Matters of life and death

• Jesus' resurrection was seen as proof of his divine nature and proof in life after death
• The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus demonstrate his true nature as God
• "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" --> Catholics believe in eternal life
• "you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28) --> human rights
• "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to the evildoers" (Proverbs 21)--> importance of justice
• "Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder" --> Catechism
• Liberal Protestant Pro-choice attitude:

  -abortion is wrong, but must be permitted in certain circumstances

  -"Love your neighbour as yourself." (Matthew 22) --> situation ethics

  -justice; unfair situations --> rich women would go to different countries, poor women would get "back-street" abortions

  -believe doesn't begin at conception
• "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" -Jeremiah 1:5
• Why people believe in life after death:

  -gives their lives meaning and purpose

  -gives comfort when a loved one dies

  -nature of justice --> evil is punished in hell; good is rewarded in heaven
• Against Euthanasia:

  -Most Christians, including Catholics, believe all forms are wrong. However modern medicine has introduced new issues; if patient is brain-dead, it's okay- relieves family's suffering

  -Sanctity of life: it's up to God when people die

  -"Do not murder"

  -"Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)
• For Euthanasia:

  "Discontinuing medical procedures... can be legitimate." -Catechism

  -situation ethics
• Evangelical Protestants --> believe any form of euthanasia is wrong
• Christian responses to those who are dying:

  -pallative care, reduces pain and improves quality of life for those who have terminal illnesses
• Animal Testing:

  -God is the creator of animals as well as humans, created them with love --> "God looked at all he had made and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31): stewards

  -"Let us make man in our image... and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air" --> dominion

  Church of England--> "The Church recognises the need for animals to be used in certain research"

  "...however, stewardship... requires all animals to receive careful and sympathetic treatment."
• jesus' resurrection is highly significant as:

  -all four gospels have accounts of Jesus' resurrection

  -shows Jesus' divine nature/ Son of God
• Against Euthanasia --> as it can lead to a slippery slope
• Nature of Euthanasia:

  -Voluntary

  -Assisted Suicide

  -Non-voluntary
• "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15)
• "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12)
• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats --> God will judge people on whether they helped those in need
• Punishment --> "Do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7)

  "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"
• Punishment:

  -Protection

  -Retribution

  -Deterrence

  -Reformation
• Treatment of criminals:

  -Human Rights --> "you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3)

  -Fair trial --> "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to the evildoers" (proverbs 21)

  -Use of torture --> "...handed him over to the jailers to be tortured" (Matthew 18)
• "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Matthew 7) --> Jesus as a peacemaker

  The Christian Church uses Jesus' teachings to show Christians should strive for peace

  "Love your enemies"
• The Quakers --> opposed to violence

  -believe God is in every person

  -believe they should act in the world against injustice
• Many Christians believe Jesus was a pacifist as many of his teachings were about peace

  "Blessed be the peacemakers" (Matthew 5)
• Just War Theory:

  -must be a reasonable chance of success

  -its aim is to bring peace

  -it is used after diplomatic solutions have failed

  -methods are fair

  -cause of war is just
• Jesus --> called "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9
• Responses to Holy War:

  -Quakers, pacifist --> completely opposed to War

  -Jesus taught peace

  -however some passages suggest war may sometimes be the right action as justice
• WMD:

  -opposed as problems outweigh benefits

  -Bible focuses on peace

  -high loss of life

  -Bible says not to destroy women, children, livestock and trees
• Revelation:

  -Noah

  -God spoke to Noah and made a covenant to never send a worldwide flood again. Rainbows are a sign of this covenant, a reminder of God's faithfulness

  -Abraham

  -God made a covenant to Abraham that he would give him a son if he and his descendants worshipped God; God stopped Abraham in the last minute explaining it was a test of faith.

  Jews see the covenant as evidence that they are "God's chosen people"
• Visions:

  -Saul/ St Paul

  -was a persecutor of Christians, saw a bright light and head the voice of Jesus. He was temporarily blind, this experience made him convert

  -Joseph

  -received a dream in which he learned Mary was pregnant. Received two more dreams: to flee from Herod, that it was okay to return after Herod was dead
• Visions:

  -believe God is contacting them/ passing on a message

  -connects them to God/ closer

  -understand God better
• Miracles:

  -healing Miracles

  -Jesus' miracles + his resurrection
• Old Testament --> teaches to treat animals humanely, and treat the land kindly
• "The dust returns to the earth, and the spirit returns to the God who gave it."
• Humanists believe life starts once the foetus is viable (can survive outside of the womb, after 24 weeks)
• Abortion:

  -Liberal Protestant:

  -Pro-choice; "Love your neighbour", quality of life

  -Quakers

  -believe mother's life is more valuable