Issues of Life and Death

• Evolution: The process of living creatures developing from earlier less complex forms
• Theory of evolution (Charles Darwin): The theory that all living creatures evolved through gradual change over millions of years

  Evidence: Finches on different islands had different beaks - This lead to be known as 'survival of the fittest'
• Religious reactions to Darwin:

  (Catholics/Fundamental) Took it as an attack on their religion as it goes against the creation story

  (Liberal/CofE) The idea is accepted as Bible can be interpreted
• The Big Bang Theory: The theory that states the universe began as a single point of infinite density and temperature.
• Christian attitudes towards the Big Bang Theory:

  (Fundamental) Very critical of these ideas as it contradicts the truth that God formed all life

  (Liberal) They believe they have no reason to question the scientific evidence as they feel this could have been the way God created the universe
• Christian views of Creation:

  Genesis 1 = God created the world in 6 days

  Genesis 2 = Adam and Eve and then had them name all the animals
• Theistic guided evolution: Life came about through evolution, but this process was guided by God
• Natural Evolution: Many christians accept Darwin's theory of evolution; however, they would say that God set down these laws of nature before the universe existed
• Humanist views of creation: They believe in science. They feel there is no real evidence of God and therefore feel that evolution and the Big Bang Theory are correct theories.
• The Design argument: The complexity of nature could not have come about itself, but must have been designed by a superior being
• William Paley = The watch analogy

  If you came across a watch by accident, you would assume it has a designer. In the same way the world is complex and intricate, it gives us reason to believe it has a designer - God
• Intelligent design ( Michael Behe- Creation Scientist): This is the theory that some organisms today that cannot have come about by the process of slow, random evolution.
• Behe's Mousetrap analogy - A mousetrap has 5 components, if one of these was not there the mouse trap would not work. He argues the same is true for life therefore all life must be designed together
• The illusion of Design: Richard Dawkins (Biologist and atheist) argues that evolution is the best explanation of how life came about. He argues that the world may appear complex and designed but that raises the question - who designed the designer? Dawkins believes natural selection gives a solution to this question
• Stewardship - Caring for the planet and managing its resources, like a caretaker

  (Liberal) They argue humans should be stewards of the Earth rather than exploiters. They believe we have responsibility to the environment and to look after resources
• Environmental sustainability: Ensuring that demands placed on natural resources can be met without reducing capacity to allow all people and other species of animals as well as plant life to live well now and in the future
• Dominion: To rule over nature.

  (Fundamental) Took the Bible literally when it said God created humans to rule over nature, they believe this gives us the right to utilise natural resources
• Humanist attitudes to stewardship: Most agree with the idea that humans have a responsibility to look after the environment. However they believe this because it makes sense not because God placed us here for that purpose
• Sanctity of life:

  (Christians) They believe life is created by God, protected, and valued by God. Therefore, they believe that life is sacred and a gift from God.

  Due to this belief, most Christians accept that only God should take life away
• Sanctity of life:

  (Humanist) They believe there is special value in human life but they do not believe this value comes from God.
• Quality of life: To what extent life is meaningful and pleasurable, and how well it is lived.

  Many people believe quality of life is more important than whether it is special or sacred.
• When does life begin?

  Some argue that a person begins when they are first aware of their own existence, others when independent life is possible.

  Some would claim that from the point of the foetus can feel pain they are a person in their own right.

  Many religious believers think that the moment of contraception is where life begins
• Abortion: When a pregnancy is ended so it does not result in the birth of a child. In the UK abortion is legal up until 24 weeks
• The ethics of abortion has been wildly debated since the 1967 legalisation in the UK
• Pro-life: This is a term used to talk about people who believe that abortion is always wrong and that every human being has a right to life even tiny embryos
• Pro-choice: This is a term used to talk about people who believe that every woman has the right to chose what happens to her body that right includes whether or not to continue with the pregnancy and have a baby
• Christian attitudes to abortion:

  (Catholics) They believe that abortion is forbidden in all circumstances as life is sacred and God given - Sanctity of life

  (CofE) They agree all life is valuable and abortion is not allowed for social reasons, but there are acceptable reasons for abortion such as mothers health, rape or incest
• Humanist views on abortion:

  They try to find the kindest course of action, they consider the consequences and the rights and wishes of everyone involved.
• Euthanasia: (Mercy killing) The act of killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from a serious illness

  Currently illegal in the UK
• 4 Types of Euthanasia:

  Voluntary = When a person explicitly asks for help to die

  Active = When a person takes a specific course to end their life e.g. Overdose

  Passive = When life sustaining treatment is removed e.g. unplugging life support

  Involuntary = when a death is forced upon a person e.g. the death penalty
• Peter singer (Atheist philosopher and Utilitarian): He argues that euthanasia is morally acceptable and that it should be legalised with proper safeguards put in place to protect vulnerable people. He believes quality of life is more important than the traditional sanctity of life belief
• Living will: A legal document that outlines for medical professionals and next of kins what a person wants to happen if they find themselves critically or terminally ill. e.g. Do not resuscitate orders
• Arguments for Euthanasia:

  Many people with chronic illnesses want to control how and when they die, to them it isn't just life and death its a matter of maintaining human dignity
• Arguments against Euthanasia:

  Claims that it could lead to the acceptance or practice of concepts that are currently deemed unacceptable such as involuntary euthanasia (death penalty)

  Harold Shipman - killed 15 people with lethal injections of morphine argued that legalising euthanasia could make it easier for crimes to be committed

  If its legalised it could make the drive and push to research terminal illnesses not happen
• Hospices: A place where people with terminal illnesses can go to die with dignity, they focus on relieving symptoms and pain of patients instead of trying to treat or cure them

  Currently over 260 in the UK
• Christian attitudes to Euthanasia:

  Most christians do not accept it as-

  • They believe in sanctity of life
  • It is murder therefore goes against 10 commandments
  • Suffering can have a purpose
  • Hospices can offer alternative care

  Some liberal christians believe euthanasia is acceptable to turn off life support if theirs evidence of being braindead
• Humanists believe in 'dignity in dying' but believe that assistance dying should not be limited to those with a terminal illness. They uphold the right to life but don't believe that life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering
• Soul: The inner part of our being that is not physical, but is a part of our mind and spirit.
• Christian attitudes to death and the afterlife:

  God creates a soul in everyone and that soul is connected to God

  'Ensoulment' = The moment the soul enters the body

  Dualists - Believe humans are made from two distinctive parts body and soul. The soul is eternal and will live on even after our physical bodies die

  Non-dualist = They believe the body and soul are one and cannot be separated
• Humanist views to death and the afterlife:

  They are materialists therefore dismiss any suggestion of a soul. They do not believe in anything spiritual. They believe that when we die, we will decompose and nothing else