainability: ensuring the demands for natural resources are met, without compromising the needs of future generations.
• euthanasia: killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from serious illness.
• evolution: the process by which living things are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
• abortion: the ending of a pregnancy before the baby is born.
• quality of life: the extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable.
• sanctity of life: the belief that all life is precious and sacred.
• soul: the spiritual aspect of a being.
• creation of the world:

  Christian:

  • literal - believe the world was made by God in 7 days less than 10,000 years ago (young earth creationism).
  • non-literal - believe the world was made by God over longer periods of time (old earth creationism).
  • liberal - believe in theistic guided evolution and natural evolution.
• creation of the world:

  Islam:

  • quote - 'your Lord is Allah who created the heavens and the earth in six days'.
  • believe the earth was created over 6 long periods of time by Allah (old earth creationism).
• creation of the world:

  science:

  • the big bang theory - There was an explosion 15 billion years ago from the point of singularity. As it expanded, atoms started to appear which eventually formed stars and planets. There is evidence of the big bang in the discovery of background radiation.
  • evolution - a theory developed by Charles Darwin in his books 'On the Origin of species'. He travelled to the Galapagos islands where he studied the changes in birds and their adaptions to survive. This is known as the survival of the fittest.
• point of singularity: an infinitely hot, infinitely dense point.
• the environment:

  Christian:

  • dominion - belief that humans should rule over the world. This is supported by the quote 'rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air'.
  • stewardship - belief that people should be global citizens and look after the world. This is supported by the quote 'the Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to take care of it'. A Christian charity that helps to protect the environment is Operation Noah.
• the environment:

  Islam:

  • Believe everyone should be a khalifah and a global citizen.
  • An Islamic charity that supports the environment is IFEES.
• khalifah: someone who looks after the world on behalf of Allah.
• fitrah: natural balance.
• sanctity of life:

  Christian: believe all life is sacred because it is made by God and in his image. This is supported by the quotes 'God created man in His own image' and 'don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple'.
• sanctity of life:

  Islam: believe all life is sacred as it is create by Allah and only he has the right to take it away. This is supported by the quotes 'no one dies unless Allah wills' and 'whoever killed a human (...) shall be regarded as having killed all mankind'.
• speciesism: This means to value one species over another and it was proposed by Peter Singer. He also defined a person as someone who is rational, self-aware and able to form social relations with others.
• abortion:

  Christian:

  • Roman Catholics - forbid abortions as they believe life is sacred and God given. They believe life starts at the point of conception and therefore view abortion as murder. This view is supported by the quote 'Do not kill'.
  • C of E - allow abortions only if the mother's life is in danger or if the mother has been raped.
• abortion:

  Islam:

  • agree - it is acceptable if it is the lesser of 2 evils. For example, if the mother's life is in danger or the child will be born severely diseased. Also allow up to 120 days (the point of ensoulment).
  • disagree - believe that only Allah can end a life. This is supported by the quotes 'no one dies unless Allah wills' and 'you shall not kill your children for fear of want'.
• abortion: UK law states that in order for an abortion to be allowed, 2 doctors must agree that: the mother is under 24 weeks pregnant, the mothers mental or physical health is at risk, or the baby is likely to be born severely disabled.
• voluntary euthanasia: often known as assisted suicide and is when a person asks for help to die.
• passive euthanasia: when life sustaining treatment is removed.
• active euthanasia: when a person commits suicide.
• involuntary euthanasia: where death is forced upon someone. eg: the death penalty.
• euthanasia:

  Christian:

  • agree - some Christians allow turning of life support is the quality of life is very poor.
  • disagree - Roman Catholics disagree as it goes against the 10 commandments.
• euthanasia:

  Islam: do not allow euthanasia. This could be because of the quotes 'no one dies unless Allah wills' and 'Do not kill yourselves. God is merciful to you.'
• dualism: belief that the body and soul are separate.
• non-dualism: belief the body and soul are one.
• materialism: believe there is nothing but the physical body.
• Islamic funerals:

  • If possible, the funeral should take place within 24 hours of the death.
  • The body is washed and wrapped in a white cloth.
  • Muslims must be buried facing Mecca.
  • At the graveside, the first chapter of the Qur'an is recited.
  • Muslims do not have gravestones.
• Christian funerals:

  • the funeral is held in a church.
  • The minister repeats the words 'I am the resurrection and the life'.
  • Flowers are laid, candles are lit and prayers are said.
• Christian afterlife:

  • Christians believe everyone will rise on the day of judgement.
  • Roman Catholics believe in purgatory, which is where the soul is cleansed before going to heaven.
  • heaven is to be in the presence of God and is a state of pure beauty.
  • beliefs about heaven are shown in the parable of the sheep and the goats.
• Islamic afterlife:

  • when a Muslim dies their soul is taken to barzakh.
  • muslims believe in a day of judgement.
  • they believe on this day, angel israfil blows his trumpet.
  • muslims believe people either go to jannah or jahannam.
  • after death, the kiraman katabin reveal your good and bad deeds.